The start of the fantasy basketball season has been tricky, with many star players sidelined by injuries or taking rests. Less than a month into the season, many fantasy team owners are already looking for good replacements. This situation, however, creates a great chance to pick up talented players who are stepping up to fill bigger roles for their teams.
If your fantasy team needs a boost, now is the perfect time to look for these hidden gems. Injuries to key players on teams like the Hornets, Jazz, and Heat mean that other players are getting more minutes on the court and more opportunities to score points. Here are some of the top players, owned in fewer than half of fantasy leagues, that you should consider adding to your team.
✨ Kon Knueppel (Hornets)
With Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball out with injuries, the Hornets have given rookie Kon Knueppel a much bigger role. He has started in nearly every game and is playing around 32 minutes each night. With this much playing time, he is averaging 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and an impressive 3.2 three-pointers per game. Since Miller is not expected back soon and Ball has a history of injuries, Knueppel should continue to be a valuable player worth adding to your fantasy roster.
💪 Jusuf Nurkić (Jazz)
Jusuf Nurkić began the season playing limited minutes off the bench for the Jazz. However, since teammate Walker Kessler suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Nurkić has been promoted to the starting lineup. As a starter, his playing time has jumped to 27 minutes per game. In this new role, he is averaging 10.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists. While his scoring has been low, he is a career 49.9% shooter, so his shooting should improve. With a clear path to significant minutes, Nurkić is a strong source of rebounds and assists.
🎯 Cedric Coward (Grizzlies)
Even though he comes off the bench, Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward is playing an important role, averaging 27 minutes per game. He has been very efficient, contributing 14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. The Grizzlies selected him with a high draft pick and clearly have a lot of faith in him. With other guards on the team injured, Coward has secured a significant role and is likely to remain a key part of the rotation for the rest of the season.
🤝 Davion Mitchell (Heat)
Since joining the Heat, Davion Mitchell has found a great new role, especially with Tyler Herro out due to an ankle injury. Mitchell has started every game this season, playing about 30 minutes each time. This has allowed him to average 9.9 points, 7.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Herro may be out for another month or more, which means Mitchell will continue to be the main playmaker. If your fantasy team needs more assists, he is an excellent player to pick up right now.
💎 Ace Bailey (Jazz)
While Ace Bailey’s overall stats may not seem impressive at first, he is a player with growing potential on a rebuilding Jazz team. Recently, his role has expanded, and he has started in the last couple of games, playing over 24 minutes each time. In his last three games, he has averaged 14.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 three-pointers. With the Jazz focused on developing young talent, especially after losing Kessler for the season, Bailey could see a lot more playing time. Adding him now could be a smart move for the future.
