We are three weeks into the 2018-2019 season and we’re all starting to get a feel for our drafted players. Sure enough you’ve already had quite a few adds, drops and trades along the way to strengthen your roster of role players. But let’s take a look at the players that you won’t be letting go any time soon. Let’s dive in to how some of our all stars are doing so far.
Stephen Curry
So far, managers who have spent their first picks on the baby-faced assassin have not been disappointed. Steph is blazing through the fantasy league, and will help you secure those offensive stats like PPG, FGA, FGP, FTM, FT% and 3P%, which is pretty much all you can ask for as a manager when you’ve got a lock on almost half of standard fantasy stat criteria. He is currently averaging 32.5 PPG on 53.9% shooting, making 50.9% of shots made from beyond the arc, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down either.
LeBron James
Coming off a season filled with monster performances night after night, Lebron is expected to emulate the same performance this season too. Though just moving to the West with a young crew, he’s still pretty much the best player in the league and a gem to your roster. The King has been pretty much picking up where he left off last season averaging 27.8 PPG, 8.2 REB, 7.9 AST and 1.9 STL. And like always, he may still make a dent on your FT% and TOs, but the numbers he brings in overall still make it worth it.
James Harden
The reigning NBA regular season MVP had great start to the season, continuing with his outstanding offensive performance for the first four games with the Houston Rockets. However, a hamstring injury sidelined Harden for 3 consecutive games which was a big hit for managers looking to rack up some offensive stats. But he seems to be back on track, as he makes a strong return in the Rocket’s win over the Bulls where he put up 25 points with 7 assists and 1 Rebound. So fear not, as he is still on track to make that first pick worth it.
Kevin Durant
With the stellar performances of the splash brothers the past few games, managers may be worried that it may cause KD’s numbers to decline. But on the contrary, the reigning Finals MVP is also still picking up where he left off. KD is looking to have a strong and healthy season, averaging 28.3 PPG shooting on am incredible 56.1% from the field, proving that he is just as unstoppable as Steph.
Russell Westbrook
Coming into the start of the regular season, Westbrook’s health was put into question as he was scheduled to miss 4 games due to a right knee injury. Fortunately, he was able to make a comeback while only missing 2 games was back to putting up numbers. However, his current performance is not reminiscent of his 2017 MVP season and last season where he put up triple-double stats in PTS, REB & AST. But, Russ is still an All-Star, and managers still ought to religiously add him to their daily roster as Westbrook is known to catch fire on any given night and deliver the goods.
Anthony Davis
Another MVP candidate for the 2018-2019 season, Anthony Davis was surely a player managers were racing to get a hold off, especially since the Brow can get you lock on those REBs. Davis had a terrific start on his first 4 games putting up monstrous numbers in PTS and REBs, but was sidelined for a total of 3 games now due to an elbow injury. The Brow was still able to play through the injury though and was able to have fairly solid performance in a loss against the Spurs on his return. We can expect another strong season from him as he is now back to being the number one (and only) option for the Pelicans with the departure of Boogie, and will get you those Big Man numbers.
Joel Embiid
Managers who have trusted The Process better thank their lucky stars. This man has been dominating the league on all sides of the floor playing as a Big Man. Asides from the season low 10 points against the Hawks, Embiid has been wrecking through the NBA putting up 29.6 PPG and 12.4 REB. Continue to trust the Process and keep adding him.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Jimmy Butler might be relevant when it comes to a conversation about KAT. Towns had a slow start to the season, and has not been a consistent franchise player thus far. He’s had a couple of good games against the Mavs and the Jazz, but on other games has been pretty mediocre. I wouldn’t go so far to say that drafting KAT was bust, as we are all aware of his limitless potential to dominate the post, paired with his above average outside game. And considering the future of Jimmy Butler with the Wolves, KAT’s number may be heavily relied on, and being the number option for the Wolves, he may just deliver.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Greek Freak is another gem managers can surely treasure for this season’s Fantasy League. Not only is he putting up points at 26.1 PPG at 52.1% shooting, he is putting up boards on par with the strongest Big Men in the league. Giannis is averaging 13.7 REB per game which is more than what the likes of Embiid, Gobert and Towns are putting up. Keep an eye out on those turnovers though. If that’s a stat that you wish to totally give up on in place of other main stats, then you’re on the right track.
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi’s return to league has been met with a lot of questions in terms of his overall health considering his long layoff, and his move to the Raptors which he seemed to be reluctant of. But so far, Kawhi has still played at a high level and helped his team to the top of the Eastern Conference. The Claw has been averaging 26.1 PPG, shooting 50.4% from the field along with 7.6 REB, 3.4 AST and 2.0 STL. He is definitely money for any manager looking to grab those offensive stats while looking to avoid those negative stats.
Other notable mentions:
Damian Lillard – 29.2 PPG, 48.8 FG%, 5.8 AST
Blake Griffin – 28.3 PPG, 50.4 FG%, 10.0 REB, 4.5 AST
DeMar DeRozan – 27.6 PPG, 51.2 FG%, 5.4 REB, 6.9 AST
Kemba Walker – 28.3 PPG, 56.1 FG%, 4.3 REB, 5.8 AST
Paul George – 22.6 PPG, 6.8 REB, 3.9 AST, 2.4 STL
