Brooklyn Nets

NBA Fantasy: Studs And Duds At The Quarter Mark

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:18 p.m. ET

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Nov 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during a game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 106-104. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

After six weeks of NBA Fantasy Basketball, owners are starting to see where they went right and wrong in the draft

Whilst some owners may be revelling in their genius of picking an early round value in the late rounds, other owners are wondering why on earth they picked a player 50 spots before he should’ve been picked in their NBA Fantasy Basketball drafts.

So, here to sum up the biggest studs and duds in fantasy basketball relative to average draft position (ADP), pre-season and current rankings, let me take you through the biggest steals and disappointments of this fantasy season so far.

(Note: All fantasy statistics are from Yahoo Fantasy and are accurate as of 12/9/16)

Nov 25, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) runs down court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. The Wizards won 94-91. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention – Otto Porter Jr.

Team: Washington Wizards

ADP: 65.7

Pre-Season Ranking: 59

Current Ranking: 18

In an otherwise disappointing season for the Washington Wizards, Porter has actually proven to be a fantasy asset for his owners, joining John Wall as the only Wizards inside the top 30 fantasy players.

Porter may not be the player everyone expected him to be coming out of the 2013 NBA Draft but fantasy owners who drafted or traded for Porter can only hope that he can keep up this level of fantasy production all season long.

Dec 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) dribbles the ball during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Dishonorable Mention – Evan Fournier

Team: Orlando Magic

ADP: 68.2

Pre-Season Ranking: 55

Current Ranking: 166

Orlando Magic’s Evan Fournier hasn’t been terrible because he is averaging a neat 16.7 points per game but, a lot like Andrew Wiggins, Fournier’s fantasy value is very reliant on his ability to score.

Fournier is still a very valuable asset in most leagues but he’s just not what owners expected when they picked him in the top 70 before the NBA season started.

Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills (8) during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Stud Point Guard – Patty Mills

Team: San Antonio Spurs

ADP: 137.1

Pre-Season Ranking: 188

Current Ranking: 69

It may be surprising to see a bench player here as a stud, but San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has worked his magic again, allowing Patty Mills to flourish (and outperform Tony Parker in fantasy and real life) in his best season to date.

As Parker has continued to show signs of his aging game, Mills is showing the Spurs why he is worthy of the starting role when Pop decides it is time to hand over the reins to a new point guard. And he’ll have to decide soon, as Mills hits the open market next summer.

Nov 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) against the Denver Nuggets at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 118-114. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dud Point Guard – Eric Bledsoe

Team: Phoenix Suns

ADP: 36.4

Pre-Season Ranking: 34

Current Ranking: 114

After finally ridding himself of the injury bug, NBA fantasy owners were expecting big things out of Eric Bledsoe this season, and all they got was a big disappointment.

Bledsoe hasn’t been anywhere near the player he has been in the past and owners, without any other point guards, are probably regretting relying on Bledsoe after taking him as a top 40 pick prior to the year.

Dec 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lou Williams (23) warms up before the start of their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Lakers 113-80. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Stud Shooting Guard – Lou Williams

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

ADP: 138.2

Pre-Season Ranking: 167

Current Ranking: 59

Two seasons ago, Lou Williams was the Sixth Man of the Year but after one season in a Lakers uniform, all hopes that he could keep up that kind of production seemed to have been lost.

It seems like we shouldn’t have assumed that because Williams is back to his old self this season and providing a scoring boost for the Lakers off the bench and a much appreciated fantasy boost for his lucky owners.

Nov 26, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) reacts to a call in action against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Dud Shooting Guard – Victor Oladipo

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

ADP: 23.0

Pre-Season Ranking: 17

Current Ranking: 89

In my opinion, Victor Oladipo was set with too high of expectations (fantasy-wise) for his first season in Oklahoma City. This, however, doesn’t take away the fact that he has underperformed all season based on those expectations.

Oladipo has started to pick it up lately so his owners can only pray that he doesn’t return to his early season form as he cost most owners a second round pick.

Nov 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 118-114. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Stud Small Forward – Wilson Chandler

Team: Denver Nuggets

ADP: 133.6

Pre-Season Ranking: 184

Current Ranking: 72

Wilson Chandler has not only recovered from his season-ending injury but has come back better than ever, averaging 18 points a game and giving his fantasy owners a pleasant surprise.

No one expected this out of Chandler (especially Yahoo experts who ranked him 184th pre-season) but he continues to defy the odds and provide his owners with valuable contributions in the points and rebounds categories.

Dec 6, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks on in the game against the Miami Heat during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The New York Knicks defeat the Miami Heat 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Dud Small Forward –  Carmelo Anthony

Team: New York Knicks

ADP: 30.4

Pre-Season Ranking: 33

Current Ranking: 85

I think it’s time to remove the “superstar” tag from Carmelo Anthony (if it hasn’t been already). ‘Melo is a great player still, even a star player, but his production no longer matches his reputation.

For his owners that spent a top 35 pick on him, good luck convincing yourself that was a worthwhile pick when his only valuable contribution is in the points section.

Oct 11, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Trevor Booker (35) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Stud Power Forward – Trevor Booker

Team: Brooklyn Nets

ADP: 131.5

Pre-Season Ranking: 197

Current Ranking: 33

Coming to Brooklyn has done wonders for Trevor Booker’s fantasy value, turning him from an afterthought into a bonafide NBA fantasy star.

Booker is currently ranked at a ridiculous 33rd amongst all players after starting pre-season ranked 197th. As long as Booker can keep getting those cheap double-doubles in the Nets frontcourt, owners won’t need worry about if he can sustain this production.

Dec 7, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) moves the ball up the court against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Dud Power Forward – Aaron Gordon

Team: Orlando Magic

ADP: 64.6

Pre-Season Ranking: 53

Current Ranking: 232

It really isn’t all Aaron Gordon’s fault he’s been a fantasy dud thus far. Between all the bigs in Orlando, he just hasn’t had enough game time to get into a rhythm.

However, that doesn’t excuse him from the fact that, despite his 25.9 minutes of game time a night, he hasn’t even produced top 200 value on the season.

Oct 18, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) against the Washington Wizards at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The Wizards won 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Stud Center – Tristan Thompson

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

ADP: 109.9

Pre-Season Ranking: 129

Current Ranking: 39

The reigning NBA Champions have only seemed to get better this season and so has Tristan Thompson, who has far outgrown his preseason ranking of 129.

The Cavs big man has put up career-high rebounds and blocks numbers on his way into transforming himself into a top 40 fantasy asset that any owner would be proud to own.

Nov 27, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 118-114. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dud Center – Nikola Jokic

Team: Denver Nuggets

ADP: 33.0

Pre-Season Ranking: 25

Current Ranking: 92

Large expectations were placed on sophomore big Nikola Jokic and he, unfortunately, hasn’t been able to reach those expectations quite yet.

Unlike some of the other duds on this list, Jokic has maintained top 100 fantasy values and a bounceback after a poor first quarter isn’t out of the question for the young center.

Agree? Disagree? Leave your opinions in the comments section!

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