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NBA Stock Watch: Russell Westbrook rising, Andrew Wiggins falling

Russell Westbrook highlights this week's look at recent risers and fallers in fantasy hoops (Getty Images)
Russell Westbrook highlights this week’s look at recent risers and fallers in fantasy hoops (Getty Images)

STOCK UP

Russell Westbrook: This is quite the run, as Westbrook has recorded a remarkable six straight triple-doubles (the longest such streak since 1989, and he nearly had three of them in a row in the first halves). His 5.6 tpg (second highest only to James Harden) hurts his value in 9-cat leagues, but Westbrook is averaging a triple-double on the season through 22 games, as the loss of Kevin Durant has helped his stats as much as even his most optimistic backers could’ve expected. He currently ranks second in the NBA in ppg (31.0), ninth in rpg (10.9) and second in apg (11.3). Westbrook led the NBA in Usage Rate at 33.3 percent last season. He’s at 41.6 so far this year.

Otto Porter: He gets another upgrade, as he’s been the No. 10 ranked player so far this season (right ahead of Damian Lillard in 9-cat leagues, with the latter top-10 in Usage Rate). Porter’s 53.5 field goal percentage will almost certainly regress, but he’s quickly developed into one of the better fantasy assets in the league despite playing for a disappointing Washington team.

Richaun Holmes: With the 76ers constantly resting players such as Joel Embiid (The Process) and Jahlil Okafor (dealing with an illness), Holmes has become an option for those in deep leagues or looking for cheap options in DFS.

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Will Barton: He’s averaged 19.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.0 apg and 1.7 spg over the past week and is available in nearly 40 percent of Yahoo leagues. He’s back healthy and should be picked up anywhere in which he’s still available.

C.J. Miles: He was recently dealing with an injury, which is the only possible explanation for someone who’s been a top-50 player this season and yet owned in just 39 percent of Yahoo leagues. But Miles is healthy now, and he can provide a big boost to your team even in limited playing time. The Pacers are top-10 in Pace this season.

Here’s Klay Thompson scoring 60 points in 29 minutes while touching the ball for 88 seconds and taking 11 dribbles.

And here’s one of the best highlights of the season so far.

STOCK DOWN

Andrew Wiggins: He’s shooting 38.1 percent from the field over the past two weeks, when he’s been the No. 218 fantasy player. Wiggins can score and seems to be a good player, but in 9-cat leagues, few have been bigger disappointments. In year three he’s averaging his fewest spg (0.6) and bpg (0.4) while committing his most tpg (2.6). Wiggins is a talented defensive player, yet he hasn’t blocked a shot in any of his last nine games. I’m optimistic, but Wiggins needs to improve in a big way to come close to reaching his fantasy owners’ expectations.

Dwight Howard: He’s averaged 8.8 points over the last week, and Howard’s return home to Atlanta has resulted in his lowest ppg (13.3) since his rookie season in 2004/05 for a team that’s lost seven straight games. His Rebound Rate (24.1) is actually a career high, but Howard hasn’t been a top-175 player over the past two weeks, and most importantly, he was dunked on badly by Victor Oladipo.

Joakim Noah: Despite the big contract, Noah remains a sketchy fantasy own, as there’s an argument Kyle O’Quinn should be seeing more minutes in New York’s frontcourt. Noah’s not shooting a ton of freebies, but 24.0 percent from the free throw line is pretty terrible.

[Week 14 rankings: Overall | FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K]

Dario Saric: He seemed like a great add early on this season as someone going to get a bunch of run, but Saric hasn’t been a top-225 player so far, as he’s shot 39.2 percent from the field. The opportunity has been there (he’s getting 24.8 mpg), but there needs to be a big improvement for him to still be worth owning from here on out.

Kent Bazemore: One of the better surprises last season (when he was undrafted in almost all leagues and finished as a top-75 player), Bazemore has busted so far this year. He’s still getting the playing time, but over the last two weeks, he’s shooting 30.0 percent, which is about as bad as it gets. He hasn’t been a top-250 player over this span, and he’s suddenly droppable.

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