Fantasy basketball season has just started and everyone who has been drafted is now a game or two into their season and they are looking to upgrade the roster and have the best team they can have.
Finding good consistent players to be in your flex spots or to stash on the bench and use when someone else is not playing is hard to do. Do not worry though because Tru-Yak is here to let you know who you should pick up before everyone starts picking them up.
These are the players you can grab now before it is too late and they are rostered in every league. Obviously everyone drafts some studs like Luka or Jokic, and everyone drafts some players that under-perform like Kyrie so far this year or Jimmy Butler.
To replace those guys, or to find other guys to help balance them out is what everyone is doing now that they have had a few weeks to see their players play. Some guys that went undrafted in your league this year might be early round picks next year.
Get your steals why you can now. You might find a top player in your league’s waiver wires.
3# Derek Lively II
Derek Lively is a rookie center for the Dallas Mavericks who has been making an immediate impact. Lively is averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game and is currently ranked the 28th best center.
Lively is an athletic lob threat, and is an elite rebounder and rim protector. He has a knack for finding the ball, and fights for everything off the glass on both ends of the floor. He is going to have a chance to take off in Dallas’ offense with Luka, Kyrie, and newly acquired Grant Williams.
He is ranked 5th among rookies and this is extremely impressive this early on. He is only going to continue to get better and feel more comfortable. He already has two 30+ points fantasy games and a game with 29.
Lively so far is averaging 8.6 points per game, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assist, and a block per game. On 70.5% shooting in 24.3 minutes per game. He has only shot below 50% in one game, and he has two double doubles.
He also has three games with 10 plus rebounds and 4 games with double digit points. He also has had a block in every game so far. As the season goes on they will rely on him more and when he and Luka build full chemistry he will only move up from his 28th ranked spot.
He is only rostered in 14.4% of leagues on ESPN, go get him while you can.
#2: Jalen Suggs
Jalen Suggs has seemingly figured out his role in Orlando and has started to excel in it. Suggs has taken the role of the hustle and heart player much like a Marcus Smart or a Derrick White. Suggs has been scoring the ball pretty good this year and even when he hasn’t he has made a huge impact for the Magic.
Suggs is averaging 24.3 fantasy points per game and is ranked 17th at his position. He has had 20+ fantasy points in 7 of his first 9 games and has had four 20+ point games in a row. The Magic have been off to a hot start and he has a big role on the young team.
Suggs is averaging 12.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.1 steals on 41.1% from the field and 35.1% from three in 27.6 minutes per game. In his first 9 games he has two 20 point games and 4 games with at least 4 rebounds.
Suggs is an elite rebounder for a guard and does not need to be scoring to get fantasy points or impact his team on the court. His hustle, effort, and defense is what gets him his time on the floor normally, and will make him a must play in big games. This will create creative opportunities to accumulate fantasy points.
If Suggs continues his all around play, and continues to defend hard then he could potentially be a top 10 fantasy shooting guard this year. Suggs last game was his best this year and he will continue to progress throughout the year. That is elite play and he is on the waiver wire in most leagues.
Suggs is only rostered in 22.3% of leagues on ESPN. He might be the missing piece to your team.
#1: Marcus Sasser
Marcus Sasser is an elite shooter that is making a name for himself in the Pistons locker room. Sasser was a second round pick in this year’s draft that has been one of the steals of the draft in the early season. Sasser is in a crowded guard room in Detroit, but he is making himself a must play.
There was even a recent interview with Brian Windhorst where he said that Sasser is being thought of as the second best guard on the Pistons. He has taken minutes from Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes this year and has been producing.
Sasser is averaging 19.4 fantasy points per game and is the 19th ranked point guard, and he is 7th ranked among rookies. He has two games with 34 fantasy points and 5 with at least 20. His stats are also a little hindered because he only played 8 minutes per game in his first three games.
Excluding those games he is averaging 24.9 fantasy points per game. On the season Sasser averages 10.7 points per game, 2.8 rebounds and assists per game on 50.6% field goal shooting and 43.9% from three which is top 25 in the league in 21.1 minutes per game.
Sasser already has two 20+ point games, one game with 19 points, and three games with 6 rebounds or assists. He also has 3 games with three or more 3 pointers made and 5 games with multiple threes made.
He is a three level scorer who can create his own shot, he is elite from deep, and he can shoot the middle. He is elite off the catch and shoot where he is shooting 52.6% on catch and shoot threes. He can also get to the rim when necessary.
He is only rostered in 10.4% of leagues. Don’t miss out on getting a chance at Sasser.
ONWARD!
TRU-YAK
