Thanks to our friends at fantaZscores.com we’ve been able to include Z scores associated with each player, helping you identify the areas of strength for each player based on your build. The numbers included below are the top categories the player gains value in, “0” meaning league average and any number above “0” are reflective of above average scores. The higher the number the more competitive that player is relative to that category. It will hopefully help you target players that will help strengthen your build.
Players We’re Thankful For
1. Lauri Markkanen
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Year | 54% | 82% | 2.1 | 8.5 | 2.4 | .6 | .9 | 22.4 |
| Last Year | 45% | 87% | 2.2 | 5.7 | 1.3 | .7 | .5 | 14.8 |
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
93 → 24 (+69 nice)
Z-Score Value (via FantaZscores.com)
RebZ: +1.14
Fg%Z: +1.33
PtsZ: +.97
Acquired this offseason via trade when the Utah Jazz sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Lauri Markkanen, Colin Sexton and a boat load of draft picks – Lauri entered the year as a consolation piece for a selling franchise. As most trades go there tends to be a “winner” and a “loser” outcome, but this one seems to be working out well for both teams so far. The best part of Lauri’s great start this year? Nothing he’s doing seems to be unsustainable for the season. Sure, shooting 54% seems rather high for someone who attempting a career high shots a year (15.5) but he’s also a career 45% shooter. Even if he comes back down to earth a bit he’ll still be hovering around the 20 point a game mark and that’s still a very efficient player. After an off year in Cleveland, Lauri’s stock was low and if you were able to grab him in the 7th – 9th round range you’ve gotta be feeling pretty good right about now. No need to try and “sell high”, just enjoy the Finnisher (did that nickname ever take off?) for the late round steal that he is.
2. Royce O’Neale (BKN)
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Year | 40% | 71% | 2.4 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1.1 | .7 | 10.1 |
| Last Year | 46% | 80% | 1.5 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .4 | 7.4 |
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
146 → 86 (+60)
Z-Score Value (via FantaZscores.com)
3sZ: +.70
TovZ: +.44
AstZ: +.41
Acquired by the Brooklyn Nets this offseason during the Utah Jazz firesale, no one quite knew what type of role would be available for Royce especially on a Nets team with so many question marks. To everyone’s surprise, and also maybe to no one’s surprise, Royce sits high our chart as a player with one of the highest value gained from draft day to now – climbing 60 spots! Sure, Royce won’t consistently drop 20 points a night but he does a little bit of everything and he does it very efficiently. As evidence of that, Royce is posting career high numbers almost across the board this year. Depending on how big your league is, Royce was drafted in one of the very last rounds or you grabbed him on the wire (and maybe you still can, he’s only owned in 33% of ESPN leagues and 10% in Yahoo leagues). He’s a great utility guy for any squad.
3. Kyle Lowry (MIA)
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Year | 39% | 83% | 2.4 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 1.2 | .7 | 14.3 |
| Last Year | 44% | 85% | 2.3 | 4.8 | 7.5 | 1.1 | .3 | 13.4 |
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
111 → 53 (+58)
Z-Score Value (via FantaZscores.com)
AssistsZ: +1.07
3sZ: +.70
In his 19th NBA season (did not know that), Lowry is still producing at a fantasy relevant rate. Despite posting lower numbers than last year, Lowry has still proven to provide great value this year. With an average draft position of 104, Lowry was most likely a 7th – 10th round pick, depending on how big your league is, and is now giving you 5th or 6th round value. Lowry is pretty solidified as the Heat’s starting point guard, and as mentioned before still has some room to improve, but there is some “sell high” potential here if you are able to find a buyer. He’s playing a high 36 minutes a night, partly due to all the injuries the Heat have right now, but once healthy his usage will most likely take a hit.
4. Nic Claxton (BKN)
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Year | 72% | 38% | 0.0 | 8.1 | 1.2 | .8 | 1.9 | 11.5 |
| Last Year | 67% | 58% | 0.0 | 5.6 | .9 | .5 | 1.1 | 8.7 |
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
130 → 80 (+50)
Z-Score Value (via FantaZscores.com)
Fg%Z: +2.51
BlkZ: +2.03
RebZ: +.97
As mentioned previously, the Nets were a team with a lot of question marks coming into the year and a few players have made the most of the opportunity – Nic Claxton being one of them. Claxton came into this year as the starting center for the Nets, having started 19 games in the year prior we got to see a little taste of the potential if given the opportunity. While Claxton owners probably wish he got more minutes, the increase in production has certainly been evident this year. Claxton is having a career year and again, as someone who was probably drafted later in your league, this is the kind of production you hope for landing late in the draft. Claxton won’t be an early round candidate next year but the value you get this year is definitely worth it.
5. Devin Vassell (SAS)
| FG% | FT% | 3PM | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| This Year | 47% | 74% | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | .8 | .5 | 20.2 |
| Last Year | 43% | 84% | 1.9 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | .6 | 12.3 |
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
87 → 60 (+27)
Z-Score Value (via FantaZscores.com)
3sZ: +1.44
PtsZ: +.61
TovZ: +.55
The rising star entered his junior campaign as one of the focal pieces on a young Spurs team, and he’s not disappointing those who took a chance and drafted him around the 6th – 8th round mark. His scoring and efficiency from behind the arc have been the biggest leaps for the young guard, and shooting at a very manageable percent from the field. If he can bring his FT percentage up and increase his volume from the line, we’ll see his points climb even higher. Hopefully he can stay healthy this year and we can enjoy the increased production.
Other Notable Players
ADP (via Hashtag Basketball)
- Brook Lopez (MIL)
125 → 19 (+106) - OG Anunoby (TOR)
80 → 20 (+60) - Anfernee Simons (POR)
102 → 43 (+59) - Bojan Bogdanovic (DET)
125 → 71 (+54) - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
46 → 2 (+44) - Kelly Olynyk (UTA)
129 → 99 (+30) - Kristaps Porzingis (WSH)
53 → 26 (+27) - Jalen Brunson (NYK)
52 → 35 (+17)
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