Since the start of the NBA season three months ago, the 2014-15 rookie class has experienced plenty of ups-and-downs. From the early season success to the rash of season-ending injuries to collective renewed optimism, these rookies have have been on a wild roller-coaster ride from day one. With lottery picks returning from injury (Aaron Gordon & Doug McDermott) to players being called up from the D-league, the number of rookie fantasy options for deep leagues continues to swell. Even in standard leagues, a handful of players have separated themselves to rank in the top 100 across all fantasy leagues. As we start the home stretch of the season, it’s time to see who can help your squad and where they rank.
1. Andrew Wiggins, SF, MIN: At this point, Wiggins is starting to lap the field in the Rookie of the Year race. While most of the other rookies have just recently found their shooting touch, the former Jayhawk has posted an average of 19.8 points per game on 47 percent shooting in the last 30 days. His scoring not only blows away all other first-timers, it puts the 19-year-old small forward in the top 15 of the entire NBA in that span. Wiggins’ game doesn’t start and end with just points however. Over his last seven games, the Timberwolves star is averaging 4.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. It’s numbers like those that have Wiggins ranked in the top 35 for all of fantasy in the past 30 days.
(Average over last 10 games) 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 37.6 minutes per game
2. Nerlens Noel, PF, PHI: The biggest weakness in Noel’s game has always been on the offensive side of the ball, but in the last two weeks his scoring touch has shown signs of life. Averaging 9.2 points and shooting over 47 percent in his last eight games, the former Wildcat has even put up double-digit scoring performances in four of his last eight games. The boost in scoring hasn’t taken away from his defensive prowess either. The power forward has enjoyed a 14 rebound performance, a five block game and a two four steal nights. All in the past six games. Noel ranks near the top 25 in rebounds, steals and blocks, not just for rookies, but for all of the NBA. While he will experience the occasional 1-for-9 shooting night, Noel is beginning to round out into a nice fantasy option at the power forward position, as shown by his top 20 ranking at the position over the past two weeks.
(Average over last 10 games) 8.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 2.0 blocks in 30.7 minutes per game
3. Elfrid Payton, PG, ORL: Coach Jacque Vaughn has given the young point guard more control over the Magic offense recently, as his usage rate as gone up to nearly 21% in his last seven games after being below 18% for most of the season. The added confidence in his play making ability has translated well in the stat sheet too. Over the past two weeks, Payton has dished out 8.8 assists per game. Increased assist numbers aside, Payton’s biggest improvement on the season has been his shooting. For the first 41 games of the season, he was making only 39 percent of his shots. While over the past two weeks, Payton has found a way to boost his makes to 48 percent. The young point guard is coming on strong as the second half approaches. Now let’s see if he can keep up his top 25 point guard ranking, earned over the past 30 days, for the remainder of the season.
(Average over last 10 games) 11.6 points, 7.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 33.3 minutes per game
4. Jusuf Nurkic, C, DEN: Like with most rookie bigs, foul trouble continues to limit the potential of Nurkic. Since taking the Nuggets starting center job, Nurkic is averaging nearly four fouls per game and has fouled out twice in those ten starts. That translates to limited minutes, 21.2 per game, which in turn prevents Nurkic from getting into any kind of offensive rhythm. The lack of consistent action could explain his terrible field goal percentage of 39 percent over his last 10 games. His per 36 minute average over that span of 12.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, also reemphasizes what Nurkic could do with more floor time. Now if he could stay out of foul trouble, the Bosnian big man may just realize his fantasy potential after all.
(Average over last 10 games) 6.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 21.2 minutes per game
5. Langston Galloway, PG, NYK: Since Galloway was called up from the D-league in early January, he has helped revitalize a Knicks squad who had won only five games until that point. Starting the last five games at the point for New York, the 23-year-old rookie has led the Knicks to four wins in those five contests. He’s averaging 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 threes and 1.4 steals in those five starts. Even with the small sample size, the Knicks have signed Galloway for the remainder of the year and have given him a partial salary guarantee for the 2015-16 season. Expect him to continue to receive his 30 plus minutes per game for the rest of the season and be a great secondary point guard option in fantasy leagues.
(Average over last 9 games) 12.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and in 1.7 three-pointers in 29.0 minutes per game
Just missed out:
Nikola Mirotic – CHI: Even with injuries to Chicago’s front court, Mirotic has not found his way on to the court. Playing less than 15 minutes per game in seven of his last 10 games has drained most of his fantasy value. Shooting 38 percent and grabbing only 2.8 rebounds per game in that span makes him virtually unplayable in fantasy at the moment.
K.J. McDaniels – PHI: While his field goal percentage continues to slip, 34 percent in the last two weeks, McDaniels minutes have stayed steady at 27.1 per game in that same stretch. The small forward maintains the multi-category contributor tag with 11.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks per game over his last five games.
Marcus Smart – BOS: Still unable to crack into the starting lineup, Smart is playing less than 27 minutes per game in the past two weeks. Even with reduced floor time, the numbers he’s putting up show promise. Smart has 7.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 threes in his last six games.
Bojan Bogdanovic – BKN: He reclaimed the starting job eight games ago and continues to see solid minutes, 26.5 per game. In his last eight games, Bogdanovic is averaging 9.6 points per game while hitting 92 percent of his free throws. If he can start hitting his shots from distance again, 3-for-16 from three the past two weeks, his point totals will steadily climb up.
Dante Exum – UTA: Exum started his last three games at the point over Trey Burke. He nailed eight three-pointers in his first two starts and put up a goose-egg, points-wise, in his third start. With Utah out of contention, Exum will continue to get starts at the point despite his inconsistencies.
Dale Redman is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Dale, check out his archive and follow him @fantasytool.