The High Score 100 — the top-100 players in Yahoo's newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who's actually delivering value and who's fading.
Here's a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the first part of the 17th week of fantasy basketball, following the All-Star break — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I'll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.
📈 Risers — Post-All-Star surges
Player | Team | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Rank Change | |
Jalen Suggs | ORL | 98 | 74 | +14 | |
Kevin Porter Jr. | MIL | 52 | 43 | +9 | |
Jamal Murray | DEN | 19 | 16 | +3 |
Jalen Suggs — G, Orlando Magic: 74th overall (⬆️ 14)
Suggs has been on an insane run defensively over the past two weeks. The stocks are the primary reasons he's been a top-10 player in High Score over that span. Through those five games, his numbers ballooned to 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per game -- totaling 52.4 fantasy points. That's elite two-way guard play, just what the Magic will need as they try to move up from seventh in the Eastern Conference standings. I'd be looking to buy Suggs while his season-long ranking still looks understated.
Kevin Porter Jr. - G, Milwaukee Bucks: 43rd overall (⬆️ 9)
KPJ has only been available for 28 of the Bucks' 53 games. However, when he plays, he's been a top-30 guy in High Score. The move up to 44th might seem low, but I can't ignore the injury factor. That said, he scored 57 fantasy points in Week 16 and already logged a 56-point fantasy game for Week 17. Giannis Antetokounmpo should be returning after the All-Star break, but the Bucks are also 12th in the East, about 1.5 games back from the 10th seed. Whether Giannis returns or not, KPJ could end up being the Bucks' best fantasy asset during the final stretch of the season.
Jamal Murray - G, Denver Nuggets: 16th overall (⬆️ 3)
Not a huge jump for Murray, but he's been the ninth-best player in High Score over the past two weeks, averaging 52.6 fantasy points per game. Murray has typically started slowly in recent years, but he's been a rock for the Nuggets and fantasy managers all year. Posting career bests in points, rebounds and assists, Murray is well on pace to finish as a top-20 option in High Score this season.
📉 Fallers — The tank is on
Player | Team | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Rank Change | |
Dyson Daniels | ATL | 49 | 60 | -11 | |
Russell Westbrook | SAC | 47 | 54 | -7 | |
Ivica Zubac | IND | 92 | 97 | -5 |
Dyson Daniels— G/FC, Atlanta Hawks: 60th overall (⬇️ 11)
While Daniels remains one of the best defenders in the Association, his fantasy output hasn't kept pace. Through four games in February, Daniels is posting 11-4-4 with less than a steal per game with 49/25/57 shooting splits. His shooting volume is down from last season and if he can't go to the line more than 1.5 times per game, it'll be a challenge to get his scoring up post-All-Star break. The rebounds and assists are propping up his value, but I'd have some concern for the rest of the season if he doesn't factor as much into Atlanta's offensive scheme.
Russell Westbrook — G, Sacramento Kings: 54th overall (⬇️ 7)
Zach LaVine is out for the season. Domantas Sabonis is slowly making his way back from a back injury. DeMar DeRozan is throwing water bottles on the ground. Reading between the tea leaves, the vets on the Kings will slowly be phased out as the season matures. We're already seeing more of Devin Carter, Max Raynaud and Nique Clifford than we have all season. I'm not convinced Russ is safe. He's dealing with an ankle injury, plus he's played at least 30 minutes in just one of his last four games. Most of the vets in Sacramento are in trouble fantasy-wise.
Ivica Zubac — FC, Indiana Pacers: 97th overall (⬇️ 5)
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told Indy radio station 93.5/103.5 The Fan last week, "I don't think he's going to play for a while." Zu had been playing through lingering ankle issues since he was with the Clippers. Since the Pacers are vying for one of the worst records in the league, Indy will be patient with Zubac and ensure he's 100% before returning to the court. Obviously, we want Zu healthy, but with little urgency to get him back, his fantasy value will continue to suffer.
Complete High Score 100 rankings
The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.
Note: Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Zach LaVine (hand) were removed from the High Score 100 rankings as they were ruled out for the season.