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Three-Man Weave: Fantasy Basketball's Midseason Awards

FanDuel DraftKings daily fantasy basketball

Wei Sallas hands out midseason awards for the 2017-18 NBA season in fantasy basketball's Week 14.

While the All-Star game is still a few weeks away, every team in the NBA has reached the midway point of its season at 41 games. We're officially in the home stretch of the 2017-18 season.

With that in mind, we dive into the numbers to announce the Most Valuable Player, Most Improved Player, and Rookie of the Year in Fantasy Basketball.

Enjoy!

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Most Valuable Player - Lebron James

LeBron James isn't ranked as the best fantasy basketball player this season. His consistency and his inability to take games off however, is make him the Most Valuable. James has yet to miss a game this season, he leads the league in field goals made, third in PER, eighth in True Shooting Percentage, third in points per game, fourth in assists per game, 24th in rebounds and blocks per game, thirteenth in steals per game. Basically, he lights up the entire stat sheet every time he plays--which is every game.

I mean...

Given that James' average draft position and projected value was towards the bottom of the first round, his +/- of current value compared to preseason projected value is the best for anyone in the top-10.

 

Most Improved Player - Victor Oladipo

When Oladipo was traded to Indiana in the off-season there wasn't one person on all of planet Earth who viewed him as the top commodity in that trade. After all, Oladipo had barely worked his way into the top-100 last year in 9-cat leagues, finishing 97. While last year he fell victim to Russell Westbrook's insane usage rate, obviously bringing down his own value, there were no signs of  him being able to be the statistical leader of a team, even when that's exactly what was expected of him during his time in Orlando.

Yet, through the first half of the 2017-18 season, no one is having a more improved season. As mentioned, Oladipo finished 97 last season, and is currently ranked 11. Even coming into this season, asked to carry the burden with breakout candidate Myles Turner, Oladipo was projected as a fifth round value pick. So far this season, he is averaging career highs in every statistical category except assists (0.2 assists per game off his career-best). He has had single game career highs in points (47), rebounds (15), steals (7) and three-pointers made (6).

Also...

Rookie of The Year Midseason - Donovan Mitchell

Despite being the thirteenth pick in the draft, there was not one person who expected Mitchell to have this kind of start to his career. Mitchell was not even on most draft boards, ranked out of the top-200s and not even considered a sleeper. Players like Rodney Hood and Joe Johnson were expected to take up the bulk of the minutes at the shooting guard position, but it has been Mitchell who leads the Jazz in points per game and shot attempts through the midway point.

He leads all rookies in points per game (18.8) and free throw percentage (.854), third in steals per game (1.48), while also averaging 3.4 assists and rebounds per game. His 41 points on November 30 is the most by a rookie this season and has gone over 30 points four times this season.

Ben Simmons and Jayson Tatum are also having fantastic starts, but only one rookie is in the top-50 in 9-cat leagues. Mitchell.

 

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chet Holmgren

Available Sunday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Suspended for Three Games for Attempting to Strike Another Player
Kristaps Porzingis

May Return Sunday
Zaccharie Risacher

to Miss Second Consecutive Game Sunday
Kevin Porter Jr.

Considered Probable for Sunday
Aaron Gordon

Likely to Play Sunday
Christian Braun

Considered Probable for Sunday
Spencer Jones

May Miss Another Game Sunday
Jamal Murray

Iffy for Sunday's Action
Josh Hart

Tagged as Questionable for Sunday
Ja Morant

Out Sunday
Michael Porter Jr.

Resting on Sunday
RJ Barrett

Unavailable Sunday
Brandon Ingram

Could Remain Out Sunday
Scottie Barnes

Uncertain for Sunday
Joel Embiid

Questionable to Play Sunday
Tidjane Salaün

Tidjane Salaun Available Versus Jazz
Grant Williams

Ready for Season Debut
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

off the Injury Report for Sunday
Kevin Huerter

Active on Saturday Night
Jalen Smith

Back for Bulls Saturday
Chandler Stephenson

Jaden Schwartz Replaces Chandler Stephenson in Kraken Lineup
Brandon Saad

Won't Play This Weekend
Shea Theodore

Returns to Golden Knights Lineup Saturday
Jaccob Slavin

Returns Against Kraken
Travis Konecny

Ruled Out Saturday
Brad Marchand

Misses Saturday's Game
Corey Perry

Available Saturday
William Nylander

Returns From Six-Game Absence
Mark Scheifele

Scores Twice as Jets End Skid
John Carlson

Records Two Assists Friday
Karel Vejmelka

Picks Up Win No. 20
Clayton Keller

Dishes Out Three Assists Friday
Jamie Benn

to Remain Out Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Expected to Play Saturday
Alexander Kerfoot

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Friday
John Klingberg

Could Return Sunday
Noah Laba

Could Return Saturday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kevin Stenlund

Available Friday
Anze Kopitar

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Aliaksei Protas

Back in Action Friday
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette

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