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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

CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
Devon Toews

to Miss at Least Two Weeks
Gabriel Landeskog

Out for Several Weeks
Jamie Drysdale

Makes Early Exit Tuesday
Bobby Brink

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Adam Henrique

Expected to Miss Time
Brad Marchand

Dealing With Lingering Health Issue
Haydn Fleury

Hospitalized Tuesday
Moussa Diabaté

Ryan Kalkbrenner Out, Moussa Diabate Probable Wednesday
Brandon Miller

Listed as Probable Wednesday
Alex Caruso

Absent for Second Consecutive Game
Nicolas Claxton

Available Wednesday
Moritz Wagner

Still Out Wednesday
Franz Wagner

Not Ready to Return Wednesday
Jalen Suggs

Remains Out Wednesday
Draymond Green

Questionable to Suit Up Wednesday
Jalen Smith

Ruled Out for Second Straight Game
Matas Buzelis

Could Miss First Game of the Season Wednesday
Coby White

May Skip Wednesday's Game
Cade Cunningham

Probable for Wednesday
Isaiah Hartenstein

to Remain Out Wednesday
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Could Return to Action Wednesday
Tim Hardaway Jr.

May Remain Out Wednesday
Christian Braun

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Aaron Gordon

Iffy for Wednesday
Jamal Murray

Considered Questionable for Wednesday Night
Max Strus

to Miss Another Month
Vince Williams Jr.

Making Return Tuesday Against Spurs
Trae Young

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
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
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
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
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Colston Loveland

Leads Bears in Targets, Receptions, Receiving Yards in Week 18
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal

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