NBA December- Who To Watch: Andre Drummond

           Who To Watch: Andre Drummond

                    (Detroit Pistons, Center)

                     December 2015-2016

        When writing about fantasy sports, I find it very easy to explain my thoughts, my ideas, and my plans to win. In fantasy football, you play to win the weekend. In other fantasy sports, like: basketball, baseball, hockey, etc., we have to have a similar mindset. Instead of win the weekend, it's win the entire week. From Sunday to Saturday, games are played everyday. We must be prepared to start, sit, pickup, and drop at any given moment.

        In some fantasy apps, players are given the opportunity to simply "auto-start" a lineup. But in fantasy sports, "auto" doesn't mean perfection. You can't trust it. Back in 2008, I attempted my first fantasy basketball league. I was very excited about it. I had only done fantasy football, so this was my first time owning a fantasy basketball team. I can't remember, but something happened that made me miss my online fantasy draft. I put my picks on auto-pick, thinking that the computer would draft me a better team than I could. Well, I was wrong. My first three picks were a free agent, an injured player, and a guy that shot a horrible percentage. Trust me when I say, don't trust the computer. 

        So far this season, we have seen one of the NBA's best players in Stephen Curry. It's no surprise that Curry is ranked #1 in fantasy basketball. He shoots a high percentage, while scoring 40+ points and racking up double-doubles every night. Finishing out the top 10 in fantasy are: Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Blake Griffin. These guys are fantastic players both in real life and in fantasy. It's no shock to anyone that these guys are in the top 10. So let's take a look at some players that have increased their fantasy value. In this month's article, I'll be going over the good, the bad, and ways to win before the end the year of 2015. One of my favorite players in December's Who To Watch is Detroit Pistons' Center, Andre Drummond. 

        In fantasy basketball, points are not the only stay that matters. Rebounds and field goal percentage can increase your points change and gain you the lead. Andre Drummond is a three year veteran. He was drafted in 2012 by the Detroit Pistons in the 1st round, 9th Overall Pick. This season, the 6'11" center is averaging 18.3 points, 16.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He's steadily shooting the ball with a .518 field goal percentage and a .380 free throw percentage. Looking at his stats, Detroit's big man is a must own in all leagues. With his increase in rebounds per game, his put-backs are steadily increasing his shooting percentage, as well. 

        To go along with Andre Drummond, there are plenty of other players that have surprised us this season. While many players have decreased their fantasy rank this season, I have chosen a few players from all over the top 100 fantasy players this season. Forcing their way to the top of the fantasy board, these guys have proven themselves to be starters in every fantasy lineup. 

Kyle Lowry (TOR • PG/SG) - The Toronto Raptors guard has shot a remarkable FG% of .416. Averaging 20.9 points, 6.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds per game, Lowry has created himself as a household name in Toronto and has become their go-to guy game after game. This will increase Lowry's fantasy value, giving him a higher chance to score more fantasy points through shooting percentage, 3-pointers made, and assists. Kyle Lowry is a buy low guard, right now. This means that you could trade to get him at a lower price than you will in a few months. 

Kristaps Porzingis (NY • PF/C) - The New York Knicks first round draft pick has lived up to the hype. Leading the Knicks in points and rebounds per game, the 7'3" rookie has led his team into the Eastern Conference top 15. Porzingis is averaging 13.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG, and a shooting percentage of .418. Becoming more dependent down the stretch, I expect the Knicks to trust Kristaps more in the offense. This should increase his fantasy value tremendously, especially towards the end of the season. 

Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN • C/PF) - Not only one of the top rookies in the league, Karl-Anthony Towns has become one of the top fantasy players, as well. Averaging a double-double each game with a 15.9 PPG and 9.4 RPG. Along with these, he's shooting a high .534 FG% and a high .370 3P%. A great start for any roster. If he continues to play at such a high level, he'll be able to lead any fantasy team to the top. 

C.J. McCollum (POR • SG/PG) - Becoming one of Portland's go-to shooters, McCollum is becoming a fantasy super star. With a high, .438 shooting percentage, the Trailblazers' guard has forced his way in the top 15 fantasy players this season. He's averaging 20.4 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 3.7 RPG. When looking at the available players in your league, look for guys like C.J. McCollum to being a boost to your lineup. McCollum is a must start for the remainder of the season. 

Nicolas Batum (CHA • SF/SG) - Completely overlooked by many fantasy owners during the draft, Nicolas Batum has become a hot name at the shooting guard position, averaging 16.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 6.6 RPG. Charlotte has been leaning on their young star more in their offense, which has completely turned Batum into a rising star. Look for Batum to remain a top 10 shooting guard for the remainder of the season. Owned in only 70% of leagues, search for Batum as a sneaky pickup or as a buy-low trade. 

Will Barton (DEN • SG/SF) - One of my favorite players to watch in the NBA, Will Barton is continuing to develop his game. Coming off the bench, Will Barton is in the early running for 6th Man of the Year. He's averaging 15.8 PPG, 2.5 APG, and 6.0 RPG this season. The former Memphis Tiger entered the season only 5% owned. Barton is a still available in most leagues; he'll be a great fantasy player down the stretch, as the Denver Nuggets will continue to feed him the ball. 

         There are plenty of players that are performing at a high level. It is crucial for you to continue to check percentages and averages of your players and of the players that are available in your league. Now, there are a few players that I have lost faith in. I'm loosing interest in some more than others, but here are a few to keep an eye on entering the heart of the NBA season. 

Derrick Rose (CHI • PG) - Owned in over 90% of fantasy leagues; Rose has been held at a high expectation by many fantasy owners this season. Derrick Rose was, at one time, one of the best point guards in fantasy. The current Derrick Rose is too injury prone. Shooting an below average .386 FG% and .246 3P%, Rose is exactly that - below average. As for owning him, I don't want to hold my breath every time he goes up for a layup. Without question, Rose is droppable. 

Kyle Korver (ATL • SF/SG) - Known for being a great shooter, Kyle Korver is one of my favorite NBA players, but fantasy is not about playing your favorites. It's about playing to win. Korver is a great shooter; this is why the Hawks lean on Korver as a huge part of their offense. He's only averaging 9.7 PPG, 2.1 APG, and 3.7 RPG. The Hawks making Korver force up bad shots is not good for your fantasy team. 

Zach Randolph (MEM • PF) - One of the faces for Memphis' Grit & Grind offense, the power forward has almost been completely lost in their offense. Memphis has transitioned their offensive game plan from feeding Zach and Marc on the block to forcing pick & rolls with Conley and Gasol. Randolph has slowly been decreasing his numbers, and I expect them to continue in that direction. The Grizz know that they need to shoot from the outside more in order to contend in a fast-pace league. 

Monta Ellis (IND • PG/SG) - The Indiana Pacers' guard was projected to be in the top 25, coming into the season. He has been shooting poorly with a .434 FG% and a .300 3P%. This has dropped his fantasy value to outside of the top 100. With that said, there are plenty of guards playing at a high level; Monta Ellis is droppable in all leagues. 

Kobe Bryant (LAL • SG) - In his final season, Kobe Bryant has shown his fatigue. He remains a great shooter, even though his numbers do not show it. He's been forcing his shots, as seen in his poor shooting performance this season, averaging .343 FG%, .785 FT%, and .256 3P%. Entering into the heart of the NBA season, I expect for Kobe's age, fatigue, and old injuries to hit him hard. Look for him to sit out a few more games, slow down on the court, and shoot a lower percentage. It's not looking good for the fantasy value of Kobe Bryant, which makes him droppable.

        Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you need to completely drop one of these players. There are a lot of players performing well this season. We need to continue to monitor these young players as they develop their game. Keep an eye on the teams that are looking to shake up their starting lineup; it could result in less playing time for many of the well-known players, like: Monta Ellis, Josh Smith, Paul Pierce, and Kobe Bryant. Continuing to check your players stats and changes are crucial to surviving fantasy basketball. 

By: Cameron Black

@GBCam_Black  @RealKingShiva