With the NBA season just over the halfway mark, it is time to look back on some of the studs and duds of the first half in Fantasy Basketball. The Fantasy playoffs begin in nine weeks for many standard leagues, and it is likely that teams have been helped and hindered by their draft picks. That’s what makes the waiver wire so crucial, as injury fill-ins and rotation changes can greatly affect a player’s value to a lineup.

While there are those players who you know will be consistent each year, there are others who never reach the heights of their expected leap or those who regress and never recover.

Here are some Fantasy Basketball surprises and disappointments of the first half of the NBA season. The numbers listed indicate the average draft position.

Surprises

Hassan Whiteside (C – Mia, 140) - Here’s a guy who bounced around in Summer League and the D-League before catching on with the Heat in November. It took until January before Whiteside really exploded into Fantasy relevance, but if owners were lucky enough to grab him off the wire, they have reaped the rewards of his success. In 2015, Whiteside has averaged 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in only 23.2 minutes per game, highlighted, of course, by his triple-double with 12 blocks off of the bench.

Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – Chi, 69.4) – Many predicted that Butler would make a leap this season and he hasn’t disappointed. Playing close to 40 minutes a night and a crucial part of the Bulls’ offence, Butler has seen his points per game increase by seven over last year. His shooting percentages are up across the board and has also made his defensive presence known. He is the frontrunner to win Most Improved Player and has definitely boosted his draft stock for next season.

Draymond Green (SF/PF – GSW, 119.1) – Those who took a flier on Green in the later rounds have been rewarded for their risk, like the Warriors in the second round of the 2012 Draft. While he hasn’t torn up the league, he is able to stuff the stat sheet and gives solid production in every category. He has started every game for Golden State and is averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, which are categories that owners know are the tightest each week in head-to-head matchups. It’s his five point and three rebound per contest increase that are some of Green’s highlights.

Darren Collison (PG – Sac, 96) – Collison is enjoying a career year with the Kings, averaging 16.4 points as the team’s third option. He is ranked higher than players like George Hill and Deron Williams who were both drafted before Collison but have struggled with injuries all year. Owners wouldn’t have been blamed for passing on Collison for bigger names, especially because this is Collison’s fourth team in four seasons. If he was drafted as your team’s second or third point guard, he could very well end up being number one.

 

Disappointments

Lance Stephenson (SG/SF – Cha, 62.2) – Drafted ahead of the likes of Kevin Martin and Luol Deng, many expected Stephenson to be a featured member of the Hornets’ offence after signing a three-year, $27 million deal. What has resulted in the first half is Stephenson already on the trading block and disappointing many owners who expected a career year from him as a starter. Instead, Stephenson is shooting only 38.5% from the field and an ugly 15.3% from deep. He’s only averaging 9.8 points per game and is now coming off the bench after missing 14 games with a pelvic injury. Owners who chose Stephenson lost the gamble.

Joakim Noah (C – Chi, 27.2) – Injuries have always been a concern for Noah, and while he managed to stay healthy last year, he’s already missed 11 games this season. His 7.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game are his worst in six seasons. Those who have expected Noah to eat up the glass should be mad at the arrival of Pau Gasol, who has re-emerged in his own right as a Fantasy star but at the expense of Noah. He will need to pick it up in the second half to justify why he was drafted so highly.

Nicolas Batum (SF – Por, 26.2) – One of the stat sheet stuffers of Fantasy, Batum has reportedly been battling a wrist injury most of the season which has translated into poor numbers. His shooting has been woeful and he has regressed in points, rebounds and assists. He was likely drafted in the middle of the third round and that’s a tough area to miss on a pick. While Portland has been able to survive through his struggles, owners who were counting on Batum to be a heavy contributor have been left to look elsewhere.

Rajon Rondo (PG – Dal, 51.3) – The days of Fantasy dominance for Rondo appear to be coming to an end. While he started the year off strong with the Celtics, it was his trade to Dallas that has gutted Rondo’s value. Never known for his shooting ability, Rondo has made only 26.3% of his free throws since being acquired by the Mavericks. He has really struggled to put anything on the stat sheet despite being in the starting lineup. Those who drafted Rondo for his ability to contribute in many categories are shaking their head at Rondo’s output this season.