On Tuesday, we discussed ten players that have improved their dynasty value so far this season. Today, we’re going to look at ten players that have gone the other direction. Just to reiterate what I mentioned in the last column, it takes a lot to alter a player’s dynasty ranking by more than a few spots. For better or worse, our evaluation of a player shouldn’t change significantly by a poor stretch. However, a quarter of a season is enough for us to at least take a look and see who should be ranked lower than they were in my preseason dynasty rankings.
Let’s get something straight here. Being on this list does not indicate that I think a player is trash. It doesn’t mean that I think they should be dropped 100 spots. It just means that if I were to update my dynasty rankings right now, they wouldn’t be as high as they were previously. For players in the top-five, they may move down 2-3 spots. For players outside the top-50, we’re talking about greater falls.
This is a great time to buy low on (most of) these players. I’m not optimistic that all of them will rise back up in the future, but they certainly could. Some of these players are guys that I will never give up on, but their play is forcing me to face the reality that I may have been too high on these guys. Even if I still believe in them, I need to re-evaluate based on the production they have shown.
The best thing you can do is see if you agree with my evaluation and decide whether or not it is worth it to buy low in your league. If the price is right, I say go for it, even if the value of these players has dropped.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Indiana Pacers (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 5)
The last two seasons have heralded Haliburton in as one of the darlings of fantasy basketball. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been as successful this season, despite playing a career-high 35.4 minutes per game. He’s averaging 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.8 triples per game while shooting 42% from the floor. The drop in offensive production has been the main issue, and while it hasn’t been dramatic, it’s enough for me to reconsider how he stacks up against players like Chet Holmgren, LaMelo Ball and Jayson Tatum.
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 20)
He’s still too productive when he’s available to drop much further, but he’s on the wrong side of 30 with a terrible injury history. In a 30-team startup draft, it would be difficult to use your first round pick on him. He has been a top three player in 9-cat scoring in each of the last three seasons, but I don’t trust that he will stay healthy. He has only played five games this season after playing 39 last year. It’s difficult to imagine that his availability will improve as he ages, so even if he’s dominant for a few more years when he’s on the floor, his value in dynasty formats must be lower.
Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 25)
Here’s a case of a player that I still believe in that hasn’t been anywhere as good as I expected him to be. Learning to play point guard in the NBA takes time, which is why it’ll be at least a couple more years before I throw in the towel on him. Last year’s 3rd overall pick is averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.0 triple in 26.2 minutes per game. The only statistical improvement from year one to year two has been a rise in field goal percentage to 41.9%, which still isn’t a good mark. The ascension of Brandon Miller and Amen Thompson hasn’t made things easier for Henderson.
Desmond Bane, SG, Memphis Grizzlies (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 31)
After three straight top-40 seasons for Bane, his start to this season has been frustrating. I expect him to get better as the season progresses, but the reality is that he played 100 games in two years ahead of this season, and he has already missed some time in November. He also isn’t a young prospect with upside. He came into the league as an older rookie, which helped him have success earlier on. This year he has averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.8 threes on 43.4% shooting. Bane has been an elite shooter for most of his career, so that should improve as he plays more games. However, it is difficult to value him this highly at this point, especially with other young players emerging.
Nic Claxton, C, Brooklyn Nets (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 55)
The last few games have been better for Claxton, but his last two seasons have been disappointing. Claxton was a second-round producer during the 2022-23 season, but he has regressed since then and currently ranks outside the top-100. He fits the mold of the traditional center statset that is dominant in a few categories and doesn’t really impact others. That also makes it easy for his value to drop quickly, which has happened due to a decrease in blocks and rebounds per game this season. The best chance that Claxton will have to move back up the rankings is to end up on a more competitive team with an elite playmaker that can feed him lobs. It’s unclear if that will happen anytime soon in Brooklyn.
Onyeka Okongwu, C, Atlanta Hawks (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 58)
“You know, maybe next year will be the year that Okongwu moves into the starting lineup.” My grandkids look at each other and smile. “Maybe it will be, grandpa! Now, let’s get you back to bed!”
We’ve been pleading for it to happen for years, but Okongwu hasn’t played well enough this season for it to still be on the coaching staff. I still believe that OO could be a fantasy beast with Trae Young feeding him lobs for 32 minutes per game, but will that ever be a reality? Should it be a reality? The addition of a 3-point shot is cool, but he hasn’t shot it well this year, and the rest of his numbers are down. The idea of what Okongwu can be is a lot more exciting than what he has done, and it is becoming less and less likely that we get to see him at his peak. He’s only 24, so it’ll be difficult to drop him significantly, but if he hasn’t been able to surpass an aging Clint Capela yet, will he ever?
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 67)
Our fears about Duren have been realized. With a new coach that is trying to get the Pistons to play defense, Duren hasn’t been able to improve in that area. That kept him off the floor, which means he can’t dominate the glass like he has in the past. He’s down to 23.9 minutes per game, which has dropped his averages down to 8.9 points and rebounds per game. The blocks are up to 1.3, which is encouraging, but blocks aren’t truly indicative of a player’s defensive ability. He’s only 21, so he has plenty of time to develop on that end of the floor, but this season has been eye-opening.
Brandin Podziemski, SG, Golden State Warriors (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 78)
Golden State’s reported adoration of Podz and refusal to include him in a trade for Lauri Markkanen gave me the impression that he was going to be even better than he was as a rookie. I was wrong. He has averaged 7.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.9 triples per game while shooting 38% from the floor and 24.7% from deep, all of which are worse than his rookie year. His first season was strong, so I still think he can figure it out eventually. However, he has fallen out of favor in Golden State, and he could end up being included as part of a deal to bring a star to the Warriors. That may or may not help maximize him as a player.
D’Angelo Russell, PG, Los Angeles Lakers (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 107)
A fresh start would do him good, but it feels like Russell is the latest point guard to have their reputation tarnished while playing for the Lakers. I think a fresh start would be good for Russell, but the reality is that the Lakers didn’t ruin him. Playing on a high-profile team that also has LeBron James simply raises a magnifying glass to a player’s weaknesses. He’s coming off his best performance of the season, but his production has still taken a big hit overall this year, as he has averaged 12.9 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 triples on 42.2% shooting from the floor. He’s about to turn 29 years old, and he should have a few more solid years ahead of him. That is more likely to happen for a different team, but he shouldn’t be ranked close to a top-100 player.
Jaden McDaniels, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves (Preseason Dynasty Rank: 129)
McDaniels is still one of the best defenders in the league, but I’m losing hope that he’ll develop into a fantasy stud. Sure, he’s finally averaging over a steal per game, which is great to see. However, his offense has regressed over the last two years, and he is shooting career-lows from the floor (44%) and from deep (30.7%). He’s not a must-roster player in redraft leagues, and it doesn’t feel like he has a breakout season coming up soon. McDaniels still holds value in dynasty leagues, but it’s difficult to consider him a top-150 player.
