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eric moody
multiple authors
Jaylen Brown had another stellar performance for the Boston Celtics on Monday night, scoring 41 points in a 120-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. This marked his sixth 40-point game on the season, third-most in the NBA, and puts him in distinguished company with Jayson Tatum, Paul Pierce, and Larry Bird (five times) in Celtics history as the only players with six or more 40-point games in a single season. Brown has been a top-15 fantasy player this season and continues to provide excellent all-around production.
Brown dominated from the start on Monday, scoring 19 of 21 points from the charity stripe, the most free throws made and attempted by a Celtics player in a game since 2007. His scoring surge continues what has been a career-best season, as he now has twice as many 40-point games as he has in any previous campaign.
Tatum added 21 points, the 192nd time both have scored more than 20 in the same game, making the Bird and Robert Parish combo third in franchise history. Tatum has continued to find form following a 10-month rehab following a right Achilles injury, averaging 38.0 fantasy points per game through his first five games this season.
Here are some other players and trends to keep an eye on as you navigate the fantasy playoffs.
Amen Thompson is getting hot at just the right time
Thompson leads the Houston Rockets in minutes over the last nine games at 37.6 per game and has been impressive on both ends during that span. He averages 21.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 5.4 apg and 1.3 spg, making him a strong contributor in division formats. That production translates to 42.5 fantasy points per game, which also leads the team.
Houston still has a lot to play for as it looks to avoid the play-in tournament, and Thompson is trending at the right time for fantasy managers chasing a championship. Keep him in your lineup.
Cody Williams emerges as ‘Silly Season’ league champ
Williams dropped 63 fantasy points against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, and this kind of upside should definitely add up. With the Utah Jazz relying on their young players and dealing with injuries to Keyontae George, Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier, Williams has played a big role by playing at least 36 minutes in six straight games. Over his last five years, Williams averaged 17.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.8 apg and 0.8 spg, which shows a good production that translated across all formats.
The former No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft is finally getting real minutes, and that alone makes him worth watching. With that kind of volume, he can swing playoff matchups. Williams is ranked in 10.0% of ESPN leagues.
Bilal Koulibaly is becoming a reliable fantasy option
Coulibaly, rostered in 15.0% of ESPN leagues, has averaged 14.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 3.3 APG and 1.0 SPG over his last seven games, and he’s one of the few reliable options on the chaotic Washington Wizards roster at the moment. While the Wizards continue to rotate minutes unexpectedly, Koulibaly remains in a consistent role, averaging 30.1 minutes per game with steady production in all categories. While improving as a shooter and playmaker, he has also shown flashes of upside by scoring at least 40 fantasy points three times this month.
The Wizards’ rotation has been hit by injuries, which should protect Coulibaly’s role. We’re at a point in the season where consistency is hard to find, which makes Koulibaly stand out as a player you can count on to have a solid floor with enough upside to impact your playoff matchups.
Mikal Bridge is collapsing at the worst time
Bridges has averaged just 10.6 PPG over his last 14 contests while shooting 41.1% from the field and 30.4% from 3-point range, showing a clear decline during a crucial stretch of the season. Even more worrying during this slump is that Bridges has averaged just 6.7 PPG over his last six games, while seeing a decrease in minutes… even sitting on the bench late in games.
Beyond scoring, his production has fallen across the board, as he has contributed just 4.8 rpg and 3.0 apg during this span. The lack of aggression has been a big issue, as Bridges has struggled to create easy looks and is rarely able to get to the free throw line. While he has remained a strong overall player with solid efficiency throughout the season, Bridges’ current fantasy production makes it difficult to trust him in the lineup. Managers should seriously consider keeping him on the bench.
Royce O’Neal is looking like a reliable 3-and-D option
O’Neal has made an average of 3.3 three-pointers per game over his last six contests, making him a strong addition for managers in need of perimeter production. He’s involved in 17.3% of ESPN leagues and is contributing in multiple categories, putting up 24.9 fantasy points in 28.0 minutes per game during that span.
With the Suns’ rotation continuing to weaken due to injuries, his role and usage should remain stable. O’Neal’s role is primarily as a spot-up shooter, but with steady minutes and strong shooting (44.4% in his last six), he can help stabilize fantasy lineups.
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