Injuries have dominated the Fantasy landscape this season, but that isn't the only reason why this has been an unpredictable campaign. Whether due to injuries, age or just random slumps, a number of star players have failed to live up to expectations, especially lately.
On Monday's Fantasy Basketball podcast, Zach Harper and I discussed some of those slumping stars, and whether they are still worth waiting on. I decided to take a closer look at some of those names to see just what Fantasy owners can expect from some of these big names down the stretch.
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
Averaging 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds; 40.6 percent shooting since All-Star break
There are still flashes of vintage Dirk here and there, like his 22-point effort against the Thunder, in which he made four 3-pointers. However, he still had just four rebounds and two assists and shot a mediocre 8-of-18 in that game. The biggest issue with Nowitzki at this point is that he doesn't do enough scoring and shooting to make up for his mediocre production elsewhere, especially with his efficiency taking a big hit. He is non-existent on the boards and rarely hands out assists anymore, so he really is just a two-category contributor at this point; and that is in the scoring format that reflects best on him. Nowitzki is just a borderline starter in H2H point formats, but his upside probably makes him too valuable to drop unless a cant-miss player comes available on waivers.
Rajon Rondo, Mavericks
Averaging 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.0 assists; 44.7 percent shooting since All-Star break
Rondo is actually starting to play a bit more efficiently of late, but you never wanted him for his scoring anyways. Rondo making 45 percent of his shots is a nice bonus, but he doesn't shoot with enough volume for it to really make a difference, or to make up for his much-diminished production elsewhere. He still has plenty of value in H2H point formats, but you have to decide for yourself if assists are worth getting nothing from your point guard in 3-pointers and free-throw percentage in a category-based league.
Deron Williams, Nets
Averaging 11.9 points, 5.4 assists; 35.3 percent shooting in March
I really believed Williams would bounce back this season, believing that offseason surgery on his ankle could help him get back to health. In retrospect, that was totally foolish, as Williams has struggled mightily even when he has been able to stay on the floor. He has been unable to play at a high level for anything more than a few games at a time, and seems to be hitting a wall of late. The assist numbers are decent, but he hurts you so much elsewhere, it's hard to justify Williams being owned in 98 percent of CBSSports.com leagues at this point.
Ricky Rubio, Timberwolves
Averaging 10.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.7 assists; 30.8 percent shooting since All-Star break
Rubio's production isn't on trial here, unlike some of the players he is sharing this space with. Unfortunately, his ankle continues to give him problems, keeping him out of the lineup the last two games and likely putting a limit on how much he can play in any given night even when he does take the floor. The Wolves brought him back fairly slowly upon his initial return, but he started logging massive minutes after the All-Star break, averaging 38.1 per game over an 11-game stretch. He was putting up big numbers across the board, but his shooting numbers were even worse than usual, a sign that something was amiss. Given how valuable assists are, you probably still want to hang on to Rubio even if he is going to be limited to 28 or so minutes per game. However, if he can't return soon, you might want to look for a more reliable option, even if that means losing Rubio's potential later on.
David West, Pacers
Averaging 9.3 points, 6.8 rebounds; 47.1 percent shooting since All-Star break
With Lance Stephenson leaving and Paul George sitting out every game so far with a leg injury, big things were expected from West this season. However, he had trouble getting healthy early in the season and hasn't been able to match his production from recent years as a result. He is averaging his lowest scoring total since 2004-05, and his rebounding and assist numbers have jumped up enough to make up the difference. With George Hill and Rodney Stuckey taking on larger roles in the offense, West's value has declined even more since the break, as he ranks 61st in Fantasy scoring per game over the last 12 games. West is trending in the wrong way, and is very much droppable in standard leagues.
Joe Johnson, Nets
Averaging 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists; 45.6 percent shooting since All-Star break
Johnson is posting his lowest Usage rate since 2004-05 this season, and things have only gotten worse since the break. He is using just 18.9 percent of Brooklyn's offensive possessions while on the floor, down from 21.8 before the break. His efficiency has improved as a result, but Johnson's counting stats are down significantly across the board, with the exception of rebounding. He is just 43rd among forwards in Fantasy scoring since the All-Star break, and isn't adding much in the way of 3-point shooting to boost his value in category-based leagues. Given how many injury risks are on this roster, Johnson's role could grow, but I would not count on it at this point. He's a No. 4 forward at this point.
