The shooting guard position has been a major sore spot in fantasy circles for years. While the point guard and small forward positions are loaded with talent, the shooting guard position is led by James Harden with a massive drop off after him. That likely won’t change much with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and C.J. McCollum the most likely options to fill out the top-five at their position. We decided to dig deeper in order to identify a couple of shooting guards you might want to target as well as a tandem you might want to avoid. Here is a look at the biggest NBA fantasy risers and fallers at the shooting guard position.
Risers
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Booker put on an absolute clinic as an NBA sophomore this past season when he averaged 22.1 points, 3.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 three-point shots in 35.0 minutes per game for the Suns. The 13th-overall pick from the 2015 NBA Draft was a top-75 fantasy asset regardless of position and it was about a lot more than his 70-point game. The fact that Booker won’t turn 21 until October is proof that the young shooting guard is only starting to tap in to his immense potential. As the franchise player on a young Suns team, don’t be surprised if Booker takes another significant step forward in 2017-18.
Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics
The majority of the focus with the Celtics remains on Isaiah Thomas and finding stars to surround him with. As a result, Bradley hasn’t received the credit that he deserves based on his production. The veteran shooting guard averaged 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 33.4 minutes per game for Boston last season. There should be even more competitions for touches next season but Bradley has proven himself as a valuable asset. He might not get the attention he deserves but Bradley is a capable shooting guard with underrated potential moving forward to the 2017-18 season.
Gary Harris, Denver Nuggets
Harris was one of the biggest surprises of the 2016-17 NBA fantasy season. Entering the year, he was a player that many people felt might be worth taking a flier on. At the end of the season, he was probably a key cog on many teams that won the championship.
It’s interesting to note that he only played 60 games last season but he still blew up in terms of NBA fantasy. We’re talking about a guy who averaged 16.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.2 threes on 53.5% from the field in his final 25 games. This is a young player who is on the rise and is going to be a key cog in Denver’s rotation for years to come. Harris and Nikola Jokic are the core of everything that will happen in Denver in the coming years.
Fallers
Monta Ellis, Indiana Pacers
Ellis was likely a top-15 pick at the shooting guard position in most drafts this past season. There is a good chance the majority of his owners regret the decision to take him. Ellis averaged just 8.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game for an Indiana team that gave him every opportunity to shine on offense. Ellis will turn 32 this October so his best fantasy days are likely behind him now. The only caveat here is if the Pacers move Paul George. If so, that could open a sizable opportunity for Ellis in NBA fantasy. The team will be terrible but he’ll be one of the main offensive options.
Wesley Matthews, Dallas Mavericks
Matthews has talked a lot about finding his shot again and becoming the player he once was. However, age and injuries have taken their toll on the veteran shooting guard over the years and it’s clear he will never again be the player he once was. Matthews averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.2 minutes per game for the Mavericks last season. While he still hit the three-ball at a respectable clip it will be difficult to draft Matthews as a three-point specialist based on his age and the lack of other categories he will provide support in. Matthews might still be a decent deep pick based on his point production but his best days are clearly behind him at this point.
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