This part of the season -- the end of January/early February -- is typically the time of year where the players are starting to get a bit rundown ahead of the All-Star Break next month.
This is also the time of year when young players with fresh legs start to make more of a claim for regular minutes down the stretch.
This week's list is comprised of four young players on the rise and one older veteran that is showing he still has something left in the tank.
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans (19.1% rostered in ESPN leagues): Jones has been in this space before, but he continues to fly just under the radar with solid results. He's a jack-of-all-trades player that can be valuable, particularly in roto leagues. Over his last 13 games, he has averaged 1.8 SPG, 1.3 3PG, 1.1 BPG, 13.7 PPG (54.1 FG%, 85.3 FT%, 41.3 3P%) 4.2 RPG, 2.2 APG and only 0.8 TO/game. He's almost completely additive, contributing positive value with very little negative, and is worth rostering for as long as he holds his current role.
De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks (18.0%): The only reason Hunter is on this list is because of his injury history that has kept him sidelined for much of the past two seasons. But, when healthy, Hunter was in the midst of a breakout last season and is rounding back into an impact player right now. Since his return, he has averaged 16.9 PPG (47.1 FG%, 80.0 FT%, 38.9 3P%), 4.3 RPG, 2.0 3PG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG and 0.9 SPG in 31.7 MPG. He's scored 20 or more points in four of those games, and if anything those averages have the potential to go up moving forward... as long as he's able to stay healthy.
Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Chicago Bulls (12.7%): Dosunmu has put up good numbers during the last couple of weeks when he's been a starter, replacing the injured Zach LaVine. LaVine returned on Monday, but Dosunmu got one more start because DeMar DeRozan rested. With both healthy, Dosunmu may return to the bench, but he could still get good minutes and possibly more starts with Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso still sidelined. The rookie has averaged 15.0 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 3PG, 1.2 SPG and 0.7 BPG in 38.5 MPG in his six recent starts, and if he maintains a role that allows him 25+ MPG he could still be worth fantasy consideration.
Nicolas Batum, SG/SF, LA Clippers (9.0%): Batum is the oldest player on this list, and the one we have the clearest picture of what he is at this stage in his career. He made this list largely on the strength of a 32-point burs in a track meet game with the Pacers last week, but that isn't what we expect from him on a regular basis. Batum is another jack-of-all-trades player...he's made his career on that... and even with that big scoring game his averages over his last five have settled into a more typical range of 14.4 PPG (54.3 FG%, 90.0 FT%, 46.4 3P%), 5.0 RPG, 2.6 3PG, 2.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 1.0 BPG and 1.0 TO. The scoring and 3-pointers might still be a bit high due to some hot shooting, but the rest of his line is more sustainable on the depleted Clippers and could be worth consideration in roto leagues where his full 3-pointer/block/steal per game potential is more valuable.
Terence Davis, SG, Sacramento Kings (6.2%): Davis tends to show up on this list whenever he gets a chance to run with the starters. He's started the last three games with Tyrese Haliburton (COVID) and then De'Aaron Fox (ankle) taking turns missing games. Haliburton is back, and Fox's ankle injury isn't considered serious, so Davis may not have many more starts in the short term. But, in those three starts he averaged 24.7 PPG (47.3 FG%, 90.9 FT%, 37.5 3P%), 6.3 RPG, 4.0 3PG, 3.7 APG and 2.0 SPG in 35.0 MPG. The young man has plenty of talent, and the rumor mill continues to churn out trades surrounding the Kings' perimeter players. Davis could be worth the short-term add, but also worth stashing in case he starts getting regular starter minutes before the season ends.