With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, we're entering a fantasy basketball stretch run. The fantasy director is gearing up for a title shot. So let's take a look at some players who are trending up or down and what we can expect from them going forward.
upward trend
vince williams memphis grizzlies junior 
It was a lost season for the Grizzlies. Injuries decimated the roster and dashed any hopes of making the playoffs. Ja Morant (shoulder) is out for the season, and Desmond Bane (ankle) and Marcus Smart (finger) are out for several weeks. Add to that injuries to several deep players, and Williams has been given a more prominent role.
Williams started and averaged 34 minutes over the past 18 games. During that span, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 3-pointers per game. He is shooting 48.4% from the field and 80.6% from the free throw line, making him a very valuable fantasy option. Bane and Smart should be back at some point this season, but neither seems close to regaining their spot on the floor. Until they return, Williams should remain one of the team's mainstays.
keyontae georgeUtah Jazz 
The Jazz are still aiming to make the playoffs, and their depth is a big reason for their success.But they got a little thin at the trade deadline, moving Kelly Olynyk.
With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, we're entering a fantasy basketball stretch run. The fantasy director is gearing up for a title shot. So let's take a look at some players who are trending up or down and what we can expect from them going forward.
upward trend
vince williams memphis grizzlies junior
It was a lost season for the Grizzlies. Injuries decimated the roster and dashed any hopes of making the playoffs. Ja Morant (shoulder) is out for the season, and Desmond Bane (ankle) and Marcus Smart (finger) are out for several weeks. Add to that injuries to several deep players, and Williams has been given a more prominent role.
Williams started and averaged 34 minutes over the past 18 games. During that span, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.9 3-pointers per game. He is shooting 48.4% from the field and 80.6% from the free throw line, making him a very valuable fantasy option. Bane and Smart should be back at some point this season, but neither seems close to regaining their spot on the floor. Until they return, Williams should remain one of the team's mainstays.
keyontae georgeUtah Jazz
The Jazz are still aiming to make the playoffs, and their depth is a big reason for their success. However, they were a little thin at the trade deadline, sending Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji to the Raptors. They also released Simone Fontecchio to the Pistons. Another key decision they made was to move George to the starting five and move Kris Dunn to the bench.
Since joining the starting lineup, George has averaged 17.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 4.3 3-pointers in three games. He was helped by a 33-point outburst against the Warriors, but his key stat was logging at least 29 minutes in all three games. This season, he averaged 15.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.2 3-pointers in 12 games in which he played at least 30 minutes. George's 39.1 percent field goal percentage this season is a problem, but for fantasy and points league managers who can absorb it, George's new role will greatly increase his upside potential.
Andrew WigginsGolden State Warriors 
Wiggins is having the worst season of his career statistically. He averages just 12.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 3-pointers. Not only is he logging a career-low 27 minutes per game, but his usage rate has also dropped to 20.2 percent. Even his field goal percentage of 44.9 percent is on pace to be his lowest since the 2019-20 season.
Wiggins struggled to make an impact and was temporarily moved to the second unit. That might have been just the wake-up call he needed. He continues to work his way back into the starting lineup and has played in that role in each of the last 15 games. During that span, he averaged 14.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.5 3-pointers. Not only did he average 30 minutes in those 15 games, he also shot 51.5 percent from the field. His production is still not what fantasy managers were used to in past seasons, but he's at least worth having on the roster again.
downward trend
jordan poolWashington Wizards 
Poole's tenure with the Wizards was nothing short of a disaster. He was positioned to take on a leadership role on a rebuilding team lacking scoring options. However, he averaged only 15.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 3-pointers per game. Largely due to his efficiency, he shot 40.0 percent from the field and 30.3 percent from behind.
Things got even worse for Poole, who was on hiatus. He averaged just 10.9 points in his last 12 games, shooting 33.1 percent from the field. Although his contributions in rebounds and assists are modest, Poole needs to score more points and become more efficient to be worth a fantasy play. If a manager needs to make room on the roster for a hot waiver wire addition or a player returning from injury, moving from the pool isn't a crazy idea.
derek lively II, Dallas Mavericks 
The Mavericks haven't had a top center option the past few seasons. They were hoping they could find a long-term answer at the position when they selected Lively with the 12th pick in the 2023 draft. He has been the team's starting center for most of the season and has certainly had his ups and downs. But his averages of 9.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game make him a fantasy.
The Mavericks, aiming to make the playoffs, acquired Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline. Gafford is the more proven option of the five and offers a similar skill set to Lively. In the first game they played together, Lively only played 17 minutes off the bench. Gafford played 23 minutes as a starter, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Lively will likely struggle to maintain his average of 26 minutes per game going forward. He could potentially log close to 20 minutes per game, which could make it difficult to justify a spot on the roster going forward.
max strassCleveland Cavaliers 
Strus provided much-needed shooting for the Cavaliers, making 2.4 3-pointers per game. This puts him on pace to average at least three-pointers for the third consecutive season. He has also proven to be a better passer, dishing out 3.7 assists per game.
The Cavaliers dealt with some significant injuries early in the season, with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley out for several weeks. Now that everyone is healthy again, Strass has seen his production take a hit. He's averaging 8.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and just 1.7 3-pointers over the past nine games. It is important to note that he only logged 28 minutes per game during that span, compared to his season average of 32 minutes per game. For those who don't need his 3-point contributions, Strus is not a must-have roster player now that the Cavaliers are back at full strength.
