EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPart of the reason why I invested in Minnesota Timberwolves C Rudy Gobert in a longtime dynasty league -- and this year in a shallower format -- was so I would not have to deal with uncertainty. Gobert is 34 years old and he has been doing the same thing statistically for more than a decade.He rebounds, blocks shots and converts the field goals he attempts, and few are consistently better at this. You don't draft in Gobert for assists or free throw shooting. You know what you're getting. With some fantasy options, I don't want to be surprised. Perform as expected, please.The Gobert we have seen so far this season is not playing to form. He recently missed all 13 field goal attempts over a two-game span, he has blocked four shots in seven games and, while nobody thought he would be Stephen Curry from the free throw line, I was hoping Gobert would make more than half his attempts and wouldn't be forced to attempt so many (he was an excruciating 4-for-12 on Monday!).Gobert even attempted a pair of 3-pointers in a recent game. He entered this season 0-for-22 in his career. Gobert is relatively durable, having played 70 or more games for four consecutive seasons. Then he missed a weekend game. I wasn't even mad. My shooting percentages went up.Don't drop Gobert, of course, but also don't trade for him as if everything will fall into place like, well, every previous season. Perhaps the back injury that cost him a game explains the brutal shooting, which includes myriad missed layups. It's only a few weeks, after all.Gobert sure wasn't too old last season when he led the NBA by hitting 68.2% of his field goals, averaged a double-double in points and boards for the 10th consecutive season and earned a spot on the All-Defensive team for the ninth time. In other words, while there has been some hint of regression in his formidable game in recent seasons, it was hardly to this level.For our purposes in fantasy, Gobert isn't a fantasy building block, but he averaged 33 ESPN fantasy points per game last season. He was easily a top 100 player, and better in roto/categories formats, where the stats he dominates stand out more than his deficiencies. He was a reasonable top 75 selection in ESPN drafts.He isn't playing that way so far, averaging a mere 19.6 FPPG. That's not cool. Fantasy managers tend to blame themselves when they finally invest in the "safe player" and, suddenly the player picks that season to sputter and not be safe. Is that Gobert? I will try to be patient here.Other observations around the NBASpeaking of free throws, how did New York Knicks SF/SG Mikal Bridges attempt zero through six games and 164 minutes? On Monday, Bridges finally went to the line, but he scored only six points in 16 minutes. Bridges is off to a brutal start, averaging 6.1 PPG and shooting 30.8% on field goals. While the valuable durability of literally never missing a contest is nice, I've generally viewed Bridges as a bit overrated in fantasy, certainly not worthy of a top 50 pick, but he averaged 33.3 fantasy points per game last season. This season: 13.9! Again, some patience is warranted, but I would be more patient with Gobert.Can I just admit how much I enjoy watching Cam Spencer? The Memphis Grizzlies SG/PG, barely drafted in 2024, wasn't supposed to play much last season, but he averaged 11.1 PPG and 5.6 APG, with relevant 3-pointers and solid shooting, and he saved my dynasty league team (16 of 25 players start, so it is deep). I kept Spencer around. He started a weekend game with SG/PG Ty Jerome out and tallied 13 assists with nary a turnover. PG/SG Scottie Pippen Jr., who I also liked, is off to a terrible start. OK, so Spencer may boast little upside, but I just want this fellow to get 20-25 MPG and not hurt my team. He isn't Jerome, one of the breakout options so far, but Spencer matters.I am not the fellow you come to for recommending New Orleans Pelicans PF/C Zion Williamson, but he deserves some credit for leading the league in steals entering this week. Where did that come from? Williamson had 60 steals in 62 games last season. He had 19 steals in his first six games, though he added none in Monday's overtime win. That's awesome, like Dyson Daniels stuff. Of course, until Monday, Williamson didn't have more than six rebounds in any game, and now he is averaging 5.3 RPG. That's just weird. I have no Zion shares, but I follow it all. I can't imagine someone coveting a player in a draft or trade who not only misses so many games, but his statistics when he does play are, well, inconsistent.I admit I may have acted hastily in ripping the fantasy value of Miami Heat C/PF Bam Adebayo in last week's column after barely a week of games. Adebayo scored 51 traditional points, with 18 rebounds and six steals, in recent games against the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers, and then he added 16 points and nine boards Monday at the Lakers. He fit in just fine with Giannis Antetokounmpo in those contests. Does that mean we sell high on Adebayo? Nah, not really. He has been more aggressive, and the Heat made more effort to get him involved. It worked. I don't see how PGcan average 16 PPG and 8 APG all season, though. He would have to be a factor in the Most Improved Player competition. Perhaps?We don't do meaningless victory laps around here, but if you drafted Portland Trail Blazers PG Ja Morant, I must wonder, like what did you expect? Morant is averaging only 15.8 PPG and 5.5 APG through four games, and he will not play his fifth for at least a month after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Morant appeared in 20 games last season, giving him 79 games over the past three seasons. Even Philadelphia 76ers C Joel Embiid played in more games during that span. The other difference is, Embiid produced elite numbers when he played. Morant did not. Now he's out until December, and it's not like we can count on him playing 80% of the games after that, either. Morant's generous projections and optimistic ADP shocked me. Who wants to deal with that in fantasy?Perhaps we see LA Clippers SF/PF Brandon Ingram as soon as next week. The former Laker, Pelican and Raptor is dealing with a partially torn Achilles, and there hasn't been great clarity on when he will make his season debut. Still, I stashed him in one league, thinking his value had fallen too far. Perhaps someone can play through a partially torn Achilles? I don't know! Still, Ingram has averaged at least 20.0 PPG in seven consecutive seasons, with at least 5.0 RPG and 5.0 APG annually, too. Durability is not a strength, but this Clippers team lacks scoring, and when Ingram plays, he should deliver numbers. Act now before Ingram (65.7% rostered) returns and starts producing his typical statistics, which may not be of the top 50 variety, but surely are top 100 worthy.
