This article is part of our Category Strategy series.
CATEGORY STRATEGY
Each week, this article highlights players who are widely available in standard leagues who can help in specific roto categories. While each player highlighted can help in a specific category, there's no guarantee for production in other areas.
POINTS
Jordan Clarkson, PG, Lakers
If you had told anyone who saw Clarkson play at Missouri that he would score 30 points in a game as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers during his rookie season, they would have been skeptical. Of course, there are special circumstances here, namely that the Lakers are not trying to field a competitive lineup at this point in the season as they try to improve their chances of getting a top pick in this year's draft. However, Clarkson has still done a good job of taking advantage of the opportunity. In addition to scoring 30 points in Tuesday's game, he has scored in double figures in 22 of his last 28 games and can be relied upon for steady minutes and shots down the stretch.
REBOUNDS
Marcus Morris, PF, Suns
Seasoned fantasy owners know that Markieff is the Morris twin to own, but Marcus has made a name for himself of late. Over his last five games, the less-heralded Morris is averaging over 36 minutes per game, which has translated into double-digit boards in four of those five contests. In fact, Marcus led the Suns in minutes played in their last contest with Brandan Wright clearly stuck in a minor role right now with the Suns, allowing the Morris twins and Alex Len to see big minutes.
ASSISTS
Ish Smith, PG, Sixers
Smith continues to lead the Sixers in their quest for futility. He is averaging 7.2 assists per game over his last five games and has also scored in double figures on three occasions over that stretch. While he is shooting just 40.3 percent from the field, he is excellent at the line and has also been able to chip in one three-pointer and 1.6 steals per game of late. Remember when Isaiah Canaan came over to Philadelphia from Houston and fantasy owners were rushing to pick him up because he figured to handle the ball more than any other player on the team down the stretch? Well, Smith has actually been that guy and now warrants ownership in most formats.
STEALS
Lorenzo Brown, PG, Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have really embraced tanking this season and it has been even more noticeable lately. Yes, Minnesota is dealing with injuries, but Lorenzo Brown has seen 35-plus minutes in each of his last three games, which is startling. He has not been looking to score, so don't expect much production there, but he has had five or six assists in two of his last three games and more importantly he has been a force when it comes to steals. He has eight steals in his last three games and it does not seem like much of a fluke considering he is averaging almost one steal per game on the season despite playing fewer than 17 minutes per game, all told. It may seem weird to roster a guy like Brown, who almost certainly belongs in the D-League, but teams are being pretty shameless with their attempts to get the top pick in this year's draft, and Minnesota is at the forefront of that movement.
BLOCKS
Alex Len, C, Suns
His lack of scoring and rebounding has led many owners to cut ties with Len, but his ability to block shots has not fallen off and he is still seeing almost 30 minutes per game. Of course the mediocre production in scoring and rebounding leaves a lot to be desired, but for those who are in desperate need of blocked shots, Len is as good an option as any who are widely available. In addition to blocking 2.3 shots per game over the last week, he also shoots well over 50 percent from the field, so he won't hurt you there.
THREE-POINTERS
Quincy Pondexter, SF, Pelicans
After years of languishing as a bench option in Memphis, Pondexter is finally starting to get a solid look at being a prominently featured regular on the Pelicans. Three-point shooting is his specialty, and he is shooting 48 percent from behind the line over his last five games, hitting four three-pointers in two of those contests. His career and season rates are both around 35 percent, but right now he's dialed in. Pondexter is also a solid source of scoring, but he does not bring much else to the table.
