Brook Lopez among low-rostered players worth adding

The NBA play has tipped off, and arsenic ever determination are unexpected players making large contributions; the archetypal week ever produces tons of "diamonds successful the rough."

Below are 5 players making meaningful contributions to their teams. Each of them is wide disposable successful astir phantasy hoops leagues and each tin assistance your squad successful the abbreviated word -- and possibly successful the agelong word arsenic well.

Brook Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks (26.3% rostered successful ESPN leagues): Lopez missed the bulk of past play with an injured back, and astatine his advancing property galore expected Bobby Portis to instrumentality connected a larger work for the Bucks' frontcourt. Instead, Lopez is playing similar past season's extended remainder helped him beryllium caller for this season. He is simply a coagulated scorer and rebounder, but it is his blocks and 3-pointers (seven of each, done 2 games) that person him worthy of phantasy starter information astatine the moment. His gait connected some volition slow, but helium should stay a positive successful each and frankincense helium volition stay connected the phantasy radar for arsenic agelong arsenic he's healthy.

Jarred Vanderbilt, Utah Jazz (23.6%): Vanderbilt has stepped lightly into Rudy Goberts shoes arsenic the rebounder/defensive anchor of the Jazz starting lineup, though helium does it successful a antithetic way. Vanderbilt isn't astir the shot-blocker oregon adjacent the rebounder that Gobert is, but helium has grabbed double-digit boards successful 3 of 4 games frankincense acold and is besides averaging 2.5 SPG and 9.8 PPG to spell on with the 10.3 RPG that are his main statistical contribution.

Royce O'Neale Brooklyn Nets (15%): O'Neale is connected this database due to the fact that he's amassing antiaircraft statistic astatine a ferocious complaint successful his relation with the Nets. Through 3 games, helium has 6 blocked shots and 6 steals with astatine slightest 3 "stocks" (steals + blocks) successful each 3 games. O'Neale volition ne'er beryllium a positive scorer, but helium is averaging 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.7 3PG to circular retired his phantasy hoops value.

Dennis Smith Jr., Charlotte Hornets (22.6%): Smith has received other playing clip frankincense acold owed to injuries to LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Terry Rozier (ankle), and he's taking vantage of his accidental with a vocation renaissance. Smith has averaged 13.3 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, 2.0 RPG and 1.0 BPG successful 25.7 MPG frankincense far. He got the commencement connected Sunday, and turned successful 18 points, 6 assists, 2 boards, 3 steals, a artifact and a 3-pointer successful 33 minutes. He's worthy rostering for astatine slightest arsenic agelong arsenic Ball and/or Rozier are absent.

Nick Richards, Charlotte Hornets (6.9%): Richards has softly stepped into the backup halfway slot for the Hornets that rookie Mark Williams was expected to occupy, and has loudly produced numbers that could spot him get different promotion successful the future. Richards has produced astatine slightest 19 points and 10 rebounds successful 2 of his 3 games frankincense far, and is presently averaging 15.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 0.7 BPG successful lone 22.7 MPG. Those numbers are worthy roster information adjacent successful the deficiency of peripheral contributions, and the hazard that helium can't support the gait is mitigated by the information that helium has the upside to supplant Mason Plumlee arsenic the starter if helium keeps playing well.