Fantasy Basketball: What to make of Danny Granger’s return?
By Matt Shetler
Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger has been back on the court for 11 games now and has seen his share of mixed results.
It wasn’t too long ago that Granger was a viable fantasy basketball option, but is that still the case now?
Jan 8, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Indiana Pacers small forward Danny Granger (33) shoots a basket in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
His most recent performance, a two-point on 1-of-7 shooting outing against the Washington Wizards on Friday would suggest no, but since his return, Granger has scored in double figures in seven of his 11 outings, including a stretch of six games in a row that was snapped against the Wizards.
He had a season-high 14 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday and while he may never again be the same player he was before his knee troubles, his ability to knock down the three, score and rebound certainly should keep him on the fantasy radar, provided that he can stay healthy.
That’s always a big if with Granger, but he’s a guy who can help out your fantasy team in a pinch.
Currently Granger is averaging just 9.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, while shooting just 36.3 percent from the floor and 30.2 percent from behind the arc. Those numbers aren’t worth a spot on your roster, but I expect them to increase as Granger plays in more games.
Fantasy owners will have to pay attention to Granger’s health, but must also pay close attention to the trends he’s starting to set. As mentioned before, he had scored in double figures in six straight games, his minutes are trending upwards and, possibly most importantly, he’s healthy.
His immediate value lies in his ability to score and net three-pointers. Granger attempted at least three shots from beyond the arc in eight of the 11 games he’s appeared in this season.
Granger is a risky pickup, as are most players coming off knee problems, as are most players coming off knee problems, but if he keeps trending in the right direction, he could find himself fantasy relevant once again.