TAKE 5: 5 Fantasy MVPs not named LeBron James
By Blake Cwieka
Welcome to the first edition of Take 5! Where debates and discussion is welcome, I want passion and strong take. I’m right, you’re wrong or you’re right, I’m wrong. What’s going on in fantasy basketball world? Who’s hot, who’s not? What topics need to be addressed. Today we cover who we think are the top Fantasy MVPs!
I know it’s the beginning of the season, I know things can easily change, I know it’s too early to tell, I know LeBron James is the best player in the world, Warriors are struggling… Blah, Blah, Blah.
Forget all that! Am I allowed to be excited right now for the start of the season? And, what does the rest of the season have in store? Yes, LeBron James is the best player and deserves to win MVP EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. But, there are others right now without them, their teams won’t be as good or your fantasy team, to say the least.
There are five MVPs right now not named LeBron James and it’s tough to argue any different, but there is always argument and debate! That’s the beauty of sports and the start of this NBA season. Let’s start this debate on Take 5, which players are MVPs right now to kick off the season, that AREN’T named LeBron James.
Fantasy MVPs: The Greek Freak
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 31.3 pts, 10.6 trb, 5.1 ast, 1.8 stl
OH BOY! Has Giannis been amazing or what? The top fantasy player in all leagues or at least should be! There is no doubt, he is crucial to his team, without him who are the Bucks?
Take Giannis away their record is 1-6, the lone win coming against the Hawks in OT. But, that didn’t happen and what’s scary is Jabari Parker will be making his return in time for the playoffs. Could they win the East? I don’t see why not? They are still young, and growing pains will happen at times, but if they find a way to click they could easily dethrone Cleveland and Giannis will be the man behind that attack.
What Giannis is doing right now for the team is remarkable, not to mention a whopping .600 fg% that’s from inside and outside the paint, that stat is crazy itself and no shot has been easy.
However, one player is close to him and in the running, if not the outright MVP.
Fantasy MVPs: Time to Boogie
DeMarcus Cousins – 30.1 pts, 13.0 trb, 5.9 ast, 2.3 blk, 2.1 stl
BOOGIE! Right now DeMarcus is my MVP. What Boogie is doing right now, is out of this world. He is doing it all for the Pelicans. Without him, this team is mediocre at best.
This is the DeMarcus we’ve been waiting to see, since the Pelicans brought him over from Sacramento! LET HIM LOOSE! Alvin Gentry deserves all the credit here, and realized the beast he has. Leave it to the former Warriors coach to make the exciting offense they have and giving the freedom to the big boys down low! I love it!
DeMarcus is doing it all for them and getting triple doubles. Who needs a point guard when you have Boogie? Not to mention he is averaging almost 80% from the free throw line (.797 ft% to be exact) and 36.1% from 3 point line. What is there not to love about the guy right now?
The Pelicans are missing pieces to their success, like a small forward, but without Boogie this team is alright at best. They’ll need to make some moves to make the playoffs or get better for the playoffs, but for fantasy I don’t think you expected this. You may have expected something close, but not this production. You have been dreaming of this.
For fantasy, you better be in the top two in your league with Boogie, if not that’s just a shame.
Fantasy MVPs: No Carmelo, No Problem
Kristaps Porzingis – 27.9 pts, 7.3 trb, 1.6 blk,
Wait a minute… SOMEONE FROM THE KNICKS IS A MVP SO FAR?!?! Is there an apocalypse? No, there’s not, but there is a unicorn or a Porzingod. Without Porzingis, this Knicks team is winless or maybe has one win, but that’s being nice.
The Knicks are just plain awful, but having Porzingis is a huge luxury and right now he has all the freedom in the world to go crazy and have at it. He is doing just that, especially in his last four games. It’s hard to not jump on the bandwagon of this guy.
He’s doing everything right and playing well right now. The Knicks have a bunch of young guys who will see playing time eventually, but Porzingis is keeping them relevant and afloat right now. What’s Porzingis doing for your fantasy team? Oh, killing it and beating good teams.
Who is anyone to not enjoy him and his production right now?
Fantasy MVPs: Running the show in Houston
James Harden – 26.6 pts, 9.2 ast, 4.8 trb, 1.6 stl
Last year’s runner up is picking up where he left off since Chris Paul went down. The team is alright and Harden is doing Harden things, which I think can be a little better.
There is no denying that without Harden, this team is pretty good. They would pick up a few wins here and there. Having Harden helps a whole lot. Having your shooting guard as a back up to the starting point guard is even better. Houston has a luxury right now and don’t need to panic at all this season.
Heck, I’d rest Chris Paul a lot this year since he has proven to be injury prone, so let’s gear him up for the playoffs. But, who am I? I’m not a Coach or GM. But, I am a FANTASY MANAGER! And, I have a say what’s best for my fantasy team. I have Harden and I want Chris Paul to rest for the sake of my fantasy team! I want those triple doubles and don’t want Chris being a team player right now and stealing Harden’s assists! Now that’s out the way, Harden is a valuable asset to his team and the city.
The Rockets can thank the Thunder for that!
Fantasy MVPs: New kid in Boston
Kyrie Irving – 21.8 pts, 5.6 ast, 3.3 trb, 2.6 stl
If we are not talking purely season MVP right now, Kyrie deserves it hands down. He played with Gordon Hayward for not even quarter.
With 2 losses so far and a redemption win over the Bucks, he’s one of the main, if not sole reason that the Celtics are at the top of the East. Kyrie got his wish in being “The Guy” and away from LeBron. It is all on him and his team at the moment. and he is delivering with the team riding a winning streak.
More from FanSided
- LAST CHANCE: $250 Guaranteed Bonus for Your Week 1 College Football Bet at DraftKings and FanDuel!
- MLB Rumors: Justin Verlander has a clear suitor, but it comes with a catch
- MLB Rumors: Braves trade grade, Cardinals trade bait, Red Sox selling
- USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo
- Inside the Clubhouse: What I’m hearing as the MLB Trade Deadline nears
Not to mention, he’s distributing the basketball a lot more and scoring less. Wait a minute! Is he? He is making his team better and getting the young guys involved like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. These guys need touches and Kyrie is doing that, but also scoring. He knows he can’t do it alone, but scoring all these points won’t be beneficial, like he was doing in Cleveland.
Kyrie is a large part for the success of the Celtics right now, who is anyone to say he is not the MVP?
Fantasy MVPs – Who brings home the hardware?
Of course you can make arguments for others like Ben Simmons and LaMarcus Aldridge. We’ll see come before the new year where all these players stand. LeBron James is the best player in the world right now and either should or could be MVP each season, but these guys right now have been more than fun to watch and making this season enticing and exciting.
I say right now Giannis and Cousins could easily be debated as MVPs or Co-MVPs right now. Since, I don’t believe in Co-MVPs – since Shaq got left out twice due to Steve Nash – so there could only be one. My pick DeMarcus Cousins right now, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is slim second.
Who is your MVP right now?
Next: FanDuel NBA Picks and Pivots – Thursday November 2
Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR all season long for our fantasy sports and DFS coverage across the NBA, NFL, NHL and EPL!