Change is the one factor you possibly can at all times depend on, each in sports activities and in life. Whereas consistency is what fantasy managers try for, the fact is that participant efficiency can swing wildly over a protracted season.
Attempting to maintain up with all of the highs and lows throughout 44 video games and 4 months can really feel overwhelming. That is why breaking issues down week by week makes it simpler to remain grounded and centered on what issues proper now.
That is the purpose of my Risers and Fallers column. It helps you observe momentum shifts as they occur, utilizing insights pulled instantly from ESPN’s fantasy metrics.
Risers
Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings (99.3% rostered, 0.1)
After lacking the final 4 video games resulting from concussion protocol and one other resulting from sickness, Bueckers made a robust return on Wednesday night time towards the Phoenix Mercury, scoring a season-high 54 fantasy factors. She additionally turned simply the third rookie in Dallas Wings historical past to submit a 35-point sport, becoming a member of Arike Ogunbowale (2019) and Odyssey Sims (2014).
This efficiency was particularly encouraging for fantasy managers, a lot of whom drafted Bueckers as early because the third spherical.
In the meantime, Ogunbowale’s struggles have continued. She’s averaging a career-low 15.7 factors per sport, taking pictures simply 34% from the sector and 30% from three-point vary for the 1-10 Wings. She seems uncomfortable in new head coach Chris Koclanes’ system, and her on-court pairing with Bueckers hasn’t clicked.
The Wings entrance courtroom is depleted proper now with Teaira McCowan and Luisa Geiselsoder set to play in Eurobasket for the following few weeks so count on Bueckers to proceed to deal with the scoring load in Dallas proper now.
Lexi Held, G, Phoenix Mercury (21.8% rostered, 16.4%)
The Mercury have been shorthanded of their backcourt with Kahleah Copper nonetheless recovering left knee surgical procedure. Whereas Sami Whitcomb has helped fill the void — with 17.0 fantasy factors per sport in 26.5 minutes per sport — it has been Held who has provided extra fantasy manufacturing off the bench. She has performed 27 or extra minutes and scored 26 or extra fantasy factors in three of her final 4 video games. Held has but to begin a sport this season, however she’s making sufficient of an influence to warrant an even bigger function within the rotation.
Kennedy Burke, F, New York Liberty (16.4% rostered, +5.1)
Burke is a official candidate for Sixth Participant of the Yr. She has scored 23 or extra fantasy factors in three of her final 5 video games, and the work she put in in the course of the offseason is clearly paying off. Burke has additionally been remarkably environment friendly, taking pictures a powerful 57.7% from the sector — a major enchancment from her 40.9% mark in 2024. She is a robust pickup on the F/C place and somebody to be careful for as a possible streamer.
Fallers
Jewell Loyd, G, Las Vegas Aces (99.7% rostered, -0.1%)
Some of the hyped strikes of the 2025 offseason is rapidly turning right into a fantasy letdown.
Loyd was anticipated to fill Kelsey Plum’s function on the Aces coming into the season however has struggled to search out her rhythm in a brand new system. By the primary stretch of video games, she has averaged simply 9.1 PPG — a large drop from the 24.7 PPG and 19.7 PPG she averaged over previous two seasons with the Seattle Storm.
Loyd has performed restricted fourth-quarter minutes not too long ago, and head coach Becky Hammon admitted the thought of bringing her off the bench has been mentioned at Loyd’s personal suggestion. The Aces are off to an uncharacteristically rocky begin, and with the offense out of sync, Loyd’s chemistry and fantasy manufacturing simply aren’t clicking given the place she was being drafted.
At 31 years outdated and in a contract yr, the stakes are excessive for Loyd. She’s not a drop candidate, but it surely is perhaps time to reset expectations — at the least for now.
Jessica Shepard, F, Minnesota Lynx (23.5% rostered, -15)
Shepard has stepped away from the Lynx to symbolize Slovenia in EuroBasket and can miss the following few weeks of motion. She has averaged 21.2 minutes per sport as a reserve for a 9-1 Lynx workforce at present ranked on the prime of ESPN’s energy rankings. Whereas Bridget Carleton ought to proceed to play heavy minutes, Shepard’s absence might open the door for Alissa Pili to see a bigger function within the rotation.
Tiffany Hayes, G, Golden State Valkyries (43.3%, -5.4%)
Whereas accidents have restricted Hayes to simply three video games to this point, the Valkyries have emerged as one of many hottest groups within the league — thanks partly to rookie Janelle Salaun, who has averaged 22.3 fantasy factors per sport.
However Salaun, together with Julie Vanloo and Cecilia Zandalasini, will miss the following few weeks whereas competing in EuroBasket. With these absences and Hayes nonetheless sidelined, Kate Martin stays a wonderful fantasy add should you’re seeking to acquire publicity to the surging Valkyries.
