Week 13 Fantasy Basketball Drop Candidates: Scoot Henderson, Keon Ellis, Quentin Grimes, Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee

After looking at the top waiver wire pickups, it’s time to go over the most-dropped players at the start of a new fantasy basketball week.

These players were all taken from the most dropped waiver trends section, which can be found on any FantasySP fantasy basketball page.

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Scoot Henderson Fantasy Outlook

Henderson is down 5.8%, bringing his total mark to 40%.

Henderson is coming off a three-point showing, so it makes sense to see him being dropped. However, that came after 20- and 13-point showings, so I think dropping him isn’t a wise move.

Across 31 games and three starts this season, Henderson is averaging 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks across 25.7 minutes. Even if you add his 20- and 13-point showings, Henderson is averaging just 9 points, 2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.8 steals over the past four games.

Henderson is a young player and struggling with consistency right now. I get that fantasy owners want him to produce every night, but he’s simply not there as a player yet.

He still has pretty solid averages for the season, and is doing enough to keep rostering him in most deeper leagues. Henderson should probably be avoided in standard leagues.

If you aren’t comfortable playing Henderson in a deeper league or dynasty right now, simply bench him instead of dropping him. He also has enough fantasy value, and some upside, where you could probably trade him. Henderson would best be suited for good fantasy teams that have depth to carry them right now, instead of needing Henderson to contribute right now. If that isn’t you, look into trading him before dropping him.

Keon Ellis Fantasy Outlook 

Ellis is at 35% after a 5.4% decrease.

Ellis is being dropped for the same reason as Henderson, I think. He scored six points last game, which came after scoring between 11-17 points in the previous three games.

I get wanting to roster the hottest fantasy players, but especially in deeper leagues, it’s hard to keep streaming players all season and finding success at the same time. The best way to succeed is probably to add and hold players.

After Ellis had three straight games in double figures as a scorer, along with some other nice numbers, I don’t understand dropping him after one poor showing. If anything, just bench Ellis for a game or two, because he’s likely to remain heavily involved for the Kings, and be a decent fantasy asset as a result.

Across 36 games and nine starts, Ellis is averaging 7.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks across 21.6 minutes. He’s started five straight games, averaging 33.5 minutes, 11.2 points, 2.4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block.

That’s plenty of production to roster him in most deeper leagues, and should have been enough to keep rostering him even after one tough game.

I’d look into picking Ellis up if he became available in my league.

Quentin Grimes Fantasy Outlook

Grimes is down 4.9% and sitting at 60% overall now.

Grimes has scored in double figures in six of the past seven games, and doesn’t have too many tough showings over that span, so I’m not understanding his decrease in own percentage. Maybe it’s because Kyrie Irving is expected back soon? But until that actually happens, I’d want to roster Grimes.

In his past seven games, Grimes is averaging 16.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks across 29.3 minutes. On the season, Grimes is averaging 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks over 22.7 minutes in 36 games and 11 starts.

You can see that Grimes’ numbers have increased without Irving and Luka Doncic around, and with those two likely out for at least another game or two, I’d like to keep taking advantage of Grimes’ increased usage. He should remain rostered in all deeper leagues, and is a streaming option in standard leagues until Irving actually gets back on the court.

Don’t make roster moves in anticipation of something you think will happen, unless it’s a big, big deal. Grimes has been solid this season even when Irving and Doncic have been on the court, so until we see the Mavs get closer to full health, I’m utilizing Grimes in my lineups.

Jusuf Nurkic Fantasy Outlook

Nurkic is rostered in 58% of leagues after a 4.7% decrease.

Nurkic recently lost his starting role, and now is dealing with the flu, so it makes sense to see fantasy owners looking elsewhere for help.

On the season, Nurkic is averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks across 23.7 minutes and 25 games (23 starts). In his first two games off the bench, Nurkic played 14 and 19 minutes, combining for 13 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and one steal and block.

That’s not enough production to keep rostering him in standard leagues, and with Nurkic now also dealing with an illness, I’d be ready to move on from him. He’s a player to keep tabs on in standard leagues in case he gets his starting role back ever, or if he plays enough minutes off the bench consistently, while also putting up good fantasy numbers.

I still would want to roster Nurkic in most deeper leagues. He’s not a big scorer, but being as good of a rebounder as he is, that’s pretty solid fantasy production on a nightly basis. It’s not super flashy or of incredible value, but it can help your fantasy team here and there.

Nurkic is definitely trending down right now, but I wouldn’t write him off completely.

Mason Plumlee Fantasy Outlook

Plumlee is another Phoenix big man trending down - he’s been dropped in 4.7% of leagues and is rostered in 19% overall now.

Plumlee was the player who took over Nurkic’s starting role, even though Plumlee has started seven straight. It’s a lack of production in his time on the court that’s leading to fantasy owners dropping Plumlee.

The Phoenix big man has averaged just 21.5 minutes over his past seven games and starts. He’s averaging 4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.9 steals and blocks over that span.

That’s a good amount of rebounds, but with a limited amount of points and other stats, Plumlee just isn’t that good of a fantasy asset.

There’s enough production to utilize him in some really deep leagues, especially if you need some rebounds, but I really think there are some better fantasy assets available to you. Maybe they won’t average as many rebounds, but give you some more steady scoring, which probably means more consistent fantasy production.

I don’t see Plumlee ever being a bigger fantasy asset than he is right now. He’s still worth watching in deeper leagues, but I don’t envision his own percentage ever going over 25%. He’s maybe worth streaming in favorable defensive matchups where he could score a few points (to accompany his rebounds).