Fantasy Mailbag: Exploring Bradley Beal's trade value

Last week was a little bit more under control in terms of COVID and postponements and let’s hope the new protocols allow us to plan a little bit better and easier for fantasy.

That doesn’t stop the questions, though, so let’s peel open that mailbag, dive in, and get questions from Instagram and Discord.

You say that Bradley Beal is a sell-high because his minutes will come down. Who should I target? -@toconnor (Discord)

What I said about Beal was that his usage, which is 43% over the last two games had no chance of sticking when Russell Westbrook, Rui Hachimura, Deni Avdija, Ish Smith, Moe Wagner, and Davis Bertāns return.

In Saturday’s game against the Hawks, it came down to 39%. Beal had to carry the Wiz while everyone was out.

I think he is a sell high, because of that fact, but at some point, the Wizards have to realise this team is horrible and they need to maximise their return for Beal in a trade.

Whichever team Beal ends up on, he will definitely see lower usage. I can’t see any team where Beal gets to do what he currently does in Washington.

I would be targeting any sort of a top 10 player for Beal.

Should I drop Chris Boucher? - @dudecktennis (IG)

Let’s get this one out of the way early. Firstly, you can do whatever you want; it’s your team.

Secondly, counter to point one. No. You shouldn’t.

Boucher has averaged just 23 fantasy points in his last seven games, which isn’t good. It’s not even top 120 good. But, I don’t believe that 21 minutes a night is what is in Boucher’s future, so while it has been frustrating, he isn’t someone I let go of and just jettison for nothing.

Is Donte DiVincenzo (aka the Big Ragu) a drop in 10 team leagues? - @oaktree_blossom (IG)

In a points league, DiVincenzo holds no value.

He is the 172nd ranked player this year and is outside the top 200 over the last two weeks. His usage is just 16% and is only a 16 team points league player at best.

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Don’t let his status as a starter fool you and be sure to parse through fantasy commentary about whether it pertains to category leagues, where he is a fringe standard league player, compared to points leagues, where he has no value.

Is Justin Holiday must roster in 12 team leagues while Caris LeVert and TJ Warren are out? Or is he droppable to open up a streaming spot? - @icsp (Discord)

Over the last month, Holiday is averaging 22.4 fantasy points. That makes him the 146th ranked player.

A 12 team league rosters 156 players, excluding players on IL. So theoretically, because 146 falls lower than 156, he is worth a roster spot.

But, the streaming point you brought up is essential.

Holding Holiday, who is likely the worst player on your team means that on days where there are 11 games, he isn’t even going to be active.

So maybe you can use him for 80% of his games. If you stream his spot, you target players off the wire, especially on days where you have an empty active slot, and you may get five games out of that roster spot, compared with three for Holiday (on average).

So, yes, for Holiday or other players of that level, it is better to stream in his spot.

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