Risers and Fallers is taking a break this week, and we're going to look at some category specialists that might be available in your leagues.
A couple guys make the list in more than one category, meaning players like Zaccharie Risacher and Duncan Robinson might be worth picking up in your league. Let's go!
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Points
Duncan Robinson, SF/SG, Detroit Pistons (31.0% rostered in ESPN leagues)
Robinson shows up four times on this list, excelling in scoring, steals, 3-pointers and free throw percentage. He's averaging 16.8 points, 1.8 steals, 3.7 3-pointers and is shooting 87.5% from the line. He's playing 30 minutes a night, has scored in double figures in every game thus far and has recorded eight steals over his last three games. Go get him.
Grayson Allen, SG/PF, Charlotte Hornets (17.2% rostered)
Allen also makes the list for points, 3-pointers and free throw percentage. Allen is averaging 15.4 points, 3.4 3-pointers and is shooting 91.7% from the line, playing 27.3 minutes per game. He's also hot after scoring a season-high 27 points with seven triples, a steal and a block in 30 minutes on Saturday.
Pelle Larsson, SG/SF, Miami Heat (14.0% rostered)
Larsson got off to a slow start, scoring just nine points over his first two games, but he has turned it on, scoring between 12 and 18 points in each of his last four games. He's averaging 15.5 points over those four games, is getting about 30 minutes per night and is shooting 89% from the line while also averaging 1.2 steals and 4.0 assists per game. He could really blow up if one of his teammates suffers an injury.
Rebounds
Moussa Diabate, PF/C, Hornets (53.2% rostered)
Diabate is eighth in the league in rebounds at 9.6 per game and is raking in 1.0 blocks and 1.6 steals. He's also a decent free throw shooter at 76.9% and is hitting 66.7% of his field goals. He can help if you need big-man stats.
Jalen Smith, PF/C, Chicago Bulls (18.7% rostered)
Smith is averaging 12.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.5 3-pointers and 1.5 blocks. He is a good shooter from both the line and field. If you're looking for points, rebounds, blocks and 3-pointers, he's probably a better option than Diabate. Just beware that his numbers might take a hit once Nic Claxton is back in action.
Wendell Carter Jr., C, Orlando Magic (55.9% rostered)
Carter is having a nice season, averaging 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 79% from the line and 61% from the field. He's averaging just 0.5 blocks, but his 1.3 steals per game can help fantasy managers.
Others to consider
Derik Queen, PF/C, Hornets (66.2% rostered)
John Collins, PF/C, Pistons (59.9% rostered)
Trevon Brazile, SF/PF, Denver Nuggets (3.7% rostered)
Assists
Davion Mitchell, SG/PG, Heat (69.0% rostered)
Mitchell has quietly scored in double digits in every game this season and has four double-doubles with assists, including in three of his last four games. He's somehow third in the league in assists at 8.2 per game and is also racking up 2.0 3-pointers a night, along with 1.2 steals and just 2.8 turnovers. He's probably already rostered in your league, but it's worth double-checking to be sure.
Isaiah Collier, PG, Utah Jazz (3.4% rostered)
Collier is getting fewer than 20 minutes per game but is still averaging 5.7 dimes per game, putting him among the league leaders. But that's really the only category he'll help you in, as his shooting percentages aren't great. If you're desperate for assists, he can help.
Kris Dunn, PG/SG, LA Clippers (40.2% rostered)
Unlike Collier, Dunn is contributing in several categories including rebounds, assists, steals and field goal percentage. He's among the league leaders in assists (5.6) and steals (2.2), is shooting 51.9% from the field -- which is elite for a guard -- and chipping in 1.0 3-pointers, 4.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game. He should be rostered in more leagues and will be a must-roster player if Darius Garland gets hurt. If he scored more than 7.8 PPG, he'd be a much more popular fantasy player.
Others to consider
Dennis Schroder, PG, Hornets (8.3% rostered)
Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns (36.2% rostered)
Steals
Collin Gillespie, PG, Suns (36.2% rostered)
Gillespie is second in the league in steals at 3.0 per game, tying him with Dyson Daniels and putting him just below Zion Williamson (3.2 SPG -- it's true!). Through four games, Gillespie is also averaging 5.8 dimes per game and 2.3 3-pointers, but he has hit just 1-of-4 free throws on the season and is shooting just 37% from the field. He's worth having simply for the steals and 3-pointers.
Kris Dunn, PG/SG, Clippers (40.2% rostered)
As mentioned above, Dunn is averaging 2.2 steals and 5.6 assists in 30.4 minutes per game and is shooting it very well from the floor. Unfortunately, he's only scoring 7.8 points per game.
Christian Braun, SG/SF, Nuggets (32.7% rostered)
Braun is averaging 15.4 points, 2.4 3-pointers and 2.4 steals with just 1.8 turnovers thus far. He's also shooting it well from the field (53%), and he can really help you if you are struggling in turnovers and need some scoring, 3-pointers and steals. It also helps that he's playing a whopping 36 minutes a night and is helping to fill the void left by Cameron Johnson's injury.
Others to consider
Dean Wade, PF, Philadelphia 76ers (1.2% rostered)
Jake LaRavia, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers (8.1% rostered)
Zach Risacher, SF, Dallas Mavericks (17.1% rostered)
Duncan Robinson, SF/SG, Pistons (31.0% rostered)
Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Toronto Raptors (23.2% rostered)
Moussa Diabate, PF/C, Hornets (53.2% rostered)
Keon Ellis, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets (2.4% rostered)
Blocks
Jaxson Hayes, C, Jazz (15.8% rostered)
Hayes is the starter in Utah until Jusuf Nurkic returns, and he has been fun, racking up 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.0 blocks per game on 60% shooting. He's not scoring much, at just 8.0 ppg, but if you need a big man who can block and steal, Hayes is a good look.
Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder (15.7% rostered)
Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace are basically lost for the season, and now the Thunder will be without Chet Holmgren for a few months. Isaiah Hartenstein certainly gets a boost, but so does Mara, who is suddenly in line for big minutes. His minutes have actually increased in every game this season, going from just 12 in Game 1 to a season-high 28 on Saturday. He had seven points, nine rebounds and four blocks in that one, and he has eight blocks over his last three games. He doesn't steal or hit 3-pointers, but he's a good free throw shooter and won't hurt you anywhere. There's too much upside here to let him sit on waivers much longer. He's currently at 1.8 blocks per game, but that number could be on the rise.
Zacharie Risacher, SF, Mavericks (17.1% rostered)
My guy, Risacher, is having a good time in Dallas, racking up 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.7 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers thus far. His shooting percentages are nothing to write home about, but he's not going to hurt you too badly, regardless. And his ability to rack up steals, blocks and 3-pointers means he should be rostered in a lot more leagues than he currently is. He now looks like a defensive specialist.
Others to consider
Daniel Gafford, C, Mavericks (35.1% rostered)
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics (21.8% rostered)
Brook Lopez, C, Clippers (24.9% rostered)
Allen Graves, SF, Raptors (0.7% rostered)
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Hornets (1.8% rostered)
Ronald Holland II, SF/PF, Pistons (0.8% rostered)
3-pointers
Toumani Camara, PF/SF, Portland Trail Blazers (41.5% rostered)
I have Camara everywhere, and he has been a pleasure to roster thus far, knocking down 4.0 triples per game while adding 15.2 points and 1.4 steals. He also hasn't missed a free throw this season and is shooting 58% from the field. He's not doing much in rebounds, assists or blocks, but there's potential here, especially now that Ja Morant is hurt and expected to miss significant time. He's almost a must-roster player in my mind.
Julian Champagnie, SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs (45.0% rostered)
It felt like Champagnie might get squeezed in San Antonio being surrounded by so much talent, but he has been pretty solid, racking up points, steals, blocks and 3-pointers. He has had three blocks in two of his games and started the season off with five steals over his first two games. His big night was Oct. 27 when he had 26 points and eight triples against the Kings, although he didn't have a steal or block in that one. If you need 3-pointers, add him.
Tristan da Silva, SF/PF, Magic (11.1% rostered)
Paolo Banchero is hurt again and da Silva is shooting seven threes a night, making 3.2 of them on 47% shooting from beyond the arc. He's also averaging 13.2 points and nearly 28 minutes a game, but he isn't much of a steals and blocks guy. He's shooting 52.1% from the floor and is coming off a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double. He's going to hit a lot of 3-pointers going forward.
Others to consider
Duncan Robinson, SF/SG, Pistons (31.0% rostered)
Grayson Allen, SG/PG, Hornets (17.2% rostered)
Luke Kennard, SG, Suns (1.1% rostered)
Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Raptors (23.2% rostered)
Sam Hauser, SF/PF, Boston Celtics (2.8% rostered)
Field goal percentage
Daniel Gafford, C, Mavericks (35.1% rostered)
Gafford had his best game of the season on Friday, with 18 points, seven boards and two blocks, and he can help managers in field goal percentage, blocks and, sometimes, scoring. He has exactly two blocks in each of his six games thus far and is worth a roster spot as long as he's healthy.
Jaxson Hayes, C, Jazz (15.8% rostered)
I already covered Hayes under blocks, but he's also a field goal percentage booster. He doesn't score much, but he usually racks up blocks and steals on a nightly basis, and he shoots it lights out from the floor, mainly because most of his shots are dunks or layups.
Paul Reed, C/PF, Pistons (38.7% rostered)
Reed is averaging 13.8 PPG to go along with 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks, hitting 63% of his shots from the floor. He's also a decent free throw shooter (77%) and is collecting 7.0 rebounds per game. He doesn't have a great path to success playing behind Jalen Duren, but is holding his own, nonetheless. And if Duren gets hurt, look out!
Free throw percentage
Davion Mitchell, PG, Heat (69.0% rostered)
I was all over Mitchell this season and he's coming through in a big way with points, assists, steals, 3-pointers and field goal percentage as Miami's starting point guard. Make sure he's not available in your league.
Grayson Allen, SG/PF, Hornets (17.2% rostered)
Allen is also all over this list and should probably be rostered everywhere. His free throw percentage is elite (92%), his field goal shooting is solid (47%) and he'll contribute in points, rebounds, assists and 3-pointers (3.4 per game). It's time to get him.
Duncan Robinson, SF/SG, Pistons (31.0% rostered)
Like the two guys above him, Robinson's name is also all over this list and he's having a fantastic run in Detroit. He's scored in double figures in every game, averaging 16.8 points, is shooting 88% from the line and is contributing across the board. Pick him up if your team is struggling.