Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: VJ Edgecombe on a roll
Alright, hoop heads, let's dive into the first fantasy basketball pulse check of 2026. The new year has already been wild—game-winners, 50-burgers, you name it—and it’s time to figure out who’s heating up and who’s cooling off faster than a Minnesota winter.First up, let’s talk about the rookie who’s making everyone else look like they’re moving in slow motion: VJ Edgecombe. The Philly guard isn’t just having a nice debut; he’s putting the league on notice.Over a recent three-game heater, he dropped 23-plus each night, swiped 10 steals, and was raining threes at a 12-of-25 clip. Then, in an OT thriller against the Nuggets, he casually added five more triples, four combined steals and blocks, and flirted with a triple-double.On a stacked Sixers squad, he’s carving out a star role, yet he’s still chilling on waivers in over a third of Yahoo leagues. If you’re sleeping on him, you’re basically punting the rookie of the year award and a fantasy championship.Wake up and add him already. Down in Miami, Norman Powell is doing his best Jimmy Butler impression while half the roster is in street clothes.The man is on an absolute tear, averaging 30. 3 points and six triples a game since the calendar flipped.He followed a 36-point night with a 34-point outing, proving he’s not just a microwave scorer; he’s the whole appliance department. Even before this explosion, he was contributing in rebounds and assists.If he keeps that up, he’s vaulting from a streaming option to a must-start every night. Then there’s Matas Buzelis in Chicago, a bright spot in a season that’s been a rollercoaster for the Bulls.Alongside Giddey and Vucevic, he’s become a pillar of reliability, scoring in double figures in nine of his last ten, with four games over 20. He’s not just a scorer; he’s contributing on the glass, from deep, and even swatting shots, averaging 18.1 points, 5. 2 boards, 2.6 threes, and 1. 3 blocks over that stretch.This isn’t a fluke; it feels like the arrival of a legit two-way fantasy asset. Now, for the tough part of the column.In Detroit, Ausar Thompson’s fantasy value is hitting a rough patch. We all know he’s not a pure scorer, but on a Pistons team missing key guys, his recent dip is glaring.He’s failed to hit double digits in four of his last six, a stark contrast to a three-game stretch where he averaged 17. The issue isn’t effort—he’s still getting stocks—but the shot volume has evaporated.
#fantasy basketball
#VJ Edgecombe
#stock up stock down
#player analysis
#weeks picks news
