The 2014-15 NBA rookie class took a major hit when Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle suffered a season-ending injury just 14 minutes in to his NBA career and Milwaukee Bucks guard Jabari Parker played just 25 games before joining him on the sidelines. Even so, there have been several rookies making a big fantasy impact – including the No. 1 pick from the 2014 draft.
With that in mind, here is a list of the biggest rookie fantasy contributors this season:
Andrew Wiggins – Minnesota Timberwolves
No rookie has been more consistent than Wiggins over the course of the entire season. The numbers still support the fact that he is the favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award this season as he has averaged 15.8 points per game to go along with 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. While his steals and assists have been a little more erratic, it is impossible to argue against Wiggins’ development this season as he has registered double digit point totals in 17 straight games. He continues to prove that he is capable of contributing with a stronger all around game in years to come. One thing he’ll have to improve upon is his three-point shooting (only 0.5 threes per game) as defenses don’t respect his shot right now.
Anybody that drafted Wiggins this year will be happy they took the rookie that has made the biggest impact in terms of fantasy production but it’s those in keeper leagues that have to be even happier with how quickly the 20-year-old forward has established himself as a future star in Minnesota.
Nikola Mirotic – Chicago Bulls
It wasn’t long ago that Wiggins was the only rookie that anybody thought was worth talking about from a fantasy perspective but with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler sidelined, Mirotic has stepped up big time with some impressive numbers over the past month of action. Mirotic has averaged a ridiculous 21 points and 8 rebounds per game throughout the month of March to push himself in to the NBA Rookie of the Year conversation.
As impressive as Wiggins’ overall body of work has been, there isn’t another rookie that has been as dominant over the past few weeks as Mirotic. He’s gone from being a member of the supporting cast to flat-out carrying the team. In the month of March, he’s averaging 20.6 points per game with 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 threes, 1.2 blocks and 0.8 steals. If you picked him up off the waiver-wire, you’re laughing.
At 24 years old, Mirotic is more experienced than the majority of this class and his time playing overseas has paid tremendous dividends for a Bulls team that has relied heavily on his production. If he finishes the year on this type of a run, he might even with Rookie of the Year.
Nerlens Noel – Philadelphia 76ers
Noel has slowly improved for Philadelphia throughout the year and while his production hasn’t matched the players ahead of him on this list, he has managed 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game after missing all of last season. He’s been coming on strong, as evidenced by his latest outing: 14 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks, four steals and a pair of assists. That’s a massive fantasy stat line. The 20-year-old center has a lot of work to do at both ends of the floor if he wants to become an elite NBA big, but he has all of the tools to be just that.
[related_post_one]
Langston Galloway – New York Knicks
Galloway certainly didn’t get the hype or the push that Wiggins, Mirotic and Noel have heading in to his rookie season but he could be among the few bright spots for the Knicks from another lost season. Galloway has averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 34 games this season and while he might never be a superstar, he has proven he can be a valuable contributor on New York’s roster. He’s been a sneaky-good source for fantasy players not just because he’s exceeded expectations but because he’s had ample playing time on a Knicks roster that’s bereft of talent.
