Fantasy Basketball Pickups: Peyton Watson is an emergency addition

Already playing without Jamal Murray, who is part of the league’s concussion protocol, the Denver Nuggets lost another crucial player in Monday’s win over the Raptors. Aaron Gordon suffered a calf injury in the first quarter and played only four minutes. His departure opened the door for Peyton Watson, who appears in just one percent of Yahoo leagues and is now worth a toss. And his production against the Raptors was undoubtedly encouraging.

Watson played 31 minutes off the bench and finished with 16 points (4 of 7 FGs, 7 of 9 FTs), three rebounds, one assist, two steals, two blocks and one 3-pointer. Expecting that kind of offensive production from him in the future may be a stretch, but there’s no reason to doubt Watson’s availability to provide defensive value if Gordon misses time. More needs to be learned about the severity of Gordon’s calf strain on Tuesday or Wednesday, with the Nuggets playing games on Wednesday (Oklahoma City), Friday (Miami) and Sunday (Dallas).

Russell Westbrook (25% ranked) and Julian Strawther (2%) also had good games on Monday, but they are not the Nuggets we should be focusing on in the aftermath. Watson does. Let’s take a look at a few more of Monday’s best pickups:

Alex Sarr (43%), Washington Wizards

Sarr struggled with his shot, making 36.2% of his attempts, and Monday’s loss to the Warriors was another challenging game in that regard. The rookie forward shot 3-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from the foul line, but that was the main issue with his statistical line. Sarr finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots in 27 minutes. The minutes matched his season high, and the presence of Jonas Valanciunas in the rotation made it difficult for Sarr to play much more than that. However, rebounding and shot blocking will help offset the poor shooting, hoping Sarr can clean that up as he gains more experience.

Jose Alvarado (31%), New Orleans Pelicans

Alvarado has started the Pelicans’ last four games, with his rise to the starting lineup coinciding with CJ McCollum joining Dejounte Murray on the injured list. Although he didn’t shoot well in Monday’s loss to Portland, making four of 14 shots from the field, Alvarado’s overall line was decent. He scored 18 points while producing one rebound, six assists and three three-pointers in 34 minutes. Alvarado was the lone point guard in the Pelicans’ rotation, with backup Jaylen Nowell being more of a combo. McCollum is out for at least another two weeks, and Murray could be out longer, making Alvarado a player worth adding.

Bennedict Mathurin (28%), Indiana Pacers

Andrew Nembhard’s return to the Pacers lineup didn’t push Mathurin back to the bench, as Aaron Nesmith missed Monday’s win over the Mavericks with a sprained ankle. Mathurin played 32 minutes and contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal and one 3-pointer. Off-point production may be limited, but give Benn credit for his work on the boards (only Myles Turner had more rebounds among the Pacers who saw action). Mathurin’s fantasy value going forward will depend on how much time Nesmith misses, as he is in a walking boot and has no timeline for return.

Ochai Agbaji (26%) and Davion Mitchell (11%), Toronto Raptors

Since Gradey Dick’s roster percentage is up to 56%, he is not eligible for this list. Agbaji and Mitchell are, though, and both had their moments in Monday’s loss to the Nuggets. Agbaji scored 16 points at solid percentages, while also recording five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two three-pointers in 22 minutes. Mitchell finished with 13 points, eight assists, one steal and no turnovers in 30 minutes. Agbaji’s offensive production can be inconsistent, but Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture) sidelined for at least two more weeks gives him room to make an impact. As for Mitchell, he’s worth targeting where production help is needed. He’s had at least five in six straight games.

Bub Carrington (14%), Washington Wizards

Carrington’s approach to top 100 value and nights like Monday will only increase his fantasy value. The rookie guard played 33 minutes against the Warriors and scored 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and one three-pointer, while committing one turnover. Carrington’s had no more than two goals in any of Washington’s six games, and he has scored double figures in three of the last four. As for assists, he has provided at least six in three straight games. While we’ll have to wait and see how Malcolm Brogdon’s eventual return will impact Carrington’s playing time, minutes for him shouldn’t be an issue in a rebuilding team.

Julian Champagnie (9%), San Antonio Spurs

After four consecutive games of seven points or less, Champagnie broke out of that funk on Monday. He shot 7-of-12 from the field and scored a season-high 21 points with five rebounds, two assists and five three-pointers in a season-high 38 minutes. In addition to the Spurs being without Devin Vassell, who is working his way back from a foot injury, Jeremy Sochan injured his thumb in the first half of Monday’s game and did not return.

Those injuries have made Champagnie a viable deep-league option, even if the production hasn’t been there. As for when Vassell might return, it’s unlikely Wednesday’s game in Houston will be the right day. After that game, the Spurs will play games on Thursday (Portland) and Saturday (Utah). These excellent matchups are not only designed to allow unknown players to shine, but they are also played on lighter game days. That could bode well for Champagnie’s value, especially if Sochan misses time.

Brandon Boston Jr. (2%), New Orleans Pelicans

After recently dealing with back spasms, Jordan Hawkins was finally sidelined Monday in the second game of the Pelicans’ back-to-back. Boston filled the void in the starting lineup and had one of the best games of his NBA career after a loss to Portland. He shot 9-of-15 from the field and finished with 20 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers. Boston’s future value depends on Hawkins’ availability, but he made a positive impression on Monday.