Pacers big man delivers elite shot-blocking upside along with steady minutes
By Mike Barner Mar 25, 2026 at 1:09 pm ET • 3 min read
Imagn Images The difference between winning and losing your fantasy league can come down to a single stat category. A key block, steal, or 3-pointer can swing a league on the final day. With that in mind, let's highlight some stat specialists to consider adding who are still available in the majority of CBS leagues.
Rebounds: Nick Richards, Chicago Bulls (7% rostered)
The Bulls underwent a significant roster overhaul at the trade deadline. They dealt away Nikola Vucevic, creating a massive void at center. Jalen Smith has been in and out of the lineup with a calf injury, further depleting their options up front. After not playing much with the Suns, Richards has averaged 23 minutes over 19 games with the Bulls.
Richards is not a flashy fantasy option, but with him playing more, he has averaged 7.7 rebounds with Chicago. He has even started three of their last five games. Monday, he started alongside Smith and played 26 minutes. The Bulls like to use two-big lineups, so even if Smith can stay healthy, there should be plenty of minutes left for Richards to help fantasy managers on the glass. The Bulls play four games in both of the final two weeks and have some great matchups left, including games against the Pacers, Mavericks, and Wizards. That makes Richards stand out even more.
Assists: Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat (45% rostered)
Mitchell has been a regular starter for the Heat, averaging 28 minutes for the season as the team has dealt with a bevy of injuries. Tyler Herro has appeared in just 25 games, and both Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins have missed time lately. Mitchell has turned his increased role into a career-high 6.6 assists per game.
Mitchell has not been racking up as many assists since Herro made his return. Still, he has averaged 5.1 assists across his last 14 games. The Heat still have some favorable matchups left on its schedule, including two games against the Wizards and one against the Pacers. Mitchell can still provide a boost in assists.
3-Pointers: Daeqwon Plowden, Sacramento Kings (8% rostered)
The Kings are well on their way to one of the worst records in the NBA. Injuries have played a key role in their demise, and no significant reinforcements are expected to come down the stretch. They are still playing some veterans like DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, and Malik Monk, but they have given increased opportunities to some of their younger players. That includes Plowden, who has averaged 32 minutes over his last eight games.
Plowden has been excellent from behind the arc, averaging 2.6 3-pointers over that eight-game span. He also shot 36.2% on 7.3 3-point attempts per game. The Kings don't have the easiest schedule with six of their final nine games coming on the road, but Plowden should still play enough to make him a worthy add, especially in deeper leagues.
Blocks: Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (40% rostered)
After acquiring Ivica Zubac from the Clippers, he began his tenure with the Pacers, sidelined by an ankle injury. He eventually made his debut with the team earlier this month, but only averaged 24 minutes over a five-game span. He is now out for the remainder of the season with a fractured rib.
The Pacers haven't had many viable center options for much of the season, which has contributed to Huff playing 21 minutes a night. That's still not a ton of minutes, but it has been enough for him to rack up 1.9 blocks a game. The presence of Obi Toppin and Micah Potter will prevent Huff from seeing a huge jump in playing time because of the Zubac injury, but he has already proven that he can help with blocks even when he doesn't play 30+ minutes a night.
Steals: Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Memphis Grizzlies (17% rostered)
Like the Pacers and Kings, the Grizzlies are racking up losses as the regular season winds down. Their depth chart is a mess because of injuries, especially up front. They have been forced to deploy a lot of small lineups, including rolling out Prosper at center. He has started and averaged 25 minutes over their last 17 games.
With Prosper playing more, he averaged 1.4 steals over that 17-game span. The Grizzlies limit most of their players to fewer than 30 minutes a night, even with all the injuries on their roster. Still, Prosper will likely remain in his current expanded role moving forward. We're looking to add him for steals, but it should be noted that he can also help in other areas. Across those 17 games, he also averaged 12.2 points and 1.4 3-pointers while shooting 53.5% from the field.
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