De’Aaron Fox continues to thrive since returning from injury, posting elite usage and improved defensive activity.
The High Score 100 — the top-100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the fifth week of fantasy basketball — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.
Before jumping into the risers, it’s worth noting the ripple effect of star returns this week. LeBron James (35) and Paul George (96) both made their season debuts in Week 5, pushing rotational players down the list as usage and minutes normalized. Tyler Herro returned on Monday (Nov. 24), and he’ll have the same impact heading into Week 6. As more stars come back (still waiting on Jalen Williams), expect more volatility in the middle tiers of the rankings.
Alright — onto the risers.
Top-5 risers in Week 6
Derik Queen – FC (⬆️ 20), New Orleans Pelicans: 95th overall
Queen is finally getting the minutes and usage that Pelicans fans (and fantasy managers) hoped for. After entering Week 5 averaging 1.10 fantasy points per minute, he’s now made the leap into consistent 30-minute territory over the past week. He closed last week scoring 35+ fantasy points in five of his last seven games, and is locked in as a High Score staple with New Orleans leaning into its youth movement.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – G/FC (⬆️ 15), Atlanta Hawks: 75th overall
NAW is climbing again — this time due to an expanded role, sans Trae Young, and scoring output. Alexander-Walker averaged over 40 fantasy points in High Score last week, thanks to posting 24/4/4 with 1 block per game in Week 5. With the Hawks dealing with injuries, NAW has been an essential stopgap and continues to pay off for fantasy managers.
Mikal Bridges – G/FC (⬆️ 11), New York Knicks: 45th overall
Bridges is trending up after taking on more offensive responsibility under Mike Brown’s new offense. He’s been a model of consistency — posting at least 35 fantasy points per game in 10 of 15 games this year. Bridges is also one of 49 players averaging more than 40 fantasy points per game, so fantasy managers have to feel good about the bump in usage reflected in his rankings.
Ryan Rollins – G (⬆️ 11), Milwaukee Bucks: 48th overall
Arguably the most improved player in the league, Rollins once again lands on the risers list. Coming into Monday, Rollins averaged a gaudy 28.3 points, 8.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds in four games without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup. He’s been a league-winning type of player all year, delivering a high-volume, diverse fantasy skill set. His FPPM efficiency has jumped dramatically over the past two weeks, and the guard is the only other must-roster player besides Antetokounmpo on Milwaukee.
De’Aaron Fox – G (⬆️ 7), San Antonio Spurs: 27th overall
Fox continues to thrive in San Antonio since returning from injury, posting elite usage and improved defensive activity. He’s averaging a shade under 45 fantasy points per game, and he’ll provide early-round value for fantasy managers, especially with Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama sidelined.
Table: Dan Titus; Source: Yahoo Fantasy
And onto the fallers
Isaiah Collier – G (⬇️ 30), Utah Jazz: 125th overall, unranked
Collier’s still flashing elite assist upside, but the scoring inconsistencies and reduced minutes have pushed him out of the top 100. His High Score value depends heavily on usage and minutes — and right now, they’re too volatile to trust.
Tre Jones – G (⬇️ 29), Chicago Bulls: 102nd overall, unranked
I might’ve dropped Jones too far in the ranks, but the fact is, he’s going to be losing minutes, usage and momentum. Chicago’s backcourt is getting healthier, and he posted two rough games in Week 5, failing to surpass 20 fantasy points. He also missed three games last week while dealing with an ankle injury. His per-minute output remains strong, but the opportunity size is dwindling.
DeMar DeRozan – FC (⬇️ 20), Sacramento Kings: 85th overall
The drop-off in scoring and the mere fact that the Kings are skidding hurts DeRozan’s fantasy stock in High Score. Domantas Sabonis is out with a torn meniscus, so DeRozan will likely see another uptick in scoring and usage. However, averaging 18/3/3 with a steal and 32.6 fantasy points per game isn’t what fans expected.
Jarrett Allen – FC (⬇️ 12), Cleveland Cavaliers: 80th overall
Allen was just on my risers list a couple of weeks ago and it seems that since that point, his health and subsequent production began to head south. Before going on injured list, he was held under 30 fantasy points in four straight contests. Hopefully, he’ll get his finger injury sorted out and return to the lineup soon.
Ausar Thompson – G/FC (⬇️ 12), Detroit Pistons: 90th overall
Ausar’s production has cooled dramatically after a hot start. Detroit’s fluctuating rotations, combined with a scoring slump, have pushed him back toward the fringe of the top 100. Over his previous five games, he’s averaged 10.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists with 3 stocks per game. His poor offensive output is a prime opportunity to buy-low in 9-cat formats where his defensive contributions carry more weight.
Check out the complete High Score 100 rankings here
The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.
