TRENDING UP

De'Aaron Fox, SAC: The fifth overall pick hasn't wasted any time making an impact on a rebuilding Kings squad, already averaging 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals over his first four contests. One of the most encouraging aspects of his early performances is the accuracy he's displayed, as he's drained 45.6 percent of his shots overall, including 40.0 percent from three-point range. Just as important are his playing time trends, as he's already outpaced veteran starter George Hill in a couple of games and is making it look like just a matter of time before he vaults into the top point guard job.

D'Angelo Russell, BKN: Russell is thriving while running point on what has been one of the NBA's most prolific offenses in the first week of the new season. The former-Laker is averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals while encouragingly shooting 46.7 percent, a jump of more than six points over last season. Backcourt mate Jeremy Lin's season-ending knee injury is only going to put more on Russell's shoulders, and accordingly, he's already sporting a 35.2 percent usage rate with Lin off the floor.

Lonzo Ball, LAL: After a highly publicized battle with Patrick Beverley in his first game – one in which Ball decidedly came up short – the rookie has exploded for a 29-point, 11-rebound, nine-assist performance and an 8-8-13 line over the next two games. His shooting has admittedly been all over the place over the small three-game sample, and that could well be part of the package for Ball owners this season. However, this looks like a textbook case of a player who's going to take significant leaps forward at a couple of points this season, and the Lakers certainly appear ready to afford him all the minutes he'll need to maximize his talents.

Ben Simmons, PHI: It took one very long year, but Simmons finally made it to his regular-season pro debut and has been producing since. Stat-sheet-stuffing been the norm for the second-year phenom, as he double-doubled in his first three games and churned out his first career triple-double against the Pistons on Monday. Free throws have been a bit of an issue in the early going, but he's been borderline dominant otherwise. Like Ball, Simmons looks poised to get as much run as he can handle, as he's yet to play less than 33 minutes.

Reggie Jackson, DET: Jackson never quite settled into a groove last season while battling injuries and finished with the worst shooting percentage (41.9) since his 2011-12 rookie campaign with the Thunder. He's enjoying a resurgent start to the season, averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while hitting double digits in the scoring column in his first four games. Jackson has been excellent as a ball distributor in particular and is meshing seamlessly with new backcourt mate Avery Bradley.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Victor Oladipo, IND: Oladipo has been one of the offensive linchpins of a high-flying Pacers squad over the first four games, averaging a career-best 23.8 points (on a career-high 47.1 percent shooting), along with 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals. He's been lethal from long range as well, draining 2.0 three-pointers per contest while eclipsing 20 points in three of his first four. His above-average defense also helps ensure that he'll see a boatload of minutes on a team that looks poised to put up plenty of points this season.

Eric Gordon, HOU:Chris Paul's knee troubles have afforded Gordon an extended starting assignment, one that he's parlayed into averages of 23.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds over the first three-plus games that he's worked as the top two-guard while James Harden has slid over to Paul's point guard spot. The veteran sharpshooter has an extensive track record of generating abundant production in scoring categories, and that should continue to be the case this season, even when he eventually returns to the bench.

Justin Holiday, CHI: Opportunities are often abound on a team in heavy rebuilding mode such as the Bulls, and Holiday has been maximizing his expanded role thus far. Zach LaVine (knee) will eventually return and likely put a dent into Holiday's production, but for the moment, the latter is averaging 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals while also draining an eye-popping 3.7 three-pointers per contest. Holiday has taken no less than 16 shot attempts in his first three games either, and that level of aggressiveness – coupled with his 36.0 minutes per contest thus far – should continue leading to strong returns.

Danny Green, SA: The offensively-proficient version of Green we've seen so far is one that doesn't come out and play very often – in fact, it's only made a few cameo appearances over the veteran's eight-plus seasons, primarily during the 2014-15 campaign. However, with Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) sidelined to open the season, Green has picked up some major scoring slack, putting up double-digit shot attempts in two of the Spurs' first three games. The boost in usage has led to averages of 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.3 blocks across a solid 32.0 minutes, numbers that have made the defensive maven one of the pleasant fantasy surprises in the early going.

Dejounte Murray, SA: As with Green, Murray is taking advantage of the absence of a key cog of the Spurs offense to generate some career-best numbers. The second-year guard is filling in for Tony Parker (quadriceps) and has gone for double-digit scoring and rebounding in two of the first three games. He's turned in a pair of six-assist tallies as well and is shooting a blistering 56.7 percent from the field, making him an excellent all-around fantasy contributor to open the campaign.

SMALL FORWARDS

Jayson Tatum, F, BOS: Tatum has found himself starting at power forward to open the season in Marcus Morris' stead, as the latter is suffering from an ailing knee. He's parlayed that opportunity into averages of 15.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks while finding the net on 47.6 percent of his shots, including 45.5 percent of those he's launched from behind the arc. The third overall pick has looked NBA-ready since the Summer League, and the excellent defense he's providing as an undersized four is helping him see a full load of minutes as well. Gordon Hayward's season-ending ankle injury also help ensure that Tatum will continue seeing plenty of opportunity at the three when Morris finally makes his season debut at power forward.

Jonathon Simmons, ORL: Simmons escaped his Spurs apprenticeship this offseason and headed south, where he's already averaging a career-best 13.3 points and 2.5 rebounds across a high-water mark of 23.5 minutes. He'll have the chance to truly develop his game in O-Town while filling in at both shooting guard and small forward, and it wouldn't be inconceivable to see him overtake Terrence Ross at the three at some point in the season.

DeMarre Carroll, BRO: Carroll looked close to finished last season at times while averaging just 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.1 steals in his first Nets campaign. He may have found the proverbial fountain of youth in the offseason, as he's averaging 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals on 48.7 percent shooting over his first four games. The veteran appears locked into an allotment of minutes in the high 20s as well on what has been one of the most prolific offenses to open the season.

Jaylen Brown, BOS: Brown jumped into the starting two-guard role upon the offseason departure of Avery Bradley and has nearly tripled his 6.6 points per game from last season while also averaging three more boards per contest. With averages of 18.8 points (on 47.6 percent shooting), 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in his first four games, he looks poised to deliver throughout the season as one of Boston's key offensive pieces.

POWER FORWARDS

Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL: The Greek Freak is playing on a completely different plane thus far, as his averages of 36.8 points (on 65.9 percent shooting), 10.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals indicates. He's taken no less than 21 shots in any of his first four games, and that level of usage paired with his incomparable physical skills have him poised for an MVP-caliber season.

Kristaps Porzingis, NYK: With Carmelo Anthony in Oklahoma City, Porzingis has taken the reins of the Knicks offense and has already exceeded 30 points in two of his first three games. Like Antetokounmpo, Porzingis' sheer size affords him a significant advantage in most matchups, and his 32.4 percent usage rate in the early going seems to corroborate that he'll serve as a focal point of the attack this season.

LaMarcus Aldridge, SA: Aldridge has been in vintage Portland form over the first four games, as he's taken up the mantle of primary scorer in the absences of Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, who are both sidelined with quadriceps injuries. Aldridge has hit the 20-point mark in each of his first four contests and is came just two rebounds short of logging a double-double in all of those games. The extra responsibility has led to excellent averages of 24.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists over a robust 36.0 minutes.

Kyle Kuzma, LAL: Kuzma started trending upward since Summer League play and largely maintained that trajectory straight through preseason and into the start of the regular campaign. He's upped his scoring totals in each of his three contests thus far and is draining an eye-popping 60.7 percent of his 9.3 field-goal attempts per contest. Those numbers are coming over 26.0 minutes per game, an allotment of playing time that should afford him plenty of opportunity to build on his current averages of 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks.

Lauri Markkanen, CHI: The rookie has been a ray of hope in what looks to be a pretty dismal season ahead in the Windy City, averaging 16.3 points and 9.3 rebounds across 34.0 minutes in his first three games. His accuracy has stood out, as he's managed a 44.7 percent success rate from the field, including a stellar 45.5 percent from long distance while averaging a whopping 7.3 three-point attempts per contest. With that type of usage and playing time, Markkanen could well continue racking up the numbers on a rebuilding squad that's going to have to stay aggressive to keep up against most teams.

Domantas Sabonis, IND: Sabonis rarely made an impact during a rookie season in OKC last year in which he averaged just 5.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 81 games. However, getting out from under Russell Westbrook's prominent shadow and an injury to Myles Turner (neck, concussion) has drastically changed his outlook in Indiana thus far, as the big man is averaging 13.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 26.0 minutes over the first four games. It remains to be seen if his playing time will endure once Turner is back to full health, but Sabonis may be carving out a solid role in the frontcourt rotation with his play.

Skal Labissiere, SAC: The second-year big man is delivering on his considerable potential after a strong rookie season, as he's scored in double digits in three of his first four games. Labissiere is behind veteran Zach Randolph on the power forward depth chart, but he's outpacing the latter in playing time and is averaging a solid 24.8 minutes per contest. With his size and floor-spacing ability, Labissiere is going to earn himself plenty of playing time, especially after the season unfolds and the Kings look to see what they have in their young assets.

John Collins, ATL: Veteran Ersan Ilyasova (knee) may not be long for the starting power forward job even when he is healthy, as Collins is already proving worthy of his first-round selection last June. He's got back-to-back double-doubles, 14 points each in three of his first four games and averages of 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds across a modest 19.0 minutes per contest. It could be just a matter of time before he ascends on the depth chart, but even in the interim, Collins is proving he doesn't need a ton of minutes to provide above-average returns in scoring and rebounding.

CENTERS

Joel Embiid, PHI: Embiid's playing time is still being monitored pretty carefully, but he's once again producing any time he's on the floor. He's already got a pair of double-doubles under his belt over his first three games and is averaging 19.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over a solid 27.7 minutes per game. The seven-footer has the physical skills to win virtually any matchup, so only injuries can seemingly derail what should be a fantasy-dominant season.

Marc Gasol, MEM: Gasol has made superior numbers the norm throughout his long career, but he's taken matters up a notch in the new campaign. The big man is averaging a career-high 24.7 points and 10.0 rebounds over his first four games, with the key being a boost in overall involvement. Gasol's 44.9 percent shooting is actually a tick below his usual standards, but his team-high 32.5 percent usage rate and career-high 16.3 shot attempts per contest have resulted in elite production in the early going.

Kelly Olynyk, BOS: The Heat appear to have done some smart offseason shopping with Olynyk, who's been an excellent addition to the Miami frontcourt. He's seeing plenty of minutes and is just one rebound shy of back-to-back double-doubles. With averages of 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals across 25.7 minutes in his first three games, he's proven viable in all formats and appears to be carving out a robust niche for himself in the rotation.

Nikola Vucevic, ORL: Much like Gasol, Vucevic has taken an already impressive game to another level to start the season, even factoring in a rough shooting night against the Nets on Tuesday. Vucevic already has tallies of 41 and 23 points over his first four games, along with a pair of double-doubles. He's averaging a career-best 23.8 points on 59.8 percent shooting, while putting up a career-high 16.8 field-goal attempts per contest. If he keeps up the pace, the floor-spacing big man looks destined for what could be career season.

TRENDING DOWN

Eric Bledsoe, PHO: Bledsoe's aforementioned issues currently have him parked firmly on the sidelines while the Suns seek a trade partner for the disgruntled point guard. Until he's in a new location and firmly ensconced in a consistent role, he's a fantasy pariah.

Jeff Teague, MIN: Much like Butler, Teague might be going through a bit of an acclimation period in his new Minnesota digs. Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins are clearly the focal point of the T-Wolves' attack on most nights, leaving Teague to often serve as a facilitator and generate a modest 10.5 points per game on a career-low 36.4 percent shooting thus far.

Markelle Fultz, PHI: The top overall pick's season got started off on a somewhat disappointing note when it was announced he'd be coming off the bench, and it's gone downhill since then. After a solid opener in which he posted 10 points, three rebounds and one assist, Fultz scored in the single digits in three subsequent games and is now dealing with what could be a long-term shoulder issue.

Kyle Lowry, TOR: Lowry likely won't deserve this designation for long, but he's earned it for the moment with modest averages of 12.3 points, 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds through his first three games. His shooting hasn't been the problem – his 43.3 percent success rate is generally in line with his career numbers – but his lack of involvement has. Lowry is averaging just over five less shots a game than last season in the early going, leading to the downturn in production.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Jimmy Butler, MIN: He's bound to bounce back to normal levels of production over the course of the season, but early returns have been frustrating. Butler is averaging a modest 13.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals across his first three games, and there could well continue to be an adjustment period as Butler acclimates to playing alongside a lot more offensive talent than he had in his Chicago days.

SMALL FORWARDS

T.J. Warren, PHO: Given the Suns' need for playmakers, especially in the wake of Eric Bledsoe's deactivation, it would have appeared likely that Warren would be capitalizing with some strong numbers. However, the opposite has proven true, as the fourth-year forward has scored in single digits in three of his first four games. A 40.5 percent success rate from the field that represents a full nine-point drop from last season's figure is largely to blame, leaving Warren trending in the wrong direction for the moment.

Danilo Gallinari, LAC: After missing time in the latter half of preseason with a foot sprain, Gallinari has started his regular season off rusty. He's draining just 31.6 percent of his shots, which has led to a lackluster 12.3 points per game over his first trio of contests. His track record suggests he'll get it together, but it may take some time for him to find his shot on a consistent basis.

Tim Hardaway, Jr., NYK: There were some eyebrows raised about Hardaway's sizable contract this offseason, and the skepticism has been warranted thus far. Hardaway is averaging over five less points per game (9.3) than last season through his first three games, with an unsightly 24.3 percent success rate from the field directly responsible. Naturally, that number is bound to improve, but it's putting a significant damper on Hardaway's prospects for the moment.

Wilson Chandler, DEN: Coming into the season, Chandler looked to be in a prime spot for some of the best production of his career, given the offseason departure of Danilo Gallinari. However, the reality has been much harsher, as he's yet to score in double digits through three games and is averaging just 7.0 points on 34.8 percent shooting (including 28.6 percent from long distance) across 32.0 minutes through three games. Chandler is still providing serviceable numbers in rebounds and assists, but his offensive struggles are dampening his overall outlook for the time being.

POWER FORWARD

Ryan Anderson, HOU: Anderson was an excellent source of offense for a number of years in New Orleans, but his starting tenure in a season-plus thus far in Houston has been somewhat disappointing in that regard. Things have started off even worse for Anderson this season, as he's averaging just 7.8 points on 33.3 percent shooting across 28.3 minutes through the first four games. Some solid rebounding is helping prop up his overall numbers to an extent, but he's yet to prove he can be counted on as a consistent scoring source in the new season.

CENTER

Dewayne Dedmon, ATL: Optimism was reasonably high for Dedmon entering the season, considering he was poised for a role as the undisputed starter at center for the Hawks in the wake of Dwight Howard's offseason departure. Early returns have left something to be desired, with Monday night's scoreless effort over 30 minutes against the Heat serving as a low point through the first four games. Dedmon's 6.8 rebounds per contest is solid, but until he boosts his scoring contributions, his fantasy value is significantly capped.