San Antonio's Rebuild is Killing Fantasy Value, Even Against the Bulls
Wemby's Numbers vs. Reality
Look, Victor Wembanyama is a generational talent. We all know this. The kid put up 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks against the Bulls in their last meeting on December 8th. Those are fantasy gold numbers, no question. But the Spurs still lost that game 121-112. And therein lies the problem for anyone rostering a Spur not named Wembanyama.
Thing is, the Spurs are actively bad. They're 14-53, second-worst in the league. That kind of team context, especially in a Popovich system focused on player development over immediate wins, absolutely caps the upside of everyone else. Keldon Johnson might get you 15 points, but he shot 4-for-14 last time against Chicago. Devin Vassell had 21 points, but the assists aren't there consistently. They get their numbers, but it's often inefficient or without much complementary stat stuffing because the offense is so heliocentric around Wemby and then just... chaos.
Bulls Backcourt: Unsung Fantasy Heroes?
On the other side, the Bulls' backcourt has quietly been delivering solid fantasy production, especially lately. Coby White dropped 24 points and 6 assists in that December game. He's been averaging over 20 points and 5 assists since January 1st, shooting 46% from the field. That's borderline All-Star production in a lot of fantasy leagues. And Alex Caruso? He's a steals and blocks specialist who occasionally pops for double-digit points. He had 18 points, 3 steals, and 2 blocks against the Spurs last time. You can't ask for much more from a waiver wire pickup.
Even DeMar DeRozan, who can be frustratingly inconsistent for fantasy managers due to his lack of threes, is still a points and assists machine. He had 24 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds against San Antonio. The Bulls, despite their own maddening inconsistencies as a team, tend to elevate the fantasy floor of their main guys in favorable matchups, and the Spurs are definitely that.
The Fantasy Play for the Next Matchup
If you've got Wemby, you're obviously starting him. No brainer. But for everyone else in a Spurs uniform, I'm tempering expectations. Johnson's production is too volatile, and Vassell, while capable, often takes a back seat to Victor. This is a clear "sit 'em if you can" scenario for most other Spurs, unless you're desperate for a streamer in a deep league and hoping for a random 15-point outing.
For the Bulls, Coby White is a must-start right now. DeRozan is a strong play for points and assists, and Caruso is a solid streamer if you need defensive stats and don't mind the occasional offensive dud. The hot take? If I had to pick one non-Wemby player from this game to guarantee me 20+ fantasy points, it's White. His usage and efficiency have been too good lately to ignore.