Steven Adams

Adams and Jonas Valanciunas were traded for each other last summer, and both succeeded in their new environments. With the Grizzlies, Adams continued to produce rebounds at a healthy rate (10.0) in fantasy despite playing just 26.3 minutes per game. He also added a new passing wrinkle to his game, averaging a career-high 3.4 assists. The veteran also posted 6.9 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 54.3 percent from the charity stripe, not to mention 1.7 combined steals-plus-blocks. This resulted in Adams ranking 164th in per-game fantasy production - similar to his 2020-21 rank of 187. Adams has poor touch around the hoop and wasn't featured as much as a pick-and-roll threat he had been in the past because the Grizzlies had superior options. He generated most of his offense through nabbing offensive rebounds and tossing the ball back up, averaging a ridiculous 6.3 offensive boards per 36 minutes. It's understandable for fantasy managers to have some reservations about drafting Adams since he was used so inconsistently in the postseason, drawing four consecutive DNPs in the middle of the Grizzlies' playoff run and averaging just 16.2 minutes in his seven appearances. However, Adams' presence will be needed with Jaren Jackson (foot) out for potentially half the season. Xavier Tillman, Santi Aldama and other frontcourt players figure to see time at center as well, but Adams' ability to set punishing brick-wall screens and dominate the offensive glass will always keep him relevant during the regular season. He's a fringe standard league option at this point, but he's a justifiable late pick given the scarcity of serviceable centers.