James Harden averaged 34.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 4.0 3-pointers per game during Houston's three games over the past week, and guess what? I'm moving him down to No. 2 in the rankings.
That might sound crazy until you consider that LeBron James, who was right behind Harden in last week's rankings, averaged 28.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.5 3-pointers in four games while making 54 percent of his shots.
James moves to No. 1 in what has become a very tight race for the top spot between not only these two but also DeMarcus Cousins and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the latter of whom falls to No. 4 despite continuing to put up similar stats to the ones that had him atop the rankings for much of the first two months of the season. Harden, James and Cousins have just elevated their games to the point where Antetokounmpo's lack of 3-point shooting forces him to drop a few spots.
Cousins is doing it all as a scorer, rebounder and distributor from the center spot, but he's also averaging 1.5 blocks, 1.6 steals and 2.3 3-pointers a game. Just crazy numbers that are impossible to ignore.
He's hardly the only New Orleans player to stand out and rise in the rankings, though, as Jrue Holiday (24), Rajon Rondo (65), E'Twaun Moore (86) each stand out for their significant moves up this week.
Holiday is playing just under 37 minutes a game this season, and his offense has come alive with Anthony Davis sidelined, with scoring nights of 34, 34 and 37 in three of his past five games. Holiday's ability to accumulate steals, distribute and hit the 3-ball add to his value.
Before last week, it was starting to seem as if Rondo might not even be worthy of a roster spot in 12-team leagues, but something clicked, and the veteran has put up 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 12.0 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 54.3 percent and making 1.8 3-pointers during his past four games. If Rondo can continue this type of play, he's capable of being a top-40 fantasy player. What a change from where he was earlier this month.
Moore set a career high with 36 points in a loss to Houston on Monday and has connected on four or more 3-pointers in three of his past five games. He benefits statistically whenever Davis is sidelined, as was the case against the Rockets, but his confidence is at an all-time high, and even with Davis, he can be a borderline top-100 player.
Other notables to move up in the rankings this week include Kawhi Leonard (15), who is set to return to the court and make his season debut on Tuesday night, Indiana's Victor Oladipo (9), Houston's Chris Paul (12), Phoenix's TJ Warren (55), Chicago's Nikola Mirotic (76) and Kris Dunn (89), and Philadelphia's JJ Redick (103).
Those dropping in the rankings include Brook Lopez (74), whose playing time has hovered in the disappointing 20-minute range lately, as well as Dwyane Wade (101) and injured swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. (110).
