Assists are one of the more difficult statistics in fantasy hoops to find via free agency. So many of the widely recognized and celebrated players in the NBA are ball-dominant guards, making it somewhat rare to find a lead creator floating out there on the waiver wire in competitive leagues. Chicago's Tomas Satoransky is one of these outliers, as the combo guard is still available in roughly 60% of ESPN leagues.
On Tuesday evening, Satoransky tallied an efficient 19 points to go along with eight dimes in a loss to his former team, the Wizards. While he won't often wow you in the scoring department, this Bulls standout has notched at least five assists in four of his past five outings. He has proven to be a steady source of steals and assists over the past several seasons.
In downing Satoransky's Bulls, Washington's Ish Smith -- who is rostered in just 20% of ESPN leagues -- delivered 10 points and nine assists on Tuesday evening. He has now produced five-plus assists in seven of his past nine outings. With the Wizards having dealt away Isaiah Thomas at the deadline, Smith should enjoy a busy role as a key distributor for the Wizards in the weeks ahead.
Tuesday recap
Highlights
Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls: 41 points (15-21 FG), 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 5 TO
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers: 26 points (12-22 FG), 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 TO
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans: 31 points (10-17 FG), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 TO
Lowlights
Furkan Korkmaz, Philadelphia 76ers: 0 points (0-5 FG), 1 rebound
P.J. Tucker, Houston Rockets: 4 points (1-4 FG), 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Tuesday takeaways
In the Pelicans' blowout win over the Trail Blazers, Williamson became the first rookie since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger to compile a 30-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist game in 30-or-fewer minutes played. Josh Hart continued to shine as a complementary scorer and rebounder for the Pelicans, especially as he shifted into a starting role with Brandon Ingram ailing last night.
San Antonio's Derrick White posted a strong line on Tuesday with DeMar DeRozan missing from the lineup, producing 17 points and 12 combined assists and rebounds off the pine. It's tough to trust White unless DeRozan is out, but it's helpful to know that he's a solid target whenever this is the case.
Philadelphia's Simmons recorded his 28th career triple-double in Tuesday's win over the Clippers. Only Oscar Robertson (87) and Magic Johnson (31) had more across their first three NBA seasons. The 76ers shifted Al Horford to the bench, marking the first time since his rookie season that he wasn't listed as a starter. The move seemed to pay dividends, but could prove costly for Horford's overall production pattern if it lasts.
Houston's Danuel House Jr. played a team-high 40 minutes to help down the Celtics. He produced 17 points and nine rebounds in this busy role. Given the freedom to loft catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, along with a newfound zeal for crashing the glass in the Rockets' undersized rotation, House makes for a stellar addition in all formats.
Injuries of note
After missing several games with a hip ailment, Detroit's Derrick Rose is listed as probable for tonight's matchup with the Magic.
Luka Doncic is listed as questionable for tonight's matchup with the Kings and is expected to play, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
The Kings have ruled out Richaun Holmes, Marvin Bagley III, and Alex Len for tonight's visit to Dallas. Nemanja Bjelica remains a strong fantasy option in all formats.
Analytics advantage for Wednesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Wednesday's matchup with the Pacers as he takes a brief paternity leave. Khris Middleton has been a statistical star whenever his MVP teammate is out of the lineup, signaling real value as a DFS building block this evening. Middleton's usage rate leaps a whopping 7.5% when Antetokounmpo is off the floor. Eric Bledsoe's usage rises by a team-high 8.4% in such scenarios, making this tandem of Bucks attractive in daily play.
With George Hill and Kyle Korver also ruled out for Milwaukee, those in need of strong streaming options should consider Donte DiVincenzo. His usage rate has jumped 3.4% with his veteran peers off the floor this season. DiVincenzo sports the league's third-highest steal percentage, signaling valuable defensive potential ahead of tonight's matchup.
Top players to watch on Wednesday
With Kyrie Irving still sidelined with a knee injury for tonight's matchup with the streaking Raptors, I'm intrigued to see if Brooklyn's Caris LeVert -- who has averaged 25 PPG during his past four outings -- can sustain his awesome offensive production.