With the trade deadline now in the rear-view mirror and the All-Star break just around the corner, let’s take a minute to reflect on the season so far. Whether you are battling for a playoff spot in a head-to-head league or surveying the landscape in a roto format, many are thinking about what their next move will be. While that’s all well and good, why not look back at what has transpired thus far, leading us to where we are now.

As a starting point, the focus might as well be on the players that have far exceeded our expectations, currently sitting inside the top-100. These names may have been a preseason target or simply landed in your lap thanks to a stroke of luck. Whichever the case, they have certainly proven to be difference-makers across all formats thanks to their much-improved play.

Breakout Players

Gary Trent

Preseason ADP – 140 / Current Rank – 26

Simply put, Trent has managed to turn himself into an excellent two-way player, thriving as a member of the resurgent Raptors. While his teammates often get all the accolades, Trent continues to play a pivotal role on both ends of the floor. To be fair, the scoring is probably the least surprising aspect, given his trajectory over the past couple of seasons. The improvements for Trent have come both on the defensive end, as well as in his efficiency, despite increased volume. The question has been, and still remains, is this sustainable? Given we are 50 games into the season, we have to assume it is at least somewhat sustainable. There are sure to be some ups and downs but his role is locked in, making him a top-40 player the rest of the way.

Miles Bridges

Preseason ADP – 97 / Current Rank – 29

Bridges flashed these kinds of numbers towards the backend of last season, perhaps giving us a glimpse into the future. For those lucky enough to snag him in drafts, the future is now. He was red-hot to begin the season, flirting with first-round value for a period. he has obviously cooled off since then but remains one of the more entertaining players to watch. His relationship with LaMelo Ball has been key to his development, setting him up as one of the Hornets’ long-term pieces. In recent times, his perimeter scoring has taken a backseat, thanks to some inefficiencies. However, as part of his ongoing growth, he is able to find other ways to score. As he continues to find other ways to contribute, he should assert himself as a top-50 talent for at least the next few years.

Desmond Bane

Preseason ADP – 156 / Current Rank – 45

It’s fair to say that Bane has had some luck go his way this season, although to be fair to him, he has certainly made the most of his opportunities. In a short span of time, he has managed to turn himself into an elite perimeter scorer who can be a meaningful contributor on the defensive end. Basically an afterthought last season, the Grizzlies now likely view him as a key piece of their future. The eventual return of Dillon Brooks is going to complicate things a little, meaning there is some doubt associated with Bane’s fantasy outlook. That said, he has done more than enough to establish a safe fantasy floor, meaning he should be a lock to finish inside the top-60.

Bobby Portis

Preseason ADP – 139 / Current Rank – 53

Much like Bane, Portis has had the rub of the green, so to speak, with Brook Lopez basically missing the entire season due to a back injury. Portis established himself as a fan favorite in Milwaukee last season but no one could have foreseen this kind of a role for him. After a career littered with flashes of upside, he has managed to carve out a meaningful role for himself. The recent addition of Serge Ibaka does cast a small shadow of doubt over whether he can maintain his current production. Although as we have seen thus far this season, Ibaka is nowhere near the player he once was. Given Portis has been able to develop positive relationships with the team’s key pieces, his role should remain relatively secure. Fantasy managers should view him as a top-70 player, at a minimum, the rest of the way.

Jarred Vanderbilt

Preseason ADP – 382 / Current Rank – 73

Coming into the season, Jaden McDaniels was seen as the more likely to break out when considering the Wolves’ power forward position. However, that quickly changed with Vanderbilt establishing himself as the starter thanks to his elite defensive capabilities. Since that time, he has been able to maintain his role, adding an ability to crash the boards with regularity. He is certainly not a high-volume scorer but any points he can muster typically come on high efficiency. He is a perfect example of a player being an elite fantasy asset despite being a negative contributor in the points department. The Wolves are finally building a team that can push for the playoffs, meaning his role should remain largely unchanged. Come season’s end, he could very well have vaulted himself into the top-70.

Herb Jones

Preseason ADP – 674 / Current Rank – 76

Another player who does not rely on scoring to be a positive on-court player, Jones has been surprisingly impressive during his rookie campaign. While he too has had a few things go his way, he has quickly established himself as an elite wing defender on a team that needs all the help it can get. The fact he has slotted into a 30-minute role has allowed him to work on his offensive game, to the point where he can be an efficient, yet low-volume contributor. There is a very real possibility his points production increases as we move through the season, something that could see his rank climb a little moving forward.

Josh Hart

Preseason ADP – 165 / Current Rank – 85

A former teammate of Jones, Hart has managed to put together the best season of his career. Known as arguably one of the best rebounders from the guard position in the league, Hart has managed to lift his across-the-board production thanks to an increased role. Now in Portland, Hart figures to land a similar role, with a view to even more touches on a team seeking to pull any positives they can from what has been a lost season. There is little reason to think Hart’s production will change and so managers should feel comfortable rolling him out there on a daily basis, as a fantastic plug-and-play option.

Kevin Love

Preseason ADP – 171 / Current Rank – 92

For many, myself included, Love appeared to be a spent force last season. Having battled an ongoing calf injury, both his physical and mental health were well-documented, to the point where he was simply not a part of the rotation. Fast forward 12 months and Love has been able to turn things around, both on a personal level and in terms of the franchise. The Cavs have been arguably the most surprising team this season, currently occupying the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Love has been relatively healthy thus far, playing a key role off the bench behind Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. He is happier than he has been in a long time and barring any unforeseen issues, he should be a fringe top-100 player ROS.

Cameron Johnson

Preseason ADP – 373 / Current Rank – 94

Of all the players on this list, Johnson actually feels like the one who could regress as we approach the fantasy playoffs. The Suns acquired Torrey Craig prior to the trade deadline, a move that further complicates things when it comes to projecting Johnson’s path to playing time. Despite being a better long-term option for the Suns, they are in win-now mode, meaning Jae Crowder and possibly even Craig are going to be taking minutes from Johnson. He should be able to maintain a consistent role, albeit one not favorable to 12-team leagues. He remains one of the most efficient perimeter scorers in the league and so that alone may work for your fantasy squad.

Jalen Brunson

Preseason ADP – 331 / Current Rank – 100

The Mavs picked up Spencer Dinwiddie as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal, a move that does pose a couple of questions moving forward. Brunson had put together brief periods of fantasy relevance prior to this season, usually when Luka Doncic was on the sideline. While he has thrived without Doncic at times again this season, he has also proven he can contribute alongside the superstar. Dinwiddie has been underwhelming this season, to say the least, but does figure to slide straight into the rotation in some capacity. The Mavs sound as though they are invested in Brunson and so despite some uncertainty, he should remain a borderline top-100 player moving forward.