Let’s get this out of the way: Cash Counters — 3-pointers, steals and blocks — are the three stats that typically lead to the money in fantasy. The other counting stats may be a lot flashier but it’s these three, particularly the steals and blocks, that make for a wildly underrated fantasy player, or turn a so-so player into a great one.

The defensive stats are two of the scarcest, and unlike assists, the other hard-to-find category out there, you can typically acquire steals, blocks and 3-pointers for cheap either at the end of your draft or on the waiver wire. Players who move the needle in assists are universally drafted, typically because they come with other skills that everyone can see plainly. These three are the categories that you can round out later on as you put the finishing touches on a roster, or even pick up for short-term boosts.

This article is all about shining a light on the specialists out there. The guys who excel in one particular category that can make a huge difference. Some of them may end up drafted in standard leagues, but most of them won’t. We’re ignoring the most prolific producers who get drafted more often than not — though Alex Caruso is a dynamo for our purposes here. Consider this a cheat sheet of late-round reminders, options in deep-league drafts and a list of suggestions for in-season streaming targets. Let’s dive in.

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