Walker Kessler

Kessler started his rookie season on the bench, logging fewer than 18 minutes per night for the first two months. During that time, he was able to carve out a roster spot in many fantasy leagues, a move that was to prove fruitful as the season progressed. By the end of the season, he had firmly established himself as the starting center in Utah, putting up top-20 value over the final two months. He ended as a fifth-round player, putting up healthy averages of 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in just 23.0 minutes per game, shooting 72.0 percent from the field. Looking ahead to his sophomore season, Kessler will undoubtedly open as the starting center on a team potentially looking to push back into the playoffs. While direct translations are when projecting value, it's safe to assume he will be a high-priority target this season, likely in the fourth round. Managers must be aware that his value is heavily tied to just three categories. Of the three, blocks are by far his most important and influential category. Over the final two months of last season, he was blocking 3.2 shots per game, logging 28.6 minutes per contest. For anyone who misses out on an elite center earlier in drafts, he presents as a perfect secondary option who could potentially lead the league in blocks in just his second season.