Xavier Tillman excelling with Grizzlies' starters

Sliding into the Grizzlies' starting lineup with Steven Adams sidelined, Memphis big man Xavier Tillman has proven himself a valuable fantasy asset and should be added immediately.

Video Transcript

- Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman has started 10 of Memphis's last 12 games, with his insertion into the starting lineup coinciding with Steven Adams suffering a right knee injury. In those games, Tillman's averaged 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 26.4 minutes, shooting 58.6% from the field and 57.1% from the foul line. Those numbers aren't overly impressive, but Tillman has played considerably better over his last four games.

During a stretch that includes an 18-point, 11-rebound effort in Memphis's February 28 win over the Lakers, Tillman accounted for 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game, shooting 58.8% from the field and 80% from the foul line. Those numbers are good for top 75 value in nine-cat formats. With Adams without a concrete timeline for a return and Brandon Clark suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture during Memphis's March 3 loss to Denver, now is a good time to add Tillman, who's rostered in 16% of Yahoo leagues.