MEM 137, MIN 128: MIN Falls Despite Edwards's 52.9 Yahoo FP
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Grizzlies Survive Without Their Stars, Memphis Role Players Step Up Big
Final: Grizzlies 137, Timberwolves 128
This was supposed to be a bloodbath. Memphis missing Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke should've been a free W for Minnesota. Instead, the Grizzlies scraped together 137 points from bench guys and mid-tier rotation players while the Wolves couldn't close it out despite getting everything they needed from their stars. That's the fantasy basketball story here, and it's ugly for anyone counting on the Timberwolves to stay solid without their third star healthy.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | 50.0 | 52.9 | 39/7/3 | 29.7/5.2/3.7 | +9.3 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 44.0 | 42.2 | 30/6/2 | 19.2/5.8/1.9 | +10.8 |
| Julius Randle | 38.0 | 40.6 | 19/8/8 | 22.2/6.9/5.4 | -3.2 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 52.0 | 38.3 | 29/4/3 | 15.2/4.4/2.9 | +13.8 |
| Ty Jerome | 42.0 | 38.2 | 19/6/8 | 19.5/3.5/7.0 | -0.5 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 46.0 | 35.6 | 21/3/4 | 13.4/4.5/4.2 | +7.6 |
| Naz Reid | 31.0 | 31.7 | 10/6/1 | 14.6/6.4/2.5 | -4.6 |
| Vince Williams Jr. | 38.0 | 30.7 | 16/1/5 | 8.0/4.0/4.4 | +8.0 |
| Cam Spencer | 30.0 | 27.3 | 16/4/5 | 11.7/2.7/5.6 | +4.3 |
| GG Jackson | 27.0 | 26.1 | 13/8/1 | 8.1/3.3/1.0 | +4.9 |
The Real Story: Anthony Edwards Can't Will His Team to Wins
Anthony Edwards went absolutely nuclear. 39 points, 13-27 from the field, 10-14 from the line. That's 52.9 Yahoo points, nearly 10 points above his season average. When the All-NBA Second Team guard is dropping 39 on efficient shooting, your team should win. Period. But Minnesota still lost because nobody else could stay consistent enough, and the Grizzlies got contributions from literally everybody on their bench.
This is the trap with Edwards as a fantasy asset right now. He's getting his points, but the Wolves are fragile when anyone else has a bad night. Julius Randle went 5-14 from the field even though he racked up 40 minutes and 8 assists. That's not getting it done when Ant is already carrying the load. Randle scored 40.6 Yahoo points but only dropped 19 actual points, which tells you how much he was relying on the other stats to stay afloat.
Jaden McDaniels was the only other Wolf who showed up proper. 29 points on 11-14 shooting, including 5 threes, and he was +13.8 from his season average. That's the type of game you need from your third option, and McDaniels delivered. But it wasn't enough. One good night from a role player doesn't swing close games, and the Grizzlies proved that tonight.
Memphis Did This Without Ja, Edey, or Clarke
Let's be real for a second. Jaren Jackson Jr. dropped 30 points on 8-17 shooting with 11 free throws made. That's not just a good night, that's an All-Star night. He was +10.8 from his season average and kept Memphis in rhythm when they could've folded.
But here's the wild part: Jackson couldn't do it alone. Ty Jerome came off the bench and gave Memphis 38.2 Yahoo points with 19/6/8, handling the point guard duties without their star. Jaden McDaniels, wait no, I meant Vince Williams Jr. out of nowhere went 4-7 from three for 16 points. GG Jackson grabbed 8 boards in 21 minutes. These aren't your fantasy studs, these are "who is this guy?" contributions that somehow add up to 137 points.
This is the dirty truth about the Grizzlies without their top three guys: they're deeper than people give them credit for. Memphis can get contributions from literally anybody on the roster. That makes them dangerous in fantasy even when injured, because the scoring gets spread around instead of concentrated.
Who Gets Dropped, Who Gets Added
The ownership shift tells you everything. Santi Aldama is getting dropped hard (-0.9% ownership), and honestly, with Jerome running the point and Jackson Jr. eating up usage, I get it. Aldama wasn't in this game at all, and when your team wins without you playing, the fantasy value gets fuzzy.
Vince Williams Jr. and the other Grizzlies role guys are getting their names typed into waiver wire spots across the league. That's league dependent though. In 10-team formats, these guys disappear after one good game. In 14+ team leagues where you need bodies, Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer are worth a look this week, but don't get cute thinking they're sustainable options.
For Minnesota, Naz Reid underperformed (-4.6 from his average) and that's concerning. When you're already thin at the backend of your rotation and your depth guy can't stay consistent, it hurts. He got 25 minutes and still couldn't impact enough.
The Bottom Line
Anthony Edwards proved he can drop 50 Yahoo points any night, but that's not fantasy gold if the team keeps losing close games. The Grizzlies showed they don't need Ja to win, which is either terrifying for the West or a sign that they're actually deeper than we thought. Neither narrative helps Edwards owners sleep better.
Memphis is a play-in team that can't afford many more losses. Minnesota needs to figure out their rotation fast, because relying on one guy to drop 52 points every other night isn't a championship formula. In fantasy terms, Edwards is still a hold in every league, but the team around him matters way more than the box score suggests.