Aaron

Holiday

On a night when their starting backcourt of Amen Thompson and Josh Okogie combined to score 15 points, the Rockets received solid contributions from Holiday and Reed Sheppard (12/2/3 with two three-pointers) off the bench. The 19 points were the second-most in a game this season for Holiday, who has reached double figures in six of his last seven appearances. However, his fantasy value remains extremely low. The recent run does not change the fact that managers should leave Holiday on the waiver wire.

Holiday drained six of 10 from beyond the arc while playing a season-high 27 minutes to provide a much-needed spark off the bench for a Rockets’ offense playing without Kevin Durant for the first time this season. The -year-old sharpshooter scored 12 of his 22 points in the first half to help lift Houston to a nine-point lead at the break which they wouldn’t relinquish. He doesn’t offer enough of a role to make an impact for fantasy purposes but he’s an important role player for the Rockets as they appear poised to make some serious noise in a loaded Western Conference.

Holiday has hit double figures in three straight games, with Wednesday’s total being a season-high. He didn’t provide anything beyond the points, three-pointers and percentages, so there’s no need to consider rostering Holiday. Reed Sheppard (12/2/2/1/1 with two three-pointers) remains the superior option for fantasy managers, especially with Tari Eason out due to injury.

The Rockets effectively treated Tuesday’s win over the Pelicans as a dress rehearsal for the regular season, so many of the team’s stars will not play on Thursday. Many fantasy managers will have an eye on Reed Sheppard, who is not guaranteed to be a starter when the regular season begins. Matchups may dictate his place within the Rockets’ rotation, especially with Amen Thompson being a capable playmaker and Houston having excellent depth in the frontcourt. Holiday may have the best odds of landing consistent rotation minutes among Thursday’s other starters, but he is not a must-have in fantasy leagues.

With the offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant, there has been plenty of optimism surrounding the Houston Rockets. Their hopes of winning the loaded Western Conference took a significant hit with Monday’s news regarding VanVleet. While the veteran point guard shot just 37.8 percent from the field, the lowest mark for VanVleet since his rookie season, he remained a key figure for a team that finished with the second-best record in the West. Also, the low field goal percentage did not prevent VanVleet from offering close to top-50 value in fantasy basketball. His absence means Houston will need second-year guard Reed Sheppard to hit the ground running, with Aaron Holiday providing additional depth at the point. Sheppard is well worth the risk in standard leagues, while Holiday is someone to target in deeper formats. However, Amen Thompson’s fantasy value may receive the most significant boost, especially after he filled in well as Houston’s primary playmaker when VanVleet missed time last season.

Like Jeff Green, Holiday will return to the Rockets on the veteran’s minimum next season. He appeared in 62 games in 2024-25, averaging 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 three-pointers in 12.8 minutes. With Fred VanVleet expected to return and Amen Thompson capable of taking on primary playmaker responsibilities, Holiday’s role will again be limited in 2025-26.

Houston is doing everything in its power to get the band back together alongside new addition Kevin Durant. None of the trio of Tate, Holiday and Green hold much fantasy value, but they’ll provide solid minutes off the bench in Houston’s deep rotation.

VanVleet and Sengun will not play on Wednesday, as the Rockets have clinched the two-seed in the West. Aaron Holiday and Reed Sheppard may see their minutes increase due to VanVleet’s absence, while Steven Adams and Jock Landale will pick up the slack for Sengun.

VanVleet has been downgraded from questionable to out due to soreness in his right ankle. Rockets coach Ime Udoka said this may be an issue the point guard has to manage for the rest of the season. With VanVleet out, Tari Eason could potentially move into the starting lineup, with Aaron Holiday entering the rotation.

VanVleet is dealing with soreness in his right ankle, which he initially injured in early February. With the Rockets facing a Jazz squad that will be without most of its key contributors, Wednesday’s game could be viewed as an opportunity to get VanVleet an extra night off. If he does not play, Tari Eason could move into the starting lineup, with Aaron Holiday potentially entering the rotation.