Dylan

Harper

Harper got a lot of his points from the free throw line which is one of the elite skills that he has. Harper has been awesome this year and is only going to get better. Since he played against the Kings, Harper didn’t have to play heavy minutes in order for them to get the win. The Spurs next opportunity to play is on Saturday against the Blazers who just lost to the Lakers on Friday.

Having entered the season with an ADP of 80, Harper has exceeded that number by a safe distance thus far. While his final line against the Spurs did not include any assists, steals or blocks, the second-year guard was efficient enough to still offer solid fantasy value. With it unknown when Tobias Harris (calf) will be available, Harper should not struggle to maintain his current production.

Harper was excellent in the win over the Jazz, leading the Spurs in points and minutes. The 20-year-old point guard was three rebounds and two assists shy of a triple-double. Harper made the play of the game midway through the third quarter when he grabbed a steal on one end and threw an alley-oop to Stephon Castle on the other.

Harper scored 18 of his 25 points after halftime, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the foul line. He finished with a season-high point total, and fantasy managers will also be pleased with his rebounds and assists. Tobias Harris (calf) isn’t expected to make his Spurs debut anytime soon, so any talk of starting lineup changes is irrelevant.

This game had the outline of a monster fantasy performance with the rebounds and assists. Unfortunately he shot 4-17 from the field which puts a dampener on everything else. Once he becomes the established guy, he will be an absolute monster in fantasy. His ability to get to the rim at will is going to be one of the best in the league when he’s at his peak.

Harper was the lone Spurs starter to play 30 minutes in Tuesday’s blowout victory, but his night nearly ended during the first quarter. The second-year wing tweaked his left knee when he landed on a teammate’s foot after converting a tip-in. After a brief moment on the court, Harper returned to the bench under his own power and stayed in the game. Tuesday’s game was the first of two in as many nights for the Spurs, so keep an eye out for Harper’s name on the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Jazz.

Harris will miss another game with this calf injury, making this three straight to open the season. Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell will both continue to start, delaying head coach Mitch Johnson from having to make a tough decision on his lineup for at least one more game.

Harper’s first three games have gone well for him individually, even though the Spurs are just 1-2 this season. Against the Mavericks, he posted a season-high point total and recorded his first two steals. The Spurs’ rotation still isn’t whole because of Tobias Harris’ strained calf, but Harper’s place in the starting lineup appears secure.

Harris, whose calf strain sidelined him for the entire preseason, will miss a second consecutive regular-season game. His absence means Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell will continue to start, and that may remain true even after Harris returns to action.

Harper got the starting nod as part of the three-guard lineup for San Antonio, and he was able to have a productive night in 32 minutes. There were certainly some holes to his fantasy game, most notably the shooting percentage and lack of defensive stats. However, he was able to flash why the organization is so high on him. If Harper remains a starter against the Rockets on Friday, he should be in for another productive night.