Precious

Achiuwa

Achiuwa had the best season of his young career last year as he averaged 10.1 points and 23.9 minutes in his first season with Sacramento. In the season’s final 25 games, he averaged 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in 31 minutes per game. Achiuwa stepped up when the Kings dealt with injuries to its frontline. He’s set to return as the backup power forward on a two-year deal.

Achiuwa was outstanding on Wednesday, grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds and recording his 11th double-double of the season. By comparison, he recorded 12 double-doubles in his previous two seasons combined. The Kings’ frontcourt injuries have opened the door for Achiuwa, and on most nights, he’s taken advantage. Sacramento plays two more games in Week 23, starting with the Pelicans on Friday.

While he had a rough night at the foul line, Achiuwa once again provided solid value in points, rebounds and field-goal percentage. Since the All-Star break, he has been close to a top-50 player in eight-cat formats, exceeding expectations by a sizable distance. The Kings’ three games in Week 23 don’t include a back-to-back, which bodes well for Achiuwa’s availability.

Rostered in 37 percent of Yahoo! leagues, Achiuwa has been a fourth-round player in eight-cat formats since the All-Star break. While Saturday’s stat line was on par with some of the others that he’s recorded since mid-February, the Kings forward was solid in his 20 minutes on the floor. Sunday’s matchup with the Nets looks like a good one for Achiuwa, provided he’s available.

Back in the lineup after sitting out Tuesday’s loss to the Hornets, Achiuwa recorded the kind of stat line that has made him a popular option during the silly season. Since the All-Star break, the Kings forward has been a top-50 player in eight- and nine-cat formats. Achiuwa is rostered in 35 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so he may still be on the waiver wire in some 12-team formats. With the Kings playing on Saturday and Sunday, adding Achiuwa is worth the risk.

Achiuwa is back after sitting out Tuesday’s loss to the Hornets. His return means that Patrick Baldwin Jr. will head to the bench, and Dylan Cardwell may miss out on a few minutes.

Achiuwa was held out of Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Hornets, with Patrick Baldwin Jr. logging 28 minutes as his replacement in the starting lineup. However, Dylan Cardwell grabbed 11 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench and is the superior streaming option if Achiuwa remains out.

Achiuwa finished with a 14/15 double-double on Sunday, but he’ll get the night off while dealing with lower back soreness. Dyland Cardwell and Daeqwon Plowden should see additional run against Charlotte with Achiuwa out of action.

Achiuwa, who put up 14 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday’s win over the Nets, is dealing with lower back soreness. If he can’t play on Tuesday, Dylan Cardwll could figure more prominently in the Kings’ rotation.

Given how small the Nets were in the frontcourt on Sunday, this was an excellent matchup for Achiuwa. While the shooting percentages weren’t great, fantasy managers will certainly take the 15 rebounds. The final tally was a season-high in that category, and Achiuwa is up to ten double-doubles on the season. Like fellow starter Maxime Raynaud, the Kings are likely to continue playing Achiuwa heavy minutes for the rest of the season, preserving his fantasy value. With Sacramento scheduled to play four games in Week 22, don’t hesitate to add Precious if he’s on the waiver wire.