Fantasy basketball: 5 late-round specialists worth another look
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Wayne Ellington, Miami Heat (3-pointers)
Ellington epitomizes what it means to be a specialist, as his outside marksmanship is really his only claim to fame. The Heat attempted 30.6 3-pointers per game last season (11th overall), 7.5 of which came from Ellington, who shot at a 39.2 percent clip.
A lot can change if Miami pulls the trigger on a trade for Jimmy Butler. However, Ellington signed a new contract this summer and can't be moved until Dec. 15 at the earliest. His potency from behind the arc should keep him in the mix.
theScore Ranking: NR, SG-NR
FantasyPros ADP: NR, SG88
Jeremy Lin, Atlanta Hawks (assists)
Even coming off a ruptured patellar tendon that sidelined him for the entire 2017-18 campaign, a healthy Lin is a safer bet as the Hawks' starting point guard than Trae Young, who Atlanta would be wise not to toss into the lion's den too soon.
Lin's court awareness is far superior at this time than that of the fifth overall pick. Of his 36 outings in 2016-17, the nine-year pro registered four or more dimes on 26 occasions. He'll rack up his fair share of turnovers along the way - and Young's development could hinder his value - but should Lin be given the reins to run the offense, the veteran will have no trouble feeding the young guns around him.
theScore Ranking: 109 overall, PG35
FantasyPros ADP: 149 overall, PG45
Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers (steals)
Beverley is revered as one of the more tenacious, physical defenders at his position, and is now ready to compete after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee sidelined him for all but 11 games.
He was averaging a career-best 1.7 steals per game prior to going down, which would've had him tied for eighth league-wide had he maintained that number. Beverley had at least one steal in 54 of his 67 appearances the season prior with the Houston Rockets.
theScore Ranking: NR, PG46
FantasyPros ADP: 202 overalll, PG53
Ed Davis, Brooklyn Nets (rebounds)
Only DeAndre Jordan, Hassan Whiteside, Andre Drummond, Enes Kanter, Dwight Howard, and Clint Capela grabbed more boards per-36 minutes last season than Davis (14.1).
Brooklyn doesn't have a great deal of size in its frontcourt outside of Jarrett Allen, and three of its top six glass cleaners from last season are no longer around. Davis' 7.4 rebounds in Portland would've been tops on the 2017-18 Nets, and he only needed 18.9 minutes per game to get them.
theScore Ranking: NR, PF-NR
FantasyPros ADP: 144 overall, PF-NR
Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio Spurs (blocks)
A full 82-game slate from the former Toronto Raptors big man gave him 100 total rejections, good enough for 15th overall in the Association. The forgotten piece in the blockbuster Kawhi Leonard-DeMar DeRozan trade this summer, Poeltl slots into the Spurs' rotation as a backup center with the potential to earn more playing time behind a plodding 38-year-old Pau Gasol.
Head coach Gregg Popovich will fall in love with his work ethic on the defensive end. Poeltl was a solid resource for blocks before the change of scenery and had he knocked down a few more shots, he would've been right near the top in field goal percentage, as well.
theScore Ranking: NR, C-NR
FantasyPros ADP: 185 overall, C55
(Average draft position figures courtesy: FantasyPros)