
If you’ve been managing a fantasy basketball roster this season, you didn’t need a spreadsheet to tell you Jalen Brunson has been flat-out dynamite.
The New York Knicks have ridden the usual ebbs and flows of an NBA season since late December, but one thing hasn’t changed as we settle into mid-January. When New York needs a bucket, control, or calm, the ball still finds Brunson. And for fantasy managers, that combination has cemented him as one of the most reliable elite guards in the game.
This isn’t a hot streak anymore. This is who he is.
Brunson’s late-December surge grabbed headlines for a reason. He was routinely north of 30 points, living in the eight-assist range, and doing it without hijacking possessions or hemorrhaging turnovers. Forty-point nights didn’t feel like outliers. They felt … expected.
Fast-forward to mid-January, and while the scoring spikes have naturally leveled off a bit, the overall fantasy profile hasn’t budged. He’s still among the league leaders in usage for guards who don’t crush your percentages. That matters.
Fantasy value isn’t just about volume. It’s about how clean that volume is.
This is where Brunson separates himself from the pack. He scores at a high clip, but he does it inside the flow of the offense. He doesn’t need to hunt shots early in the clock. He doesn’t force bad looks late.
For fantasy purposes, that means strong field-goal percentage for a high-usage guard, elite free-throw shooting, and turnover numbers that stay manageable even when his assist totals climb.
That combination is gold in category leagues and a cheat code in points formats.
The most encouraging part? None of this feels unsustainable.
Brunson hasn’t suddenly reinvented himself. He’s simply leaned harder into what he already does well. The late-December explosion raised eyebrows, but the steady January production has confirmed it wasn’t smoke and mirrors.
He’s not cooling off. He’s stabilizing at a higher level.
The Knicks’ season hasn’t been linear. There have been defensive lapses. Shooting slumps. Nights where the offense looked stuck in neutral.
Through all of it, one constant remains. And that would be that the offense runs through Brunson.
Coach Mike Brown trusts him to close games. Teammates trust him to make the right read. And the front office has built a roster that complements his strengths rather than competing with them.
That stability is fantasy-friendly.
Brunson isn’t just scoring. He’s organizing. He dictates pace, decides when to push and when to slow things down, and toggles seamlessly between scorer and facilitator, depending on matchup.
That dual role keeps his floor extremely high. Even on nights when the jumper isn’t falling, the assists are there. When the Knicks need points, the usage spikes without warning.
You can set your lineup and move on.
Brunson’s presence has also stabilized the fantasy value of others around him. Karl-Anthony Towns benefits from cleaner looks and more consistent touches. Mikal Bridges sees fewer forced shots and more catch-and-shoot opportunities.
A functional offense lifts multiple fantasy boats, and Brunson is the engine.
At the very top of the fantasy guard hierarchy, the names haven’t changed much. You’re still talking about the Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tier. But after that, the conversation opens up quickly.
And that’s where Brunson has forced his way in.
As of mid-January, Brunson belongs firmly in the top-five fantasy guards and has a legitimate argument as a top-10 overall asset across formats.
What pushes him there isn’t just scoring. It’s the complete package. He’s points, assists, efficiency, low turnovers, and role security on a playoff-caliber team.
There’s no guesswork involved.
Other guards will have bigger single-game explosions. Some will rack up more steals. Others might outscore him on a given night.
But very few combine all of it the way Brunson does, and fewer still do it without threatening your percentages.
That’s why his fantasy stock has risen while others fluctuate week to week.
Barring injury, there’s little reason to expect a meaningful dip. Brunson’s minutes are steady. His usage is locked in. His shooting profile is repeatable.
You’re looking at elite guard production every week, not just when matchups align.
In category leagues, Brunson is a dream anchor. He boosts points and assists without sabotaging efficiency or turnovers.
In points leagues, he’s even more valuable. High usage, consistency, and clutch minutes translate directly into dependable fantasy output.
There’s no wrong format for him.
The risks are minimal. Brunson has proven durable, and while Tom Thibodeau’s run-him-into-the-ground approach is gone, the Knicks aren’t in a position where they can afford to rest Brunson extensively. This is about as safe as an elite fantasy guard gets.
If you roster Brunson, the advice is simple: Hold onto him tight.
Trading him only makes sense if you’re getting a true top-tier asset in return. Not a “pretty good” player. Not depth. A difference-maker.
Otherwise, you’re better off riding the production and letting others chase volatility.
Because while streaks come and go, players like Brunson tend to be there when fantasy playoffs arrive.
Brunson isn’t just powering the Knicks anymore. He’s powering fantasy teams.
The late-December surge may have sparked the conversation, but mid-January has confirmed the reality. This is an elite guard in his prime, operating in an offense built around him, delivering exactly what fantasy managers crave.
Start him. Trust him. And don’t overthink it.
Is Jalen Brunson a top fantasy basketball guard this season?
Yes. Brunson has firmly established himself as a top-five fantasy guard thanks to consistent scoring, strong assist totals, and excellent efficiency.
Does Jalen Brunson hurt your fantasy percentages?
No. Unlike many high-usage guards, Brunson maintains strong field-goal and free-throw percentages while keeping turnovers manageable.
Is Jalen Brunson better in category leagues or points leagues?
He excels in both. His efficiency and low turnovers shine in category leagues, while his usage and clutch minutes make him elite in points formats.
Should fantasy managers trade Jalen Brunson?
Only if the return includes a true top-tier fantasy asset. Otherwise, his reliability makes him worth holding through the fantasy playoffs.
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