Walker Kessler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) won't be available for a fourth straight game on Wednesday versus Chicago. The big guy from Auburn continues to nurse a right foot sprain. With Kessler out, Omer Yurtseven has become part of the regular rotation, but he hasn't made any noise. Brice Sensabaugh and Luka Samanic also get a chance to log more minutes, particularly in a situation where Kessler isn't the only frontcourt piece missing. However, the players haven't produced well enough to deserve attention from fantasy managers.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) won't play in Monday's game against the visiting Wizards. The 22-year-old will now miss his third consecutive contest because of a sprained foot. As a result, Taylor Hendricks should continue to fill the hole in the lineup. The 2023 No. 9 overall pick has shown flashes of promise in five starts this season, averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. While Hendricks has a way to go before becoming a universal option for all fantasy lineups, he should remain more productive while Kessler is on the shelf.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) is out for Saturday's tilt against the Miami Heat. A sprained right foot cost Kessler Thursday's loss to the Orlando Magic, and the second-year big man won't play on Saturday, either. Over his last 13 contests (four starts), Kessler is playing only 21.6 minutes per game but is offering 8.8 points on 66.2% shooting from the floor, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game, which is top-50 material in nine-category fantasy leagues. The 22-year-old defensive anchor aims to return on Monday versus the Washington Wizards. With Jordan Clarkson (illness) joining Kessler on the sidelines, the Jazz will lean on Lauri Markkanen and John Collins in the starting frontcourt, and Taylor Hendricks will have more leeway to build on his recent rise to the first unit. Over his last four games as a starter, Hendricks is averaging 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 threes in 26.9 minutes.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) is considered questionable for Saturday's matchup against the Heat. He was out of the lineup for the ninth time this season on Thursday against Orlando, having sustained a right foot sprain. Luka Samanic broke into the rotation without Kessler on Thursday, posting eight points and four rebounds in 12 minutes, but he's far from a good fantasy option. Saturday's matchup, in general, is an ugly one for the Jazz bigs, as Miami has Bam Adebayo, a four-time All-Defensive Second Team member, roaming around. With him guarding the paint, the Heat have limited centers to a league-low 19.0 points per 48 minutes this season.

Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (foot) is out for Thursday's matchup against the Orlando Magic. Kessler hasn't been inactive since Dec. 11, but a sprained right foot will keep him out on Thursday. The 22-year-old paint presence's role in head coach Will Hardy's rotation and an oversized Jazz frontcourt has fluctuated all season long, and over his last 13 contests (four starts), he's logging only 21.6 minutes per game but averaging 8.8 points on 66.2% shooting from the field, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.8 swats. His next chance to return arrives on Saturday against the Miami Heat. The stifling Magic defense ranks sixth in the NBA in opponent points per game (110.3), so while there's added fantasy value on the table for Jordan Clarkson as Utah's clear-cut sixth man on Thursday, it's an imposing matchup that could shy away DFS rostership on the eight-game slate.