Anfernee Simons DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (back) will be active for Friday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. He has been upgraded from probable to available despite dealing with back soreness. Simons is aiming for his third consecutive game with 20-plus points. He has broken out of a slump in impressive fashion, making nine three-pointers over the past two games. Charlotte allows the seventh-most three-point attempts in the league, giving Simons a good opportunity to keep building momentum.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (back) is considered probable for Friday's game against the Charlotte Hornets despite being listed with back soreness. The seventh-year combo guard is in the middle of a down year compared to the last couple of seasons, but he's been healthier so far. In 40 appearances, he averaged 18.3 points, 4.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.0 threes per game which makes him a solid late-draft type of value across all fantasy formats. Most of the backcourt is healthy for this game, so Simons might not see as many opportunities which explains the small dip in usage rate compared to the last two seasons.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (back) will play on Thursday versus Orlando. The 25-year-old missed a recent meeting with the Chicago Bulls because of an elbow issue before returning on Tuesday in Miami. He was in danger of missing this contest because of back soreness, although that won't keep him off the floor. Simons is averaging 18.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season, all down from the 2023-24 campaign. However, he may be more productive on Thursday, considering Deandre Ayton (knee) won't suit up.