Surprises in the NBA: Players to Watch

In the NBA, every week brings new surprises, both positive and negative. Fantasy managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe moving forward. Here are some players who could surprise us in the second half of the season: - Chris Paul: The 39-year-old point guard has been perfect so far this season, playing in all 20 games for the San Antonio Spurs. He is averaging 33.8 fantasy points per game, easily No. 2 on the team and a top-75 figure overall. Paul is playing at a different speed, perhaps to stay healthy, and he remains an excellent distributor and defender. - Tyrese Haliburton: The Indiana Pacers point guard has been disappointing for fantasy managers this season, averaging 43.6 fantasy points per game, down from 50.5 last season. However, he has missed only one game so far, and with injuries and inconsistent play from others, only 11 players have outscored him. A more durable Haliburton is trending better for volume, and that is important. - Kel'el Ware: The Miami Heat center was not mentioned in ESPN's midseason rookie rankings earlier this week, but he has been playing well lately off the bench. With coach Erik Spoelstra awarding him his first start on Tuesday against Portland, Ware responded with 20 points, 15 rebounds and the coveted combination of two blocks and two 3-pointers. Ware is a legit 7-footer with defensive chops, an athletic shot-blocker who somehow slipped out of the lottery and into Spoelstra's capable employ.