NBA Market Share Report: Joe Harris Highlights Options in Brooklyn

The Beard is Loose

As mentioned a couple weeks ago, this isn’t necessarily the thread we promote the high-dollar guys, but sometimes you just can't help it.

And it’s no secret: the Beard is loose.

You could take any stretch of James Harden games this season and come away in awe, but for the sake of recent dominance, how about the last month or so. He’s scored at least 70 FanDuel points in 8 of his last 12 games, including 3 games of at least 80 points and a 95-point outing at the Garden on Wednesday night.

Harden has been so good that even on nights when his three-ball isn’t falling -- like against the Magic when he went 1-for-17 from beyond the arc -- he still ends the night with 75 fantasy points. That’s beyond insane.

What’s the most impressive part of Harden’s production over the last few weeks? Take your pick: his scoring, his shooting volume, his ability to routinely notch double-digits from the free throw line, his overlooked assist totals, his forgotten rebounding contribution, his quiet two steals a game -- it’s all insane.

Even as a guy who loves the bargain shopping and dumpster diving in fantasy sports, rostering Harden right now deserves all the money. Until he cools off (which hardly appears possible right now), Beard is worth every bit of his salary. Flirting with triple-digit fantasy totals -- or at least posing the threat -- will do that sort of thing.

Harden and the Rockets face the Raptors tonight, followed by games against the Magic and Pelicans.