Week 8 featured a lighter schedule than usual, with the NBA Cup semifinals taking center stage on some days, so we don't have as large a sample as usual for each player. However, the stars still shined bright even if they took the floor just once or twice, and a couple of players a bit further down in the season-long rankings had particularly strong showings.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week:
Fantasy Basketball Power Rankings
#1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
Last Week: 70.0 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (70.2 FP/G)
Irrespective of circumstances and scheduling quirks, it's usually a safe bet to count on Jokić slotting into one of the top two or three spots in the rankings each week. The Joker's one game this past week resulted in another signature performance. Despite the Nuggets thumping the Kings by a 136-105 score, Jokić compiled a 36-point, 12-rebound tally alongside eight assists and two steals over just 29 minutes on the floor to lead the way and return to the top of the fantasy mountain for the week.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.
#2. Keyonte George, Jazz 
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 31 (44.1 FP/G)
George is one of our aforementioned significant risers this week, as the young guard was spectacular in a 130-126 win over the Grizzlies on Friday night. George
Week 8 featured a lighter schedule than usual, with the NBA Cup semifinals taking center stage on some days, so we don't have as large a sample as usual for each player. However, the stars still shined bright even if they took the floor just once or twice, and a couple of players a bit further down in the season-long rankings had particularly strong showings.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week:
Fantasy Basketball Power Rankings
#1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Last Week: 70.0 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (70.2 FP/G)
Irrespective of circumstances and scheduling quirks, it's usually a safe bet to count on Jokić slotting into one of the top two or three spots in the rankings each week. The Joker's one game this past week resulted in another signature performance. Despite the Nuggets thumping the Kings by a 136-105 score, Jokić compiled a 36-point, 12-rebound tally alongside eight assists and two steals over just 29 minutes on the floor to lead the way and return to the top of the fantasy mountain for the week.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.
#2. Keyonte George, Jazz
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 31 (44.1 FP/G)
George is one of our aforementioned significant risers this week, as the young guard was spectacular in a 130-126 win over the Grizzlies on Friday night. George posted a career-high 39 points and complemented them with eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. The third-year pro, who's having a breakout campaign, also went 12-for-20 from the field and 10-for-10 from the line, making it the latest signature performance in a season where he's likely to vault into the upper echelon at his position.
Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups to find out starters for every game on the schedule!
#3. Stephen Curry, Warriors 
Last Week: 60.5 FP/G Season Rank: 20 (46.8 FP/G)
Curry hasn't been as frequent a presence in the top five as in seasons past, but he turned back the clock in his pair of opportunities to take the floor in Week 8. The veteran marksman got things started with a 39-point tally in a 127-120 loss to the Timberwolves on Friday, going 14-for-28 from the floor. He was even better in Sunday's 136-131 loss to the Trail Blazers, doing his best to try to get his team over the hump by racking up a whopping 48 points on 16-for-26 shooting, including a blistering 12-for-19 tally from behind the arc. The memorable effort also included good work on the other end of the floor with three steals. The two-game sample served as a vivid reminder of the ability Curry still possesses to put a team on his shoulders.
Stay up to date on who is in and who is out with RotoWire's NBA Injury Report!
#4. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers 
Last Week: 59.0 FP/G Season Rank: 28 (44.7 FP/G)
Speaking of grizzled and accomplished veterans, Leonard made a nice leap up the fantasy ladder in Week 8 himself. The 34-year-old forward made good use of his one chance to take the floor, producing a well-rounded 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists, five steals and one block in a narrow 115-113 loss to the Rockets on Thursday. The performance was vintage Kawhi, featuring a solid dose of his offensive skills and an ample amount of his legendary defensive prowess. Provided he can avoid the injury bug after one multi-game absence already this season, Leonard will likely be a fairly frequent return visitor to the top five as the season unfolds.
Check out where all the players on your fantasy basketball team fit into RotoWire's Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet!
#5. Alperen Sengun, Rockets 
Last Week: 59.0 FP/G Season Rank: 9 (53.9 FP/G)
Sengun returned from a two-game absence just in time to play in the Rockets' one game last week, the aforementioned win over the Clippers on Thursday. Sengun did fall from the top spot he held for Week 7, but his 22-point, 15-rebound, five-assist, four-steal effort across 36 minutes versus Los Angeles was representative of the stellar all-around season he's putting together and enough to still keep him in the upper tier of performances for the week.
Find out who to target the rest of the way with RotoWire's NBA Projections!
This Week's Preview
The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least three games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:
Alperen Sengun, Rockets (53.9 FP/G) - @DEN, @NOP, @DEN, @SAC
Scottie Barnes, Raptors 
(47.1 FP/G) - @MIA, @MIL, BOS, @BKN
Cade Cunningham, Pistons 
(58.4 FP/G) - @BOS, @DAL, CHA
James Harden, Clippers (53.4 FP/G) - MEM, @OKC, LAL
Jalen Brunson, Knicks 
(47.1 FP/G) - @IND, PHI, MIA
