Top free agent pickups for Fantasy NBA (week of October 23rd)

The first week of fantasy competition in the NBA is in the books with most teams having three games in the books. While it's too early to tell how good or bad the teams have started the 2017-18 NBA season, one surprise is the reloaded Oklahoma City Thunder starting off the week at 1-2.

In the offseason, OKC landed All-Stars Paul George and Carmello Anthony leading many to believe that they were ready to compete with the likes of San Antonio and Golden State in the West. Though it is not the time to panic with their 1-2 start, it is definitely not the way the Thunder expected to start the season.

While three games is a very small sample size, some players rewarded their fantasy owners with a hot start. According to standard rankings for Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Orlando Magic forward and center Nikola Vucevic ranked #1 among all NBA players averaging 27.7 PPG, 10.7 REB, and 3.0 AST in his first three games.

This article will take a look at those players owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues, who had a great start to the season. These guys might be available in your league and worth a pickup to see if they continue their hot start.

Continue on to see five guys that can help your fantasy team immediately, and potentially long-term for this season...

#5 Marco Belinelli - SG / SF - Atlanta Hawks (20% Owned)

The veteran guard for the Atlanta Hawks can have hit and miss games, but he's hit very well on two of his first three. He's currently averaging 14.7 PPG while totaling 8 3-point shots in those contests.

If you're in need of a good 3-point and free throw shooter, Belinelli could be the spark for you. He's currently 10-of-10 at the free throw line this year as well.

It remains to be seen if he can keep up the scoring output of 20 points in his opening game and 19 against Brooklyn on Sunday, but it is worth a shot if you have room to grab him.

#4 JJ Barea - PG / SG - Dallas Mavericks (14% Owned)

JJ Barea is currently in his second stint with the Dallas Mavericks...

Another veteran that is always up and down for fantasy owners is JJ Barea of the Dallas Mavericks. If you can pick him up at the times he's hot, he definitely gives you a nice boost.

Barea is off to a great start in his 12th season averaging 13.7 PPG and 6.0 AST in his first three games of the new season. He's made 3 3-pt shots twice and in the second game of the year where he only scored 9 points but he had 10 assists to go with it.

History shows that he won't keep this up all year, but it wouldn't hurt to grab him and see how long his good start will last.

#3 Evan Turner - SG / SF - Portland Trailblazers (25% Owned)

Could Evan Turner reward fantasy players like he did in 2015-16?

After a nice 2015-16 campaign, Portland Trailblazers' guard/forward Evan Turner took a step back last season for fantasy owners ranking just inside the top 200.

To start this season, Turner has put together three very solid games where he's averaging 30 MPG on the floor. He currently ranks 44th among all players in Yahoo Fantasy NBA averaging 13.3 PPG to go with 4.3 AST.

He's shooting 51.9% for the young season to go with shooting 90% from the free throw line. He could be in for a very solid season for fantasy owners, where he may not get too high in the rankings, but will also not get too low either.

#2 Jerryd Bayless - PG / SG - Philadelphia 76ers (17% Owned)

The young talent around Jerryd Bayless in Philadelphia could help fantasy owners in his 10th season...

Another veteran makes the initial free agent pickup list in Philadelphia 76ers guard Jerryd Bayless. He is currently kicking off his tenth NBA season with a very solid scoring output of 15.7 PPG.

There will be several categories that he won't offer much in, but field goal percentage and 3-point shooting are two very solid ones for him to start the season. He's shooting 58.6% from the field; while averaging 3 3-pt shots at 56.3% in the young season.

He hasn't provided much over the years for fantasy owners, but being in Philadelphia for his second season with an amazing group of young players could make him relevant in fantasy for 2017-18.

#1 Terry Rozier - PG / SG - Boston Celtics (44% Owned)

After the gruesome injury to Gordon Hayward in the season opener, someone needed to step up for the Boston Celtics. The third-year guard Terry Rozier has done just that.

After only seeing 19 minutes in the season opener, Rozier has logged 26 and 30 minutes in the next two games where he's averaging 14.5 PPG and 7 REB in those two games.

There was good reason why Danny Ainge drafted Rozier at 16th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He has a lot of talent, and in his third year in the league, he could be a breakout star now that Hayward is on the shelf for most if not all of the year.