As you read this, congratulations! With only three weeks left in the fantasy season, clicking on this article probably means you’re in serious contention for a championship. Let us do what we can to help you along the way.
At this point in the season, competition rises, and every edge becomes even more critical. If you’ve skipped the “Schedule Notes” section below in the past, I highly recommend paying a little attention now – a few extra starts could be the difference between win and defeat.
There are a lot of great pickups this week, but many of them should come with caution: watch out Stretching effect. One of the most meaningful forces in fantasy sports, the endowment effect often tricks managers into holding players longer than they should. Many of this week’s top additions are now running unbearably hot. We should not ignore the hot streaks, we must lie down and take advantage. We just have to be diligent and remember – these games will cool down, and we can not afford to hang on for too long when that waste starts.
As usual, the players in this article must be ranked in less than two-thirds of the CBS leagues. The players are listed in the order I recommend adding them, assuming they fit your team equally well.
Adds for all lies
Bruce Brown, Nets (48% listed)
One of my 2020-21 favorites (missing in 2021 draft) shouts back with a vengeance. Since the trading deadline, he has climbed to the top-45 and 9-cat and top-65 and 8-cat. He started the last 15 games and lined up 14-6-4 with super steals and splits. He is a must-add must-start in all settings. If Ben Simmons (back) starts playing, that might be a bit of Brown’s worth depressing, but we can cross that bridge if and when we get it.
Drew Eubanks, Trail Blazers (19% Listed)
The tank-blazers will show up several times this week, as tanking leads to new faces getting the opportunities, and some of those newbies are playing pretty well. Eubanks has come in as Portland’s only approximation of a right center – even though he’s only 6-foot-9, even though he’s almost 250 pounds. After taking a game to acclimatize to his new team, Eubanks exceeded expectations, averaging 11-9-2 with excellent shooting range. He has improved even more recently, with 15-10-3 over his last three games. The blocks have yet to start coming, but he is averaging a healthy 1.9 per-36 for his career, so expect some positive regression soon. He’s a classic plug-and-play disclaimer wire big man, except even a little better because he can actually make his free throws.
Brandon Williams, Trail Blazers (26% listed)
Anfernee Simons (Quad) should be out for another week, before the accounting of the we do not want to win any games so let’s extend this absence a little longer Factor. Williams, a rookie on a two-way deal, has been shockingly good since joining the starting lineup. He offers night-to-night consistency in production and rough stats, though his shooting percentages are cruel. Through five starts, he averages 16-5-3, on top of an impressive 1.4 3s, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks – but also shoots just 36-26-57. For some roster designs, Williams should simply be the top priority pickup this week. But he may have a limited shelf life. I’m not sure how well he’s going to get his current fantastic number stats, and shooting numbers can be a painful drain. Everyone should look and many should add him, but he is not right for everyone.
Kevin Huerter, Hawks (44% rostered)
I was a little chilled on Huerter, but he is now on a hot streak and deserves our attention once again. He scored at least 14 points in five straight games, averaging 3.6 3s while shooting 42.9% behind the arc. As long as he can keep up with this hot streak, he’s a souped-up version of the classic 3s-and-dots specialist – as Huerter also delivers strong rebounds and decent steals.
Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland, Nuggets (18% Listed)
Speaking of warm stripes. The Nuggets Rookie Backup PG has shot 52% from the field and 52% from 3 in the last four games. There is no way he can keep up the pace, but he is a solid source of assists that can also contribute in points, 3s and rebounds. Drive him when he’s hot – just do not be so firm that you hold on for too long.
Jalen Smith, Pacers (52% listed)
If you missed Eubanks and need a traditional fantasy big man, Smith is your guy. He is a bit less consistent than Eubanks, with fewer assists and no free-kick skills, making Eubanks an easy choice when both are available. But Smith has, on average, been close to a double since joining the Pacers, and he has the added benefit of just over a three per game. Isaiah Jackson (sister) – who would also appear in this column if he were healthy – is at least missing the next game, but Smith’s production is not really affected by Jackson’s previously missed games.
Alex Caruso, Bulls (31% Listed)
Before he lost two-plus months to an injury, I took charge Caruso is rosterable even when the bulls are fully healthy. Much has happened since then, including the emergence of Ayo Dosunmu as a trusted contributor and minute-eater, but I think the core premise still holds true. And the bulls are not very healthy – the Lonzo ball (knee) remains without timeline for return. Caruso’s first three games back were uninspiring, but he gets 27.0 minutes per night, which is promising. At this critical time of the season, he’s only an option in deeper leagues at the moment, but Standard League managers should look after him and be ready to jump. His shot volume is so low that his poor FG% should not hurt, and he can offer excellent steals and solid assists and blocks.
Brook Lopez, Bucks (20% listed)
Blocks are always tight, and Lopez is historically a reliable producer in that category. He has been limited to 15 minutes in each of his first two games since his opening night injury, and so far he has been without a block. Unless you are in a particularly deep league, the manager should probably stop until we hear that his minute limit has been lifted. If we get that green light, he may be the best available option for managers struggling in blocks.
Other recommendations: Isaiah Jackson, Pacers (55% rostered); Moe Wagner (12% listed); Alec Burks, Knicks (63% rostered); Markelle Fultz, Magic (41% rostered); Dwight Powell, Mavericks (8% listed)
Schedule notes
Week 23 is pretty standard from a total player perspective. There are 15 teams with four-game weeks, 12 with three-game weeks, and three – the Clippers, Kings, and Spurs – who only play twice.
For the daily schedule, both Tuesday and Thursday are relatively light slates, with only four and five games, respectively. Wednesday, on the other hand, is extra busy, with 11 matches. Monday is also on the high side (nine players), but that’s low enough that it shouldn’t be a problem for most managers (and since it’s the first day of the week, the few affected will notice and feel light) adapt).
All managers in everyday league leagues should start by reviewing their Wednesday lineups – are they full? Is there room for a waiver pickup? If you have space, then you do not need much time to plan for Wednesday. If your Wednesday starting lineup is already full, then you should prioritize players who will not be playing that day – guys on the Bulls, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Clippers, Bucks, Pelicans, Raptors or Wizards. Under that group, the Bulls, Pelicans and Wizards spent four-game weeks, further improving their appeal. If your lineup is already full, then players with Wednesday games will functionally have a lesser week 23 games, at least as far as you are concerned.
For managers with strict acquisition limits, only one team starts the week with three games in four days (Bulls), and only the Wizards end with a 3-in-4. That said, especially since most leagues are now in the win-or-go home playoffs, a better strategy might be to focus on teams with a Wednesday-Saturday 3-in-4 and save an acquisition for Sunday, with which you can target required categories more specifically. Several teams played Wednesday-Saturday 3-in-4: Rockets, Grizzlies, Heat, and Pacers.
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