Atlanta’s DeAndre Hunter averaged 16.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists over his last two starts.
We continue to inch towards the end of the regular season, making this a crucial week. Fortunately, we have a plethora of teams on four-game schedules, meaning there’s no shortage of lower-roster candidates to consider at each position for streaming opportunities.
Each week, we’ll aim to highlight a pair of Start candidates for your fantasy rosters that might shape up as some of the toughest calls of the week, with an emphasis usually on players with a 50% start rate or roster. or less in the Yahoo leagues. We will also typically hone players with four-game weeks in an effort to maximize opportunities for production.
Likewise, we’ll focus on a Sit candidate at each position that wouldn’t normally be considered for a spot on your bench, often focusing on players with less playing time during the week ahead.
TEAMS WITH FOUR MATCHES: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Kings, Thunders 6, Oklahoma City Thunders7 , , San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
TEAMS WITH THREE MATCHES: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors
Without further ado, let’s look at some of the tougher starting/seating decisions for Week 23:
Guards
Principle: Vasilije Micic, Hornets
roster percentage 29%.
Micic looks set to start for another week thanks to LaMelo Ball’s ankle injury, which could keep the star guard out for the rest of the season. The 30-year-old has mostly handled his starting opportunity well so far, even when he made a mess against the Hawks on Saturday. Micic is averaging 15.5 points (on 50.9% shooting), 5.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds over his last 10 games, and similar numbers can be projected for him as Charlotte begins a four-game bye week.
Principle: Alex Caruso, Bulls
45% startup rate
Caruso is dealing with a minor ankle sprain in the Bulls’ upcoming four-game schedule, but is expected to continue playing through it. The veteran guard has been particularly sharp in recent years, posting 14.5 points (on 48.4% shooting, including 51.4% from 3-point range), 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 33.5 minutes in his last six games. Caruso’s ability to contribute to the stat sheet and especially support the steals category could prove very valuable and help make up for his occasional dips in scoring due to the high-usage players he shares the floor with.
THINK TOO: Three Man, Hornets (21% startup rate.)
Sit down: Jrue Holiday, Celtics
51% startup rate
Hoyday is already ruled out for Monday’s game against the Hawks with the shoulder injury that cost him four games. That leaves him with just two potential games to work with this week and with Holiday averaging just 10.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks through 12 games before the current absence, it’s a fairly easy Sit decision.
Front
Principle: De’Andre Hunter, Hawks
40% startup rate
Jaylen Johnson is expected to be out at least until late next week with a sprained ankle, meaning Hunter is likely to start another full game. The fifth-ranked forward is averaging 16.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his first two stints with the first unit in Johnson’s current absence. Hunter is also shooting a career-best 40.2% from behind the arc this season, and with Trae Young (finger) also likely out for the next four games, Hunter will have plenty of opportunities to contribute strong offensive numbers.
Principle: Rui Hachimura, Lakers
roster percentage 36%.
Hachimura has been on an impressive streak lately as a strong source of complementary scoring despite the future Hall of Famers he shares the floor with, averaging 16.3 points (on 58.7% shooting, including 40.0 3-point shooting %), 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game over his last eight games. The big man’s floor-spacing production does carry an element of risk as it is quite dependent on the rating, but Hachimura seems to have achieved a level of consistency recently that helps assuage some of those concerns with a full schedule in his portfolio.
THINK TOO: Jeff Green, Rockets (roster percentage 2%.) Georges Niang, Cavaliers (roster percentage 16%.)
Sit down: Cameron Johnson, Nets
roster percentage 75%.
Johnson is sidelined with a sprained toe entering the Nets’ four-game week, having already been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Raptors. At least a second absence against the Wizards on Wednesday isn’t out of the question given the nature of the injury, meaning Johnson could have very limited opportunities to contribute this coming week.
Centers
Principle: Nick Richards, Hornets
38% startup rate.
Richards’ production has been a little up and down lately, but when he’s been good, he’s been very good. The big man has five double-doubles in the past eight games, and despite three single-digit scoring efforts during that span, he’s still averaging 9.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game across the entire sample. Richards’ only other notable contributions outside of points and boards come in the form of occasional blocks, but even with the limited flexibility of his stat lines, he’ll be a viable option as a starter in a four-game week.
Principle: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Warriors
25% starting rate
Jackson-Davis put up a nice job as a starter last week, averaging 11.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 26.5 minutes per game in his four games. Even when his scoring was down – as it was in the last two games of the week – he made up for it with a 10-rebound effort in one of those games and plenty of steals. Jackson-Davis is seeing minutes in the mid-20s and up despite his bench role, and that level of opportunity should continue into another full schedule for the Warriors.
THINK TOO: Marvin Bagley, Wizards (35% roster percentage), Richaun Holmes, Wizards (14% roster percentage)
Sit down: Jalen Duren, Pistons
75% startup rate
Duren begins a three-game week with the Pistons having already missed two games with back spasms. He is in danger of missing a third Monday night against the Knicks with an injury, possibly leaving him only a pair of games to work with during the scoring season. Duren is a valuable source of scoring and rebounding when he’s in the game, but there’s likely more risk than reward for him this week.