RADIO
If your league is doing it right, you probably only have like a month of fantasy regular season left. Time to get out there and win those categories that have been giving you a pain all season! If you're a serious fantasy player, you are aware of your weaknesses by now. These guys will help.
Let's see how our top picks last week fared: Bismack Biyombo (FG%, 12th-round total value, overall value sunk greatly by FT%), Danilo Gallinari (FT%, 15th-round total value), Rodney McGruder (PTS, 14th-round value), Justin Holiday (3PTM, 13th-round value), Kevon Looney (REBS, unranked), Cory Joseph (ASTS, 13th-round value), Chuma Okeke (STLS, 10th-round value), Nerlens Noel (BLKS, unranked). Not bad, but not great either. Let's uncover some hidden gems this week.
17 teams have four games this week. 12 teams have three games. The Utah Jazz are the only team in the league that has two games this week, so we'll fade those guys. There should be plenty of games to go around though, so let's go out and get these categories!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out. Now, let's get prepared for the upcoming week and go win your leagues. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
Week 15 Standard 9-Category Leagues
Columns are written based on H2H nine-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (36% rostered)
People who are just filtering by recent stats will gravitate towards Bismack Biyombo, but you are not such a sheep are you, person reading this? Deandre Ayton is likely going to be back for the Suns this week which will likely make Biyombo a drop everywhere. Brandon Clarke on the other hand is locked into a 20-25 minute role and is shooting over 65% on the season. He's the much better grab this week.
Other streamers:
- Kenyon Martin Jr. - SF - Houston Rockets (6% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (24% rostered)
- Javonte Green - PG/SG/SF - Chicago Bulls (2% rostered)
- Willy Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (31% rostered)
- Nicolas Batum - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (26% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Garrison Mathews - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (10% rostered)
Garrison Mathews is averaging 15.6 points per game over the last two weeks. So why is he still available? Is it because he spells his last name with just one "t?" Maybe, but it's probably due in large part to the fact that he doesn't contribute much outside of points and three-pointers. However, if you need those categories and could use a guy that gets to the free-throw line a decent amount (5.8 times per game) and shoots it an elite percentage (82.7% on the season), then here's your guy. Go out there and get him.
Other streamers:
- Willy Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (31% rostered)
- Monte Morris - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (50% rostered)
- Grayson Allen - SG/SF - Milwaukee Bucks (23% rostered)
- Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (50% rostered)
- Amir Coffey - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (45% rostered)
POINTS
Willy Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (31% rostered)
You're going to see his name pop up all over this list because he's been absolutely crushing it for the Pelicans in the absence of Jonas Valanciunas. He's entirely worth a flier at the moment, but be aware that the return of JV could absolutely crush his value. However, if the Pelicans choose to tank the rest of the season (which is a real possibility), then he could be a really great asset the rest of the way for points, rebounds, and a great free throw percentage for a center. Go pick him up now and hope for the best.
Other streamers:
- Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (50% rostered)
- Garrison Mathews - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (10% rostered)
- Trey Lyles - PF/C - Detroit Pistons (26% rostered)
- Amir Coffey - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (45% rostered)
- Gabe Vincent - PG - Miami Heat (21% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Gabe Vincent - PG - Miami Heat (21% rostered)
It's not at all clear what is going on with Kyle Lowry, but as long as he's gone for personal reasons, Gabe Vincent should continue to shine. He's averaging 3.3 three-pointers per game and should be available in your league. He'll chip in 14.1 points and 4.9 assists per game as well to give you a nice guard option off the wire on a four-game week.
Other streamers:
- Ben McLemore - SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers (5% rostered)
- Garrison Mathews - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (10% rostered)
- Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (50% rostered)
- Nicolas Batum - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (26% rostered)
- Chuma Okeke - PF - Orlando Magic (38% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (28% rostered)
This is his third week on top of this category, which is the most of any player since I've been doing this. Yes, his contributions in other categories are limited, but he's averaging the 12th most rebounds per game (10.6) over the last two weeks out of all active players. He's a specialist that can help you with the boards, and that's all you should expect. The Warriors have three juicy matchups in Houston, San Antonio, and Sacramento to start the week. Then you can drop him this weekend for someone else who can help you in other categories.
Other streamers:
- Willy Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (31% rostered)
- Mason Plumlee - PF/C - Charlotte Hornets (45% rostered)
- Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (35% rostered)
- Justise Winslow - PF - Los Angeles Clippers (3% rostered)
- Nicolas Claxton - C - Brooklyn Nets (28% rostered)
ASSISTS
Immanuel Quickley - PG/SG - New York Knicks (10% rostered)
The New York Knicks are in shambles, so there's a lot of uncertainty with pretty much any player on their roster. Quickley will be up and down, but he'll provide a nice number of assists no matter if his minutes are closer to 15 or 25. It's hard to say exactly what the Knicks will do as the deadline approaches, but there's a clear need for a lead guard in New York if they hope to win basketball games. Maybe Quickley is the answer, but I'm not super hopeful. If you want a safer option, you're better picking up Gabe Vincent in the short run here.
Other streamers:
- Gabe Vincent - PG - Miami Heat (21% rostered)
- Killian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (13% rostered)
- Cory Joseph - PG - Detroit Pistons (8% rostered)
- Monte Morris - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (50% rostered)
- Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (31% rostered)
STEALS
Jose Alvarado - PG - New Orleans Pelicans (3% rostered)
And now for our "feel good" story of the week. The undrafted Jose Alvarado has come out of nowhere and played very well for the reeling Pelicans, who need something to cheer for. He's only getting minutes in the teens right now most nights, but he's putting up steals in bunches, so he's a guy that is best to keep on your watchlist or to snag if you want a steals specialist. He's averaging 2.3 takeaways a game over the last two weeks, and he's eclipsing 20 minutes here and there. The Pelicans aren't going to make the play in, so they may have the incentive to turn him loose down the stretch.
Other streamers:
- Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (35% rostered)
- De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (43% rostered)
- Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (40% rostered)
- Austin Rivers - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (7% rostered)
- Kyle Anderson - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (43% rostered)
BLOCKS
Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (24% rostered)
The assumption in the fantasy community was that Onyeka Okongwu would lose all value when Clint Capela came back. It turns out that's not the case as Okongwu has held onto a 16+ minute role with Capela back. He's going to be up and down with his production, but the blocks and boards should be there more often than not. He's worth a spot for teams in need of these categories.
Other streamers:
- Isaiah Jackson - PF - Indiana Pacers (4% rostered)
- JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (17% rostered)
- Willy Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (31% rostered)
- Naz Reid - C - Minnesota Timberwolves (7% rostered)
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (36% rostered)
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