RADIO
We're getting down to the wire here and you NEED to eke out wins here if your team is on the cusp of a playoff berth. There's no wiggle room as we're probably 2-3 weeks out from your league's playoffs in most competitive leagues. If your league isn't starting playoffs around this time, you're doing it wrong. NBA basketball's last month or so is commonly referred to as "silly season" for good reason.
Let's see how our top picks last week fared: Brandon Clarke (FG%, 14th-round value), Garrison Mathews (FT%, 13th-round total value), Willy Hernangomez (PTS, unranked womp womp), Gabe Vincent (3PTM, 14th-round value), Kevon Looney (REBS, 8th-round value), Immanuel Quickley (ASTS, unranked womp womp), Jose Alvarado (STLS, unranked womp womp), Onyeka Okongwu (BLKS, 16th-round value). We hit on five out of eight of those recommendations, so I'll take it. Kevon Looney really shouldn't be sitting on any waiver wires this week. Terry Taylor was the streaming darling due to an unfortunate injury to Isaiah Jackson. Hard to predict that stuff.
Only eight teams have four games this week. 20 teams have three games. The Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets only have two games this week, so we'll ignore those players. We'll try to focus on that handful of teams that have four games since this is a weekly suggestion column, but smart players can always maximize their games with a few moves!
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!Important Note: I'm writing this before Sunday's games.
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 17 Standard 9-Category Leagues
Columns are written based on H2H nine-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Jaxson Hayes - C - New Orleans Pelicans (22% rostered)
This one is a no-brainer as Jaxson Hayes has been starting at the power forward position the last few games with Josh Hart out of commission. Hart is rumored to be potentially on the move at the trade deadline, so Hayes works as a stash that has some streaming appeal right now. Go pick him up if he's available in your league for sure. He's averaging 15.7 points and 8.3 rebounds on 88% shooting in 30 minutes per game over the Pelicans' last three games.
Other streamers:
- Terry Taylor - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (36% rostered)
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (30% rostered)
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (26% rostered)
- Damian Jones - C - Sacramento Kings (6% rostered)
- JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (15% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Reggie Bullock - SG/SF - Dallas Mavericks (32% rostered)
Reggie Bullock is the clear winner in the aftermath of the Tim Hardaway Jr. injury. He's averaging 18.2 points per game since THJ went down and is shooting a perfect 100% from the charity stripe on 2.2 attempts per game as well. He's jumped a ton in ownership over the past week, and that should continue to be the case this week as well, so scoop him up now before your opponents do! Especially if you need threes, points, and free throw percentage.
Other streamers:
- Chris Duarte - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (49% rostered)
- Grayson Allen - SG/SF - Milwaukee Bucks (31% rostered)
- Coby White - PG/SG - Chicago Bulls (47% rostered)
- Devin Vassell - SG/SF - San Antonio Spurs (29% rostered)
- Ty Jerome - PG/SG - Oklahoma City Thunder (2% rostered)
POINTS
Chris Duarte - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (49% rostered)
Admittedly I am padding my stats here as Chris Duarte is virtually guaranteed to be owned in over 50% of leagues after Caris LeVert was dealt away in a trade in the middle of the day on Sunday. Chris Duarte is in line for a massive usage boost as a result. Caris LeVert was the leading scorer in the second unit, so Duarte is going to help fill that role now. He's averaging 13.1 points on the season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see that climb to 15 or more.
Other streamers:
- Davion Mitchell - PG/SG - Sacramento Kings (48% rostered)
- Coby White - PG/SG - Chicago Bulls (47% rostered)
- Reggie Bullock - SG/SF - Dallas Mavericks (32% rostered)
- Jaxson Hayes - C - New Orleans Pelicans (22% rostered)
- Duane Washington Jr. - PG - Indiana Pacers (5% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Reggie Bullock - SG/SF - Dallas Mavericks (32% rostered)
I try to get different guys in here but I'd be doing you a disservice suggesting anyone else as my top streamer for three-pointers. He's far and away the best option out there for this category.
Other streamers:
- Gary Harris - SG/SF - Orlando Magic (24% rostered)
- Duane Washington Jr. - PG - Indiana Pacers (5% rostered)
- Doug McDermott - SF/PF - San Antonio Spurs (7% rostered)
- Tre Mann - SG - Oklahoma City Thunder (8% rostered)
- Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (32% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (28% rostered)
I think I'll just keep Kevon Looney on this list week to week until you pick him up. He's returned 6th and 8th round value in recent weeks. He's averaging 10.8 rebounds per game over their last twelve games, and there's no end in sight for him. He also shot 62% from the field over that span and 83% from the free-throw line. Just make sure you don't count on him for any points.
Other streamers:
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (30% rostered)
- Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (28% rostered)
- Justise Winslow - PF - Portland Trail Blazers (2% rostered)
- Oshae Brissett - SF/PF - Indiana Pacers (1% rostered)
- Maxi Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (20% rostered) *if healthy
ASSISTS
Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (32% rostered)
Ah yes, that old chestnut. Admittedly, Patrick Beverley is a better add in roto leagues, but on a four-game week, he's worth a snag for this week in standard leagues as well. He's averaging six dimes per game over the last two weeks and gets matchups against Sacramento (twice!), the trade szn Pacers, and the defenseless Chicago Bulls this week. Bring it on, Pat Bev!
Other streamers:
- Killian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (10% rostered)
- Ty Jerome - PG/SG - Oklahoma City Thunder (2% rostered)
- Davion Mitchell - PG/SG - Sacramento Kings (48% rostered)
- Immanuel Quickley - PG/SG - New York Knicks (8% rostered)
- Cory Joseph - PG - Detroit Pistons (6% rostered)
STEALS
Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (32% rostered)
Nerlens Noel is starting to get healthy, and it could come at just the right time for teams that are playoff-bound. He's going to put up defensive stats in bunches and has averaged 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks over his last six games. The Knicks get four games this week, including matchups with the Utah Jazz and Denver where they are going to need Nerlens Noel if Mitchell Robinson gets into foul trouble. Fire him up for Monday and Tuesday then drop him if you must.
Other streamers:
- De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (39% rostered)
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (8% rostered)
- Jose Alvarado - PG - New Orleans Pelicans (3% rostered)
- Chimezie Metu - PF - Sacramento Kings (3% rostered)
- Javonte Green - PG/SG/SF - Chicago Bulls (30% rostered)
BLOCKS
Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (31% rostered)
You'll have to keep an eye on Rudy Gobert's status, but assuming he misses more time with that calf injury Hassan Whiteside should be in for a 20+ minute role. If that's the case, he's going to produce stats. He's putting up 1.8 blocks per game over the last two weeks as well as 9.6 rebounds per game. The Knicks play on Monday and Wednesday, so if Gobert is going to miss Monday's game I'd say you roll with him and hang onto him through Wednesday's game at the very least.
Other streamers:
- Maxi Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (20% rostered) *if healthy
- Isaiah Jackson - PF - Indiana Pacers (25% rostered) *if healthy
- JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (15% rostered)
- Damian Jones - C - Sacramento Kings (5% rostered)
- Chuma Okeke - PF - Orlando Magic (43% rostered)
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