RADIO
Did you all miss me for a week? I bet you did. Even though you can't tell me through this computer screen, I'm sure you did. We're back though, and some leagues will be starting their FANTASY BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS this week while others will be jockeying for playoff positioning. I have two leagues entering playoffs this week and one entering playoffs next week. It's crunch time, so let's get down to business and win some categories.
Let's see how our top picks last week fared: Brandon Clarke (FG%, 12th-round value), Jeff Green (FT%, unranked womp womp), Cameron Thomas (PTS, 15th-round value), Reggie Bullock (3PTM, 11th-round value), Oshae Brissett (REBS, unranked womp womp), Ayo Dosunmu (ASTS, 10th-round value), Matisse Thybulle (STLS, 15th-round value), Alperen Sengun (BLKS, 13th-round value). Six out of eight guys returned value AND crushed their categories. I'll take it for sure, so let's stay hot when it matters!
The Toronto Raptors are prime real estate this week as they are the only team in the association to have five games for the week. The Portland Trail Blazers have an unfortunate schedule with just two games this week, so you're hanging onto Anfernee Simons and... probably no one else, to be honest. Maybe you can make a case for Josh Hart but it's going to be tough unless you're confident you're going to win your first-round matchup. We'll fade Blazers for this article's purposes. 11 teams have four games this week and 17 teams have three games this week. We can't fade 17 teams, but we'll try to target the teams with four-game weeks as much as possible.
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 19 Standard 9-Category Leagues
Columns are written based on H2H nine-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Isaiah Jackson - PF - Indiana Pacers (43% rostered)
Isaiah Jackson, or "I Jax," should absolutely be rostered everywhere while Myles Turner is out. He's a promising young big and the Pacers have little to play for this year except to develop their young guys. Isaiah Jackson is shooting 55.6% from the field this season and gets most of his buckets right at the rim. Snatch him up and enjoy the double dose of the Orlando Magic, plus Detroit and Washington. He'll likely reappear on this list after putting up eight blocks in the first two games after the break... Stay tuned.
Other streamers:
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (13% rostered)
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (46% rostered)
- Dwight Powell - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (7% rostered)
- Jaxson Hayes - PF/C - New Orleans Pelicans (33% rostered)
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (42% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Jeremy Lamb - SG/SF - Sacramento Kings (3% rostered)
Jeremy Lamb seems to have a pretty decent role with his new team as he's averaging a sliver under 25 minutes. He's averaging 11.5 points and five rebounds also, but most importantly for this specific category is that he's an 85% FT shooter throughout his career. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is shooting it 91% from the field this season, but the problem is he only has one game on Tuesday through the first four days of the week. You can scoop Lamb and then add KCP for the weekend on Friday for his two games in three days if you need some help in free-throw percentage.
Other streamers:
- Herb Jones - SF/PF - New Orleans Pelicans (49% rostered)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - PG/SG/SF - Washington Wizards (35% rostered)
- Kelly Olynyk - PF/C - Detroit Pistons (36% rostered)
- Danilo Gallinari - SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (19% rostered)
- Grant Williams - SF/PF - Boston Celtics (7% rostered)
POINTS
Isaiah Jackson - PF - Indiana Pacers (43% rostered)
You can roll the dice with Cam Thomas, but Kevin Durant will be back any day now, and there just simply won't be many shots for him when that happens. Other guys average more points, but none of them have four games this week and averages significantly more than I Jax. So just go get I Jax, you silly goose. If you want to use a few moves, go get Lonnie Walker for Monday's game, then pick up Reggie Bullock. That will give you three games in four days through Thursday, then you can use another move to get someone for the weekend.
Other streamers:
- Reggie Bullock - SG/SF - Dallas Mavericks (28% rostered)
- Tre Mann - PG/SG - Oklahoma City Thunder (19% rostered, IF DORT/GIDDEY STAY HURT)
- Lonnie Walker IV - SG/SF - San Antonio Spurs (12% rostered)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - PG/SG/SF - Washington Wizards (35% rostered)
- Jonathan Kuminga - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors (31% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Malik Beasley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (29% rostered)
Malik Beasley has one job on this Timberwolves squad, and that's to come in and strictly get buckets. He's averaging 3.2 three-pointers per game over the last month and gets a back-to-back to open this important week against Cleveland and Golden State. Those are two tough defenses, but he should be able to net you six or more three-pointers pretty easily. Just don't expect contributions in any other categories.
Other streamers:
- Reggie Bullock - SG/SF - Dallas Mavericks (28% rostered)
- Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (33% rostered)
- Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Sacramento Kings (31% rostered)
- Patty Mills - PG/SG - Brooklyn Nets (41% rostered)
- Duncan Robinson - SG/SF - Miami Heat (48% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Oshae Brissett - SF/PF - Indiana Pacers (49% rostered)
Oshae Brissett jumped 17% in ownership since we last spoke, but he's still my streamer for rebounds as he's averaging 7.8 boards per game over the last month. If Myles Turner returns, that could complicate matters. Until then, enjoy the ride, and he'll even score for you (14.7 points per game over their last seven games) and put up stocks (one steal, 1.3 blocks per game over their last seven). Just be wary of the percentages which are sure to bring your team down a tad.
Other streamers:
- Dwight Howard - C - Los Angeles Lakers (16% rostered)
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (42% rostered)
- Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (23% rostered)
- Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (46% rostered)
- Maxi Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (33% rostered)
- Deni Avdija - SG/SF/PF - Washington Wizards (30% rostered)
ASSISTS
Tyus Jones - PG - Memphis Grizzlies (4% rostered)
If you're looking to win assists this week... good luck. If Darius Garland misses more time, Brandon Goodwin should be your target this week. But it's unclear how long Garland will be on the sidelines. If you're the gambling type, pull the trigger on Goodwin and hope for the best. There are a few better options than Jones, like Killian Hayes or Raul Neto, but if you need a single category stud and can wait until Wednesday night, Tyus Jones is a great option. He's averaging four assists per game over the last month and gets three games in four nights starting on Thursday. Those 12 assists or so could make all the difference in your matchup. If you have limited moves, you can get him on Monday for the game against the Celtics too.
Other streamers:
- Brandon Goodwin - PG - Cleveland Cavaliers (4% rostered)
- Killian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (7% rostered)
- Raul Neto - PG - Washington Wizards (11% rostered)
- Gabe Vincent - PG/SG - Miami Heat (6% rostered)
- Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (35% rostered)
STEALS
Chuma Okeke - PF - Orlando Magic (44% rostered)
How in the world is Chuma Okeke still under 50% owned? The 1.8 steals and one block over the last month should be enough for most people (pretty much in line with fantasy darling Robert Covington), but he's also putting up almost 12 points per game and is shooting it 47% from the floor as well as 85% from the free-throw line over that month-long stretch. That's stellar, and he gets a favorable week of games right at the right time as the Magic are one of the few teams with four games this week. Go get him.
Other streamers:
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors(9% rostered)
- De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (41% rostered)
- Matisse Thybulle- SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (36% rostered)
- Jae Crowder - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (31% rostered)
- Herbert Jones - SF/PF - New Orleans Pelicans (49% rostered)
BLOCKS
Isaiah Jackson - PF - Indiana Pacers (43% rostered)
Yes, I put him on here three times. You really should roster him. He's averaging four blocks per game since returning from the break and his injury. He could get 3-4 per game over the remaining games of the season.
Other streamers:
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (42% rostered)
- Maxi Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (33% rostered)
- JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (22% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (13% rostered)
- Alperen Sengun - C - Houston Rockets (34% rostered)
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!
