Welcome to your midweek guidance for Week 20! In this post, I identify widely-available players who can help you win your head-to-head matchup. Hopefully, you were able to add Mr. (W)Right last week and benefit from a top-25 run of games. There are a number of other players whose names I constantly promote as streamers who can still be found on waiver wires – Donte DiVincenzo, Killian Hayes, Dennis Smith Jr., Kyle Anderson, Daniel Gafford. They’re not perfect (Exhibits A and B: Gafford’s terrible Wednesday night and Hayes’ missed games), but their ceilings are high in categories that you might need. I recommend looking their way first before reading down the rest of this list.
Schedule Notes: The Nets, Hornets, Knicks play three more games this week, while the Raptors, Suns, Wolves, Clippers, Mavericks, and Celtics play in just one more matchup. The Suns, Wolves, Mavs, and Celtics at least play on Monday, so hold your producers from those teams if you have a cushion in your matchup.
These are the players I’m watching and adding to close out the week.
Three Category Contributors
- Cam Reddish (Threes, Assists, Steals): My impression of Reddish needed a thaw out period due to his propensity for teasing us with big runs before lapsing into horrific slumps. As long as Anfernee Simons is out of the lineup, however, Cam is going to garner massive playing time and get enough looks to help 12-team squads. The dimes are something I never thought I’d see from him – 3.3 per game in his last 8 outings (Plays Fri, Sun).
- Austin Reaves (Threes, Assists, FG%): When it comes to the playoffs, we need to look a week ahead. Victory is never guaranteed, but I want to be positioned for a follow-on win if I advance. Austin plays two of Week 20’s low-volume game days before the Lakers kick off a four-game Week 21. Lebron James won’t be back for a few games, but D’Angelo Russell is likely to return on Friday. I anticipate that Reaves can carry on producing the efficient 14.4 points and 1.6 threes that he’s put up since Lebron played limited minutes on February 23rd. On the downside, the 5.1 assists that he averaged over that span will probably decrease slightly with Russell back in the mix (Plays Fri, Sun).
Two Category Contributors
- Seth Curry (Points, Threes): The Brooklyn injury report is pretty nasty for Thursday, which gives Seth a chance to recapture some glory. This may only be a one-game deal, so don’t use the add on Seth unless you’ve got a few to spare or you can potentially absorb decreased minutes in his final two games this week. You can also look in the direction of Cam Thomas, Edmond Sumner, Joe Harris, and Dorian Finney-Smith if Curry is off the market and their skill sets help you (Plays Thurs, Fri, Sun).
- Devonte Graham (Threes, Assists): Ain’t it fun trying to predict what’s going to happen with a tanking team’s roster? I don’t know the status of Tre Jones for Friday, but Devonte hasn’t missed a game since heading to San Antonio and is averaging 15.4 points (38% is shooting not for everyone), 3.3 triples, and 4.6 assists in 10 games as a Spur (Plays Fri, Sun).
- Kris Dunn (Assists, Steals): Making the most of his opportunity during Collin Sexton’s absence, Dunn is doing the things we’ve always known him for – 5 assists and 1.6 steals in his last 5 games. If your roster isn’t too loaded for Saturday, Dunn is a great schedule stream through Monday, at which point you can move on (Plays Thurs, Sat).
- Caleb Martin (Threes, Steals): As some of you might recall, I was really high on Caleb at the start of the year. I speculated that he could join the 1/1/1 club, but it looks like his inconsistent performance will land him closer to the 1/1/0.5 club. Nonetheless, thanks to a favorable schedule and 55% shooting over his last 8 games – all off the bench – he should be considered a 12-team streaming option again. Just be ready to jump ship again if the shooting tails off (Plays Fri, Sat).
Hit me up in the comments with any questions or feedback. Good Luck!
My team is laying an egg at the worst possible time, and my opponent has more games left than me this week. I have to avoid being blown out. I have Kenyon and Eason going today but ultimately, if either/both play like last game, I’m not averse to dropping either/both for someone with two games between tomorrow and Sunday (we only have waivers M, W, F) if that’s what it takes to advance. All categories still in play except maybe assists and FTs.
If I have to make one or two add drops, which of these are the best bets to both play and produce Friday-Sunday from: Graham, Reaves, Reddish, Sochan, Schroeder, Z.Collins,
Hey Joe – Sorry to hear about your troubles. It doesn’t sound like you’re out of the fight though, so I think those moves need to happen.
Collins is an add in this situation from what I can tell. He’s going to give you the best across-the-board contribution. It’s between Reddish and Sochan at that point, with a slight edge for Sochan. There’s risk with both – Reddish might get replaced by Simons (though I think that’s a remote possibility for this week), and Sochan might cop a fake injury.
Improbably, I scrambled to a first round bye in our 12 teamer. This week I need to find games for next week as guys like Jokic and MPJ have only two games. Never thought I would have Hardaway and Richards on my squad but they proved critical to the mission.
Jrue, Fox, FVV, McCollum
Middleton, Slo Mo, MPJ, Hardaway
PJ Wash, Portis
Jokic, Embiid, Collins, Richards
IR: Ingram
If Ingram gets back and no one else gets hurt, who is the cut? I can use him this week as a drop if someone drops a good player.
Since it looks like you’re punting big man stats for the week, I would drop Richards and try to go shock and awe on other categories. If your opponent is even more hard up than you are for bigs, then I would probably let Hardaway go.
Thanks. Ironically, I have won rebounds and blocks each of the last three weeks since trading way Kessler and Maxey for Fox. Still not happy about it but PJ, Slo Mo, Embiid helping immensely but not sure I can count on them.
Yeah, I hate to recommend against dancing with the one who brung ya, but there’s no loyalty in fantasy playoffs. Williams being out again definitely makes it a harder decision, but as you pointed out, your current crop of bigs either have limited games or reliability issues.
Agree. This does not look like a championship team….especially when Giannis makes Portis a dud.
The good news is that my likely opponent’s bigs are not overwhelming: Poeltl, Mobley, Duren, Horford with Duren only having two games next week – so he may drop him. If it comes down to guards and wings I have a chance!
The guard and wing core is formidable, and you have the best two per game category players imo. When those guys play, you always have a chance. Good luck!