Table of Contents
Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who and what to play (when it comes to music or other things in my rotation) for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.
Each week, you’ll see a compilation of the picks you need to make, a quick look at the schedule, and lineup notes (who’s coming in and out of rotations).
Press play and stream the latest fantasy basketball information.
Week 3 summary:
Best Fantasy Artists of Week 3:
Who’s in my rotation: waiver picks
Four players with less than 50% of the roster who should be in every league:
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Scotty Pippen Jr. – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (49% on roster)
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Bennedict Mathurin – SG/SF, Indiana Pacers (49% on roster)
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Payton Pritchard – PG, Boston Celtics (44% on roster)
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Al Horford – PF/C, Boston Celtics (42% on roster)
José Alvarado – PG, New Orleans Pelicans (38% on roster)
I’m surprised it’s not over 40% yet, considering almost all of the guards in the Pelicans’ backcourt are dressed in street clothes. In Alvarado’s last six games, he has contributed a mix of everything for fantasy managers, averaging 17.2 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 3.5 three-pointers in 33.3 minutes per game.
Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson will be out for weeks, leaving only Brandon Ingram and Alvarado as the primary ball handlers. The Pels are in a bad situation, but Alvarado should be included in all formats for his three-pointers, assists and steals.
Goga Bitadze – C, Orlando Magic (30% registered)
The Magic’s backup center has a history of making an impact when given the opportunity. Bitadze has short-term appeal, as Wendell Carter Jr. is dealing with plantar fasciitis and has recently been limited to cardio. The truth is that Carter is still injured, so who knows if he’s really close to returning?
Bitadze has been playing, averaging 33.1 fantasy points per game over his last three games and providing countable stats in every category. He was ranked 33rd in 9-cat leagues in Week 3. With no timetable for Carter’s return, Bitadze is expected to remain in the starting lineup, playing between 27 and 30 minutes a night. He is an essential player in all leagues.
Kyshawn George, SF, Washington Wizards (28% on roster)
With four games on the line in Week 4 and no timetable for Kyle Kuzma’s (groin) return to the lineup, George should be broadcast in points and leagues in 9 categories. The U’s rookie has started four of the Wizards’ last five games and has seen his minutes increase to more than 30 per game in that span. George’s on-ball defense has been an asset for the Wizards and ranks in the 100th percentile on blocks from the wing position.
Considering his ability to stretch the floor with his rebounding, the Wiz have no choice but to continue giving him valuable minutes. George put up 32.6 fantasy points per game in point leagues last week and in his previous three games, he averaged over 17 points with six rebounds, three assists and three 3-pointers on nearly two shots a night.
Naji Marshall – SG/SF Dallas Mavericks (4% on roster)
Marshall will continue to see more minutes without PJ Washington Jr. (knee) day by day and has a history of helping Fantasy managers with points, 3-pointers, rebounds and steals when given the opportunity. I wouldn’t be surprised if Washington was more weekly since he’s dealing with a sprained knee, but in any case, Marshall has started the last three games for the Mavs in Washington’s absence and is averaging 12 points with five rebounds and a steal. with 57% shooting.
The Mavs play on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so a trade will get you three starts this week. It’s a good streaming option in Week 4.
Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (20% on roster)
The backup center back has played 33 minutes in the last two games due to Jalen Duren’s latest ankle injury. During that span, Stewart has recorded a solid 13 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Duren is day-to-day, but it’s early in the season, so the Pistons will likely tread cautiously with him. This leaves the door open for Stewart to play two consecutive games on Tuesday and Wednesday and two additional games later in the week.
Fantasy managers in need of a big man may find Beef Stew valuable in Week 4. Given his low-level double-double potential, he can be passed around in points and category formats.
Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (28% on roster)
O’Neale will help fill the void while KD will be sidelined for at least two weeks due to a calf injury. Through 10 games this season, O’Neale is averaging 10 points, six rebounds and 1.8 actions per game with a super-efficient 48/49/89 shot split. He will continue to come off the bench, but was already available in 12-team leagues before KD’s injury. O’Neale is the favorite in top leagues and his minutes may increase in the short term. Also, keep an eye on Ryan Dunn, who is only in 2% of leagues.
Featured schedules:
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Week 3 Daily Game Schedule: Monday (5), Tuesday (8), Wednesday (11), Thursday (1), Friday (12), Saturday (5), Sunday (10)
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Main broadcast days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
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16 teams play four games: Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Mavericks, Nets, Pelicans, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves and Wizards
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12 teams play three games: 76ers, Bucks, Celtics, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Magic, Pacers, Raptors and Trail Blazers
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2 teams play two games: Nuggets and warriors
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Consecutive backs: Tuesday/Wednesday: 76ers, Bucks, Celtics, Knicks, Magic, Pistons, Suns, Timberwolves and Trail Blazers
Friday/Saturday: Lakers, Kings, Pelicans, Raptors and Spurs
Saturday/Sunday: Hornets, Jazz and Mavericks
Sunday/Monday: Bulls, Clippers, Hawks, Heat, Knicks, Pacers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns and Wizards
Injury news:
Welcome back!
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Sixers C Joel Embiid: Expected to make season debut Tuesday
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Spurs G/F Devin Vassell: Made his season debut on Saturday
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Pelicans F Trey Murphy III: On track to make season debut Monday
Waiting game:
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Pelicans F/C Zion Williamson (hamstring) out indefinitely
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Suns F Kevin Durant (calf) out for at least two weeks
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Sixers G Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will miss at least two weeks
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Grizzlies G Ja Morant (hip) considered week to week
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Heat G/F Jimmy Butler (ankle) considered day to day
Rotation Notes:
Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson’s stock is rising
the work: Aaron Gordon will miss several weeks with a calf injury, which will transfer Watson. (21% registered) in the starting lineup. The defensive specialist has reached double figures in five consecutive games and shoots confidently from three, which increases his value. The problem with signing Watson is that the Nuggets play two games in Week 4, starting on Friday. If you have space to pick it up, do so.
Golden State Warriors: Will the new starting lineup remain?
The work: The Warriors continue to be one of the most frustrating teams when it comes to managing rotations and players. On Sunday, Steve Kerr announced that he would like Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis continue to start. What’s interesting about his announcement is that he highlighted Melton’s point-of-attack defense as the main reason for this decision. The Warriors have two games in Week 4, so Melton (11% of the roster) isn’t a must-have addition, but he’s worth adding to your watch list after a surprising 19-point, 10-rebound, three-point performance. robberies on Sunday.
LoveHate Thing – Wale feat. Sam Rocio
New Orleans Pelicans: We’re running out of space in the infirmary
the work: Brandon Boston Jr. has started his last three games for the Pels and is averaging 17/4/4 with a 19% usage rate over his last five games. Trey Murphy III (hamstring) will return to the lineup on Monday, but I will likely be on a minutes restriction for several games. Boston Jr. is a good short-term streaming option across the league, especially with Herb Jones, Jordan Hawkins, McCollum, Zion and Murray still out.
Oklahoma City Thunder: life without Chet
the work: I’m not sure. The Thunder played little against the Warriors once Chet Holmgren left in the first quarter with a hip injury. Now that we know Holmgren is facing a long absence, Isaiah Hartenstein’s value has increased. He is still out with a hand injury, but Ousmane Dieng is the only big man currently available. I expect some combination of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins to step up, but for now, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach.
Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey out, Embiid returns
the work: The Sixers are terr–Yo–ble. Despite their MVP center returning to the lineup on Tuesday, Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be out for at least two weeks and Paul George (knee) will remain on a minutes restriction. Don’t rule out Andre Drummond just yet because the Sixers play back-to-backs on Tuesday and Wednesday, so Embiid is guaranteed to sit. Rookie Jared McCain is averaging 22.5 points with 3.5 3-pointers in 31 minutes off the bench in his last two starts. He could be a good source for Tuesday and Wednesday, with George and Embiid likely to miss one of the two games.