This is a tough week because the volume of games will be lower than we're accustomed to since much of the focus will be on the In-Season Tournament.
And while it'll be good to have players in the In-Season Tournament, the finals won't count toward the regular season or fantasy.
So pretty much everyone will have two games that count this week, whether you're in or out of the tournament, or even if you're eliminated since the quarterfinal losers will just play each other.
That makes for few fantasy friendly teams, but it also levels the playing field.
Top Fantasy Friendly Team This Week: Boston Celtics
When in doubt, go with the team that appears to look better than everyone else in the regular season… and plays the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the In-Season Tournament.
The Celtics are great on offense and defense to start the season, and the Pacers are amazing at offense, but woeful on defense.
That over/under is 241, and Pacer games tend to go over, but that alone isn't why you want a Celtic this week — after a win, they'd like the New York Knicks or Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals. The Celtics are 3-0 against them this season.
So you get the Pacers and either the Knicks or Bucks. You'd rather see the Bucks from a fantasy perspective because the Knicks are stronger defensively, but you should be OK either way.
Must Plays: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis (if healthy)
Waiver Wire Candidates: Al Horford
Streamable: Sam Hauser, Peyton Pritchard
Top Fantasy Un-Friendly Team This Week: Memphis Grizzlies
This is primarily injury-related, but the uncertainty matters, and you still don't have a lot of guys on this team you just like on a night-to-night basis.
The Grizzle play in Detroit on Wednesday then are home against Minnesota on Friday.
Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., the end. You just don't feel great about rostering anyone else on this team, unless of course, you're stashing Ja Morant, as I am in one of my leagues.
Marcus Smart is no longer in a walking boot but his return isn't imminent. Luke Kennard won't be back till later this month because of a knee injury. Derrick Rose was scratched from Saturday's game due to an ankle injury. Zaire Williams missed that same game due to illness. Steven Adams is done for the year and Brandon Clarke isn't close. There are actually more injuries, but you get the point.
Absolute Keepers: Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Ja Morant
Injury Holds: Marcus Smart
Kinda Streamable, Kinda Droppable: Santi Aldama
Droppable Players: Everyone else
INJURY PIVOTS
G/F Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls
LaVine is expected to miss at least a week with a foot injury, according to Shams Charania.
Team Pivots: Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu
Waiver Wire Pivots: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Malik Monk, Killian Hayes
F/C Kristaps Porzingis
Boston Celtics
Porzingis hoped to return Monday, but he'll sit out with a calf strain, and we'll now turn to Wednesday as his earliest possible return date.
Team Pivots: Al Horford, Sam Hauser
Waiver Wire Pivots: Saddiq Bey, DeAndre Hunter, Dereck Lively
RISERS
G Coby White
Chicago Bulls
I typically don't target this profile of guard in fantasy except for late rounds and or streams, and this is more of the latter. Zach LaVine is out for at least a week, and White is on a heater, averaging 21.9 points, 4.4 assists and 4.0 rebounds on 50/52/94 shooting. That's not sustainable all season long, but if he's available in your league, add him. He might be worth more than just a stream if the Bulls do decide to blow it up between now and the deadline — assuming he also remains in Chicago, that is.
Oh, and he plays the Hornets and Spurs this week.
C/F Al Horford
Boston Celtics
Would I want Horford for the full season? I'm not sure. But do I want him now with Porzingis missing at least one more game this week? Hell yeah, and he might currently be on your waiver wire.
Horford has started four straight, averaging 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 stocks per game while shooting 57/35/100. he just got 20 and 16 in back-to-back games — you're not expecting that — but you want stat-sheet stuffing, and lately, he's delivered, the points are a bonus.
FALLERS
G/F Josh Giddey
Oklahoma City Thunder
Whatever the reasons are, Giddey can't seem to consistently score into the teens…
He's only scored more than 11 points in one of his last seven games. Moreover, you're not getting a ton of rebounds or assists lately either, and you got him to be a stat-sheet stuffer. He's gotten one assist in each of his last three games and is averaging about 18 PRA in his last seven, and that 18 is more than I expected, given his recent output…
Wherever you drafted him, he's been a disappointment. I'm not saying cut him forever, but he's been dropped in each of the leagues I'm in, and I'm not planning on adding.
C Onyeka Okongwu
Atlanta Hawks
I think this is a hold! However…
You're just not getting enough from Okongwu consistently.
Okongwu's just averaging 7.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in his last 12, and that's in nearly 24 minutes per. He hasn't had a multi-block game since November 11. And he only has two double-doubles this season. Last season, he hit his stride in December, averaging about 11 points, 8.5 boards and 2.3 stocks, a stretch that began before a Clint Capela injury, but was certainly aided by that as well. He's a hold, but he's not meeting your fantasy expectations to this point.
