We're back at it with another round of fantasy forecasting for NBA moves you should make this week. The Cavaliers and Mavericks make the cut for teams that may work in your favor in their upcoming matchups and we wouldn't leave you hanging without a few players that will set you up nicely in the player props field.
So let's get straight to it as we breakdown who and what to keep on your radar for fantasy basketball that could lead you to even sweeter success in the betting realm.
Top Fantasy Friendly Teams for This Week
Cleveland Cavaliers
Nov. 8 at Thunder | Nov. 11 at Warriors
The Cavaliers only have two games this week, so they are not a great target right away; however, with a Saturday game heading into a four-game week, I'd consider grabbing a few Cavaliers over the weekend to set yourself up for a strong Week 3.
Additionally, their upcoming opponents: Thunder, Warriors, Kings, Blazers, Pistons, and Nuggets could set up for some high-scoring affairs due to their faster paces.
One of the players that will take a hit is Caris LeVert. Without Garland, LeVert averaged 17.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 5.1 apg compared to 11.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, and 3.7 apg. However, with Garland, his field goal percentage increases to 43.5% from 40.4%.
Max Strus should retain value though. Strus is a better team player and has thrived in situations with other stars due to his time in Miami. However, his three-point volume likely will drop since the need for him to space the floor is less significant.
This Cavaliers point was discussed more in our Player Prop Forecast.
Dallas Mavericks
Nov. 8 vs. Raptors | Nov. 10 vs. Clippers | Nov. 12 at Pelicans
The Mavericks not only have four games this week — one of which they've already played against the Orlando Magic on Monday night, winning 117-102 — but they have zero back-to-backs. Everyone is off on Tuesday because of Election Day, but the Mavs have three games remaining on Wednesday, home against the Raptors, Friday, home against the Clippers, and Sunday at the Pelicans.
With no back-to-backs, it lowers the likelihood of rest for certain guys — doesn't mean it won't happen, it's the NBA — but it puts anyone meaningful on the Mavericks roster in a position to give you several bites at the apple this week.
Players of note obviously include Luka Doncic, who had 29-6-3 against Orlando and Kyrie Irving, who put up 21-10-6, but beyond that, you have several good options this week. Dereck Lively has made an early impression as a rookie starting center, and perhaps the feel-good falls off at some point, but not this week. At his best, he's a double-double (points and rebounds) threat who could add on a defensive stat or two.
Tim Hardaway mostly just scores but has been very effective, averaging 18 points per game this season and could log close to 100 more minutes this week.
Joe will tell you more about Grant Williams, who has been one of the trendy transaction add-ons in recent days and had 13 points against Orlando. And a productive Josh Green is a good multi-positional streaming option when you need to use those IL+ spots for other questionable and game-time decision guys.
RISERS
OKC Thunder
G/F Jalen Williams
It's a four-game, no back-to-back week for J-Dub, who qualifies as a shooting guard, small forward and power forward in fantasy. He was one of the more sought-after sleepers (oxymoron check?) in fantasy drafts this year and is proving why. To date, he's averaging 17.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Moreover, he's been steady. In every game, he's had between 13 and 21 points, between 3-8 rebounds, and he's only had two games between below 3-8 assists. Williams had also gotten at least 31 points, rebounds and assists in three straight games prior to Monday.
Williams is even doing this on 51/32/86 shooting splits, down from 52/36/81 as a rookie, so there's even room for improvement, particularly from three.
The only thing we're really waiting on are the steals to catch up. To date, he's at 0.6 steals per contest, less than half of what he had last season (1.4 per game). However, as a rookie, he averaged 0.6 steals during the first 29 games of the season (right up to Christmas), and jumped to nearly two steals per game for the rest of the season. They'll come, as should the three-point shooting, so be patient.
Dallas Mavericks
F Grant Williams
Grant Williams has been a tremendous addition to the Dallas Mavericks. He's shooting an incredible (and unsustainable) 56.1% from 3 point range but he has seen a minutes uptick to 31.6 minutes per game compared to 25.2 last season with Boston. Additionally, he's seen a greater percentage of his shots come from 3 point range, 72% compared to 56%.
These changes make Williams a valuable fantasy asset. He does not hurt you in any category, and provides some additional counting stats with rebounds and threes.
There is reason to believe this is sustainable. Williams has been a solid shooting big throughout his career, but his ability to play tenacious defense keeps him on the floor alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Those are two players who opposing defenses have to account for if they are diving to the basket, and that allows Williams to patrol the perimeter and knock down shots from beyond the arc.
FALLERS
Toronto Raptors
G/F OG Anunoby | F Pascal Siakam
The alleged most valuable trade piece in the NBA is having yet another OG Anunoby-like season even though we keep hearing about this offensive leap he's supposedly going to make. Maybe it'll happen if he ever leaves Toronto, but for fantasy purposes, you're getting about what you typically do.
Anunoby is tied for 7th (!!) in team usage and is averaging 16.2 points on 56/43/44 splits. Yes, 44 percent on 1.5 free throws per game at a career-low .248 free throw rate thus far. So he's shooting — percentage wise — well above his head, while this is becoming a Scottie Barnes team, and Pascal Siakam is averaging just 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists, which likely won't be the case forever. (Joe wrote about Barnes and Siakam here.)
Beyond all that, you notice that the Raptors were one of six NBA teams not in action on Monday. Well guess what: They only play two games this week. And while Anunoby has shot the ball well and is still giving you 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game — all down from last year — along with 0.8 blocks per contest, he has to overcompensate when he does play this week.
Play him if you have him, of course, but it isn't a great week to have a Raptor save for Barnes. Luckily, they'll make it up with four games next week.
Same with Siakam, play him if you must, and he has a better shot at exploding at any point, but he's third in team usage behind Barnes and Dennis Schroder, which shouldn't remain long-term, but it might for the only two games they play this week.
