Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that tells you who and what to play — when it comes to music or other things in my rotation — for the week ahead in fantasy basketball.
Each week you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make, lineup notes (who’s in and out of the rotations), followed by the key points on the schedule.
Press play and browse the latest fantasy basketball information.
🏀Week 1 wrap:
🏆 Top performers:
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Pickups scheduled below 50%
Note: If you see players like Jeremy Sochan and Andre Drummond below 50% on the list, add them. I haven’t included them here because they have been drafted or added in most Monday competitions.
Christian Braun – SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (32% on list)
The two-guard Nuggets are a versatile role in fantasy hoops, averaging 13.5 points, seven boards and 3.5 shares in his first two games this season. Denver opens with a back-to-back set against the Raptors and Nets to start the week, making it an ideal streaming spot for fantasy managers across all leagues.
Tre Mann – PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets (35% selected)
If you haven’t seen Mann play yet, his game is eerily similar to Allen Iverson’s. He was a microwave off the bench for the Hornets and will continue to play a crucial role in the rotation as the Hornets’ sixth man. Brandon Miller’s hip injury also opens up some upside, so until he returns, he’ll have a sport usage rate of around 25%, which is great for fantasy purposes. Mann is favored for points competitions, but is also worth scoring in category formats.
Andrew Wiggins – SF/PF, Golden State Warriors (50% selected)
For shallow leagues (eight teams or fewer), Wiggins has surprisingly been an effective scorer for the Dubs early in Week 1. Wiggins has scored at least 20 points in two of the three games (he scored 29 points in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers) and sandwiched between these two games, Wiggins recorded a varied game of 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. The Warriors started much of their offense through Wiggins sans Curry, a trend that could continue.
Yves Missi – C, New Orleans Pelicans (17% selected)
The Pelicans’ frontcourt is thin and the rookie from Baylor is emerging as their top rim protector. Missi hit two or more shots in 20 minutes and has scored at least 20 fantasy points in every game this season. Two of the Pels’ four games this week come on lighter slates (Tuesday and Sunday), and with a total of four games, Missi is a player who can help fantasy managers in shares and FG% with a mid-range contribution in rebounds.
Scotty Pippen Jr. – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (20% on list)
Marcus Smart starts at SG and leaves Pippen Jr. spending most of his minutes as a backup point guard. The results speak for themselves as he generated a ton of assists in about 22 minutes a night off the bench. He registered 11 points with 12 assists and five boards in his last game and with Ja Morant questionable with a quad injury heading into Monday, Pippen Jr. a must-stream when Morant is seated. The Grizzlies will play four games this week with a back-to-back Wednesday/Thursday. The Grizzlies could opt to rest Morant or Smart at that spot, so Pippen is a player I would hold onto until at least Thursday. If he continues to post these kinds of numbers, it may also be worth keeping him around longer.
Jordan Hawkins – SG, New Orleans Pelicans (26% selected)
The Pelicans’ starters have benefited from Murray’s absence, but Hawkins is next in line. He has shot the lights out, blocked 53% of his field goal attempts and gone 9-for-17 on 3s. If you need a five-board scoring boost, Hawkins is a strong option now that he will continue to play 30-plus minutes a night until Murray and Trey Murphy III return.
Nikola Jović – PF/C, Miami Heat (17% on list)
After averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and two shares in Week 1, Jovic is a good streaming option to open the week against the Pistons. He starts and produces in 25-30 minutes, so he is someone who can add more than a dozen team points and category competitions.
🗓️Plan highlights:
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Week 2 daily schedule: Monday (11), Tuesday (4), Wednesday (11), Thursday (4), Friday (9), Saturday (10), Sunday (3)
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Prime Streaming Days: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
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Teams playing four matches: Celtics, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Kings, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pelicans, Raptors, Spurs, Trailblazers
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Teams playing three matches: Bucks, Bulls, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Timberwolves, Thunder, Warriors, Wizards
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Teams playing two matches: 76ers
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Back to back:
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Monday/Tuesday: Jazz, Kings, Mavericks and Nuggets
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Tuesday/Wednesday: nets, pelicans and warriors
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Wednesday/Thursday: Clippers, Grizzlies and Spurs
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Thursday/Friday: None
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Friday/Saturday: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hornets, Kings, Nuggets, Raptors, Thunder, Timberwolves and Trail Blazers
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Saturday/Sunday: None
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🚑 Injury report:
Gone indefinitely
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Sixers C Joel Embiid – load management
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Clippers G/F Kawhi Leonard – knee
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Bucks F Khris Middleton Ankles
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Hornets C Mark Williams – foot
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Pistons F Ausar Thompson – disease (blood clots)
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Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein – hand (expected return date: December 3
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Celtics C Kristaps Porziņģis – leg (expected return date: early to mid-December)
Almost playing again
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Sixers G/F Paul George (knee) is expected to receive a return timeline in Week 2
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Hornets G/F Brandon Miller (hip) is expected to be out until at least November 1
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Spurs G/F Devin Vassell (foot) is expected to be out until at least November 1
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Pelicans F Trey Murphy III (hamstring) is expected to be out until at least November 8
From day to day
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Grizzlies G Yes Morant (thigh) is questionable on Monday
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Raptors G Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) is questionable Monday
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Raptors F RJ Barrett (shoulder) is questionable on Monday
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Hawks G/F Bogdan Bogdanović (hamstring) out on Monday
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Knicks F Josh Hart (ankle) is questionable on Monday
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Suns G Bradley Beal (elbow) missed Saturday’s game
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Suns G Grayson Allen (personal) missed Saturday’s game
🔁 Rotation Notes:
Golden State Warriors: Two of their first three games were big wins, but one constant remains true: Steve Kerr is in a deep rotation.
The play: I’ve already said that Wiggins should be used in all competitions. In addition, Buddy Hield is unconscious from the bench and should also be included in the points and category competitions until further notice. Brandin Podziemski is averaging almost 25 minutes per game, but his value has taken a hit with the emergence of Wiggins and Hield. However, his fantasy value was given a short lifeline, with Curry expected to miss games due to his ankle injury. Draymond Green hasn’t played more than 27 minutes in any game. His grades are also worryingly bad, so I wouldn’t be upset if you dropped him.
Portland Trail Blazers: Is Scoot Henderson’s move to the bench long-term?
The play: Toumani Camara (8% on the roster) started the first three games for the Blazers, replacing Henderson as Anfernee Simons’ running point. Camara is an OG Anunoby light – a guy who can score double-digit points with mid-range rebounds but is a valuable asset for steals. Camara is better for category competitions than points and can be streamed as the Blazers play four games in Week 2. Henderson is still averaging 29 minutes behind the bench, which is enough to justify his value in points competitions (and category if you can count the poor FG treaties). % and turnover).
Brooklyn Nets: Ben Simmons starts at center.
The play: Nic Claxton (hamstring)’s minutes have continued to increase over the past three games, and one would assume he will rejoin the starting unit soon. Claxton played 22 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Bucks, posting a double-double with one block. I’d still leave Simmons on waivers (34% listed) because while his rebounds and assists are useful, the four turnovers per game hurt his value, especially in league formats.
▶️ My playlist:
RIP to legendary hip-hop producer DJ Clark Kent. Here are five of my favorite songs he produced.
