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, a quick look at the schedule, and lineup notes (who’s in and out of the rotations).
Press play and browse the latest fantasy basketball information.
🏀 Completion week 3:
🏆 Top Fantasy Artists of Week 3:
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Waiver Pickups
Four players below 50% have been selected for inclusion in all competitions:
-
Scotty Pippen Jr. – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (49% selected)
-
Bennedict Mathurin – SG/SF, Indiana Pacers (49% ranked)
-
Payton Pritchard – PG, Boston Celtics (44% selected)
-
Al Horford – PF/C, Boston Celtics (42% ranked)
Jose Alvarado – PG, New Orleans Pelicans (38% selected)
I’m shocked he’s not above 40% yet, considering almost every guard in the Pelicans’ backcourt wears 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 3s in 33.3 minutes per match.
Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson are out for weeks, leaving only Brandon Ingram and Alvarado as the primary ballhandlers. The Pels are down big, but Alvarado should be included in all formats for his 3s, assists and steals.
▶️ Etoufée – Vince Staples
Goga Bitadze – C, Orlando Magic (30% selected)
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 limited himself to cardio. The truth is, Carter remains injured, so who knows if he’s actually about to return?
Bitadze has been hitting the mark, averaging 33.1 fantasy points per game over his last three games and providing counting stats in every category. He finished ranked 33rd in the 9-cat leagues in Week 3. With no timetable for Carter’s return, expect Bitadze to remain in the starting lineup and play 27-30 minutes per night. He is a player to add in all competitions.
▶️ The truth – Nas
Kyshawn George, SF, Washington Wizards (28% selected)
With four games scheduled in Week 4 and no timetable for Kyle Kuzma (groin)’s return to the lineup, George should be streamed in points and 9-category competitions. The U’s rookie has appeared in four of the Wizards’ last five games and has seen his minutes increase to more than 30 minutes per game in that span. George’s ball defense has been a plus for the Wizards and he ranks in the 100th percentile in blocks from the wing position.
When you take into account his ability to stretch the floor with his rebounding, the Wiz has no choice but to continue giving him valuable minutes. George averaged 32.6 fantasy points per game in points leagues last week and over his previous three games he averaged over 17 points with six boards, three assists and three threes on nearly two stocks per night.
Naji Marshall – SG/SF Dallas Mavericks (4% on list)
Marshall will see more minutes on a daily basis without PJ Washington Jr. (knee) and has a history of helping fantasy managers with points, 3s, rebounds and steals when given the opportunity. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Washington perform more week-to-week as he is dealing with a sprained knee, but Marshall has started at least the last three games for the Mavs in Washington’s absence and is averaging 12 points with five boards and a steal on 57% shooting.
The Mavs play on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so one trade gets you three starts this week. He’s a good streaming option in Week 4.
Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (20% selected)
The backup big man has played 33 minutes in the last two games due to Jalen Duren’s latest ankle injury. During that span, Stewart has posted a solid 13 points, 9.5 boards and 1.5 blocks. Duren is an everyday prospect, but it’s early in the season, so the Pistons will likely handle him cautiously. This leaves the door open for Stewart to play a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday and two more games later in the week.
Fantasy managers in need of a big man may find Beef Stew valuable in Week 4. Given his low-end double-double potential, he can be streamed for points and category picks.
Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (28% ranked)
O’Neale will help fill the void while KD is sidelined for at least two weeks due to a calf injury. Through ten games this season, O’Neale is averaging ten points, six rebounds and 1.8 shares per game with a very efficient shooting split of 48/49/89. He will continue to come off the bench, but before KD’s injury he was already available in 12-team leagues. O’Neale is favored in category competitions and his minutes could increase in the short term. Also keep an eye on Ryan Dunn, who has been included in just 2% of leagues.
🗓️Plan highlights:
-
Week 3 daily schedule: Monday (5), Tuesday (8), Wednesday (11), Thursday (1), Friday (12), Saturday (5), Sunday (10)
-
Prime Streaming Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
-
16 teams play four matches: Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Mavericks, Nets, Pelicans, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves and Wizards
-
12 teams play three matches: 76ers, Bucks, Celtics, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Magic, Pacers, Raptors and Trail Blazers
-
2 teams play two matches: Nuggets and warriors
-
Back to back: 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!
-
Sixers C Joel Embiid: Expected to make his season debut on Tuesday
-
Spurs G/F Devin Vassell: Made his season debut on Saturday
-
Pelicans F Trey Murphy III: On track to make his season debut Monday
Waiting game:
-
Pelicans F/C Zion Williamson (hamstring) is out indefinitely
-
Suns F Kevin Durant (calf) is out at least two weeks
-
Sixers G Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will miss at least two weeks
-
Grizzlies G Yes Morant (hip) viewed from week to week
-
Heat G/F Jimmy Butler (ankle) is considered daily
▶️ Hurt Me – Lupe Fiasco
🔁 Rotation Notes:
Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson stock is rising
The play: Aaron Gordon will miss several weeks with a calf injury, causing Watson to move. (21% on the list) in the starting lineup. The defensive specialist has reached double figures in five consecutive games and shoots confidently from three, increasing his value. The problem with picking up Watson is that the Nuggets play two games in Week 4 starting Friday. If you have the space to pick him up, do so.
Golden State Warriors: New starting lineup to stick with?
The play: The Warriors remain one of the most frustrating teams when it comes to managing rotations and players. On Sunday, Steve Kerr announced that he would like to move on from Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The interesting part of his announcement is that he highlighted Melton’s offensive defense as the main reason for this decision. The Warriors have two games in Week 4, so Melton (11% ranked) isn’t a must-add, but he’s worth adding to your watch list after a surprising performance of 19 points, 10 rebounds and three steals on Sunday.
▶️ LoveHate Thing – Wale feat. Sam Dew
New Orleans Pelicans: We’re running out of room in the infirmary
The play: 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) returns to the lineup on Monday, but I will likely be on a minutes restriction for a few games. Boston Jr. is a good streaming option in the short term across all leagues, especially with Herb Jones, Jordan Hawkins, McCollum, Zion and Murray out yet.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Life Without Chet
The play: I’m not sure. The Thunder played small ball against the Warriors when Chet Holmgren left in the first quarter with a hip injury. Now that we know Holmgren is heading into an extended absence, Isaiah Hartenstein’s value has increased. He is still out with a hand injury, but Ousmane Dieng is the only real big man available at the moment. I expect some combination of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins to take it a step further, but for now, fantasy managers will have to take a wait-and-see approach.
Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey out, Embiid returns
The play: The Sixers are terr–i–ble. Despite their MVP center returning to the lineup on Tuesday, Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be out at least two weeks and Paul George (knee) will remain on a minutes restriction. Don’t drop Andre Drummond just yet because the Sixers play back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday, so Embiid is guaranteed a seat. Rookie Jared McCain is averaging 22.5 points with 3.5 threes in 31 minutes off the bench in his last two appearances. He could be a good streamer for Tuesday and Wednesday, with George and Embiid likely missing one of the two games.
▶️ Yes, that’s us, Major Figgas
