Fantasy Basketball Weekly Planner: NBA Week 16

The Best of the Best

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have one of the best weeks for fantasy owners despite being on the road the entire time. After a short week and Jimmy Butler’s absence last week, the Bulls have a chance to reward their fantasy owners with a strong week after a tumultuous season. They open against the Kings before playing the Warriors to start the week. Then they close it out with games in Phoenix and Minnesota over the weekend. There could be a half dozen Bulls worth starting this week.

Miami Heat

Miami is also on the road all week but with the way they have been playing, I don’t think it matters too much. They too get to play the Wolves this week and after a date with the Bucks on Wednesday, their opponents soften up even more against the Nets and Sixers. It’s not hard for Miami to play four pace-up games in a week, but with they also get two against teams inside the top eight in pace in Week 16.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Coincidently, the Cavs have three of their four games on the road this week and while they should all be tougher games in regards to getting a win, the fantasy value they create is also very appealing for those who own members of the big three. They open with a tough, but potentially high scoring game in Washington on Monday where they have an implied total of 109.25. They follow that with trips to Indiana and Oklahoma City, before finishing at home against the Nuggets on Saturday. The only thing to worry about would be the Cavs resting their stars. Hopefully if they do that they can avoid not giving advanced notice if they rest guys.

New Orleans Pelicans

Other than a home game against the Jazz on Wednesday the Pelicans are looking mighty attractive this week. Jrue Holiday has been playing out of his mind and he should continue that this week with their other three opponents being the Suns, Wolves and Kings. It would be nice to see Tyreke Evans’ minutes limit increased too but they may be waiting until after the All Star Break for that. For now Holiday and Anthony Davis are must starts this week and Evans isn’t bad in very deep leagues either with no back to backs.

New York Knicks

The Knicks are one of several teams enjoying a four home game week and while their season is turning into a disaster once again, at least you’re getting good fantasy value out of them. Plus, after missing four games, Derrick Rose will be back in action tonight, so maybe he can help them piece together their 22-30 record before the break. New York does play a Sunday afternoon game against the Spurs, but combined their four games are against teams that average allowing 109.5 points per 100 possessions. Their first two games against the Nuggets and Lakers should be easy-money fantasy value and potentially wins for this team.

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons’ schedule is a lot like the Knicks’ this week. They also have a home game against the Spurs, but their first two games are where their money will be made. They get the Sixers on Monday without Joel Embiid, followed by the Lakers on Wednesday. They also play the Raptors in Toronto, but with the way they are struggling right now, that could be a sneaky game for fantasy goodness. Their implied total against Philadelphia on Monday is 111.25, so lock and load your core Pistons this week.

Notable Four Game Weeks

Utah Jazz

Utah’s week is kind of a mixed bag, but they do have some nice potential spots to get some wins and bring strong returns for their fantasy owners. They open on the road in Atlanta with an implied total of just 98.0, which is the lowest of the day. However, their schedule slowly gets easier for their offense as the week goes on with games against the Pelicans, Mavericks and Celtics. Their final two opponents rank 18^th and 21st in defensive efficiency, so look for a better second half of the week from your Utah assets.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves have four home games this week, which was almost enough to put them in the best of the best subsection, but their opponents this week are all pretty tough. Plus, they just lost Zach LaVine for the year, which could ultimately hurt them on both ends. Plus they play the Heat, Bulls and Pelicans, who all currently rank in the top 10 in defensive efficiency this season. It’s still not bad, but it’s not great either.

Dallas Mavericks

Other than a back to back to start their week, there isn’t much to be scared of from the Dallas Mavericks this week. Yogi Ferrell and Seth Curry have looked great together and while we likely won’t have Dirk Nowitzki for one of the games on Monday or Tuesday, the rest of your Mavs players are solid starts. They have to play Utah this week, which is always a fantasy killer, but they close against the Magic, which should be a nice cherry on top of another good week for Dallas.

Phoenix Suns

It’s a tough game sandwich for the last place Suns this week as they play Chicago and Memphis stacked in the middle of New Orleans and Houston. That’s three top 10 defenses to start the week, so other than the Suns’ backcourt, you could entertain benching some of your other fringe Suns if you have the depth or that option.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have three road games this week and only one of their games are against a team that ranks among the bottom 10 teams in defensive efficiency. They open against Dallas at home which should be a good opportunity to find fantasy value from Nikola Jokic, but the other Nuggets are so inconsistent it’s hard to tell who will benefit other than him. They also play the Knicks this week, so it’s another not bad but not good four game week for the Nuggets.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers get a nice game to start the week at home against the Thunder, with an implied total of 108 points. However, after that it starts trending downward for the Pacers in Week 16 before picking back up. They play the Cavs at home on Wednesday, followed by a back to back at Washington and at home against the Bucks on Friday-Saturday. None of those games are bad for fantasy by any means, but the back-to-back hurts and the Cavs are still tough on defense, so the Pacers fringe players have little appeal this week.

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are usually killer in fantasy this time of year and not in a good way. With the All Star Break approaching, Gregg Popovich is almost surely going to use some of these games this week to rest players. They play all of their games on the road too and after a national TV game on Monday against the Grizzlies, they play at Philadelphia on Wednesday. Not only could he rest guys Wednesday, but also they play the Knicks on Sunday on the front half of a Monday-Sunday back to back, which is also a day Pop could rest guys. Even Kawhi Leonard might not be safe this week, but you still probably have to start him regardless. Just be safe in daily lock leagues with your Spurs this week.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are enjoying a nice home stand this week with four home games, but other than a game against the Celtics, the Kings have three games against teams that rank inside the top 10 in defensive efficiency. With DeMarcus Cousins as their only real shallow league fantasy asset right now, it’s hard to find a reason to bench him, but don’t expect huge games from him in all four of them. However, the first two are softer matchups for centers and he gets to play Anthony Davis on Sunday, so it could still be a big week for Boogie.

Philadelphia 76ers

Not only are the Sixers struggling and still without Joel Embiid on Monday, they get a rough four-game week heading into the All Star Break. They play in Detroit on Monday before a Wednesday-Thursday back to back against the Spurs and Magic. Then they play the Heat on Sunday and if you’re counting that’s three games against top 10 defenses. Good luck in weekly lock leagues with these guys this week, but at least we might get to see Embiid back on the court soon.

Notable Three Game Weeks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Out of all the teams with three-game weeks, it’s hard not to like the Thunder. They play Indiana, Cleveland and Golden State in what could be a huge week for Russell Westbrook, who loves big games. Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo have been huge too and are all worth locking in all formats right now. I’m putting the Westbrook triple double total at 1 ½ this week as well.

Charlotte Hornets

It’s also hard to argue against the Hornets as the best of the best when it comes to three game weeks. They are at home all week against the Nets, Rockets and Clippers. For fantasy purposes it does not get much better than that. I’m expecting implied totals around 108 to 110 for all three games, so get your Hornets active this week.

Orlando Magic

The Magic may not be that good in real life, but for fantasy they have several players with a lot of upside. You don’t get it every night, but between Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton and Nikola Vucevic, those three all have the ability to pop off one night. Serge Ibaka is starting to get his groove back too and with Aaron Gordon it’s hard to ignore this team in the future. For Week 16, they also have some strong fantasy value with games against the Rockets, Sixers and Mavericks.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers’ offense and subsequent fantasy values have been hurt by Chris Paul not being on the court, but it also hurts the Clippers’ defense enough to make them have to pick up the pace and score more at times. That somewhat cancels out Paul’s absence and with the gap in usage left by his busted thumb, it should be another big week for the other Clippers, including Blake Griffin. They open with a tough one against the Cavaliers, but that is offset by games against the Nets and Pacers as well.

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis also has a tough one to start the week against the Spurs, but after that the sky opens and it should rain fantasy goodness all over Beale Street. Memphis has three home games and after one against the Spurs, they welcome in the Suns and Warriors. Memphis also used Saturday to give some of their guys the night off, meaning they should come into Monday against the Spurs extra fresh.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks don’t play until Wednesday, which means they will have a full three days rest before playing against the Heat. That is easily their toughest game of the week too, so it is time to lock in your core Bucks fantasy assets this week. They finish with a Friday-Saturday back to back against the Lakers and Pacers, but both of those should be fast-paced and high scoring affairs.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors open as favorites against the Clippers on Monday with an implied total of 109 points. It should be more of the same with Toronto throughout their three-game week as well. They play at Minnesota before getting three days off before meeting the Pistons at home on Sunday. Even though the Pistons are tough on defense, having three days off and the game being at home saves them this week.

Washington Wizards

Washington is another one of the half-dozen teams that open with a tough game before playing two easier ones to finish the week. As mentioned above, they play the Cavaliers on Monday, but they get to face the Nets and Pacers. With how well Washington has played lately and while averaging109.9 points per 100 possessions this season, they should drop at least 110 on the Pacers and Nets. They have an implied total of 109.25 against the Cavaliers on Monday too.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks play the Jazz on Monday in a very tough game, but overall their week is more good than bad for fantasy. They get to play the Nuggets and Kings to close the week, which should be two easy wins for them. Plus, with their defense playing better, it has helped them get more efficient on offense. The Hawks still rank 25^th with a 105.5 offensive efficiency, but they should get that number up in Week 16.

Houston Rockets

Houston is another team that sees their schedule slowly get easier as the week progresses. They play the Magic and Hornets to start and then they head back home for a Saturday game against the Suns. So far this season the Rockets have already averaged 128 points per game in two contests against the Suns, so hello James Harden triple doubles this week!

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have lost 20 of their last 21 and at some point you have to wonder what they will do come trade deadline time. It’s hard to find any consistent fantasy value from these guys and you really don’t get a lot from Brook Lopez because of how much he sits out or plays limited minutes at times. If he is traded it should almost certainly be good for him, but at this point against the Hornets, Wizards and Heat, it’s a good, but not great week for the worst team in the league.