I cannot remind you all enough that this weekly list of players are not necessarily MUST ADDS immediately. These guys are brought up to raise your awareness regarding how the playing time is being divided on that player’s team. Watch these guys and if the playing time improves, or someone ahead on the team’s depth chart gets hurt, you will already have an idea who will be inheriting those minutes. Minutes equal opportunity in fantasy basketball.

Jon Leuer PF/C DET-37% Ownership: The Pistons have a lot of depth in their mid-court, but because Andre Drummond cannot score from further than two feet from the basket, Leuer compliments him by providing shooting range. Leuer will often set the high screen at the elbow on offense and then pop out for an open jumper. He also can create in the post with an angled turn-around jumper. Leuer has scored in double figures in three of his last four games and more importantly is playing consistent minutes in the mid-20’s. Leuer can even hit from downtown, though the Pistons tend to use his beyond the arc shooting as a final bailout option when the shot clock is winding down. Leuer has also grabbed at least five rebounds in four of his last six games. He has also been providing assist help and recently posted a six-assist game. Good off the bench option for fantasy players.

Dorian Finney-Smith F DAL-19% Ownership: Since we do not know when to expect Dirk Nowitzki back in action, the Mavs have clearly been looking for any answer off their bench and D.F.S (pun intended because he actually has been an effective D-F-S value play in recent weeks), has been scoring consistently in double figures and has grabbed eight or more rebounds in two of his last four games. He has been a hound on defense as he has had multiple blocks and steals in recent games. He can hit the knockdown three-pointer and he has surpassed 30 minutes of playing time in 3 of his last 4 (played 29 minutes in the one game under 30). The consistency is there and the Mavs will continue to see who on their bench is part of their future plans. He is definitely a trust-worthy pickup.

Patrick Patterson PF/C TOR-20% Ownership: Patterson isn’t a stranger to this list. He plays a ton of minutes and even though he is not flashy, he does all of the Raptors dirty work under the rim. He is effective in the post and uses his body nicely to maneuver his way inside and draw contact. He has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in multiple games this season. Patterson has also hit multiple three-pointers in his last couple of games, showing that even in decoy situations, the opposition will have to send someone out to contest his jumper. He also provides minor help in assists because generally when his defender leaves the paint to guard him, someone else is always cutting on the unguarded side. Playing time is certainly on his side.

Kelly Oubre Jr. SF WSH 9% Ownership: Oubre is still a work in progress, but will continue to steal minutes from Markieff Morris as the season continues. He has grabbed at least five rebounds in seven straight games. Oubre has also been a pest on the perimeter and right inside the arc as he has at least two steals in three of his last five games. His hustle alone has impressed the Wizards Coaches and he can also hit the knockdown three. With the drive-first attitude that John Wall has, he gets doubled or even tripled as soon as he enters the paint and Oubre becomes a serious threat for open jumpers when in the paint. As he continues to grow, he will certainly be playing consistent minutes in the late 20’s and early 30’s.

Cory Joseph PG TOR 5% Ownership: Joseph does a great job running point for the Raptors second unit and has seen multiple seven-assist games because unlike the Raptors starters who keep the tempo up, their bench plays slow ball and they try to go inside. Not only can Joseph drive and draw contact without having to give a big sell-job on a wild shot, but he also helps out on the glass. He has grabbed nine rebounds total in his last two games. Joseph will also help with steals. He is definitely someone to keep on your radars, because he is starting to see more consistent minutes in the mid-20’s. If Kyle Lowry ever went down with an injury, Joseph eats up all of the minutes at the point.

Josh Richardson SG/SF MIA 38% Ownership: Richardson’s knee injury seems to be behind him as his speed up and down the court continues to improve and he is scoring consistently in double figures in recent games. As Richardson continues to heal, expect him to cut into Wayne Ellington’s playing time. He is very athletic and makes quick moves to the basket. Richardson can also hit the knockdown three. He has grabbed at least three rebounds in his last few games and is also good at hitting the cutter, even when that cutter is driving through traffic. Due to the Heat’s lack of identity on who their go-to scoring options are, the hot-hand could favor Richardson once he is truly at full-strength. His minutes should rise to the 30’s consistently within the next couple of weeks.

Joe Ingles SG/SF UT-5% Ownership: George Hill cannot shake the injuries and the Jazz continue to find ways to get defensive pressure off of Gordon Hayward. Ingles is also the top three-point shooter (48.4%) in the NBA and the Jazz have rewarded him with the piece of the offensive pie. Remember, without Derrick Favors, the Jazz have no inside threats meaning that all of their scoring has to come from the backcourt and midcourt and Ingles has scored in double figures in three straight games. Ingles has also earned his time from his defense. He recently posted a four-steal game and provides minor rebounding and assists help. His playing time has consistently been over 20 minutes since the start of December and has recently seen consistent minutes in the 30’s. Ingles poses a major threat on offense and allows the Jazz Guards the freedom to drive and kick the ball back out. It will be interesting to see how the shots are divided when Hill eventually returns, but for now, he wins categories for fantasy players so ride him.

Shelvin Mack PG UT-4% Ownership: Need another Jazz player who is benefitting from injuries? Mack has broken away from the pack and has been playing consistently in the late 20’s and has been producing on offense. Mack has scored in double figures in four of his last five games and he does so by both driving and taking long-range jumpers. Mack also has grabbed nine rebounds total in his last two games. He has at least one swipe in each of his last four games and has even dished five assists in three straight games. Even when George Hill returns, Mack should certainly see some run as the first guard off the bench. The Jazz shooters stay at different spots at the arc and that will benefit Mack by allowing him the opportunity to pad his assist stats on a per game basis. He is a safer pick up than Ingles (long term) and should still see ample playing time when the Jazz eventually return to full strength.

Austin Rivers G LAC-5% Ownership: The ultimate watch player of the week. Yes, he’s the Coach’s kid, but Daddy Doc has not made it easy for his son to get shot opportunities. When you are in the lineup with Jamal Crawford and JJ Redick, passing seems like the more logical option especially when running the point. After scoring in double figures in three straight games, and being a decent long rebounder, Rivers could be in line for more control of the offense. Rivers has the ability to score in consecutive possessions and he takes a lot of long-range jumpers. His minutes being consistently over 20 make him a good guy to keep an eye on. If any other guard gets hurt and has to miss a game or two, Rivers will get a ton more playing time. If he can keep his opposition in front of him and not get screened out, Daddy Doc will reward him with more playing time. Watch him for now, but if the scoring numbers rise, so should he on your own waiver wire depth charts.

WILD CARD PICK UP: Josh McRoberts PF/C MIA-1% Ownership: McRoberts has grit, plays aggressively inside and can hit from downtown. The Heat’s frontcourt consists of Hassan Whiteside and a whole lot of randomness. McRoberts in recent games has been seeing playing time right around 20 minutes per game. He has grabbed at least four rebounds in four of his last five games. Because the Heat lack consistency at PF, McRoberts role will certainly continue to grow. He often serves as a bailout option when the driver draws the double and the ball often gets kicked out to him for an open trey. McRoberts will sometimes fake the shot and make a quick pass inside and rewards owners as he has dished at least four assists in five of his last eight games. He has good instincts and hits the cutter often. Effective passing big men are hard to come by and McRoberts has every opportunity to succeed on this mess of Heat team.  

*Ownership percentages coutesy of Yahoo Sports