CONGRATS! You’ve made it to the home stretch of the fantasy basketball season. Remember to look at the last few waiver wire article’s as players previously listed over the last few weeks that can make a game-changing impact could still be available. Take it game by game at this point. Make sure you’re maximizing your production by making moves TODAY to put your roster in a position to have plenty of chances to win this weekend. It’s not about how your roster looks on paper at the end of the season. It’s about WINNING THAT TITLE! You have the skills, strategies, and you know what to look for in players stats that should make you want to grab them. GOOD LUCK AND DOMINATE!
Emmanuel Mudiay PG NY-33% Ownership: Mudiay has been very productive over the second half of the season and he’s been a multi-category producer. He has tremendous speed and he’ll be very helpful changing the pace. The Knicks don’t have a lot of scorers and Mudiay will be prioritized, especially with the second unit for the rest of the way. He’s scored over 20 points in 3 of his last 6 games. Mudiay has also grabbed four-plus board over his last six games. He turns the ball over a bit, but the assist production he provides will offset that. He’s coming off of a double-double. He’ll also help out with steals to a lesser extent. Mudiay has a long-range shooting game, but he see’s a lot more success when he drives. He’ll get to the rim and draw contact. Since returning from injury, he’s been playing deep into the games. Expect 30-35 minutes per game for the rest of the season.
Alex Len PF, C ATL-23% Ownership: Dewayne Dedmon ’s injury opens up more minutes for Len. The Hawks don’t have many supporting big men behind John Collins . Miles Plumlee is also hurt and Len should see playing time at both PF and C. Len has scored in double-figures in each of his last six games. He’s been helping stretch the floor and getting a lot of high-percentage three’s. He’s knocked down multiple three-pointers in his last four games. Teams forget to guard him at the key. He’ll often start in the post and pop out and defenders let him shoot. Len will also provide help with rebounding as well and more playing time will give him a chance to bang down low and produce. Len has also blocked shots in his last two games. Len doesn’t need a ton of minutes to produce so unless he’s in foul trouble, expect him to see minutes in the mid-20’s for the Hawks final few games.
Sterling Brown SG, SF MIL-7% Ownership: The Bucks continue to get hurt and they’ve had to rely on their bench players a ton down the stretch. Brown will see minutes that Tony Snell left behind. He’s been helpful in multiple categories and he’s been rewarded with more playing time lately. He’s played over 30 minutes in his last 2 games. Brown has scored in double-figures in four of his last five games. He’s a long-range scoring threat but he doesn’t stay exclusively at the arc. He’ll crash the boards as soon as the shot goes up. He’s grabbed five-plus boards in three of his last four games. He’s been helpful with steals and blocks lately as well producing in both categories in three of his last four games. The Bucks will want to be careful with Giannis Antetokounmpo over these next few games and that will benefit Brown and keep him on the court more.
Trey Burke PG DAL-7% Ownership: It’s uncertain whether or not Luka Doncic will get his minutes limited in the Mavs final few games as he has been nicked up, but, regardless, Burke is a volume scorer who doesn’t need a ton of time to produce. He’s 29 minutes or more in 2 of his last 3 games. He’s scored in double-digits in his last three games and he’s been helpful with assists. Burke will not only hit shots from long-range, but he’ll serve as the change of pace guard for the rest of the way. Burke has speed and he’s taken at least nine shots in his last three games. He should hover around 20 minutes of playing time over his next few games and the Mavs don’t have a lot of scoring options and with Tim Hardaway Jr. out, Burke will see part of that shot distribution. Doncic handles a lot by himself and Burke will often play the off-guard role, but he’ll be open when opposing defenses collapse on Doncic.
Josh Jackson SG, SF PHX-27% Ownership: Jackson has been very productive since returning from injury and if the Suns hold out Devin Booker for the rest of the season, he’ll likely be the prioritized scoring option. Deandre Ayton , T.J. Warren and Kelly Oubre Jr. are all hurt, in addition to Booker, and the Suns will need to rely on Jackson to handle the bulk of the scoring. He’s scored in double figures and played 30-plus minutes in his last 3 games. Jackson even had a five-block game two games ago and has blocked shots in two of his last three games. He’s also grabbed steals in his last two games. Jackson can hit three-pointers, but he is a more ferocious driver with plenty of explosiveness and that’s what he should focus on when it comes to scoring. Jackson will also help grab boards. He’ll grab a good amount of rebounds from the elbow. Expect Jackson to get more playing time, shots and even if he’s not hitting, the Suns will continue to feed him.
Maurice Harkless SF POR-18% Ownership: View Harkless like you would view Draymond Green when it comes to his production because it’s harder for Harkless to score in double figures consistently than producing blocks and steals. Harkless has scored in double figures in three of his last six games, but view that as an added bonus because he’s not the best shooter. He can hit long-range shots, but it won’t be consistent. Harkless will pull down boards and has grabbed four-plus boards in his last five games. He’ll provide minimal help with assists. As I said before, Harkless will provide plenty of help with blocks and steals. He’s a good on the ball defender. He’s grabbed steals in his last nine games. He’s good at reading through screens. Harkless has blocked shots in his last four games. Harkless should be able to see consistent minutes in the mid-20’s for the rest of the way.
Dion Waiters SG, SF MIA-18% Ownership: Waiters has been a scoring machine and more importantly, he’s seeing playing time in the late-30’s and Josh Richardson hurt himself in the Heat’s previous game. A lot of those minutes will go to Waiters. Waiters will hit multiple three-pointers consistently and he’s grabbed steals in four of his last five games. Waiters will give owners an added bonus as he’s grabbed three boards in three of his last six games. Expect Waiters to stay at the arc for the most part and wait to be fed. If Dwayne Wade or Goran Dragic are trapped, he’ll likely be open. Even with Justise Winslow back in the lineup, Waiters should still get plenty of minutes at both SG and SF. Waiters has surprisingly been helping dish assists over his last three games. He’s dished four-plus dimes in his last three games. Waiters should see double-digit shots in at least two of his last four games. The Heat play Minnesota and Brooklyn during that stretch and those are advantageous match ups for Waiters.
Richaun Holmes PF, C PHX-9% Ownership: It would be very stupid for the Suns to bring back Deandre Ayton once he’s healthy. Holmes has been in this position before and he’s proven that when he’s given the minutes, he’ll produce. He’s played an average of 31 minutes over his last 2 games. He’s a low-block specific center with good reach. Holmes has blocked shots in four of his last five games. He’s also pulled down at least nine boards in his last two games. Holmes has scored 13-plus points in his last 2 games. He’s good at finding ways to get to the basket. Even if Ayton plays, Holmes should get a true rotation commitment for the rest of the season. If Ayton is out of the picture, Holmes main competition for playing time (which he leads) will be Dragan Bender . Holmes is also a bit banged up himself and I urge you to pick up Bender if both he and Ayton for some reason are held out on Friday. Two of the final three games for the Suns are against non-playoff teams (Pelicans and Mavericks) and the Rockets don’t play good defense so he’s in line to be productive over the next few games.
Wayne Ellington SG, SF DET-25% Ownership: Ellington’s rotation spot with the Pistons is locked in for the rest of the season, but Blake Griffin being out benefits him because there are a lot of shots to go around and Ellington has benefited a good amount. If Griffin has to sit for another game or two, Ellington becomes the third scoring option behind the very offensively limited Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson (who will be competition for shots). Luke Kennard will also be taking more shots, but Ellington provides better defense and he’s been seeing minutes in the late-20’s-early 30’s and he’s scored 24-plus points in 3 of his last 4 games. Ellington has grabbed steals in three of his last four games. He’s been more helpful with producing boards. He’s grabbed four or more in his last three games. He’ll hit multiple three-pointers consistently.
WILDCARD PICK UP: Walt Lemon Jr. SF CHI-4% Ownership: The Bulls are very injured and they need help scoring and Lemon has taken 12-plus shots in his last 3 games. He’s more of a driver than jump shooter and he looks to score from mid-range. Lemon has scored 19 or more points in 2 of his last 3 games. Lemon has been very helpful defending the perimeter, producing three straight multi-steal games. Lemon will also help facilitate the offense as well and he’s good at making entry passes to the post and threading the needle on the drive. He has a quick pass and has dished five or more assists in the three games we’ve seen him in. Expect him to look to get open for mid-range jumpers and then fake the shot and pass the ball to a cutter. The scoring, assists, steals and most importantly his playing time of 29-plus minutes in three games in a row makes him a safe player to add. The Bulls roster is truly decimated.