For those in weekly leagues, please be aware that the following teams only play TWO games this week (March 21st to 27th): the LA Clippers, the Sacramento Kings, and the San Antonio Spurs. Try to avoid streaming fringe fantasy players on those teams as you probably won’t accumulate much volume this week.
The following are widely available players (by position) in ESPN leagues who can help you as we finish off the NBA’s regular season. The players below are all available in at least 70% of ESPN leagues. (All stats and numbers courtesy of ESPN.com, NBA.com, and Basketball-Reference.com. Thank you!)
Point Guard
-IMMANUEL QUICKLEY, NYK, PG, 8.3% ROSTERED, #44 Player Rater (PAST 15)
LAST 15: 15.3 Points Per Game, 6 Rebounds Per Game, 4.7 Assists Per Game, 1 Steal Per Game, 1.4 3-Pointers Made per game, 5th in minutes per game on the Knicks
Quickley’s been the 19th best PG on the Player Rater the past two weeks, and it’s easy to see why: those six boards per game are 8th best from the PG position during that span. 15-6-4 is a nice solid stat line, anyway, but Quickley could play more minutes down the stretch, if, IF, Coach Thibodeau deems the sophomore worthy of supplanting starter Alec Burks (don’t hold your breath, though, sigh). Regardless, Quickley’s delivered top 50 fantasy value recently, and you can’t just that sit on the waiver wire. I added Young Quick awhile ago, and don’t regret it. If you need help at the point, consider Quick.
-BONES HYLAND, DEN, PG, 7.2% ROSTERED, #91 PR15
LAST 15: 13.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1 SPG, 2.4 3PM
Hyland’s been sensational for the Nuggets recently, giving them scoring off the bench they desperately need. Bones is a rookie, but Denver can’t be picky at this stage of the season as they fight for playoff seeding. If Hyland can score, the Nuggets will let him. The four dimes is also nice to see. We’re starting out with a sophomore and a rookie, but these are the types of players who get to see run as the season winds down. Bones is FIFTH in shot attempts on the Nuggets the past two weeks, by the way, despite coming off the bench.
-PATRICK BEVERLEY, MIN, PG, 19.3% ROSTERED, #110 PR15
LAST 15: 11.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 Blocks Per Game, 2 3PM
PatBev’s been getting into it lately, but when healthy (and allowed to play) he’s been giving awesome fantasy combos of defensive stats in blocks and offensive stats in threes. Add in the boards and the dimes, and you really don’t care about the scoring, which will DEFINITELY go up and down, depending on the game. PatBev isn’t a must roster player, but he can be hella useful if he’s having a good one. Blocks from a point guard are always most welcome, especially at this time of year.
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
-BRANDON WILLIAMS, POR, PG, 6.2% ROSTERED (ESPN leagues)
LAST 15: 17.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.7 3PM
Anfernee Simons is now injured for the Blazers, so Brandon Williams is the starting point guard in Portland! Who? Exactly! No one’s paying attention to Portland, but this guy gets to run the Blazers for the rest of the season, possibly, so add him to your watch list or just pick him up immediately. He could sputter out or run into a rookie wall, but for now Williams is getting ample playing time and is in a tremendous position to provide awesome fantasy counting stats. (Don’t expect efficiency, though.) Williams is second in minutes for Portland the past two weeks.
Shooting Guard
-KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE, WAS, SG/SF, 19.5% ROSTERED, #53 PR15
LAST 15: 15.4 PPG, 4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.4 SPG, 2.1 3PM, FIRST IN MINUTES PER GAME ON THE WIZARDS THE PAST TWO WEEKS
KCP’s #85 on the player rater for the season, which means he’s been under-rostered basically all year. You can pick up a top 75 player recently, WHO’S PLAYING THE MOST MINUTES ON HIS TEAM, and he’s available in more than 80% of ESPN leagues. Don’t overthink this: Caldwell-Pope is still younger than 30 years old, he’s getting big time minutes, and he’s delivering extremely good fantasy value. There’s no reason not to pick him up if he’s available in your league, none.
-AYO DOSUNMU, CHI, SG/PG, 18.7% ROSTERED
LAST 15: 10.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, third in minutes per game on the Bulls the past two weeks
-ALEX CARUSO, CHI, PG/SG, 26.1% ROSTERED
LAST 15: 6.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1 3PM (in the four games back from injury)
Let’s talk about these two together since they’re both guards on the Bulls. Chicago’s been slipping in the standings recently, and their defense still needs an upgrade if they want to be taken seriously in the playoffs. Dosunmu and especially Caruso provide perimeter defense, so I think we can expect them to maintain minutes for the rest of the season. One or both of them should be on the court at all times, probably, especially since they’re not players who’ll take shots away from DeMar DeChozan or Zach LaVine or Nikola Vucevic. Patrick Williams is due back from his own lengthy injury absence, so that may diminish Ayo’s and Alex’s minutes somewhat, but they’re still both good streaming options as guards who can give you modest production, especially in defensive stats. Basically, just remember that they exist and they can helpful in fantasy.
Small Forward
-DARIUS BAZLEY, OKC, SF/PF, 23.3% ROSTERED, #71 PR15
LAST 15: 18.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 2.3 3PM, 51 FG%, 2nd in MPG on OKC the past two weeks
Bazley’s another widely available top 75 player on the waiver wire. Lu Dort and Josh Giddey are both out for the season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a bum ankle that may lead to him missing games or shutting it down, leaving Bazley as the leader of this young Thunder squad, perhaps for the remainder of the season. He’s second in minutes and shot attempts, behind only SGA, the past two weeks, and that should continue, or even improve to tops if Shai’s shut down. Bazley’s in a great position to provide volume in counting stats.
-DE’ANDRE HUNTER, ATL, SF/PF, 14.7% ROSTERED, #93 PR15
LAST 15: 16.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.9 3PM, third in MPG on Atlanta the past two weeks
Hunter may never turn into a 20+ points per game terror on the wing, but he’s been a solid player recently who’s giving you some nice all around counting stats. Nothing to wow you, but top 100 is top 100, and he’s easily streamed. He’s getting the minutes, here’s hoping he can deliver some volume in stat cats for us fantasy players.
-JONATHAN KUMINGA, GSW, SF/PF, 9.4% ROSTERED, #97 PR15
LAST 15: 14.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.4 3PM
Kuminga was fifth in MPG on the Warriors before Steph Curry got injured; will his role increase even more with Curry out? Kuminga’s a ROOKIE, remember, so if you’re in a dynasty league, you should be paying a LOT of attention to this young man. I think Jordan Poole will inherit most of Curry’s minutes and shots, but Kuminga has an important role to play on a Dubs team trying for the title again. 15 and 5 is nice to stream, at the very worst.
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Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
-HERBERT JONES, NOP, SF/PF, 15.5% ROSTERED, #102 PR15
LAST 15: 12.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1 3PM, 53 FG%
Young Herb’s #45 on the player rater for the entire season, due mainly to his capacity for steals and blocks, but also because he surprised with his scoring. Jones provided MUCH more in the point category than expected when we came into the season. He’s a rookie, and so he absolutely MUST be rostered in dynasty leagues. If Brandon Ingram remains out, then Jones’s role increases even more. He’s not a Matisse Thybulle-type, defensive stats only; Young Herb’s been a good all around fantasy player the entire season. Time to believe and buy in, especially if you need steals in the playoffs.
Power Forward
-TRENDON WATFORD, POR, PF, 15.7% ROSTERED, #45 PR15
LAST 15: FIRST IN MINUTES PER GAME FOR PORTLAND (!!!), 16.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 Blocks Per Game
Listen, top 50 is top 50, even if you don’t know who the person is. The Trailblazers are trying their damnedest to lose games, so they’re giving all the youths on their roster a chance to play. Watford and Eubanks (see below) are two of the main beneficiaries. If you’re FIRST in minutes on an NBA team, then fantasy players need to pay attention to you. 16-7-2 is solid production from a guy barely rostered. Watford and Eubanks are both starting, at the 4 and the 5, respectively, so their minutes and shots are safe for the remainder of the season. As fantasy players we’re looking for volume above all else at this stage of the season. Watford and Eubanks are giving us counting stats, even if no one’s paying attention.
-DREW EUBANKS, POR, PF, 6.7% ROSTERED, #70 PR15
LAST 15: 11.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.1 APG
Eubanks is the starting center for the Trailblazers. He’s fifth in minutes on Portland the past two weeks. He’s a young player getting ample opportunity to play and he’s delivering counting stats, like eight boards per game. Don’t overthink it, he’s been a top 75 player. He’ll eventually gain eligibility at center, but until then try to stream him in a utility spot if you don’t have room at PF or F. Rebounds are still extremely valuable in fantasy at this late stage of the season.
-KEVIN LOVE, CLE, PF, 30% ROSTERED, #76 PR15
LAST 15: 11.8 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.4 3PM
KLove’s the #100 player on the player rater for the season, and he’s been even better recently. The Cavaliers continue to lose players to injury, and Love continues to fill in the gaps. He’s getting Sixth Man minutes and shots, but he’s making the most of them, providing boards and threes in volume, which is a nice combination from the PF position. He’s also had two double-doubles in his last six games.
-PRECIOUS ACHIUWA, TOR, PF/C, 5.4% ROSTERED, #120 PR15
LAST 15: 12.3 PPG, 6 RPG, 1.7 3PM
Achiuwa is fifth in minutes on the Raptors the past two weeks. He’s basically their center now, which means he’s getting minutes and shots. He’s not going to give you defensive numbers, but he’s been good as a streamer if you need boards and a bit of scoring from your big positions. Certainly not a must add, but keep him on your watch list for plug and plays.
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Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images
-ALEKSEJ POKUSEVSKI, OKC, PF, 6.1% ROSTERED, #128 PR15
LAST 15: 12.7 PPG, 8 RPG, 3 APG
POKU! Just like last season, March and April are for Aleksej. He’s averaging the fifth-most minutes per game for the young Thunder as they play out the string, and anyone who can give you 8 boards per game is someone worth streaming, or even rostering if you’re desperate for the rebounds. Poku probably won’t have this kind of playing time again until next year when the Thunder are trying to tank at the end of the season, so enjoy the production while you can.
Center
-JAXSON HAYES, NOP, C/PF, 7.4% ROSTERED, #106 PR15
LAST 15: 11.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1 BPG
Pickins’ are slim at center, but Hayes (in his third year already) has been good recently, delivering modest but efficient production for a Pelicans squad still missing Zion Williamson. Hayes gets more minutes with Brandon Ingram out, so he’s in a good situation to provide counting stats. He’s averaging around 16 and 6 his last three games. If someone like Andre Drummond isn’t available in your league and you need to stream some at Center, remember Hayes.
-ALPEREN SENGUN, HOU, C, 9.1% ROSTERED
LAST 15: 10.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2 APG, 1.1 BPG
Sengun is a must roster player in dynasty leagues, in my opinion. The more playing time the rookie receives, the better he’s looked, and the more counting stats he’s provided. If the Rockets shut Christian Wood down and let Sengun take over the starting role, then his fantasy value will skyrocket. If you have the room on your roster, he’s a good opportunity grab, especially since Wood might not be on Houston next season.