Fantasy Basketball

A torn ligament in Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid's left hand will keep him out of the lineup for an undetermined period of time.  

Per Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic, the two-time All-Star is currently "evaluating his treatment options."

The 76ers will have to forge on without their franchise center for the time being, and two players stand out above the rest to fill his minutes: Kyle O'Quinn and Mike Scott.

O'Quinn is the more intriguing option of the two and deserves a deeper dive. He got the start the last time the 76ers played without Embiid in a 115-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 31. The former Norfolk State star had four points on 2-of-5 shooting, but he also chipped in with 10 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in his 26 minutes.

O'Quinn's fantasy value comes from his ability to contribute in a variety of ways. Of note, the big man has averaged 4.5 assists in the four contests during which he's played 15 or more minutes. 

Per RotoGrinders' CourtIQ tool, O'Quinn averages 1.14 DraftKings fantasy points per minute when Embiid is not on the floor.

There are a few knocks against his fantasy value sans Embiid.

First, the big man isn't going to soak up much usage even when afforded more court time. Most of the shots will still go to Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Al Horford when they are on the floor. The CourtIQ tool lists O'Quinn's usage at a below-average 16 percent without Embiid.

Second, it's hard to fathom O'Quinn playing much more than half a game at best. He's only averaged 10.3 minutes per game this season and has played more than 18 on just two occasions. He hasn't played more than 27 in any game this year.

And third, he has some competition in the form of Norvel Pelle, per head coach Brett Brown (h/t Justin Grasso of Sports Illustrated).

Ben Detrick, who has contributed to the New York Times and The Ringer, among other outlets, also posted this alarming stat with O'Quinn and point guard Ben Simmons on the floor:

if embiid is going to miss substantial time, philly needs to acquire a stretch 5. kyle o'quinn is a large bearded human, but lineups with him + simmons have been outscored by roughly 20 pts per 100 possessions pic.twitter.com/l3lCSBD12H

— Ben Detrick (@bdetrick) January 8, 2020

O'Quinn also isn't guaranteed a start when Embiid sits. Head coach Brett Brown has other options, including starting Furkan Korkmaz at shooting guard and bumping Tobias Harris to power forward.

He can also go with Mike Scott, which was the case in a 141-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 7. Scott was nearly automatic that night, scoring 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting in just 24 minutes.

The 31-year-old dominated the Cavs, but he's largely been quiet for much of the season, shooting just 41.6 percent from the field. He's posted 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per night.

Scott is not as productive as O'Quinn on a per-minute basis. RotoGrinders' CourtIQ tool has him getting 0.72 DraftKings points per minute without Embiid on the court.

On the plus side, Brown hasn't been shy about giving Scott minutes, as the forward has played 20 or more on 15 occasions this season. He's a regular member of the rotation (unlike O'Quinn), and playing time shouldn't be a problem.

Scott can also provide some help on the boards as he's grabbed four or more in seven of the 10 games in which he's played at least 21 minutes.

But he doesn't offer much in the steal and block categories, and the same goes for assists.

Overall, O'Quinn is the better fantasy option, and if he starts to see around 25 minutes of playing time, then he could rack up fantasy points quite quickly.

Scott is a possible season-long and daily option provided he gets starts, but his per-minute production makes O'Quinn the top choice here.

Now is the perfect time to collect paint players for your fantasy basketball squads. 

With Blake Griffin and Karl-Anthony Towns dealing with injuries, it is wise to dip into the power forward and center pools before the most effective streaming options are off the waiver wire. 

One of the best alternatives for the two stars is a teammate of Towns who has played well while the 24-year-old deals with a knee sprain. Towns has not played since December 18 despite being listed as questionable. 

According to Yahoo's Chris Haynes, Griffin is meeting with a specialist regarding his left knee and season-ending surgery is a possibility. 

With a potentially long layoff looming, it is smart to act now, if you have not already, to swoop up power forwards or centers who can help in the long term.

            

Week 12's Best Streaming Options

Gorgui Dieng, PF/C. Minnesota

Gorgui Dieng has been playing well with Towns out of the Minnesota Timberwolves starting lineup. 

On Sunday, he turned in one of his best performances of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

From December 18, the Louisville product owns nine double-digit point outings and has been on the court for at least 20 minutes. 

In two of his last three games, Dieng put up two of his top-four plus/minus totals of the season, as he was +20 versus Cleveland and +13 against the Golden State Warriors. 

His play dropped off a bit Tuesday in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, as he put up 11 points, four assists and two rebounds. 

Dieng has a chance to develop more consistency at home in the upcoming week, as the Wolves play three of their next four at Target Center, with a road trip to the Houston Rockets mixed in between. 

The 29-year-old averages six fewer points per game at home than on the road, but he has also played three fewer minutes. 

Those splits should even out in the coming weeks since Minnesota has played three more contests away from home since Towns has been shaken up. 

                     

Sekou Doumbouya, SF/PF, Detroit

If Griffin is out for an extended period, Sekou Doumbouya could take over his role in the Detroit Pistons lineup.

In the previous four games, the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NBA draft experienced an increase in minutes and scored over 10 points in each contest.

Before January 2, the rookie forward did not play more than 10 minutes in his seven appearances. 

He played 27 minutes in the first game of the new year against the Los Angeles Clippers and has since featured in over 33 minutes in each of the last three contests. 

The highlight of those four matchups was a 16-point, 10-rebound outing versus the Warriors January 4. 

Detroit's three-game homestand that begins Thursday could provide an additional boost to his totals since the Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans come to Little Caesars Arena. 

The Pistons also have a four-game home run to end January against a handful of weaker opponents, including the Memphis Grizzlies and one more meeting with the Cavs. 

If Doumbouya continues to impress in his new role, he might not be available in a week or two. 

Since he is trending in the right direction, he is worth the waiver-wide addition now before his stock rises more.

                  

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

NBA action on Christmas Day usually provides entertaining stocking-stuffers for casual fans, but what can fantasy owners find on the waiver wire at a time when gifts could come in abundance?

Early Wednesday, the Boston Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors 118-102, but the losing squad had a strong performance from a contributor off the bench. The versatile big man belongs on your radar. 

Two teams received encouraging news on stars recovering from both short- and long-term injuries. Still, those key playmakers' returns shouldn't keep you away from players who are either on the rise or steadily developing in bigger roles.

The Dallas Mavericks have a sharpshooter who's locked into a starting position. The Indiana Pacers continue to see a second-year guard make strides with more time on the court.

Check out the five deep sleepers below. They are owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and present solid short-term upside.

                 

PF/C Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors (29 percent owned) 

The Toronto Raptors have dealt with a rash of injuries in December. Center Marc Gasol (hamstring), forward Pascal Siakam (groin) and guard Norman Powell (shoulder) remain out and have all been sidelined since December 18.

In the meantime, head coach Nick Nurse has inserted Serge Ibaka into the starting lineup. Chris Boucher soaked up big minutes in two of the past four contests. The Oregon product brings significant upside, but he needs a consistent role to satisfy fantasy owners. 

Boucher has played 24-plus minutes twice since the Raptors lost key components to their rotation. He put together a solid performance against the Celtics on Wednesday, logging three triples, 24 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Fantasy managers may worry about Boucher's minutes fluctuating, but he's worth a look because of his rare combination of statistical contributions: triples, percentages, rebounds and blocks. While Gasol and Siakam are out, take a flier on the 27-year-old big man.

                 

SG/SF Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks (46 percent owned) 

The Dallas Mavericks could welcome Luka Doncic back to the lineup Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs, but the offense has a clear pecking order with or without him on the floor.

Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are the Nos. 1 and 2 options, while Tim Hardaway Jr. takes on the sharpshooter role. The seventh-year swingman is third on the team in points per game (13.6), and he's knocking down approximately 37 percent (.368) of his three-point attempts, which is a season high.

When Hardaway steps on the court with a hot hand, he could lead the team in scoring—even with Doncic on the floor. This season, in six contests, the 27-year-old has logged five or more triples.

Beyond points, triples and a high free-throw percentage, Hardaway doesn't provide much help in category leagues. But if you are looking for an immediate boost in the aforementioned statistics, grab him off the waiver wire. He's in a steady starting role, playing 26.2 minutes per game.

                 

SG/SF Troy Brown Jr., Washington Wizards (28 percent owned)

Troy Brown Jr. logged a career-high 26 points against the New York Knicks in his most recent outing. He's finished with double-digit scoring totals over the past six contests.

Although Brown comes off the bench, head coach Scott Brooks employs a fast-paced offense, which allows second-unit contributors to fill up the stat sheet. Believe it or not, the Washington Wizards average the third-most points per game (117.5).

The Wizards won't evaluate Otto Porter Jr.'s foot injury until mid-January, which frees up minutes for others. Brown has made the most of his additional opportunities, averaging 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a steal per game over the past two weeks.

More importantly, Brown's shooting percentages won't hurt you in category leagues. For the season, he's above 47 percent (.475) from the field and slightly over 78 percent at the free-throw line (.783).

     

SG Damion Lee, Golden State Warriors (15 percent owned)

Without its stars, specifically Splash Brothers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Golden Warriors need offensive firepower alongside D'Angelo Russell in the backcourt.

Head coach Steve Kerr plugged Damion Lee into the starting lineup December 15, and he's translated extra minutes into production. The third-year guard has finished with double-digit point totals in each of the last three outings.

In an upset Christmas victory over the Houston Rockets, Lee recorded 22 points, which included two triples and a perfect 10 of 10 shooting from the free-throw line, 15 rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

The Warriors' rotation has gone through several changes with forward Draymond Green subject to rest days and rookie forward Eric Paschall hampered because of a bruised hip. At 8-24, Kerr doesn't need to push injured players in a season that will likely end the Warriors' playoff streak. 

Yet, fantasy owners should grab Lee while he's starting to heat up. With a fluid lineup, the 27-year-old could hold on to a starting job, playing close to 30 minutes per game. The guard's combination of triples, points and rebounds could boost your roster in the second half of the season.

               

PG Aaron Holiday, Indiana Pacers (19 percent owned)

Midway through December, Aaron Holiday broke into the Indiana Pacers' backcourt rotation, playing more than 20 minutes in every game over the past two weeks. As a dominant ball-handler, he's been able to rack up assists to go along with his double-digit point totals in seven consecutive contests.

Holiday finished with career highs in triples (five) and assists (10) against the Raptors on Monday. Also note, Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) didn't suit up for that contest.

Still, owners should take a flier on Holiday since he's played more than 30 minutes in each of the past four games. He's gained head coach Nate McMillan's trust in closing minutes, which says a lot about the guard's maturity.

Over the past two weeks, Holiday has averaged 2.3 triples, 15.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Victor Oladipo has his sights set on a late-January return. So in the meantime, pick up Holiday while he's carved out a steady role in the backcourt. Fantasy managers should be intrigued by his recent uptick in minutes.

Guys are getting hurt around the NBA and the waiver wire has some interesting reinforcements. In the past couple of weeks, regular contributors like Karl Anthony-Towns, Mike Conley and Pascal Siakam have missed action with injuries. Popular waiver pickups Eric Paschall, Norman Powell and Luke Kennard have also started missing contests.

In shallower leagues, you may be able to snag upsurging players like Dennis Schroder (69 percent owned), Tomas Satoransky (61 percent owned) or Kevin Huerter (43 percent owned). But, in deeper leagues you'll have to get more creative.

If you just need a spot-start for Week 10, you can prioritize players from the following teams who each play four games: the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors. 

Only considering players owned in under 33 percent of Yahoo leagues, here are the top pickups for Week 10 of fantasy basketball. Since we covered Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter and Kevin Knox last week, we'll analyze three other especially appealing adds for Week 10: Gorgui Dieng, Chris Boucher and Troy Brown

              

• PG Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (20 percent owned)
• PG D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic (29 percent owned)
• SG/SF Kent Bazemore, Portland Trail Blazers (27 percent owned)
• SG/SF Troy Brown, Washington Wizards (13 percent owned)
• SF De'Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks (31 percent owned)
• SF/PF Kevin Knox, New York Knicks (5 percent owned)
• SF/PF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Toronto Raptors (13 percent owned)
• PF/C Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors (18 percent owned)
• PF/C Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves (12 percent owned)

                  

SG/SF Troy Brown, Washington Wizards (13 percent owned)

Maybe John Wall is too talented a leader. Going into Week 10, every Wizard seems insistent on joining him in missing games. Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura, Davis Bertans and Isaiah Thomas are all sidelined for Washington—the former three because of injuries, the latter because of a two-game suspension for arguing with a fan.

This leaves even more playing time and shots for Troy Brown, who has responded by scoring double-digit points in five consecutive games after bookending a 22-point performance with four-point duds. 

With minutes in place, Brown has upside as a scorer who doesn't have many turnovers and will chip in decent rebounding, three-point and steal numbers while shooting relatively well from the field and charity stripe.  

                 

PF/C Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors (18 percent owned)

Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam are both out indefinitely with injuries for the Raptors, so frontcourt volume is available—most notably for Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. The former's upside is infinite, so that makes him the more appealing pickup.

On Sunday, the lanky Montreal product put up 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and four blocks on 50 percent shooting in Toronto's huge comeback against the Dallas Mavericks. Twenty-four minutes of action was Boucher's second-most this season, but he asserted himself over Serge Ibaka in the rotation enough to warrant adding across leagues.

The former Oregon Duck may be known as the Swatter Boy, but his upside isn't just limited to defensive categories. He has real three-point range (having hit three-of-five from deep against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 11) and is comfortable at the line, meaning dangerous upside for a big man while Siakam and Gasol miss time. 

                 

PF/C Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves (12 percent owned)

Simpler than Boucher's potential for volume, Gorgui Dieng slots in as Minnesota's starting center and should continue to be productive for as long as KAT is out. In three starts since the superstar big went down, Dieng has averaged 28 minutes per game, during which he's averaged 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. 

Dieng has also averaged 2.7 made threes over that span, a noteworthy addition for a guy who has averaged just 0.4 attempts from deep through his career. 

On Saturday, he played 36 minutes in Minnesota's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and filled the sheet with 15 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and three threes while shooting 100 percent from the line. He's not the flashiest pickup, and KAT should be back sooner rather than later, but Dieng gets the job done and does have some upside if he can continue knocking down some threes and getting the occasional block or two. 

We are in the thick of the NBA season, and there are injuries aplenty. Some fantasy contributors are out, while others have lost value with the return of rehabilitated players. 

Maybe you lost Mike Conley to his hamstring injury or the return of Marvin Bagley has dented your Richaun Holmes pickup. Whatever the case, we've got a variety of waiver presents to consider moving into the holiday season—with three particularly notable deeper adds.

For those of you in shallower leagues, consider players like Luke Kennard (67 percent owned), Isaiah Thomas (43 percent owned) and Dillon Brooks (36 percent owned), who are each playing, and scoring, well as starters. Kevin Huerter (37 percent owned) also returned as a starter and has serious upside. Finally, Dennis Schroder (65 percent owned) and Norman Powell (53 percent owned) are both eager bucketeers who have been getting a run with their teams' second units. 

As for those of you in deeper leagues, the three most interesting pickups owned in under 33 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues are Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter and Kevin Knox. 

                     

PG Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (20 percent owned)

Like your favorite rom-com, Garland has been, and continues to be, a "will they, won't they?" storyline. The fifth pick of this year's draft, Garland is an inconsistent, raw point guard—but his moments of flash are dazzling. Those moments are enough to keep him in mind as the season progresses.

In December, Garland has only scored double-digit points in three of nine games and only shot better than 37.5 percent from the field twice. That floor is rocky, to say the least. But his leash is loose, and 28.4 minutes per game over that span is encouraging.

More encouraging is that Garland is finally hitting some threes and landing some assists. Over his past four games, he is averaging 2.3 threes and hasn't had a game with under five assists. He doesn't get to the line much, but he is shooting 86.2 percent from the stripe when he does this season. 

The Cavaliers are a mess, as Garland has certainly contributed to, but his opportunity should continue, and the 19-year-old is talented enough to keep an eye on as he acclimates to his new workplace.

                   

SF De'Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks (32 percent owned)

A more polished rookie, Hunter has shown exactly what we saw from him as a collegian. The 6'7" 22-year-old is long, mobile, strong and in possession of a comfortable looking jumper. Like Garland, he has also been inconsistent and unable to assert himself at will.

Hunter is also averaging 31.8 minutes per game this season and seems to be one of the lone, steady fixtures on a chaotic, middling Hawks team. Rebounds, assists and defensive stats have been rare for the rookie to find, but he's had his moments as a contributor.

Against the Miami Heat on December 10, Hunter played 40 minutes and pitched in 28 points (with five threes), four rebounds, three assists and one block on 64.7 percent shooting from the field. He is likely to remain involved for heavy minutes all season, so once the game slows down, his production should become more consistent. 

Consider Hunter similar to Garland but with a higher floor because of his role and a lower ceiling because of the latter's potential. 

                    

SF/PF Kevin Knox, New York Knicks (5 percent owned)

Does it hurt that Knox is a sophomore and his evaluation is strikingly similar to Hunter's? A little bit.

Knox has every tool. He is a 6'7" bulldog with a pretty jump shot, surprising bounce and the touch and handle you don't usually see from a prospect with his build. But at 20 years old, maybe he is proof that we should not assume the game will slow down anytime soon for Garland or Hunter.

After playing 28.8 minutes per game and starting 57 contests as a rookie, Knox found himself in David Fizdale's doghouse and relegated to just 19.9 minutes and three starts this season. That restraint has not helped much, as his field-goal percentage only increased by 1 percent (to 38 percent) while both his points and rebounds per 36 minutes dropped. 

Instead of learning from Marcus Morris Sr., Knox seemed demoralized and remained a wild card, just in spottier minutes. But Fizdale is gone, and the Knicks are a new team. Knox's minutes have risen in each of the past four games, leading up to a 24-minute stretch against the Hawks on Tuesday that meant 17 points (including three threes) on 50 percent shooting, two rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block. 

If his minutes continue rising, then his production should, too. Knox could end up playing the role for a resurgent Knicks team that fans of talent thought he would.

We're nearly two months into this NBA season and both the real-life and fantasy basketball standings are starting to even out. There are the top-tier squads, the middling teams, and the clubs that have already given up on the season. 

However, moving up the standings is a bit easier in fantasy basketball. With the right marginal roster moves, going from sixth to second in your league can happen in a matter of weeks.

Here, we've spotlighted five "hidden gems" who can help you pick up a win this week. These are players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo Fantasy Basketball leagues but, due to a variety of factors, are in prime position to be big fantasy scorers in Week Nine. 

Let's take a look at these potential diamonds in the rough.

       

Dillon Brooks, SG, Memphis Grizzlies (31 percent owned)

Week 8 Stats: 22.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 49.2 FG%, 38.5 3PT%, 88.9 FT%

Week 9 Schedule: 12/16 vs. MIA, 12/18 @ OKC, 12/20 @ CLE, 12/21 vs. SAC

As his stat line suggests, Brooks hasn't been doing a whole lot other than scoring for Memphis recently, but he's been doing that exceptionally well. The only three players who have matched his Week 9 combination of points per game and efficiency over this whole season are potential All-Stars: Brandon Ingram, Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Expect Brooks to continue his hot shooting into the upcoming week. Ja Morant is likely to sit out one half of Memphis' back-to-back, plus half of the Grizzlies' four opponents this week—Cleveland and Sacramento—have fairly porous perimeter defenses. With Morant possibly out of commission for a whole game and Jaren Jackson Jr. having an inconsistent sophomore season, pick up Brooks if you want Memphis' Week 9 leading scorer on your roster.

     

Terence Davis, SG, Toronto Raptors (1 percent)

Week 8 Stats: 4.0 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 0.7 SPG, 25.0 FG%, 22.2 3PT%, 100.0 FT%

Week 9 Schedule: 12/16 vs. CLE, 12/18 @ DET, 12/20 vs. WAS, 12/22 vs. DAL

Obviously, Davis had a rough Week 8. But don't let those three games deter you from picking him up, because the undrafted rookie was absolutely balling throughout November. 

From November 2 through December 1, Davis averaged 8.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on 53.5 percent overall shooting, 45.7 percent three-point shooting and 88.9 percent free-throw shooting. And this week, he and the Raptors face the Cavaliers, Pistons and Wizards, none of whom rank better than 19th in the NBA in defensive rating and all of whom rank 12th or worse in opponent field-goal percentage.

This easier stretch benefits all the major Raptors, but Davis is primed to be a specific beneficiary because starting shooting guard Fred VanVleet is sidelined with a knee contusion, and his status for the upcoming week is unknown as of right now. If VanVleet doesn't play this week, Davis is in line for more minutes, so he should be picked up for those in need of scoring efficiency and assists.

       

Donte DiVincenzo, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (10 percent)

Week 8 Stats: 9.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 58.3 FG%, 44.4 3PT%, 100.0 FT%

Week 9 Schedule: 12/16 vs. DAL, 12/19 vs. LAL, 12/21 @ NYK, 12/22 vs. IND

With a fibula fracture sidelining Eric Bledsoe for the next several weeks, the Bucks will turn to Donte DiVincenzo as their starting point guard. That shouldn't be a major downgrade, though. The Big Ragu has been one of the best bench players in the entire NBA this season. 

DiVincenzo contributes on both ends of the court, averaging 8.8 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and swiping 1.5 steals per game this year on defense, splits matched only by a who's who of the league's best two-way players. He's even spelled Bledsoe for minutes at times this year due to his high basketball IQ, though his assist numbers aren't especially noteworthy.

Milwaukee has a difficult schedule this week that will put its 18-game winning streak to the test several times. This stretch is highlighted by that much-hyped Thursday night showdown with the Lakers. If they are to go undefeated this week, they'll need DiVincenzo's contributions nearly as much as Giannis Antetokounmpo's or Khris Middleton's. Claim him for scoring efficiency and steals.

        

Jerami Grant, PF, Denver Nuggets (27 percent)

Week 8 Stats: 12.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 BPG, 46.2 FG%, 54.5 3PT%

Week 9 Schedule: 12/18 vs. ORL, 12/20 vs. MIN, 12/22 @ LAL

Though a trade from Oklahoma City to Denver ostensibly demoted him from a starting forward to the bench, Jerami Grant has seemed nonplussed by the change. He's playing as well as he ever has.

Grant's Week 8 numbers are a little better than average for this season, but he's averaging career highs in points, assists and defensive rebounds per 36 minutes so far. Obviously, fantasy stats don't exist on a per-minute basis, but those stats matter because Grant may get a big minutes bump this week.

As of right now, starting power forward Paul Millsap is sidelined with a quad injury and may be out for Denver's upcoming three games. If that is the case, Grant will be called up into the starting lineup and could be a fantasy boon for those in need of three-point shooting, blocks or steals.

       

Landry Shamet, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (11 percent)

Week 8 Stats: 11.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 80.0 FG%, 75.0 3PT%

Week 9 Schedule: 12/17 vs. PHO, 12/19 vs. HOU, 12/21 @ SAS, 12/22 @ OKC

In the same way that Davis' poor Week 8 stats shouldn't be considered representative of his season, don't overrate Shamet's red-hot shooting against Chicago last Saturday. That was just his first game since returning from a month-long absence, but he's not going to get eased back in. A host of Clipper injuries have immediately elevated Shamet's role.

Both Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams are out with a concussion and calf strain, respectively, while Kawhi Leonard will only play half of the Clippers' back-to-back this weekend. This leaves Paul George, Shamet, Rodney McGruder and Terance Mann as Los Angeles' backcourt for the week, so the sophomore guard is virtually guaranteed lots of playing time and a big role against some bad defenses.

Of the four teams the Clippers play this week, only the Thunder are a top-15 defense this season per net rating, so expect Shamet to continue raining threes, though perhaps not quite at the clip he shot against the Bulls last weekend.  

Fantasy basketball owners with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo on their rosters may have to look down different avenues for production in the coming days.

The superstar was held out of Milwaukee's Wednesday night contest with New Orleans because of right leg soreness, per Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

If the Bucks erred on the side of caution Wednesday, they could do the same for back-to-back clashes with Memphis and Cleveland. 

Out in Portland, one of the two Trailblazers tasked with replacing Rodney Hood appears to be a decent fantasy basketball addition. 

After Hood suffered a season-ending injury Friday, second-year guard Anfernee Simons has experienced an uptick in playing time, which has come with a chance to produce higher totals. 

Simons and Kent Bazemore appear to be the early beneficiaries of the hole in Portland's lineup, but the 20-year-old has done more with his opportunity over two contests. 

                     

Waiver-Wire Advice

Ersan Ilyasova, F, Milwaukee

With Antetokounmpo out of the lineup, Ersan Ilyasova slid into a more productive role and put up 18 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday. 

Ilyasova was one rebound away from a double-double, and he went 8-for-10 from the field as the Bucks scored 127 points. 

The 32-year-old has four consecutive double-digit scoring performances, but the difference between the previous three contests and Wednesday was the minutes increase. 

The victory over the Pelicans marked the first time since November 2 that he was on the court for over 20 minutes. 

With Memphis and Cleveland ahead on the weekend slate, the Bucks could continue to display caution with their star player and hold him on the sidelines. 

The 22-3 Bucks should be able to down two opponents with 13 combined wins short-handed, and if that is the case, Ilyasova may continue to play more. 

Even when Antetokounmpo returns, Ilyasova might be worth keeping as a bench option.

Since November 27, the forward has seven 10-point outings and he has at least six rebounds in four of those contests. 

             

Anfernee Simons, G, Portland

Simons recorded his third-best scoring total of the season in Tuesday's win over the New York Knicks. 

In two games since Hood's injury, the 20-year-old has 23 points, eight rebounds and three steals. 

His performances have been much better than Bazemore from a fantasy perspective, as the new starter in Portland only had four points versus the Knicks on 1-for-5 shooting. 

After visiting Denver and Phoenix, the Blazers conclude December with six of seven games at home. 

The first part of that homestand includes meetings with Golden State, Orlando and New Orleans, which could lead to more production from Simons. 

In his three last games, he has shot 50 percent from the field, and in two of them, he made at least a trio of three-pointers. 

If Simons extends that shooting accuracy into the next few weeks, he could be an option to mix in on a regular basis in your lineup. 

If anything, the opportunity will be there all season, so he is worth the addition now before others take notice.

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

Whether sporadically surfacing in the form of "load management" or lingering much longer with a serious ailment, the injury bug is playing a supersized role in the NBA's 2019-20 season.

It's the same story in the fantasy basketball realm.

Injuries have thinned the field in some cases but also added to it by awakening sleepers with newfound opportunities. Health is one of the biggest drivers behind our Week 8 lineup guide.

The other is volume potential. While most of the Association plays three (10 teams) or four games (16), the Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Wizards suit up just two times apiece. Remember at least that last part when locking in your weekly lineup.

                  

Start: JJ Redick, SG, New Orleans Pelicans

When the Pelicans went to work reshaping their franchise around Zion Williamson this summer, JJ Redick seemed like the perfect complementary piece. As a sharpshooter and winner, the veteran had myriad ways he could assist the rookie.

But New Orleans' season has veered off course due to injuries—Williamson's next NBA game will be his first—which has repurposed Redick's role. He's seen more spotlight than expected (eight games with 32-plus minutes) and thrived when asked to do more.

If the 35-year-old logs 30 minutes, as he has in 10 of his last 13 games, he's probably going to look like a star. In those contests, he's averaged a whopping 20.5 points on 46.0 percent shooting, 4.5 threes, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

With no major threats for floor time, Redick should continue running wild.

Pressed into a massive role by injuries and some underwhelming efforts around him, Redick has rebounded from a rocky start to become a fantasy juggernaut once again. The Pels play four times this week, including against the 20th-ranked defense (Detroit) and the league's leader in pace (Milwaukee).

                 

Sit: Jeff Teague, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

While typically a solid producer, Jeff Teague is continuing a long enough decline that it's fair to wonder if Father Time is gaining on the 31-year-old.

He's not a regular starter for the first time since his sophomore season. His minutes are as low as they've been in four years. He's lost more than one assist per game from last year (7.1, down from 8.2), and he's attempting his fewest shots since 2010-11.

He's a good passer and a solid free-throw shooter, but his numbers don't distinguish themselves in other categories.

In the right week, he's worth a start. This isn't that week. The Timberwolves only play three times, two of which come against super-talented defensive teams in the Clippers and Jazz.

                  

Add: Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Orlando Magic

As a streaky shooter prone to brain lapses in the shot-selection department, Terrence Ross isn't always the prettiest scorer. But the Magic are so starved for scoring, they'll take whatever he can give.

They need the 28-year-old now more than ever with Al-Farouq Aminu knocked out by a torn meniscus and Nikola Vucevic still fighting a nagging ankle injury.

Ross has mostly answered the bell. Over his last seven outings, he's gone for 19-plus in four of them. Altogether, he's averaging 16.9 points on 48.8 percent shooting and 2.4 triples in this stretch.

All of those numbers could climb this week. Orlando plays four times and draws the teams ranked first (Milwaukee), second (Houston) and fifth (New Orleans) in pace of play.

                  

Drop: Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks

It feels funny following Ross with Tim Hardaway Jr., since there's a double Spider-Man meme resemblance to their games.

But Hardaway has been more down than up of late. Even with Sunday's 29-point, nine-triple outburst, he's still had 14 points or less in five of his last seven games. He had single digits in three of them and one or no triples in four.

Unless you're a huge believer in momentum—his game log says you shouldn't be, since his last 20-plus-point performance was followed by an eight-point dud—there are no reasons to believe the 27-year-old is on the brink of finding consistency.

The Mavs only play twice this week. One comes against Miami's seventh-ranked defense. Unless you're in a deep league and desperate for offense, it's fine to move on from Hardaway, even during the afterglow of his big night.

We may have been distracted by the little one in The Mandalorian, but "Skywalker" has now stormed back into fantasy basketball's collective consciousness. The San Antonio Spurs did not need the high ground to outduel the Houston Rockets on Tuesday; they just needed a 28-point performance from Lonnie Walker IV. 

While Walker had a big night, he is not the only waiver-wire player worth considering as of Wednesday. His  teammate Jakob Poeltl and the Toronto Raptors' Norman Powell have each enticed a few raised eyebrows over the past week.

With an eye toward category leagues, here are some of the most interesting waiver-wire targets owned in under 33 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues, followed by analysis of three top pickups. No players really emerged as permanent standouts, but they do warrant consideration as streamers or for upside.

                   

Waiver-Wire Targets

• PG Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (22 percent owned)
• PG/SG/SF Jarrett Culver, Minnesota Timberwolves (15 percent owned)
• SG Lonnie Walker IV, San Antonio Spurs (4 percent owned)
• SG/SF Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors (31 percent owned)
• SG/SF/PF Duncan Robinson, Miami Heat (23 percent owned)
• C Jakob Poeltl, San Antonio Spurs (15 percent owned)

                         

SG/SF Norman Powell, Toronto Raptors (31 percent owned)

Powell is the top pickup right now. His production is bound to fall off, but you may as well ride the hot hand. With Kyle Lowry's minutes opened up while he recovered from a thumb fracture, Powell stepped in and went to work. 

Over the 11 games Lowry missed, Powell played 31 minutes per game and averaged 15.8 points, 2.2 threes, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks on 48.1 percent shooting from the field and 88.0 percent from the line. Getting points, threes and free-throw percentage from an injury streamer is nice, but Lowry's return on December 3 was encouraging for Powell.

While Lowry played 41 minutes in his first game back, Powell still played 34 (many in lieu of OG Anunoby) and put up 23 points, eight rebounds and four threes on 57.1 percent shooting from the field. Stormin' Norman is certainly feeling it right now, and fantasy managers should be able to keep running him out there as long as Nick Nurse is willing to. 

                       

SG Lonnie Walker IV, San Antonio Spurs (4 percent owned)

In 32 career opportunities, Lonnie Walker IV has played 7.3 minutes per game. He's played over 20 minutes in a game just twice, including Tuesday's 35-minute outing. Walker's minutes are likely to drop back down to earth, in the maze of Gregg Popovich's inclinations, but his upside is clear.

With Marco Belinelli and LaMarcus Aldridge injured and Dejounte Murray continuing to struggle, Walker stepped in and single-handedly outscored the Rockets 19-18 in the fourth quarter of the Spurs' double-overtime victory. To go along with 28 points, he had four threes, four rebounds, three assists and one block on 55.6 percent shooting from the field. 

Steady minutes should not be expected just yet and nor should short-term production, as the Spurs only play two games over the next nine days. But San Antonio does need a spark, and Popovich is likely to give Walker some more of the minutes typically played by Belinelli, Murray, Bryn Forbes, Derrick White and Patty Mills. As a versatile 6'5" scorer, he could capitalize on whatever bits and pieces of opportunity he receives and then establish himself in San Antonio's rotation—making him a high-upside waiver target to monitor.

                    

PG/SG/SF Jarrett Culver, Minnesota Timberwolves (15 percent owned)

This is an experimental pickup. While Jarrett Culver's ceiling has felt astronomical since college, his floor has always been an enigma. And that didn't change once he was moved into the starting lineup instead of Jeff Teague as some sort of quasi-/co-point guard alongside Andrew Wiggins.

At 6'7" and 20 years old, Culver is raw but possesses versatility, a fun jumper and enough hunger as a scorer to have made his Texas Tech Red Raiders must-watch tournament entertainment. Over his last five games, he has averaged 11.8 points, 1.2 threes, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. For such an unrefined prospect, those are encouraging numbers.

Less encouraging are his shooting splits. Over that same span, Culver has shot 36.5 percent from the field (including 26.1 percent from three) and 53.8 percent from the line. The kid is nowhere near polished, but there's some sparkle in there and, with 26.2 minutes per game over his last 15, he's getting the opportunity to start shining. 

He's not worth adding right now, but if the game slows down for him and his shooting rates go up, supplementing his well-rounded stats with those scoring, threes and shooting efficiency increases will make him a must-add. 

We're getting further and further into this latest NBA season, and just like real coaches and general managers, fantasy basketball owners are looking for the latest and greatest competitive advantages.

Most fantasy teams have relatively equal top-line talent (at least in snake draft leagues), so like in the real NBA, making a serious run at contention will usually come down to moves around the margins. 

Here, we've ranked 10 potential sleepers for the Week 7 slate and examined four of them to explain why they're particularly tantalizing low-end pick-ups. They are ranked considering a blend of their immediate and long-term upside in head-to-head, category-based leagues. 

These 10 players are defined as sleepers because they are owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo fantasy basketball leagues.

        

Week 7 Sleepers

1. Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Dallas Mavericks (40% owned)

2. DeAndre Hunter, SF, Atlanta Hawks (35%)

3. Markelle Fultz, PG, Orlando Magic (42%)

4. Darius Garland, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers (20%)

5. Jaxson Hayes, C, New Orleans Pelicans (12%)

6. Garrett Temple, SG, Brooklyn Nets (14%)

7. Keita Bates-Diop, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves (3%)

8. Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Milwaukee Bucks (13%)

9. Marquese Chriss, PF, Golden State Warriors (13%)

10. Duncan Robinson, SG, Miami Heat (12%)

        

Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Dallas Mavericks

Week 6 Averages: 21.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.3 SPG, 52.5 FG%, 50.0 3PT%

Week 7 Schedule: 12/3 @ NOP, 12/4 vs. MIN, 12/7 vs. NOP, 12/8 vs. SAC

       

Much of the hype surrounding the Dallas Mavericks thus far has deservedly centered around 20-year old wunderkind Luka Doncic, but the Mavericks wouldn't be 12-6 with the best offense in the NBA if he didn't have some help. 

Specifically, Hardaway Jr. has been on fire over his last five games, averaging 20.2 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while Dallas has gone 4-1 in that stretch. Sure, they played the Warriors, Cavaliers and Suns in that time, all of whom struggle on defense, but he also matched up against the Rockets and Clippers, two teams with stellar defenses. 

This next week, the Mavericks take on the Pelicans (twice), Timberwolves and Kings, three mid-tier Western Conference teams with middling-to-bad defenses. Expect Hardaway to continue his hot shooting ways.

        

Markelle Fultz, PG, Orlando Magic

Week 6 Averages: 15.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 52.8 FG%, 33.3 3PT%

Week 7 Schedule: 12/3 @ WAS, 12/4 vs. PHO, 12/6 @CLE

          

Yes, it's true. Markelle Fultz is back.

Now, Fultz is nowhere near the level we expect of a former top pick in his third season, but if you think of him as a rookie still figuring things out with a new and improving jumper, then he's on a great trajectory thus far.

The former Sixer has scored in double figures in seven straight games, shot over 50 percent in four of those games, and, most importantly, he's shooting a reasonable 33 percent from three since November 15th. 

Against guards like Isaiah Thomas, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Devin Booker this week, Fultz will likely continue to eat on offense and be disruptive on defense. Pick him up if you need points, rebounds, assists, steals or overall scoring efficiency. 

       

Jaxson Hayes, C, New Orleans Pelicans

Week 6 Averages: 8.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 55.6 FG%

Week 7 Schedule: 12/3 vs. DAL, 12/5 vs. PHO, 12/7 @ DAL

         

After declaring for the NBA Draft as a freshman, Jaxson Hayes was expected to be a raw rookie who struggled greatly early on in his career. Well, he's well on his way to conquering this learning curve with ease. 

Thanks to a bevy of early-season injuries in New Orleans, Hayes has been given ample playing time and is already making the most of it. He's started the last seven Pelicans games, most of which have been against formidable Western Conference opponents, and has averaged 9.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals over that time while shooting 53.3 percent from the field. 

As players like Zion Williamson and Derrick Favors return to the court over the next few weeks, Hayes' role will be diminished. But as an energy big this week against the likes of Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber in Dallas and Aron Baynes and Frank Kaminsky in Phoenix, he should be able to put up solid numbers across the board. 

    

Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Milwaukee Bucks

Week 6 Averages: 9.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 41.2 FG%

Week 7 Schedule: 12/2 vs. NYK, 12/4 @ DET, 12/6 vs. LAC

      

After an injury-plagued rookie season, Donte DiVincenzo has burst on to the scene for the Milwaukee Bucks in his second campaign. 

He's not a starter, but The Big Ragu has arguably been Milwaukee's best bench player thus far this year, scoring in double figures in seven of his last nine games and playing over 20 minutes in nine games of an 11-game winning streak. 

DiVincenzo is also an unusually good rebounder for a 6'4" guard (5.5 per game in four games last week) and defends hard. He'll undoubtedly be a key part of all three Bucks games this week, especially their prime-time clash with the Clippers on Friday night. If you're in need of spark-plug scoring or an extra infusion of defensive stats, the former NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player is worth a look.