Fantasy Basketball

As NBA head coaches feel out their rosters and tweak lineups because of injuries, young talents have a chance to take advantage of expanded minutes. Some veterans use new opportunities to re-establish themselves.

The Orlando Magic will move forward without All-Star center Nikola Vucevic for multiple weeks, but the coaching staff will be able to take a closer look at a top-10 pick from the 2018 draft. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have already turned the reins over to a rookie in the starting lineup, and he's worth a look for fantasy owners ready to drop the last man on their rosters. 

The Houston Rockets' fast-paced offense is fantasy-friendly for efficient shooters. With Eric Gordon out, the next man has stepped up. 

We'll highlight four players who are on the waiver-wire radar as deep sleepers owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Thursday 1 a.m.

         

C Mohamed Bamba, Orlando Magic (20 percent owned)

Since Vucevic went down with an ankle injury and bone bruise, Khem Birch and Mohamed Bamba have picked up more minutes in the Magic's frontcourt. While the former hasn't done anything notable, the latter knocked down five triples against the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday. 

More importantly, Bamba logged a season-high 22 minutes in the last outing, which indicates head coach Steve Clifford may slightly lift the big man's minutes restriction if he's effective. The versatile 7-footer also has at least two blocks in four consecutive games.

During his rookie campaign, the 21-year-old suffered a stress fracture in his left tibia, so the Magic may exercise caution with him, but 20-25 minutes is all he needs to rack up rebounds, blocks and a sprinkle of three-pointers.

Bamba offers a rare combination in category leagues and deserves a look on the waiver wire while Vucevic is out.

                      

PF/C Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets (3 percent owned) 

Center Cody Zeller went into Wednesday's contest with a probable tag because of a hip injury, but he didn't suit up against the Detroit Pistons. Instead, Bismack Biyombo logged a start, and he didn't disappoint, registering 19 points, nine rebounds, an assist and two blocks in 34 minutes.

Before Zeller sat out, his minutes trended in the wrong direction. He played more than 20 minutes twice over the last five contests. Based on track records, Biyombo is the better rim protector; the ninth-year veteran averages 1.4 blocks per game for his career.

Head coach James Borrego seemed frustrated with the Hornets starting lineup Tuesday, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. 

"You have to value your time on the floor. This isn't a God-given right to step on the floor and just go through the motions," he said.

If Biyombo continues to give the Hornets a defensive boost in the paint, he could maintain his spot in the starting lineup or at least justify playing up to 25 minutes per contest. That's good enough to keep him on a roster for rebounds, blocks and high field-goal percentages.

                         

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

The Timberwolves made a change to their starting lineup, moving point guard Jeff Teague to the second unit and inserting rookie Jarrett Culver into the opening group. According to The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski, the swap will stick for the foreseeable future. 

The Timberwolves selected Culver with the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, so it's not a surprise to see him in an expanded role. Teague was open to the move, per Krawczynski. 

In four consecutive contests, Culver has logged double-digit figures in scoring, he sank five three-pointers during that span. 

The 20-year-old hasn't registered enough assists to resemble the numbers of a top-notch fantasy point guard yet, but that should come with experience and playing alongside high-volume scorers like Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. He dished out five assists in a win against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday.

If you have a solid roster in percentages, Culver's poor shooting rate from the field (.367) and the free-throw line (.421) shouldn't be a huge buzzkill. Based on his collegiate numbers in those respective categories, (.459) and (.687), he'll likely improve in both areas.

             

SG/SF Danuel House Jr., Houston Rockets (45 percent owned) 

When a shooter gains traction in head coach Mike D'Antoni's offense, pick him up, no question asked.

Gordon underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, and he's on a six-week timetable for recovery. In his absence, Danuel House Jr. has taken on a bigger role and played 34-plus minutes in three of the Rockets' last five outings.

During that time frame, the fourth-year veteran missed a game because of shoulder soreness and continues to feel the effects: 

Danuel House said the Goran Dragic flagrant did catch him in his sore left shoulder. Said he is sore now, but would be good for practice on Friday

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 28, 2019

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old recorded a career-high 23 points against the Miami Heat Wednesday. Over the last two games, he's knocked down seven triples. If his shoulder soreness doesn't keep him off the court, the sharpshooter should provide the Rockets with consistent perimeter firepower.

Because House is shooting at an impressive rate (.457), he's an add for managers who need triples without hurting their field-goal percentages.

If the injury bug wasn't a big enough pest to fantasy basketball owners on its own, it's impact is magnified in Week 6 of the 2019 NBA season by the upcoming holiday break.

The entire Association is shutdown this Thursday for Thanksgiving, and it has a sleepy schedule on both Tuesday (two games) and Saturday (four). Even with nine-plus contests on the rest of the slate, the overall lack of action enhances the impact of potential volume.

While no team suits up more than four times this week, a select few don't even approach that mark. Specifically, the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns each play just two games over the upcoming week, so forget about them for streaming options and avoid them in general where you can.

So, who stands out as a worthwhile injury replacement, then? Well, it's funny you should ask, since we've assembled our three favorite streamers—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—below.

                  

Week 6 Fantasy Basketball Streaming Options

De'Andre Hunter, SF, Atlanta Hawks (22 Percent Owned)

As often as fantasy views are distorted by shiny, new objects, it's no small miracle that this summer's No. 4 pick is available in more than three-fourths of all Yahoo leagues. Based on De'Andre Hunter's play of late, this won't last for long.

The 6'7" swingman is riding a string of eight consecutive double-digit scoring surges. Truth be told, he's even hotter than that makes him sound. He has popped off for 26-plus points in two of his last three games, averaging 23.7 points on 55.6 percent shooting over that stretch.

He doesn't always distinguish himself in other categories, so he's probably best targeted by teams in need of scoring and three-point shooting (1.7 makes per game). That said, he has collected five-plus rebounds five different times and has nine outings with multiple assists, so he shouldn't be a zero in most categories.

The Hawks have started him since opening night, and with John Collins suspended and Kevin Huerter injured (shoulder), that reliance should hold steady or even increase for the foreseeable future. If this recent heater is any indication, Hunter might be one of the best bargain buys with significant upside.

               

Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Oklahoma City Thunder (35 Percent Owned)

It might have taken some time, but 2013's sixth overall pick Nerlens Noel might finally be becoming the best version of himself.

His offense is limited, but OKC is proving more than willing to live with those limitations. As he continues swiping minutes away from starting center Steven Adams—who could be facing a minutes restriction and is a logical trade candidate as a high-priced veteran on a rebuilder—you should be OK with those limitations, too.

With fast hands and quick springs, Noel can be a defensive goldmine. He's averaging at least one block and one steal per game for the fourth time in six seasons. Only five other players have done that more frequently in this stretch, and all of them see significantly more minutes than Noel's career 22.6 per game.

At the least, he'll help in field-goal percentage, rebounds and the defensive categories. But he's capable of putting up double-digit points (four times already this season), and his free-throw shooting has been encouraging (22-of-27, 81.5 percent).

                

Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Sacramento Kings (42 Percent Owned)

It's been a rough go for anyone who prematurely penned the 2019-20 Kings' obituary once De'Aaron Fox joined Marvin Bagley III on the injury report. Sacramento has bounced all the way back from an 0-5 start and then some, scoring their seventh win in 10 tries since on Sunday.

Several players have helped Sacramento right the ship, and Nemanja Bjelica is one of them.

Over this 10-game stretch, the versatile forward has put his fantasy potential on full display. Save for blocks, he's the kind of player who can contribute almost across the board. His 10-game averages include the following: 11.7 points on 51.1 percent shooting (83.3 at the line), 7.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.0 triples (43.5 percent) and 1.1 steals.

While this is one of his best stretches in the NBA, these aren't outrageous outliers. He's long provided sharpshooting from all three levels, plus supplementary scoring, rebounding and distributing. Bagley's return could dampen Bjelica's outlook to a degree, but based on what's he doing now and what he's accomplished in prior seasons, he's more than worth a flier.

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic will reportedly miss at least the next four weeks due to an ankle injury. 

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the news. Vucevic went down in Wednesday's loss to the Toronto Raptors, finishing with three points, five rebounds and five assists in 11 minutes. The big man had been putting up numbers similar to his 2019 All-Star campaign, averaging 17.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 blocks to stand out as one of the NBA's most versatile bigs.

The Magic also lost Aaron Gordon to an ankle injury in that contest, though no long-term prognosis has been given. Assuming Gordon at least misses a couple of games—and perhaps longer—this will be an opportunity for fantasy owners to hopefully get production from some of their other young bigs.

  

Jonathan Isaac

Isaac should already be owned in every season-long format, but he has the best chance to break out as a value in DFS. The third-year forward finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and three blocks against Toronto, numbers that may wind up holding up in the short term. There is going to be an 18-rebound void that needs to be filled every night, and Isaac has already shown signs of a major leap on the defensive end.

Provided he stays a mid-tier choice in nightly salary, Isaac should become a nightly double-double threat who also gets you two or three blocks per night.

   

Mo Bamba

Let's not mince words here: Bamba has been a huge disappointment since arriving in Orlando. He's seemingly made no progress from Year 1 to Year 2 through 12 games and is shooting a ghastly 33.9 percent from the floor as a 7-foot big man.

If he's going to flash as an NBA player, now is the time to get started. Vucevic's injury should force him into extended minutes and give him a chance to work through his growing pains for the first time in his NBA career. We'll have to see how the center minutes are distributed, but Bamba will have every opportunity to become a valuable fantasy piece—particularly in the rebounds and blocks categories.

It'll say a lot about where the Magic see him as a player if Khem Birch winds up getting those vacated minutes instead. 

It's been a brutal start for those who took a fantasy basketball interest in northern California.

Essentially all of the Golden State Warriors known to casual fans are either currently injured or have already spent a stretch on the sideline. The Sacramento Kings share similar voids at the same time with De'Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley both suffering significant injuries.

Whether you're exposed to these situations or not, you've likely worked your way around at least a couple of medical maladies already. If you find yourself in that predicament now or you're simply looking for a spark, these are top players to target on the waiver wire.

               

Danuel House Jr., SG/SF, Houston Rockets

There aren't always enough touches in Space City to satisfy both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, let alone the support players around them. But good things tend to happen when the ball finds Danuel House Jr., and with Eric Gordon potentially out until Christmas, he could have more offensive opportunities than normal.

Due to his role, he'll never blow anyone away with his scoring (11.2 points per game) or playmaking (1.2 assists). But his shooting and defense make him a critical part of Houston's rotation and a decent plug-in option for the fantasy folks.

He's averaging 2.4 triples per game with a 44.6 percent conversion rate from the perimeter. Both numbers could prove sustainable, too, since last season he contributed 2.7 threes per 36 minutes and connected on 41.6 percent of his long-range looks.

He doesn't take many free throws (1.9 attempts), but he usually makes the ones he gets (82.6 percent). Tack on 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 combined steals and blocks, and he's someone who can provide a big lift in the sniping department while helping in a few others.

                 

Donte DiVincenzo, SG, Milwaukee Bucks

Injuries create opportunities for fantasy streamers, and Donte DiVincenzo is the most recent beneficiary of that.

With Khris Middleton out with a thigh contusion, DiVincenzo has assumed a starting spot and shown his worth as a complementary scorer, shooter and distributor.

The guard has now managed double-digit performances in his last three outings, averaging 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 triples and 2.3 steals over that stretch.

He's shooting 42.1 percent from range this season, and given the Bucks' need for maximum spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, DiVincenzo's stroke could keep him playing a prominent role. If you need someone to perk up your perimeter game over the next few weeks, you can do a lot worse than the 17th pick of the 2018 draft.

                   

Duncan Robinson, SF/PF, Miami Heat

Have a night, Duncan Robinson.

The second-year shooter put his fantasy potential on full display Wednesday. He apparently snuck a rocket launcher into AmericanAirlines Arena and used it to torch the Cleveland Cavaliers for eight three-point bombs—in the first half alone.

Duncan Robinson hit 8 threes in the first half! 🔥🔥🔥#HEATTwitter pic.twitter.com/hUgkeY9Qps

— NBA TV (@NBATV) November 21, 2019

Robinson's role in Miami's pass-happy offense lends itself to volatility, and it showed again on Wednesday. While his final tally featured 29 points, 24 of them came in the opening half.

Still, the 6'7" spacer is becoming a sneaky-good source of outside shooting. He's had at least three triples in each of his last four games, averaging 16.5 points and shooting 50 percent from distance over that stretch.

While Justise Winslow's absence (concussion) has likely led to more minutes for Robinson, his shooting is becoming so important that Miami might have to keep finding him floor time even when it's at full strength.

A few of the NBA's top surprise performers in the last week have been consistently producing for most of the season. 

Langston Galloway and Moritz Wagner are not expected to erupt for 30 points every night, but they have become reliable pieces in a few different stat columns. 

While they may be added in fantasy basketball leagues for their breakout scoring outputs, they should really be brought in to fill depth due to their consistency off the bench. 

Kenrich Williams is another option to consider due to the New Orleans Pelicans' injury woes. 

Like the other two players, Williams will not be a star on a nightly basis, but he will do enough to bolster the back end of your roster throughout the week. 

                          

Week 5 Hidden Gems

Langston Galloway, PG/SG, Detroit

At the moment, Langston Galloway is on pace to record his second-ever double-digit points per game total. 

The Detroit guard has nine straight 10-point outings, and he broke out with a season-high 32 in Friday's road loss to Charlotte. 

The 28-year-old is the only Pistons bench player to reach over 10 points per game while playing in each of the 13 contests. 

While we may not see another 32-point outing out of the St. Joseph's product, we could see more performances in the low teens. 

The consistent scoring run has been boosted by accurate shooting, as he has hit 40 percent of his field-goal attempts in eight of the last nine games.

That is significant because it shows Galloway is taking advantage of the few shots he takes. 

If the field-goal percentage starts to go south, he may not be as reliable, but for now, he is worth a shot to bolster guard depth. 

As of Monday morning, Galloway was the top added guard in Yahoo leagues, but with less than 3,000 owners going after him, he should be available in a wide array of competitions. 

                   

Kenrich Williams, SF/PF, New Orleans 

Williams is a worth a pickup because he is one of the few healthy players on the New Orleans roster. 

On Saturday, Lonzo Ball, J.J. Redick, Jahlil Okafor, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram did not play against the Miami Heat. 

In the 109-94 loss, Williams was one of four players to receive over 30 minutes on the hardwood. 

The 24-year-old forward does not warrant an addition solely based on his point totals, but he has been a reliable force on the boards and chipped with some assists, blocks and steals. 

In three of his last four games, Williams has eclipsed the double-digit mark in rebounds. He also earned four assists and a block Sunday against Golden State. 

Until the Pelicans' injury report gets lighter, it is worth bringing in Williams because he will receive more playing time than other reserve options. 

He could be a serviceable option at small or power forward in a three-game week against Portland, Phoenix and Utah. 

                  

Moritz Wagner, PF, Washington 

Wagner has reached double digits in each of his last three appearances. 

Friday's 30-point output against Minnesota caught more eyeballs, and he rewarded owners that picked him up with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists Sunday versus Orlando. 

The second-year player has scored at least eight points in all of his 11 games for the Washington Wizards. 

The production is a bit more impressive since the big man has mostly played between 13 and 17 minutes. 

Wagner is currently the top addition at power forward, but just like Galloway, the number is not high enough to be concerned about his waiver-wire availability. 

Washington is off until Wednesday, and Wagner could benefit from a three-game home stand against San Antonio, Charlotte and Sacramento. 

In his last three-game home run, the Michigan product strung together a trio of double-digit point outings.

                  

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

The Brooklyn Nets announced point guard Kyrie Irving is out for his team's road game against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday with a right shoulder impingement.

Per Kane Pitman of NBA.com, "The severity of the injury is unknown, though Irving has been wearing tape on his shoulder for the last stretch of games."

Brian Lewis of the New York Post cited WebMD when describing the injury.

"The condition occurs when there is impingement of tendons or bursa in the shoulder from the bones of the shoulder," Lewis wrote.

"The website also states overhead activity of the shoulder is a risk factor, which would include things like shooting."

The Nets' schedule is jam-packed with eight games left in November, so if Irving is forced to miss more action, then the Nets must make do for some time without their scoring and assists leader.

It's unlikely any replacement will replicate Irving's 28.5 points and 7.2 assists in the starting lineup, but sixth man Spencer Dinwiddie figures to see extra minutes now. He was announced as the team's starter at point guard for the Bulls game.

The productive guard is second on the Nets with 17.1 points and 4.6 assists per game despite playing just 26.1 minutes on average.

Irving plays 33.8 minutes per evening, so that court time has to go somewhere. Dinwiddie should be the primary beneficiary and play 30-plus minutes a night at minimum.

The 26-year-old is likely unavailable in most season-long leagues, as his current production makes him a solid option off the fantasy bench.

However, consider starting him if Irving misses more games, and take a look at rostering him in daily fantasy as well.

Daily sites will likely have adjusted Dinwiddie's salary by Monday, when the Nets play next against the Indiana Pacers at home following the Bulls game.

Still, four of the Nets' five games after Saturday are against teams 15th or worse in defensive efficiency, per ESPN.com.

Ultimately, Dinwiddie will see a massive usage bump with Irving off the floor: Per RotoGrinders' Court IQ tool, Dinwiddie's usage rises 5.1 percent when he's not sharing the court with the Nets star. He also averages 0.1 more fantasy points per minute in his absence as well.

Dinwiddie should have every opportunity to stuff the stat sheet, and the same goes for Caris LeVert, whose usage rises 7.6 percent sans Irving.

In sum, Dinwiddie is a must-start in season-long leagues and a great option in daily contests until Irving returns.  

For fantasy sports and their real-world counterparts, injuries are the absolute worst.

We should be celebrating the positive developments with Paul George and Victor Oladipo working their way back. Instead, we're stuck sifting through the carnage from the injury bug's latest attacks.

Gordon Hayward's broken hand could cost him six weeks. De'Aaron Fox will lose three-plus weeks to a sprained ankle. The same timetable lingers over Khris Middleton and his thigh contusion. Caris LeVert could lose several weeks to a thumb injury.

These are bummers for all basketball fans, but they're also calls to action in the fantasy realm. If you need replacements, this is the place to find them, as we'll break down the top waiver-wire targets—available in 50-plus percent of Yahoo leagues, per FantasyPros—to help patch up your roster holes.

                     

Kendrick Nunn, PG, Miami Heat (11 Percent Owned)

Kendrick Nunn probably didn't open this season on the fantasy radar. But he did tip it off with a spot on the Miami Heat's starting five, and he's yet to give that up.

That alone makes him worth watching from a fantasy perspective.

But this might be about more than just opportunity. He could have a pretty potent set of skills, albeit ones that might come and go as they please. He is a rookie, after all.

Still, the potential production is too great to ignore. He's encountered peaks and valleys from one night to the next, but his season-long line shows solid (or better) marks in points (16.9), threes (2.3), steals (1.6) and field-goal percentage (44.8).

                      

Coby White, PG, Chicago Bulls (47 Percent Owned)

Lottery picks are the proverbial shiny, new objects, so it's a little surprising to see Coby White as available as he is. Then again, any unproven player who struggles through a five-game stretch where they average 6.2 points on sub-25-percent shooting is going to scare off his fair share of potential owners.

That said, there's a reason he's owned in nearly half of all Yahoo leagues despite that frigid stretch. He has a chance to be special, and like he showed on Tuesday, he can have special moments already this season.

Coby White set a Bulls record for most 3PTs in a single quarter with 7 in the 4Q 👌🔥 https://t.co/2h5S61BwfP

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2019

We're not saying you have to go rush out and grab someone anytime they make seven threes in a quarter. But we're not not saying that, either.

The bottom line with White is he might be sporadic, but he can have enough good-to-great nights to make up for the rough ones. He's already had four games with at least 17 points and two with 25-plus. He's simply too talented to leave on the waiver wire.

                  

Maxi Kleber, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks (36 Percent Owned)

This feels like a case of fantasy hoops owners not paying close enough attention. It doesn't make sense, but maybe there's too much focus on Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis for the Mavs' role players to get their due.

Either way, let others' oversight be your gain.

Kleber is a key piece of the Mavs' frontcourt, and he's seeing more than 27 minutes a night. His scoring might fluctuate, but he rebounds consistently, blocks shots, launches from long range and almost assuredly helps your free-throw percentage.

He has already topped the 30-minute mark four times this season. He's made multiple threes in each of his last five games, including going 7-of-13 from distance over his last two. He's also maintaining a double-digit scoring average (10.2 points per game), so even if you're coming to him with other categories in mind, he can help there, too.

We're barely a month into the 2019-20 NBA season, and there's not yet a dominant story on the court.

However, there is one off the court, and it's the seemingly unending number of injuries that have affected most teams in the league thus far.

This trend obviously has significant implications for real NBA teams, but it is just as consequential for fantasy basketball players. For instance, if you have Steph Curry, Zion Williamson or Gordon Hayward on your team, then you've likely had to make some serious adjustments in the past month or so in order to stay competitive. 

Based on injuries, recent performance and team schedule, here's some lineup advice for the fourth week of this season. 

      

Start 'em

Tobias Harris, Forward, Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are coming off a rough West Coast road trip, losing their last three games to Phoenix, Utah and Denver. However, their reward for such a difficult stretch is four games against three of the least-talented teams in the NBA—two games against the Cavaliers and one each against the Magic and Thunder. 

Tobias Harris looks primed to be a specific beneficiary of this light schedule stretch. He's second on the team in scoring and rebounding as well as third in steals per game, and with Ben Simmons bound to be somewhat rusty after returning from a shoulder strain, Harris can step in and be an efficient second option behind Joel Embiid.

It helps that Philly's opponents this week start players like Cedi Osman, Terrance Ferguson and Evan Fournier on the wing, none of whom are known to be especially competent defenders.

With the Sixers' incredible starting lineup, any of their five is capable of breaking out on any given day. This week, the odds are in Harris' favor. 

        

Jayson Tatum, Forward, Boston Celtics

After an Opening Night loss to the Sixers, the Boston Celtics have played extremely well, winning their last seven games. However, one of the reasons they've played so well is that Gordon Hayward has looked like his peak self so far this season, and he'll now be out for close to a month with a fractured hand. 

Have no fear though, Celtics fans: Jayson Tatum is back.

After a distressing second season where he looked like Kobe Bryant's little nephew, the Tatum who was promised has returned, averaging career highs in points, rebounds, steals, and three-point shooting efficiency.

Put simply, Tatum has been given more responsibility this year following Kyrie Irving's departure, and he is thriving. There's no reason to suspect just a few more shots per game in Hayward's absence will derail all his improvement, especially this week against a relatively easy schedule featuring the Mavericks, Wizards, Warriors and Kings.

All of those teams are below-average defensive squads, and Tatum will pick them apart. If you don't already, start him this week and feel good about your chances. 

      

Sit 'em

Tristan Thompson, Center, Cleveland Cavaliers

One of the strangest statistical trends to start this season has been the emergence of Tristan Thompson as a stat-monger. He is averaging career-highs in points, rebounds and assists per game, and he is doing so with good efficiency. 

However, this stretch is considered anachronistic for a reason, and his production is bound to tail off at some point, given the potential scoring firepower elsewhere on Cleveland's roster. This week's as good a time as any to predict Thompson's regression to the mean. 

The Cavaliers have just three games this week: a home-and-home with the Sixers and a home game against the Heat. Those teams are markedly better than Cleveland, and that talent disparity is driven home in the frontcourt, where Thompson will have to match up against Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo.

Embiid's status as a top two or three center in the NBA is well-established, but Adebayo has quickly become one of the league's most stout interior presences as well. 

Make like the Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and sit Thompson for these high-profile games.

        

Trae Young, Guard, Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young has gotten off to a red-hot start this season as the leader of the Atlanta Hawks, far outpacing his first-year scoring efficiency and looking much more in control of the Hawks offense.

However, he's already started to slowly come down from that high, shooting just 29 percent from three over his last four games, and his downslope is likely to continue this week. 

Atlanta is going on a West Coast road trip this week and plays four games in the next seven days against legit playoff contenders: Denver, Phoenix and the two LA teams. All of those teams have above-average defenses by net rating and boast competent guard defenders (Gary Harris, Ricky Rubio, Danny Green and Patrick Beverley) who can badger Young wherever he goes on the floor.

Plus, the absence of John Collins for the next month-plus assures that the second-year guard may press even harder than normal, making some ill-advised passes and taking some ill-advised shots. 

Young's still going to put up numbers—the Hawks will crash and burn hard if he doesn't—but they may come with higher turnover rates and lower efficiency. If those stats don't matter in your league, then go ahead, but if they do, be careful if you start Ice Trae this week. 

      

Add 'em

OG Anunoby, Forward, Toronto Raptors

So far this season, the Raptors have been able to manage the losses of Leonard and Green quite well thanks to another massive leap from Pascal Siakam and consistent, heady play from the rest of their remaining championship-winning cast. 

They will be tested in a major way for the first time now following news that both Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka will be sidelined for the foreseeable future. Siakam will need to continue his All-Star caliber performance and the likes of Marc Gasol and Fred VanVleet will be relied on more than ever, but the Raptor who's played the best this year besides Siakam is OG Anunoby. 

After a sophomore season marred by injuries, Anunoby is back and legitimately better than ever. He's averaging 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game on a ludicrous 57.1 percent shooting and 54.5 percent from three, and he has been his usual dominant self on defense, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. Guess who else is doing that this year? Giannis Antetokounmpo, Adebayo, Andre Drummond, Jonathan Isaac and Karl-Anthony Towns, most of whom are considered elite defenders.

The Raptors pretty much only played a nine-man rotation when everyone was healthy, and now that's no longer the case. The mainstays will all get statistical upticks in Toronto, but Anunoby is the most likely candidate to do so in the most categories and with the best efficiency. 

      

Anfernee Simons, Guard, Portland Trail Blazers

Much like Toronto, the Blazers were not a deep team to begin this season and have already been ravaged by injuries before the 10-game mark. Nearly all of their big men are dealing with some sort of injury, and so the offense will have to be shouldered even more by incumbent star guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

However, the two of them finally have help. 

After playing a grand total of 141 minutes in his rookie season, Anfernee Simons is proving to be a great backup guard in the mold of Lou Williams or Jamal Crawford. He's nowhere near the level of those two iconic sixth men yet, but the play style is definitely similar. Simons gets buckets with relative efficiency, and as a result, he warrants significant playing time despite not doing much else on the floor.

With Rodney Hood and Hassan Whiteside temporarily sidelined, not to mention the long-term injuries to Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic, Simons is unquestionably the third-best scoring option on Portland for the time being.

If you need an infusion of offensive stats into your lineup this week, he's your guy.   

The Golden State Warriors' injury woes have forced some fantasy basketball owners to rearrange their rosters. 

In some cases, fantasy players could use direct replacements within the Golden State squad to fill up their lineups. 

Eric Paschall has already been scooped up by a majority of teams, and Ky Bowman could be headed in that direction as well. 

The 22-year-old guard has a trio of double-digit performances in his last five games, making him one of the hottest commodities on the waiver wire. 

              

Best Waiver-Wire Adds

Ky Bowman, PG, Golden State

Bowman has been a more integral part of Golden State's lineup over the last three games. 

Against Charlotte, Portland and Houston, the point guard racked up over 35 minutes and produced at least eight points. 

On Monday, he shined with 19 points, eight assists and four rebounds while earning a plus-minus of +10 versus the Trailblazers. 

The Boston College product is following the path paved by Paschall, who has 78 points in his last three outings. 

Sure, the magic could wear off the banged-up Warriors at some point, but right now, you have to ride the hot hand. 

Bowman is owned in a minimal amount of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, per FantasyPros, and starting Friday, he has six games in the next eight days. 

If he continues to produce at a high volume in a week with plenty of chances to shine, his ownership rates may skyrocket. 

            

Devonte' Graham, PG, Charlotte

Devonte' Graham surged onto the fantasy radar with a 35-point outburst against Indiana Tuesday. 

Before shooting 10-of-21 against the Pacers, the Charlotte point guard put up a nice collection of totals off the bench. 

He started the season with back-to-back 20-point games and reached double digits in road clashes with the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings.

Additionally, the second-year guard has at least three assists in each of his seven games, and he produced four rebounds and three steals Tuesday. 

The 24-year-old is owned in 37 percent of ESPN leagues, but he is only rostered in seven percent of Yahoo competitions. 

With his production continuing to go up with his playing time, Graham is worth a look during a run of four home games in the next five—a stretch that concludes with Memphis and Detroit. 

                      

Maxi Kleber, PF, Dallas

In three of his last four games, Maxi Kleber put up 14 points. 

On five occasions this season, the power forward has hauled in at least six rebounds and he has even chipped in a few assists. 

There could be some concern about him missing Sunday's game with a knee injury, but he rebounded Wednesday with 14 points against Orlando. 

Two upcoming matchups against the New York Knicks and a home meeting with Memphis could be beneficial to Kleber's totals. 

If the Mavericks get out to large leads in those three contests, the reserves could receive more time, which may mean more minutes than usual for the 27-year-old. 

Kleber is owned in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues, but he is readily available on ESPN as he sits on three percent of rosters. 

After the November 14 game at Madison Square Garden, Dallas has a four-game homestand. Two of Kleber's 14-point outings occurred inside American Airlines Center. 

                 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Basketball Reference

Much like the real NBA, one of the joys of early-season fantasy basketball is discovering the diamonds in the rough. Who might I find on the waiver wire that could take my team to a whole other level of success?

There are numerous players who serve this purpose every season. Whether it be due to an uptick in playing time, injuries or just plain old improvement, we get surprising new sleepers every season. 

Here are 10 ranked sleepers to monitor over the next week. They are ranked considering a blend of their immediate and long-term upside in head-to-head, category-based leagues.

       

Week 3 Sleepers

1. PJ Washington, PF, Charlotte Hornets

2. Richaun Holmes, C, Sacramento Kings

3. Taurean Prince, SF/PF, Brooklyn Nets

4. Jahlil Okafor, C, New Orleans Pelicans

5. Danuel House Jr., SF, Houston Rockets

6. Anfernee Simons, PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers

7. Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Denver Nuggets

8. Royce O'Neale, SF/PF, Utah Jazz

9. Meyers Leonard, C, Miami Heat

10. Alec Burks, SG, Golden State Warriors

        

Richaun Holmes, C, Sacramento Kings

Week 2 Averages: 15.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 73.7 FG%

Week 3 Schedule: 11/6 @ TOR, 11/8 @ ATL

     

Through several tough weeks to start the 2019-20 season, Richaun Holmes has been one of the few bright spots in Sacramento. He's always been an efficient and productive backup big man, first in Philadelphia and then last year in Phoenix, but he is quickly earning a large role with the Kings.

After Marvin Bagley III went down in the season opener with a thumb injury and Dewayne Dedmon fell victim to an early-season slump, shooting just 35.9 percent from the field so far, coach Luke Walton slotted Holmes into the starting lineup. So far, the Bowling Green alum has repaid his coach handsomely on the court, becoming an integral part of a team that has generally lacked direction so far in the early going.

Bagley III is expected to be out for about a month, and there is no timetable for the return of Harry Giles III, so Holmes may be the best big man Sacramento has to offer for the foreseeable future. Snatch him up if you're in need of efficient scoring, rebounding or defensive stats.

      

Jahlil Okafor, C, New Orleans Pelicans

Week 2 Averages: 15.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 58.1 FG%

Week 3 Schedule: 11/4 @ BKN, 11/8 vs. TOR, 11/9 @ CHA

     

Jahlil Okafor's transformation from plodding, old-fashioned big man nearing bust territory into highly efficient backup center was one of the feel-good stories of the 2018-19 season, and early on this year, he is making it clear that last year was no fluke. 

With Zion Williamson sidelined for nearly two months, Derrick Favors already battling injuries, and Jaxson Hayes being a raw rookie, Okafor has quickly been handed a large amount of responsibility for this on-the-rise Pelicans team, and he's already responding. The former Duke standout roasted Nikola Jokic for 26 points last Thursday in a win over the Nuggets, and posted a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with two blocks against Oklahoma City on Saturday. 

When Williamson and Favors return, Okafor's role will likely shrink. But you should definitely consider grabbing him in the interim for a quick points and rebounds boost.

       

Anfernee Simons, PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers

Week 2 Averages: 10.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 57.1 FG%, 44.4 3PT%

Week 3 Schedule: 11/4 @ GSW, 11/7 @ LAC, 11/8 vs. BKN, 11/10 vs. ATL

     

Going into this season, there was a good amount of hype for Anfernee Simons and his potential on the Blazers. No, Simons was not expected to replace Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum, but after a dominant showing in summer league where he averaged 22 points per game on a staggering 56 percent shooting, anticipation was quite high. Well, so far, it's been warranted.

Simons, like most second-year guards, is still on a bit of a learning curve. But by and large, he's just been the spark-plug bench scorer that Portland has been waiting for. Simons has shot better than 50 percent from the field in all but one game this year and has put up double figures in three games already despite not playing more than 21 minutes in a game.

The 20-year old is not doing much other than putting the ball in the basket right now, but he's so efficient that he warrants a pick-up all the same.

      

Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF, Denver Nuggets

Week 2 Averages: 9.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 60.0 FG%

Week 3 Schedule: 11/5 vs. MIA, 11/8 vs. PHI, 11/10 @ MIN

     

You sense that Michael Porter Jr.'s rookie year is going to have some high peaks and low valleys, though they might not have anything to do with his on-court performance. It's just that this Denver team is ridiculously deep, and coach Michael Malone would be silly to play an untested rookie over any number of players on his team with legitimate playoff experience at any given time. 

However, when Nuggets players succumb to injuries, like Will Barton has this week, Porter will likely be the next man up, and both in preseason and so far in the regular season, he's shown the scoring chops that tantalized basketball fans for years. For instance, he led Denver in scoring in his NBA debut.

Porter may sit a lot of games out this year, but if he continues to impress while other players miss time, Malone may have no choice but to promote him. In that case, we'll all be lucky to have him on our rosters.