Fantasy Basketball managers are about to be in for a wild week. The Christmas holiday comes on Tuesday, and that is always the unofficial beginning of the NBA season for the casual fan. Plus, it may be the only day of the year when fans can watch basketball for 12 straight hours.

The holiday brings plenty of schedule quirks that will make your head-to-head matchups difficult this week, though. Let us take a closer look using Hashtag Basketball’s Advanced Schedule Grid. 

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The schedule gets a bit haywire this week. No teams play on Monday, and there are no massive schedule days to make up for it meaning fewer games in Week 11. Only two teams play four times (Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers). Two squads also play just two games. The remaining 26 teams have three games.

That is going to make gaining a schedule advantage this week more difficult. The Pacers and Grizzlies play just twice, but it is easier to start those players with the vast majority only having three games. Still having a four-game player is a massive advantage, so let us take a look at a few options.

Players worth rostering that playing four games this week: (All percentages are based on Yahoo leagues and under 50 percent rostered was the line for available on the waiver wire)

1. Rajon Rondo- Los Angeles Lakers (48%)- Rondo is producing well in three categories and will continue to do so even in limited minutes. He’s producing 6.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game in 25.0 minutes per game on the season. Expect similar production moving forward.
2. Josh Hart- Los Angeles Lakers (40%)- Hart is hitting 1.7 3-pointers with 1.0 steal and 0.6 blocks on the season in just over 25 minutes per game. Add him for help in those three categories.
3. Evan Turner- Portland Trail Blazers (7%)- Turner is producing 4.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game on the season as he carries out a ball-handling role off the Blazers bench.
4. Moe Harkless- Portland Trail Blazers (2%)- Harkless has triple-one potential if he is playing over 30 minutes per game. In the last five games, he is averaging 25.7 a night but has two contests 29.5-plus. Keep an eye on Harkless.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Monday is Christmas Eve, and the NBA takes a day off in preparation for the five-game all day Watchathon on Christmas Day. Streaming becomes more difficult this week as both Wednesday and Friday feature ten games. Saturday is a fringe day with nine games. Let us take a look at where managers can exploit the schedule this week.

Note: The Portland Trail Blazers have the best schedule of the week by playing four times and missing out on Wednesday and Friday the two heaviest schedule days.

Back-to-backs

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo

Boston Celtics

Marcus Smart (43%)- Smart is averaging 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game on the season.

Robert Williams (18%)- Williams is averaging 1.6 blocks per game in under nine minutes per game. No guarantees on playing time, though.

Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney (5%)- Looney is playing 23.2 minutes per game in December. He is averaging 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks in that time.

Houston Rockets

P.J Tucker (44%)- Tucker continues to be under-rostered for his combination of rebounds, 3-pointers made, and steals.

Gerald Green (4%)- Deeper league threes add.

Milwaukee Bucks

George Hill (5%)- Only playing about 20 minutes per game with the Bucks, but Hill is fine deeper league add for rebounds, assists, and steals for a point guard.

New York Knicks

Noah Vonleh (44%)- Vonleh is providing a nice mix of rebounds, threes, steals, blocks, and assists for a big.

Philadelphia 76ers

T.J. McConnell (4%)- McConnell is averaging 1.0 steal per game with 3.2 assists on sturdy percentages.

Landry Shamet (2%)- 3-pointers made streamer.

Utah Jazz

Jae Crowder (49%)- Crowder is one of the better streamers available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo Leagues. Add him mainly for points, rebounds, and 3-pointers.

Kyle Korver (5%)- Deeper league threes add.

Portland Trail Blazers

Evan Turner (7%)- Add him for points and rebounds for a guard.

Moe Harkless (2%)- Harkless has potential in steals and blocks and the minutes are trending up in recent games.

Zach Collins (10%)- Deeper league add for blocks and rebounds on sturdy percentages.

Thursday-Saturday pseudo

Boston Celtics

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Golden State Warriors

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Houston Rockets

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Milwaukee Bucks

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

New York Knicks

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Utah Jazz

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Portland Trail Blazers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Thursday-Sunday pseudo

Los Angeles Lakers

Rajon Rondo (48%)- Rondo is borderline must-roster for his combination of assists, rebounds, and steals. He is returning from injury and the minutes may be limited slightly, but Rondo is a worthy addition.

Josh Hart (40%)- Hart produces best in 3-pointers, steals, and blocks which are often difficult combinations to secure.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (40%)- Deeper league add for steals and 3-pointers made.

Tyson Chandler (5%)- Chandler is securing 6.7 rebounds per game in just 18.5 minutes per night. He does not help much in any other category, though.

Sacramento Kings

Iman Shumpert (3%)- Steals streamer.

Philadelphia 76ers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Portland Trail Blazers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Saturday-Sunday

Portland Trail Blazers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Looking ahead to Week 12

Managers have the ability to gain an advantage in two straight matchups by using their final pickup to help them early in Week 12. Here is a look at few options for that add.

Sunday- Monday of Week 12

Dallas Mavericks

Wesley Matthews (48%)- Matthews is averaging 14.7 points per game with 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 2.5 3-pointers made on the season.

J.J. Barea (21%)- Barea is producing 11.6 points and 5.5 assists per game in less than 20 minutes a night on the year.

Dorian Finney-Smith (4%)- Deeper league add for steals and blocks.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Taj Gibson (46%)- Gibson is averaging 7.0 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game in 25.0 minutes a night.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Nerlens Noel (12%)- Noel is averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steal per game in just over 14 minutes a night on the year.

Orlando Magic

Mohamed Bamba (45%)- Blocks streamer.

Terrance Ross (37%)- Points, threes, and steals who remains one of the top streamers on the wire.

D.J. Augustin (35%)- He is averaging 4.8 assists per game on the year.

Jerian Grant (2%)- Deeper league steals add.

Sunday-Tuesday of Week 12

Detroit Pistons

Reggie Bullock (38%)- Bullock is averaging 12.0 points, 2.4 3-pointers made, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game on the season.

Stanley Johnson (4%)- Deeper league steals add.

Toronto Raptors

No recommended streamers.

Philadelphia 76ers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Sacramento Kings

Listed under Thursday-Sunday pseudo.

Portland Trail Blazers

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Final thoughts

That wraps up another look at the fantasy basketball schedule. Happy Holidays to all. Hopefully, they are a fantastic time and brings plenty of fantasy success as well.  Be sure to check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast for all your fantasy basketball needs throughout the season, including trade targets, waiver wire adds, and a look at the players performing unexpectedly.