Fantasy Basketball Week 5 Schedule Preview

Fantasy Basketball Week 5 Schedule Preview

Fantasy basketball managers in head-to-head leagues should be using the schedule to maximize games played in their leagues. Here's an-depth look at what you need to know about week 5.

Fantasy basketball managers in head-to-head leagues should be using the schedule to maximize games played in their leagues. Here's an-depth look at what you need to know about week 5.

Fantasy basketball season is in full swing. Week 5 is here, and managers should continue evaluating their teams. In what areas do you need to improve to make the playoffs? Or win the championship? That is something to take a hard look at this week.

The big news is the Portland Trail Blazers signing Carmelo Anthony (owned in 26% of leagues). Fans remember Melo averaging over 20 points per game for 14 consecutive seasons. He is 35 years old now. Anthony was limited to ten games last season with the Rockets.

He is reportedly joining the team for Monday’s game in Houston. No word yet on if Carmelo will play. He will need some time to ramp, though. Anthony will be a good points (expect 12 to 13) and threes (expect 2.0 to 2.5) streamer that could average six rebounds per game. That is after two or three weeks when his legs are fully under him. Hold off on adding the ten-time All-Star for now.

Let us take a look at the schedule to help fantasy managers maximize their games played in head-to-head leagues. If fans want to check out the schedule, check out our Advanced Schedule Grid

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The Phoenix Suns give fantasy owners the first five-game week of the season. 13 teams (Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Pelicans, Knicks, Blazers, Spurs, and Jazz) play four times. The Pacers, Grizzlies, and Magic have just two games. The remaining 13 teams have three games.

It is difficult to start any Pacer, Grizzlies, or Magic player not named Nikola Vucevic. Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Ja Morant, and Jonathan Isaac are all under consideration, but managers likely have better options playing more games in Week 5.

Here is a look at the top ten streaming options that are playing four or five games and owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo Leagues.

  1. Dario Saric, Phoenix Suns, PF/C (42%): Saric’s across the board fantasy production often goes underappreciated. The 25-year-old is averaging 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 3-pointers, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game. That has him ranked 108th in our fantasy basketball rankings
  2. Coby White, Chicago Bulls, PG (41%): White is averaging 13.7 points on the season while shooting 37.1 percent from the field. The efficiency should improve and increase his scoring. He also averages 2.0 3-pointers made with 0.8 steals. White is a fantastic pick up this week.
  3. Danuel House Jr, Houston Rockets, SG/SF (46%): House Jr. has been fantastic to start the season. He is averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 threes, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 block per game in 29.2 minutes. The defensive stats are likely to tail off but ride the hot hand.
  4. Jordan Clarkson, Cleveland Cavaliers, PG/SG (35%): Clarkson is averaging 14.7 points and 1.4 3-pointers made on the season. He should continue scoring with the potential to average one steal per game.
  5. Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers, C (33%): Zubac is a rebounds (6.6) and blocks (1.3) streamer that is going to shoot efficiently.
  6. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns, SG/SF (39%): Bridges is averaging 1.5 steals per game after producing 1.6 last season. That is a significant contribution, but the production elsewhere is lacking. He could help you win steals, though.
  7. Kent Bazemore, Portland Trail Blazers, SG/SF (30%): Bazemore is averaging over one steal and one block per game. That isn’t going away making him a fantastic streamer.
  8. Bryn Forbes, San Antonio Spurs, PG/SG (23%): Forbes is averaging 14.7 points and 2.7 3-pointers made per game this season. Expect that to continue.
  9. Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls, SF/PF (46%): Young is not seeing massive minutes, but he continues to contribute in points, rebounds, 3-pointers made, and steals.
  10. Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, SG (22%): Simons has the look of an efficient scorer that hits threes. If he can get those steal numbers over one per game, he could push to be owned in standard league. Stream him for now.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Week 5 features a packed schedule. There are 11 games on Wednesday. Friday and Saturday each have ten games apiece and Monday has nine games. That makes streaming each of those four days difficult or impossible. Here is a look at how managers can maximize their pickups.

Best schedule of the week: The Suns take the cake because they play five times over the seven days.

Back-to-backs

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo

Phoenix Suns

Dario Saric PF/C (42%): Add Saric for his steady contributions in points, rebounds, threes, and steals.

Mikal Bridges SG/SF (39%): Bridges can produce elite steals, but fails to move the needle much in any other category.

New Orleans Pelicans

Kenrich Williams SF/PF (14%): Rebounds and steals add.

Portland Trail Blazers

Kent Bazemore SG/SF (30%): Steals and blocks add.

Anfernee Simons SG (22%): Stream Simons for the points and threes production.

Rodney Hood SG/SF (14%): Deeper league points and threes stream.

Thursday-Sunday pseudo

Phoenix Suns

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

New Orleans Pelicans

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Looking ahead to Week 6

The way the schedule falls means having extra pickups in Week 5 that managers can use to get a jump on Week 6. Note: There are 11 games on Monday, so I included the Sunday-Tuesday pseudo-back-to-back.

Sunday-Tuesday of Week 6

LA Clippers

Ivica Zubac C (33%): Add Zubac for the rebounds, blocks, and strong percentages.

JaMychal Green PF/C (10%): Rebounds streamer.

Moe Harkless SF/PF (4%): Add Harkless for the steals and blocks especially in deeper leagues.

Dallas Mavericks

Maxi Kleber PF/C (45%): Stream Kleber for blocks, rebounds, and threes help.

Denver Nuggets

No recommended streamers.

Washington Wizards

Davis Bertans PF/C (44%): Points and threes streamer.

Ish Smith PG (11%): Deeper league assists add.

Final thoughts

Week 5 is a tricky test for fantasy managers. The larger game days make streaming difficult. Hopefully, you can find a few gems and win your weekly matchup.

The Fantasy Basketball Podcast

Looking for more help? Check out The Fantasy Basketball Podcast. It's our new all-encompassing podcast feed to satisfy your fantasy basketball needs. Subscribe where you normally get your podcasts.

Fantasy basketball season is in full swing. Week 5 is here, and managers should continue evaluating their teams. In what areas do you need to improve to make the playoffs? Or win the championship? That is something to take a hard look at this week.

The big news is the Portland Trail Blazers signing Carmelo Anthony (owned in 26% of leagues). Fans remember Melo averaging over 20 points per game for 14 consecutive seasons. He is 35 years old now. Anthony was limited to ten games last season with the Rockets.

He is reportedly joining the team for Monday’s game in Houston. No word yet on if Carmelo will play. He will need some time to ramp, though. Anthony will be a good points (expect 12 to 13) and threes (expect 2.0 to 2.5) streamer that could average six rebounds per game. That is after two or three weeks when his legs are fully under him. Hold off on adding the ten-time All-Star for now.

Let us take a look at the schedule to help fantasy managers maximize their games played in head-to-head leagues. If fans want to check out the schedule, check out our Advanced Schedule Grid

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The Phoenix Suns give fantasy owners the first five-game week of the season. 13 teams (Nets, Hornets, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Rockets, Clippers, Bucks, Pelicans, Knicks, Blazers, Spurs, and Jazz) play four times. The Pacers, Grizzlies, and Magic have just two games. The remaining 13 teams have three games.

It is difficult to start any Pacer, Grizzlies, or Magic player not named Nikola Vucevic. Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis, Ja Morant, and Jonathan Isaac are all under consideration, but managers likely have better options playing more games in Week 5.

Here is a look at the top ten streaming options that are playing four or five games and owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo Leagues.

  1. Dario Saric, Phoenix Suns, PF/C (42%): Saric’s across the board fantasy production often goes underappreciated. The 25-year-old is averaging 11.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.8 3-pointers, and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes per game. That has him ranked 108th in our fantasy basketball rankings
  2. Coby White, Chicago Bulls, PG (41%): White is averaging 13.7 points on the season while shooting 37.1 percent from the field. The efficiency should improve and increase his scoring. He also averages 2.0 3-pointers made with 0.8 steals. White is a fantastic pick up this week.
  3. Danuel House Jr, Houston Rockets, SG/SF (46%): House Jr. has been fantastic to start the season. He is averaging 11.8 points, 2.5 threes, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 block per game in 29.2 minutes. The defensive stats are likely to tail off but ride the hot hand.
  4. Jordan Clarkson, Cleveland Cavaliers, PG/SG (35%): Clarkson is averaging 14.7 points and 1.4 3-pointers made on the season. He should continue scoring with the potential to average one steal per game.
  5. Ivica Zubac, LA Clippers, C (33%): Zubac is a rebounds (6.6) and blocks (1.3) streamer that is going to shoot efficiently.
  6. Mikal Bridges, Phoenix Suns, SG/SF (39%): Bridges is averaging 1.5 steals per game after producing 1.6 last season. That is a significant contribution, but the production elsewhere is lacking. He could help you win steals, though.
  7. Kent Bazemore, Portland Trail Blazers, SG/SF (30%): Bazemore is averaging over one steal and one block per game. That isn’t going away making him a fantastic streamer.
  8. Bryn Forbes, San Antonio Spurs, PG/SG (23%): Forbes is averaging 14.7 points and 2.7 3-pointers made per game this season. Expect that to continue.
  9. Thaddeus Young, Chicago Bulls, SF/PF (46%): Young is not seeing massive minutes, but he continues to contribute in points, rebounds, 3-pointers made, and steals.
  10. Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, SG (22%): Simons has the look of an efficient scorer that hits threes. If he can get those steal numbers over one per game, he could push to be owned in standard league. Stream him for now.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Week 5 features a packed schedule. There are 11 games on Wednesday. Friday and Saturday each have ten games apiece and Monday has nine games. That makes streaming each of those four days difficult or impossible. Here is a look at how managers can maximize their pickups.

Best schedule of the week: The Suns take the cake because they play five times over the seven days.

Back-to-backs

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo

Phoenix Suns

Dario Saric PF/C (42%): Add Saric for his steady contributions in points, rebounds, threes, and steals.

Mikal Bridges SG/SF (39%): Bridges can produce elite steals, but fails to move the needle much in any other category.

New Orleans Pelicans

Kenrich Williams SF/PF (14%): Rebounds and steals add.

Portland Trail Blazers

Kent Bazemore SG/SF (30%): Steals and blocks add.

Anfernee Simons SG (22%): Stream Simons for the points and threes production.

Rodney Hood SG/SF (14%): Deeper league points and threes stream.

Thursday-Sunday pseudo

Phoenix Suns

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

New Orleans Pelicans

Listed under Tuesday-Thursday pseudo.

Looking ahead to Week 6

The way the schedule falls means having extra pickups in Week 5 that managers can use to get a jump on Week 6. Note: There are 11 games on Monday, so I included the Sunday-Tuesday pseudo-back-to-back.

Sunday-Tuesday of Week 6

LA Clippers

Ivica Zubac C (33%): Add Zubac for the rebounds, blocks, and strong percentages.

JaMychal Green PF/C (10%): Rebounds streamer.

Moe Harkless SF/PF (4%): Add Harkless for the steals and blocks especially in deeper leagues.

Dallas Mavericks

Maxi Kleber PF/C (45%): Stream Kleber for blocks, rebounds, and threes help.

Denver Nuggets

No recommended streamers.

Washington Wizards

Davis Bertans PF/C (44%): Points and threes streamer.

Ish Smith PG (11%): Deeper league assists add.

Final thoughts

Week 5 is a tricky test for fantasy managers. The larger game days make streaming difficult. Hopefully, you can find a few gems and win your weekly matchup.

The Fantasy Basketball Podcast

Looking for more help? Check out The Fantasy Basketball Podcast. It's our new all-encompassing podcast feed to satisfy your fantasy basketball needs. Subscribe where you normally get your podcasts.

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