Fantasy Basketball Schedule Preview: 5-11 April

Fantasy Basketball Schedule Preview: 5-11 April

The stretch run is here in fantasy basketball. Here is a look at how managers can maximize their games played this week.

The stretch run is here in fantasy basketball. Here is a look at how managers can maximize their games played this week.

The NBA season is winding down and the races are heating up in fantasy basketball. Only six weeks remain in the regular season, and they are jam-packed with games because of postponements early in the year. Expect plenty of fireworks down the stretch.

Today, we use the Advanced Schedule Grid to help fantasy managers maximize their games played in head-to-head leagues.

Teams that play five times (2)

Pistons, Raptors

Teams that play four times (20)

Hawks, Celtics, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Suns, Blazers, Spurs, Jazz, Wizards

Teams that play three times (8)

Nets, Hornets, Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Magic, Sixers, Kings

Fantasy basketball talking points

  1. The Thunder are in full tank mode, but keep an eye on their rotation. Theo Maledon, Aleksej Pokusevski, and others could pop and be worth picking up. Monitor them down the stretch.
  2. Kevin Durant is expected to return this matchup. Insert him directly back into your lineup because KD can go off at any moment.
  3. Keep a close eye on the injury report this week. Star players could be rested at any moment with the schedule tightly packed down the stretch.
  4. The Pistons and Raptors both play five times during this matchup. Detroit avoids one of the heaviest schedule days giving them the slight advantage, but fantasy managers cannot go wrong by adding Raptors or Pistons this week.
  5. The Hornets and Magic tie for the worst schedule of this matchup. Both play three times with all coming on the heaviest schedule days.

Top streaming options from March 29 to April 4 (rostered in under 50% of Yahoo Leagues)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans (47%), SG/SF

The 22-year-old has started seven straight games and taken off. He is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 34.8 minutes per game across his last 7. NAW offers plenty of 3-pointers and a steady field goal percentage too. Add him in all leagues if his recent injury isn't serious.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 106 3 36.0 0.426 0.557 3.00 20.00 6.00 3.00 0.70 1.00 3.00
2020/21 Season 180 40 21.0 0.418 0.760 1.60 10.40 3.10 2.00 1.00 0.50 1.40

Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons (28%), SF

The rookie will hurt your percentages, but he is averaging 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.6 3-pointers made over his last 23 games.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 241 4 25.5 0.314 0.875 1.80 9.00 2.80 2.00 0.50 0.00 0.80
2020/21 Season 211 47 24.9 0.396 0.867 2.20 10.60 4.10 1.30 0.60 0.10 0.70

Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks (49%), SG/SF

Huerter averages 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.1 3-pointers made per game on the season. That across-the-board production has him in the top 130 in per-game value.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 245 4 24.7 0.472 0.600 1.80 11.00 0.80 2.30 0.30 0.00 1.30
2020/21 Season 130 49 30.9 0.419 0.820 2.10 11.60 3.40 3.40 1.20 0.20 1.30

Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks (47%), SG/SF

Richardson is averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game this season. He ranks inside the top 120 in per-game value, but will not blow fantasy managers in any one category.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 175 3 30.5 0.461 0.000 1.30 9.30 4.30 3.30 0.30 0.30 1.70
2020/21 Season 118 38 32.2 0.435 0.925 1.60 12.60 3.60 2.80 0.90 0.40 1.60

Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (49%), SG/SF

Brooks is averaging 16.0 points, 1.8 3-pointers made, and 1.3 steals per game this season. He could sway all three categories in this matchup.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 216 3 29.2 0.400 0.625 1.70 15.30 2.70 1.70 1.30 0.00 2.00
2020/21 Season 145 43 29.1 0.400 0.836 1.80 16.00 2.90 2.40 1.30 0.40 1.90

Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks (21%), PG

If fantasy managers are searching for a point guard that can boost their percentages, look no further. Brunson is shooting over 53 percent from the field this season and connects on 81.6 percent of his free throws. Add in 12.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 3-pointers made per game to give fantasy managers plenty to get excited about this week.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 56 4 26.8 0.600 1.000 1.00 16.00 3.50 4.50 1.30 0.00 1.30
2020/21 Season 147 44 25.3 0.539 0.815 1.20 12.90 3.50 3.40 0.60 0.00 1.40

Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets (45%), SG/SF/PF

Over his last 15 games, Tate is averaging 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. The 25-year-old rookie has carved out a role and should continue to produce down the stretch.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 105 3 29.5 0.485 1.000 1.30 13.70 4.70 2.70 0.30 0.70 0.00
2020/21 Season 124 48 28.6 0.517 0.718 0.80 10.50 5.40 1.90 1.10 0.60 1.10

Daily streaming options

Friday and Sunday both feature double-digit games during this matchup. It will be difficult to stream there with Wednesday being questionable with nine contests. The rest of the week should provide plenty of opportunities.

Back-to-backs

Monday-Tuesday

Detroit Pistons

Saddiq Bey (28%): Points, threes, and steals streamer.

Isaiah Stewart (10%): Blocks target.

Toronto Raptors

No recommended streamers.

Tuesday-Wednesday

Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Huerter (49%): Points, threes, assists, and steals add.

Lou Williams (44%): Points and assists streamer.

Boston Celtics

No recommended streamers.

Denver Nuggets

Paul Millsap (33%): Rebounds and steals add.

JaVale McGee (4%): Blocks streamer.

Indiana Pacers

Justin Holiday (46%): Points, threes, and steals target.

Memphis Grizzlies

Dillon Brooks (49%): Points, threes, and steals add.

De’Anthony Melton (15%): Steals and 3-pointers made streamer.

New Orleans Pelicans

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (47%): Points, threes, and steals add.

Wednesday-Thursday

Dallas Mavericks

Josh Richardson (47%): Points, steals, and threes add.

Jalen Brunson (21%): Points and assists target that provides outstanding percentages.

Maxi Kleber (18%): Rebounds, blocks, and threes target.

Dorian Finney-Smith (9%): Steals, rebounds, and threes streamer.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Theo Maledon (24%): Assists, steals, and threes add.

Aleksej Pokusevski (30%): Rebounds, assists, and threes target.

Phoenix Suns

Jae Crowder (38%): Threes and rebounds streamer.

Utah Jazz

No recommended streamers.

Thursday-Saturday pseudo

Detroit Pistons

Listed under Monday-Tuesday.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Phoenix Suns

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Portland Trail Blazers

No recommended streamers.

Utah Jazz

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers

No recommended streamers.

Sacramento Kings

No recommended streamers.

Toronto Raptors

No recommended streamers.

The NBA season is winding down and the races are heating up in fantasy basketball. Only six weeks remain in the regular season, and they are jam-packed with games because of postponements early in the year. Expect plenty of fireworks down the stretch.

Today, we use the Advanced Schedule Grid to help fantasy managers maximize their games played in head-to-head leagues.

Teams that play five times (2)

Pistons, Raptors

Teams that play four times (20)

Hawks, Celtics, Bulls, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Suns, Blazers, Spurs, Jazz, Wizards

Teams that play three times (8)

Nets, Hornets, Nuggets, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Magic, Sixers, Kings

Fantasy basketball talking points

  1. The Thunder are in full tank mode, but keep an eye on their rotation. Theo Maledon, Aleksej Pokusevski, and others could pop and be worth picking up. Monitor them down the stretch.
  2. Kevin Durant is expected to return this matchup. Insert him directly back into your lineup because KD can go off at any moment.
  3. Keep a close eye on the injury report this week. Star players could be rested at any moment with the schedule tightly packed down the stretch.
  4. The Pistons and Raptors both play five times during this matchup. Detroit avoids one of the heaviest schedule days giving them the slight advantage, but fantasy managers cannot go wrong by adding Raptors or Pistons this week.
  5. The Hornets and Magic tie for the worst schedule of this matchup. Both play three times with all coming on the heaviest schedule days.

Top streaming options from March 29 to April 4 (rostered in under 50% of Yahoo Leagues)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, New Orleans Pelicans (47%), SG/SF

The 22-year-old has started seven straight games and taken off. He is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 34.8 minutes per game across his last 7. NAW offers plenty of 3-pointers and a steady field goal percentage too. Add him in all leagues if his recent injury isn't serious.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 106 3 36.0 0.426 0.557 3.00 20.00 6.00 3.00 0.70 1.00 3.00
2020/21 Season 180 40 21.0 0.418 0.760 1.60 10.40 3.10 2.00 1.00 0.50 1.40

Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons (28%), SF

The rookie will hurt your percentages, but he is averaging 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.6 3-pointers made over his last 23 games.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 241 4 25.5 0.314 0.875 1.80 9.00 2.80 2.00 0.50 0.00 0.80
2020/21 Season 211 47 24.9 0.396 0.867 2.20 10.60 4.10 1.30 0.60 0.10 0.70

Kevin Huerter, Atlanta Hawks (49%), SG/SF

Huerter averages 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.1 3-pointers made per game on the season. That across-the-board production has him in the top 130 in per-game value.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 245 4 24.7 0.472 0.600 1.80 11.00 0.80 2.30 0.30 0.00 1.30
2020/21 Season 130 49 30.9 0.419 0.820 2.10 11.60 3.40 3.40 1.20 0.20 1.30

Josh Richardson, Dallas Mavericks (47%), SG/SF

Richardson is averaging 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.9 steals per game this season. He ranks inside the top 120 in per-game value, but will not blow fantasy managers in any one category.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 175 3 30.5 0.461 0.000 1.30 9.30 4.30 3.30 0.30 0.30 1.70
2020/21 Season 118 38 32.2 0.435 0.925 1.60 12.60 3.60 2.80 0.90 0.40 1.60

Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies (49%), SG/SF

Brooks is averaging 16.0 points, 1.8 3-pointers made, and 1.3 steals per game this season. He could sway all three categories in this matchup.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 216 3 29.2 0.400 0.625 1.70 15.30 2.70 1.70 1.30 0.00 2.00
2020/21 Season 145 43 29.1 0.400 0.836 1.80 16.00 2.90 2.40 1.30 0.40 1.90

Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks (21%), PG

If fantasy managers are searching for a point guard that can boost their percentages, look no further. Brunson is shooting over 53 percent from the field this season and connects on 81.6 percent of his free throws. Add in 12.9 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 3-pointers made per game to give fantasy managers plenty to get excited about this week.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 56 4 26.8 0.600 1.000 1.00 16.00 3.50 4.50 1.30 0.00 1.30
2020/21 Season 147 44 25.3 0.539 0.815 1.20 12.90 3.50 3.40 0.60 0.00 1.40

Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets (45%), SG/SF/PF

Over his last 15 games, Tate is averaging 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. The 25-year-old rookie has carved out a role and should continue to produce down the stretch.

TYPE R# GP MPG FG% FT% 3PM PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV
Last 7 Days 105 3 29.5 0.485 1.000 1.30 13.70 4.70 2.70 0.30 0.70 0.00
2020/21 Season 124 48 28.6 0.517 0.718 0.80 10.50 5.40 1.90 1.10 0.60 1.10

Daily streaming options

Friday and Sunday both feature double-digit games during this matchup. It will be difficult to stream there with Wednesday being questionable with nine contests. The rest of the week should provide plenty of opportunities.

Back-to-backs

Monday-Tuesday

Detroit Pistons

Saddiq Bey (28%): Points, threes, and steals streamer.

Isaiah Stewart (10%): Blocks target.

Toronto Raptors

No recommended streamers.

Tuesday-Wednesday

Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Huerter (49%): Points, threes, assists, and steals add.

Lou Williams (44%): Points and assists streamer.

Boston Celtics

No recommended streamers.

Denver Nuggets

Paul Millsap (33%): Rebounds and steals add.

JaVale McGee (4%): Blocks streamer.

Indiana Pacers

Justin Holiday (46%): Points, threes, and steals target.

Memphis Grizzlies

Dillon Brooks (49%): Points, threes, and steals add.

De’Anthony Melton (15%): Steals and 3-pointers made streamer.

New Orleans Pelicans

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (47%): Points, threes, and steals add.

Wednesday-Thursday

Dallas Mavericks

Josh Richardson (47%): Points, steals, and threes add.

Jalen Brunson (21%): Points and assists target that provides outstanding percentages.

Maxi Kleber (18%): Rebounds, blocks, and threes target.

Dorian Finney-Smith (9%): Steals, rebounds, and threes streamer.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Theo Maledon (24%): Assists, steals, and threes add.

Aleksej Pokusevski (30%): Rebounds, assists, and threes target.

Phoenix Suns

Jae Crowder (38%): Threes and rebounds streamer.

Utah Jazz

No recommended streamers.

Thursday-Saturday pseudo

Detroit Pistons

Listed under Monday-Tuesday.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Phoenix Suns

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Portland Trail Blazers

No recommended streamers.

Utah Jazz

Listed under Wednesday-Thursday.

Los Angeles Lakers

No recommended streamers.

Sacramento Kings

No recommended streamers.

Toronto Raptors

No recommended streamers.

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