Hello, Week 13 is here and with it comes a schedule oddity.  Two teams play just one game this week.  In all my years of fantasy basketball, I can say that does not happen often, but we are facing it today.  Do not forget to check out the fantastic Advanced Schedule Grid on Hashtag Basketball.  Without further ado, here is the information.

Weekly lock leagues

Tip of the week: 11 teams play four games this week.  A typical amount for a midseason week in the NBA.  Conversely, three teams have just two games on the schedule.  I would not start any player with one contest this week.  The two teams (Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics) are entirely hands off for me.  Say Joel Embiid has a monster game with 40 points, 20 rebounds, and four blocks in his only game.  Well, if you start a four-game player over him that player only needs to average 10 points, five rebounds, and a block per game to equal Embiid’s numbers, a much safer bet to make.  You know my stance on two game players by now, but with the game volumes, I would probably avoid them as well. 

Note: 14 teams play three games this week, so do not be surprised to see more than a few of them in your starting grid.  It is always difficult to bench a top 50 option with three games, but be sure to check your waiver wire.

Top 10 potential pickups playing four games:  (All ownership percentages based on ESPN leagues and under 40 percent owned was the cut-off for available on the waiver wire).

1. Trey Lyles- Denver Nuggets (31.8%)- Scored 15 points or more in his last seven games and had at least eight rebounds in six straight. He adds in a few 3-pointers too.  Worth owning in every league while Millsap is out
2. John Henson- Milwaukee Bucks (21.7%)- Should be a healthy source of rebounds and blocks
3. Tyus Jones- Minnesota Timberwolves (7.7%)- Starting with Jeff Teague out and should provide steals and assists
4. Caris LeVert- Brooklyn Nets (34.1%)- A groin injury has LeVert probable for Monday's game making him a risky play, but his combo of scoring, assists, steals, and rebounds make him a worthy add
5. Al-Farouq Aminu- Portland Trail Blazer (16.5%)- Averaging 2.0 3-pointers, 7.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 9.5 points per game for the season
6. De’Aaron Fox- Sacramento Kings (28.2%)- Big minutes since returning from quad injury meaning points, assists, and steal should follow
7. DeMarre Carroll- Brooklyn Nets (34.4%)
8. E’Twaun Moore- New Orleans Pelicans (18.8%)- 3’s and points with a steal per game
9. Bojan Bogdanovic- Indiana Pacers (23.5%)- Expected to return on Monday and a healthy source of points and 3’s
10. Buddy Hield- Sacramento Kings (19.8%)- Points and 3’s add

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Just Wednesday features double-digit games with 11.  Streaming on that day will be difficult.  Therefore, I will eliminate it from the look at the back-to-backs.

NOTE: The top schedules this week regarding quality games are the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors.  Both teams have four games on light schedule days.

Back-to-backs

Monday-Tuesday

Sacramento Kings

De’Aaron Fox (28.2%)- Expect points, assists, and steals in high volume minutes.

George Hill (27.8%)- Missed Saturday’s game with a personal matter so monitor his status before adding.

Buddy Hield (19.8%)- 2.1 3-pointers made and 12.4 points per game for the season with just under one steal a night.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (5.7%)- Averaging five assists per game in his last five contests plus one steal per game on the season.

Skal Labissiere (2.1%)- The ultimate home run play.  Labissiere usually produces when he gets 25 plus minutes, but no certainty he will even receive 15 per game.

Garrett Temple (0.9%)- Steals add in deeper league.

Toronto Raptors

Delon Wright (6.4%)- On a hot streak his last four games, so ride the hot hand.  Great source of steals all season long.

C.J. Miles (3.2%)- 2.4 3-pointers made on the season.

Jakob Poeltl (3.1%)- Deeper league blocks addition.

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo

Los Angeles Lakers

Larry Nance Jr. (16.1%)- Only averaging 21.4 minutes per game for the season, but still producing 1.4 steals and 6.3 rebounds.

Josh Hart (1.4%)- deep league steals stream.

Sacramento Kings

Listed under Monday-Tuesday.

Toronto Raptors

Listed under Monday-Tuesday.

Thursday-Friday

Cleveland Cavaliers

Jae Crowder (35.1%)- Despite the disappointing season, Crowder is averaging over a steal per game in his last 13 contests.

Tristan Thompson (14.1%)- Rebounds add more suited for a deeper league.

Kyle Korver (9.8%)- 3-pointers made stream.

J.R. Smith (6.6%)- 1.8 3-pointers made per game and 1.0 steal per game this season

Friday-Saturday

Charlotte Hornets

Frank Kaminsky (13.8%)- Kaminsky is averaging 12.8 points, 1.5 3-pointers made, and 4.8 rebounds over the last 15 days.

Marvin Williams (11.0%)- Inconsistent production, but over the back-to-back should provide 18 points, eight rebounds, three 3-pointers, and a steal.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (6.9%)- rebounds add with double-digit points and intriguing defensive stat potential.

Washington Wizards

Markieff Morris (29.2%)- Finally consistently playing over 30 minutes a game.  In the seven games Morris has played 30 plus minutes this season, he averages 14.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.0 block, and 1.1 3-pointer made.

Kelly Oubre Jr. (21.7%)- Still holding value even with fewer minutes.  Oubre Jr. is a good rebounder who can score and get steals.

Brooklyn Nets

Caris LeVert (34.1%)-  Keep an eye on his groin injury, but should be owned in more leagues given his assists, rebounds, steals, and points contributions.

DeMarre Carroll (34.4%)- A unique combination of 3’s, rebounds, and points.

Allen Crabbe (8.0%)- 3-pointers and points add with slight rebounding help

Jarrett Allen (1.4%)- Averaging a block per game which could help in a deeper league.

Denver Nuggets

Trey Lyles (31.8%)-  Worth owning in every league.  More information in the weekly adds section.

Wilson Chandler (31.5%)- numbers are fantastic, but consistent five rebounds, two assists, and near double-digit points.

Mason Plumlee (9.7%)- rebounds, assists, and blocks add for a center, especially in 14 team leagues.

Golden State Warriors

Jordan Bell (12.4%)- needs a few more minutes, but provides an exciting stat line especially in steals and blocks.

Andre Iguodala (8.7%)- Assists, steals, and blocks add in a deeper league with a good rebounds contribution.

David West (1.9%)- Averages 1.1 blocks per game for the season and should be available in almost every league.

Saturday-Sunday

No teams scheduled.

Looking ahead to Week 14

Perhaps, you have an extra pickup heading into Sunday’s games and would like to take advantage of both that and the beginning of next week.  Here is the place for you:

Sunday-Monday of Week 14

Miami Heat

Kelly Olynyk (32.2%)- Inconsistent, but has produced some significant double-doubles in his career and can add defensive stats too.

Tyler Johnson (23.6%)- The Heat share the wealth, but Johnson can give you points, assists, steals, and blocks on the right evening.

Wayne Ellington (7.5%)- Averaging 2.9 3-pointers made per game this season.

New York Knicks

Courtney Lee (39.5%)- Nice across the board line that has him deserving of ownership in every 12 team league.

Michael Beasley (34.4%)- Points stream.

Jarrett Jack (6.1%)- Averaging 5.5 assists per game over his last 12 contests and 5.9 for the season.

Kyle O’Quinn (5.3%)- Gives you a block per, two assists, and nearly six rebounds in 16.6 minutes.

Frank Ntilikina (3.0%)- 1.3 steals per game on the season for the rookie.

Indiana Pacers

Bojan Bogdanovic (23.5%)- points and 3-pointers add.

Lance Stephenson (11.2%)- At least three assists in six straight games.

Cory Joseph (2.3%)- At least four assists in five consecutive contests plus 0.9 steals per game on the season.

Milwaukee Bucks

John Henson (21.7%)- Rebounds and blocks add with near double-digit points per game.

Thon Maker (1.5%)- Averaging a block per game over his last eight contests and widely available.

Matthew Dellavedova (1.2%)- 4.1 assists per game on the season.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, your season is trending toward the playoffs.  You can find me on Twitter @wattsy4444, or you can tweet our main account @hashbasketball with any questions you have about your squad.  Be sure to check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast for all the fantasy basketball information you need in a podcast.  We celebrated our 100th episode last week with a total request show that you should check out.  Thank you for reading.