Hello, Week 18 in fantasy basketball is here and with comes the All-Star Break.  That break is often a line of demarcation.  Teams get a breather for a week, and fantasy owners do as well.  Teams down in the standings may turn their focus to MLB Spring Training or NASCAR’s opening weekend, leaving just the playoff teams to battle it out for the title.  After this week, which is two actual weeks, it is the regular season homestretch and playoffs in head-to-head leagues.  Do not forget to check out the fantastic Advanced Schedule Grid on Hashtag Basketball.  Without further ado, let us jump right into it.

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The Philadelphia 76ers take the cake with five games between Monday, Feb. 12 and Sunday, Feb. 25.  21 teams play four games this period.  The Indiana Pacers are the team to avoid with just two contests.  I would consider Victor Oladipo in 12 team leagues and larger, but everyone else would be on the bench from Indiana

Note: 7 teams play three games this week, so your lineup may be all four and five-game players.  Hopefully, the options from this grouping are minimal on your squad.

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. T.J. McConnell-Philadelphia 76ers (5.2%)- Playing five games this week puts McConnell at a significant advantage. Expect somewhere around 16 rebounds, 22 assists, six steals, and 37 points plus steady percentages.  Add with confidence.
2. George Hill- Cleveland Cavaliers (34.7%)- Hill is a most own playing alongside LeBron in Cleveland. Expect points, assists, and steals to be Hill’s go-to categories.
3. Ish Smith- Detroit Pistons (36.4%)- Smith is averaging 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 13.4 points per game as a starter. He should remain in that role through this period.
4. Joe Ingles- Utah Jazz (37.6%)- Should be owned in every single league, but cannot seem to get there. Pick him up, please!
5. Austin Rivers- LA Clippers (20.8%)- Rivers has been an excellent source of points, threes and steals all season, but now figures to handle the ball more and could up his assists to four or five per game.
6. Larry Nance Jr- Cleveland Cavaliers (24.7%)- Nance Jr. should be a stellar source of steals and rebounds. If he can push his scoring average up to 10 per game with the Cavs, he becomes a player I want in any league.
7. D.J. Augustin- Orlando Magic (16.7%)- Starting point guard with Elfrid Payton traded to Phoenix. Expect five to six assists per game with a steal and 12-14 points.
8. Courtney Lee- New York Knicks (33.0%)- Slumping a bit, but still producing enough in every counting category, but blocks to be kept in a standard league.
9. Kyle Anderson- San Antonio Spurs (16.1%)- Defensive stats wizard that makes him worth having any time the Spurs take the court.
10. Rodney Hood- Cleveland Cavaliers (32.2%)- Points and 3-pointers will be Hood’s calling card, but expect probably 15 points per game and 2.5 treys.

BONUS: 

11. Trey Lyles (28.4%)- Lyles is up and down, but seven rebounds, two assists, and 11 points per game is stream worthy. He could also hit you a home run and score 25 points in a game or secure ten rebounds.
12. Justin Holiday- Chicago Bulls (37.6%)- Holiday contributes 3-pointers and steals with enough points to make you happy.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Again, there is a week off in the middle of this game period.  The two days to avoid streaming on are Wednesday, Feb. 13 with 12 games and Friday, Feb. 23 which has 11 games.  Every other day should be open for streaming options. 

NOTE: The absolute best schedule this week goes to the Philadelphia with five games and four on light schedule days. 

Back-to-backs

Monday- Tuesday (Feb. 12-13)

San Antonio Spurs

Kyle Anderson (16.1%)- 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists sound enticing to this fantasy player.

Danny Green (8.3%)- The 3-pointers, steals, and blocks make Green worth owning in 12 team leagues.

Patty Mills (3.8%)- 3-pointers made streamer.

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo (Feb. 13 and Feb. 15)

Denver Nuggets

Trey Lyles (28.4%)- Lyles is up and down, but seven rebounds, two assists, and 11 points per game is stream worthy.

Milwaukee Bucks

John Henson (35.3%)- Henson day-to-day with hamstring soreness, so monitor his status before streaming for blocks and rebounds.

Thon Maker (1.1%)- Deeper league blocks stream.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Tyus Jones (0.9%)- Averaging 1.2 steals per game in 18.3 minutes a night on the season.

Thursday-Thursday pseudo (Feb. 15 and Feb. 22)

No teams scheduled

Thursday-Saturday pseudo (Feb. 22 and Feb. 24)

Chicago Bulls

Justin Holiday (37.6%)- Holiday continues to be an excellent source of 3-pointers and steals with enough points to matter.

Robin Lopez (33.8%)- The performances are up and down as the Bulls fade from contention, but Lopez can still provide two dozen points and two blocks on a back-to-back set.

Bobby Portis (33.3%)- Points and rebounds are what to expect from Portis.

Denzel Valentine (18.7%)- The minutes are influx for Valentine, but he can provide unique stat lines.  Add for 3-pointers, rebounds, and assists and take anything else as gravy.

Jerian Grant (10.4%)- Grant is taking full advantage of Kris Dunn’s absence, but his return could come any day now.

Golden State Warriors

Andre Iguodala (5.7%)- Deeper league stream for defensive stats.

Zaza Pachulia (1.9%)- 16 teams plus target in rebounds.

David West (1.2%)- Blocks stream in any league, but limited upside in any other categories.

New York Knicks

Courtney Lee (33.0%)- Should be owned in more leagues and expect him to continue to play as the Knicks are light on wing players.

Kyle O’Quinn (8.3%)- rebounds and blocks target.

Jarrett Jack (6.8%)- Continues to start and dish out assists.  Monitor his minutes with Mudiay in the fold.

Emmanuel Mudiay (5.4%)- Shot in the dark until we know his minutes and role on the team.

Frank Ntilikina (1.7%)- Steals target.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Jerami Grant (5.3%)- Deeper league blocks and rebounds addition.

Raymond Felton (0.5%)- Add him if Russell Westbrook remains sidelined.

Orlando Magic

Jonathon Simmons (28.0%)- Averaging 14.0 points per game on the season, but not much else.

D.J. Augustin (16.7%)- Worth owning in all leagues.

Bismack Biyombo (14.5%)- Blocks and rebounds stream.

Mario Hezonja (11.5%)- Aaron Gordon remains out, and Hezonja keeps balling.  Expect points and steals as long as the minutes are there.

Shelvin Mack (2.3%)- Deeper league assists and steals addition.

Sacramento Kings

Buddy Hield (19.7%)- Points and 3-pointers target who is approaching one steal per game.

Bogdan Bogdanovic (15.7%)- An across the board contributor who is getting more minutes and comfort in the NBA.  A potential post All-Star breakout is bubbling here.

Philadelphia 76ers

T.J. McConnell (5.2%)- A valuable source of assists, rebounds, and steals from a point guard.

Saturday-Sunday (Feb. 24-25)

Philadelphia 76ers

Listed under Thursday-Saturday pseudo (Feb. 22 and Feb. 24)

Looking ahead to Week 19

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 19

Detroit Pistons

Ish Smith (36.9%)- Worth owning in all leagues while he is starting.

Reggie Bullock (13.0%)- Playing significant minutes since the trade, but other than points the production has been spotty.

Stanley Johnson (12.8%)- A steals stream with upside in points and rebounds.

Anthony Tolliver (2.5%)- Deeper league 3-pointers made target.

Houston Rockets

Ryan Anderson (19.0%)- Anderson is a 3-pointers made streamer.

Gerald Green (16.7%)- Points and threes target in any league.

P.J. Tucker (2.0%)- Deeper league option for rebounds and steals.

Luc Mbah a Moute (1.5%)- Steals stream.

New Orleans Pelicans

E’Twaun Moore (14.3%)- Not a sexy stat line, but 12 points, 0.9 steals, 1.7 3-pointers, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists is solid across the board production.

Darius Miller (1.9%)- Deeper league 3-pointers made streamer.

Cheick Diallo (0.3%)- blocks and rebounds target when given consistent minutes.

Final thoughts

Hopefully, you remain in the hunt through this game period and continue focusing on your team.  Do not quit.  Finish out the year strong for yourself and your league mates.  Also, enjoy the All-Star festivities.  It should be a fantastic show of basketball.  If you have any questions, you can Tweet me @wattsy4444, or our main account @hashbasketball and we will answer all your basketball related inquiries.  Be sure to check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast for all the fantasy basketball information you need in audio form.