We’re about to enter one of the most interesting fantasy scoring periods of the season, a two-week stretch that coincides with the upcoming All-Star break. That provides us a plethora of teams with strong five-game schedules, as well as a six-game alternative in the Warriors, widening our player pool of under-the-radar starting prospects that can improve fantasy lineups.
Each week, we’ll try to spotlight a pair of Start candidates on your fantasy squads that may prove to be some of the hardest decisions of the week, with a focus often on players with a start or roster percentage of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues. In order to optimize production potential, we often target players with four-game weeks.
Similarly, we’ll highlight one Sit candidate at each position who would not ordinarily be considered for a spot on your bench, with a particular emphasis on players with fewer game opportunities in the coming week.
TEAMS WITH SIX GAMES: Golden State Warriors
TEAMS WITH FIVE GAMES:
Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards.
Teams with four games include the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Toronto Raptors.
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Miami Heat
Without further ado, let’s look at some of the toughest start/sit options for Week 17.
Guards
Start: Brandin Podziemski, Warriors.
42% starting rate
Podziemski delivered as a Week 16 Start option, and given that he’ll have a solid six-game opportunity in Week 17 and stays well below a 50% start rate, he’s back for a second go-around. Despite coming off the bench, the rookie has found a way to load the stat sheet recently, averaging 11.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game over his last eight games. His ability to check off numerous boxes helps to compensate for his frequently below-average offensive efficiency, and with so much opportunity on his plate over the next two weeks, he should be able to deliver great results.
Start: Jordan Clarkson, Jazz.
47% starting rate
Clarkson is a consistent fantasy asset that can be brought in at any time and help your lineup out when he has enough opportunity to play. That should be the case in Week 17, as the Jazz have a solid five-game schedule, and Clarkson has already averaged 17.6 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 20 games since Jan. 1. Those averages were achieved while playing just under 30 minutes (29.8) per game off the bench, and with the Jazz routinely engaged in fast-paced, high-scoring fights, Clarkson might be a profitable streamer over a five-game stretch.
Sit: Josh Giddey, Thunder
53% starting rate
Giddey’s start rate has remained slightly increased despite his struggles this season, and in Week 17, he will have only four opportunities to hit the court throughout the two-week stretch. The third-year pro enters the scoring session having scored in single digits in four of the last six games despite maintaining a starting role, during which time he has shot 35.5%. Even when his scoring is low, Giddey still provides some decent rebounds and assists, although those figures may be replaced or surpassed by a significant margin.
Forwards
Kelly Oubre (76ers) has a 46% start rate.
Oubre is another option who is making an encore appearance this week after averaging 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in four Week 16 games. The veteran wing is one of several players filling in for Joel Embiid (knee) and, more recently, Tyrese Maxey (sickness). Oubre provided a great performance (16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block) in Maxey’s return on Saturday, and newcomer Buddy Hield has emerged as an immediate scoring threat following his trade from the Pacers. As a result, Oubre, who is expected to continue in the starting small forward position, is a very feasible alternative for the 76ers’ upcoming five-game schedule.
Start: Caris LeVert, Cavaliers (42% roster rate).
LeVert continues to come off the bench to support the Cavaliers’ healthy starting backcourt, averaging 11.1 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game over the previous nine games. With a decent role and as one of Cleveland’s major offensive sources, LeVert is likely capable of generating significant fantasy contributions during a five-game stretch.
Sit: Jimmy Butler, Heat.
57 percent start rate
Given the circumstances, listing Butler as a sit option is a relatively simple decision. Not only will the Heat play a league-low three games in Week 17, but the great forward is also on bereavement leave with no fixed timetable. As a result, pivoting elsewhere during a scoring period in which so many other players will have numerous opportunities to contribute is strongly advised.
Centers
Start with Paul Reed, 76ers.
44% starting rate
Reed overcame an illness in Week 16 and was feeling better as the Sixers’ four-game schedule concluded, as evidenced by his 12.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks in the final two games against the Wizards and Hawks. The big man will make another round of starts in lieu of Embiid, and when he’s at full strength, Reed has shown that he can provide some decent numbers in terms of points, rebounds, and blocked shots.
Start with Naz Reid, Timberwolves.
42% starting rate
Reid is always capable of surprise with starter-level contributions off the Timberwolves’ bench, as evidenced by his seven double-digit scoring efforts over the last 12 games, including four of his last five. The veteran has consistently seen minutes in the low-to-mid-20s, and he has attempted double-digit shots in six of the last seven games, which is encouraging. Reid is also hitting a career-best 41.4% from three-point range on 4.7 attempts per game, which is contributing to many of his spectacular scoring outputs. With five games to work with in Week 17, he’s clearly in play as a sub-50% starter who can pay dividends.
ALSO CONSIDER: Nick Richards, Hornets (46% roster rate).
Sit: Isaiah Hartenstein, Knicks.
79% roster rate.
Hartenstein has definitely produced some excellent stat lines throughout his starting tenure, but he faces a few of challenges in Week 17. To begin, he’s dealing with Achilles discomfort, which has already cost him a game and has him labeled as questionable for Monday’s game against the Rockets. And, if he sits out that game, he’ll only have three more games to work with during the scoring period, lowering his chances in comparison to other bigs who will have far more opportunities.
