If you have a deep bench, start looking for category specialists. There are a lot of players who will play heavy minutes because of strong perimeter play and hustle. Find players who grab a ton of steals. Defense and hustle keeps a player in the game. Don’t always focus on scoring when targeting players. There are a lot of boards and steals specialists out there who log 25-30 minutes per game.
Bam Adebayo PF, C MIA-40% Ownership: Even though he’s playing under 20 minutes on average for the season, Adebayo has seen his minutes increase over the last few weeks. He’s played over 21 minutes per game in the last two weeks. Adebayo has lifted his scoring and rebounding. Even when he doesn’t play 20 minutes, he still helps with boards and blocks. Adebayo has blocked shots in seven of his last eight games. He’s a banger in the lane and he’ll score off of put-backs. He’s scored in double figures in the last three games. Adebayo will mainly play behind Hassan Whiteside . It’s a blessing and a curse. Even though Whiteside is a great force in the paint, he’s constantly banged up and if he starts to get sore, the Heat will limit his minutes. Adebayo has been good at grabbing loose balls in the lane. He’s grabbed steals in three of his last four games. Adebayo has also pulled down boards in double figures in two of his last three games. His defense alone will keep him in the rotation. Don’t shy away from Adebayo even with James Johnson back. Johnson will need to help run the point because Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson are currently injured.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope SG, SF LAL-39% Ownership: Caldwell-Pope is a steals specialist who can hit the knockdown three. It’s been hard to trust his scoring, but his playing time remains steadily in the 20’s. The Lakers need all of the help they can get defensively and Caldwell-Pope is one of the team’s best defenders. He’ll have games in which he’ll grab four to five boards and others in which he pull down one or two boards. Caldwell-Pope has been a steals specialist all season. He had a five-steal game a few days ago and has grabbed steals in four of his last five games. Caldwell-Pope finds ways to get in the lane and he’ll try to force himself inside with the ball. He’s also blocked shots in three of his last five games. The Lakers really need him on the perimeter and their guards have been hurting a bit.
Ryan Arcidiacono PG CHI-14% Ownership: Cameron Payne had a clear path to getting a ton of minutes with Kris Dunn still out and Arcidiacono has taken those minutes away from him. He’s played in the 30’s and 40’s frequently. Arcidiacono hustles on both sides of the ball. He’s a hound on defense and fights hard through screens and for boards. He’s grabbed at least four boards in three of his last four games. Arcidiacono recorded a five-steal game on Wednesday and he’s had three multi-steal games in his last five. He’s also a scoring threat from inside and outside. He’s agile and finds openings in the lane to get inside and will have no problem drawing contact. Arcidiacono has scored 22 points in both of his last two games. He’s a major long-range shooting threat as well. He’s hit nine three-pointers total in his last two games.
Josh Jackson SG, SF PHX-18% Ownership: Jackson is starting to see an uptick in his minutes. It’s been a let down of a season for him thus far after seeing him constantly drive the lane with force last season. Jackson has hit the 20-minute mark in his last three games. He’s also scored in double figures in three of his last four games. Jackson’s major competition for minutes is Trevor Ariza and T.J. Warren, but he’s been finding ways to stick in the rotation. Jackson has been taking more shots and has had more time with the ball over his last few games. Jackson grabs just 2.7 boards per game for the season, however, he’s grabbed at least 4 boards in 4 of his last 5 games. Jackson has also stepped it up defensively in the mid-court and he’s grabbed steals in six of his last seven games. He’s good at grabbing steals right inside the arc at the top of the paint. Jackson has quickness and he drives the lane with power. He’s starting to trend up.
Kelly Oubre Jr. SF WSH-39% Ownership: The Wizards have been giving Oubre more love in the rotation lately. He’s a shooting threat from distance and he’ll also follow up his shots and fight for second-chance scoring opportunities in the lane. Oubre has scored in double-digits and taken over 10 shots in three of his last four games. Oubre is just as committed on the defensive side of the ball as he is offensively. He’s grabbed 4.4 boards per game. Oubre has two multi-steal games in his last three and he’s also blocked shots in his his last three games. He’s a lengthy defender and he’s improved at being able to stick with his defender and fighting through screens. Oubre will score mainly with the Wizards second unit. The Wizards lack depth after their starters and Oubre will often serve as the prioritized scorer with the second unit along with Jeff Green . Dwight Howard being out also helps his cause because Markieff Morris and Jeff Green can shift up to PF and C and that opens up more minutes for Oubre.
Mason Plumlee PF, C DEN-9% Ownership: Plumlee is a volume add at this point. It’s not a lock that he’ll get 20 minutes per game, but he has been a multi-category producer lately. He’s played 21 minutes in each of his last three games and he’s scored in double figures in all three of them. Plumlee has a strong move to the basket, especially if he gets the ball while in motion. He’s grabbed double-digit rebounds in the paint in two of his last three games. Plumlee has also blocked shots in his last six games. He has a four-block game a couple of weeks ago. Plumlee won’t hurt your percentages and even though he’s in Nikola Jokic ’s shadow, he’s been finding ways to produce even against tough defenders. Plumlee uses his big body aggressively to gain position in the paint. He may be just a short-term solution, but the minutes have bit safer over the last week.
Stanley Johnson SG, SF DET-6% Ownership: Johnson is another player who while he won’t see a high volume of shots, his defense will keep him in the game. Johnson has served as a bailout shooting option while Luke Kennard has been out. Johnson grabs 4.1 boards per game. He’s good at going right inside the arc and grabbing long rebounds. A lot of bailout shooters just stay at the arc and wait to get fed. He at least fights for boards at the top of the paint. Johnson has grabbed steals in his last nine games and has three multi-steal games in his last four. Johnson has been scoring in double figures a bit more consistently lately. He’s hit double-digits in three of his last four games. Andre Drummond is limited offensively and after Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson , the Pistons don’t have a third scoring option and Johnson has been vying for more shots and he’s been flirting with double-digit shots over his last few games.
Elie Okobo PG PHX-5% Ownership: We haven’t seen too much of Okobo, but the Suns shocked us all and released Isaiah Canaan . The Suns trust Devin Booker running the point a lot more and they want to give their 2018 draft picks more run. Okobo was very impressive on Wednesday as he scored 19 points and grabbed 3 steals in 32 minutes. If the strong perimeter play continues defensively, he will frequently see close to 30 minutes per game. Okobo’s assist numbers should go up because Devin Booker is more of a shooter than passer. Okobo will have time to facilitate the offense and will benefit when playing on the court the same time as Booker. Okobo is a long-range scoring threat and when Booker is running the point, Okobo will wait at the arc to be fed. Canaan was very much in the rotation and that shows that the Suns want to get these rookies more experience and Okobo should see a major increase in minutes and usage.
James Ennis III SG, SF HOU-8% Ownership: Ennis should be looked at as a scoring and steals specialist. He’s scored in double figures in his last two games and has two multi-steal games in his last four. Chris Paul is hurting and if he needs to continue to sit, it will open up more minutes for Ennis. The Rockets don’t have a ton of depth overall and with Carmelo Anthony away from the team, Ennis should be able to be fed regularly at the arc. He’ll hit three’s in most of the games he plays in. Ennis has also grabbed three boards in three of his last four games. Expect Ennis to be used primarily as a bailout scorer on offense. When James Harden draws the double-team, he will look for Ennis who will be waiting at the arc. Eric Gordon shifting to PG with Paul banged up will benefit Ennis by giving him more shots.
WILDCARD PICK UP: Marcus Smart G BOS-13% Ownership: Smart has been seeing steady playing time. He’s very involved in the Celtics rotation because of his tenacity on defense. Smart has a long-range game, but he can’t be relied on to score in double figures consistently. He’s hit multiple three-pointers in his last two games. Smart will operate from both guard spots and he’ll provide some up with assists when he’s running the offense. He’s dishing 3.9 assists per game. Smart is a very strong perimeter defender and he’ll frequently grab steals. He’s stolen the ball in his last six games. Smart could see more playing time over the next couple of games if Jaylen Brown has to continue to sit with a Tailbone injury. With Brown banged up, Smart could be seeing a few more shots. Keep an eye on Smart’s shot totals. Pick him up if you need steals and assists.