This week marks the start of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues, and it is also the first week when every team plays three or four games. While matchups and back-to-backs are still important, the best strategy may just be to start all your best players and let the chips fall where they may. I wouldn’t want to get knocked out of the playoffs with a good player on my bench just because he only played three games or had a tough back-to-back.
Atlanta Hawks(OKC, CHA, @MIL): Dennis Schroeder sat out Sunday’s game with an elbow injury, and Isaiah Taylor got the start in his place. He and Tyler Dorsey are both addable, especially in deeper leagues, though Malcolm Delaney would likely be better than both if he was healthy.
Boston Celtics (WAS, @ORL, @NOR): The Pelicans rank 27th in opponent’s points since the All-Star Break, with Boston’s other two opponents firmly in the middle of the pack. Boston gets at least one day off between each game, and with Jaylen Brown expected to miss the entire week with a concussion, Jayson Tatum should go back to being playable. Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris could see a few more minutes and shots as well.
Brooklyn Nets (TOR, @PHI, DAL): All three of Brooklyn’s opponents are in the top 10 in opponent’s points since the All-Star break, and their last two games of the week are back-to-back. Caris LeVert and DeMarre Carroll have played well of late, but no Net has to be owned at this point in the season.
Charlotte Hornets (@NOR, @ATL, @NY):With the Hornets basically eliminated from the playoff race, you have to wonder if they will finally give their younger guys some more playing time. Malik Monk, Frank Kaminsky and Jeremy Lamb would all be intriguing fantasy plays if they got 30+ minutes per game.
Chicago Bulls (LAC, @MEM, CLE): The NBA has forced the Bulls to play Justin Holiday and Robin Lopez, thus killing the value of most of their fringe fantasy contributors. The Bulls have several players who are capable of delivering on any given night, but they are not consistent enough to count on them in the fantasy playoffs.
Cleveland Cavaliers (@PHO, @POR, @CHI):Cleveland’s wing depth was ravaged last week, as Rodney Hood and Cedi Osman are out, and Kyle Korver could join them. Look for Jeff Green to play more with them out, though the real beneficiaries for fantasy are J.R. Smith, George Hill and Jordan Clarkson. While none of those players are particularly interesting against the stingy Trail Blazers, they could have big games against the Suns and Bulls.
Dallas Mavericks (@NY, @TOR, @BKN):Dallas ends the week on a back-to-back, but they only face one good defensive team in Toronto. Now that Dennis Smith Jr. is back after sitting out Saturday, he and Harrison Barnes are the only Mavs you need to own this week.
Denver Nuggets (@LAL, DET, @MEM):This is a middling schedule against three middling defensive teams. Denver gets a day off between each game, which is the only major positive. That being said, any Nuggets you have ridden this far have to stay in your lineup, and the schedule certainly isn’t good enough to warrant considering Wilson Chandler.
Detroit Pistons (@UTA, @DEN, @POR): Stanley Johnson is expected to return Tuesday, and while he is probably best left on your bench, his return ends any fantasy value Luke Kennard and James Ennis may have had. Keep an eye on Reggie Jackson, and be ready to add him to your fantasy roster as soon as he shows signs of returning to the court.
Golden State Warriors (LAL, SAC, @PHO): The Warriors have two days off for Steph Curry, Andre Iguodala and David West to get healthy, but the only one that really matters for fantasy is Steph. The Warriors should be able to score at will against the Kings and Suns no matter who is in the lineup, so they could hold their injured players out for a couple extra games.
Houston Rockets (SA, LAC, @NOR, @MIN): James Harden is questionable Sunday with a knee injury, and while Chris Paul and Eric Gordon would handle most of the playmaking duties with Harden out, Gerald Green would have some fantasy value in any games Harden missed.
Indiana Pacers (@PHI, TOR, @WAS): Darren Collison finally returned from his knee injury Friday and scored 17 points in 21 minutes off the bench. He is addable in all leagues, even though his play might be inconsistent as he works his way back.
Los Angeles Clippers (@CHI, @HOU, @OKC, POR): The Thunder aren’t a scary matchup with Andre Roberson out, but the Clippers do have to play them on the road on the second of a back-to-back. Montrezl Harrell, Milos Teodosic and Austin Rivers are all worth a shot if you are a huge underdog, but you can’t count on any of them this week.
Los Angeles Lakers (DEN, @GS, MIA): The Lakers don’t have to travel much this week, but they do have to face the Warriors on the second of a back-to-back. Brook Lopez is playing great right now, but he is a terrible matchup for the Warriors, and he had just 10 points and two rebounds against Miami earlier this month. He is benchable this week.
Memphis Grizzlies (MIL, CHI, DEN):Tyreke Evans has missed nine consecutive games with a rib injury, and there has been no indication of when he could return. He needs to be owned when he is healthy, but with the fantasy playoffs starting this week in many leagues, Evans is droppable.
Miami Heat (@POR, @SAC, @LAL): Hassan Whiteside is traveling for Miami’s three-game road trip, but he won’t necessarily play in any of those games. Dwyane Wade is likely out against Portland, and his status for the rest of the week is up in the air. Josh Richardson is a must-play with Wade out, while Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk both deserve consideration with Whiteside out.
Milwaukee Bucks (@MEM, @ORL, ATL):Despite facing three tanking teams, none of Milwaukee’s opponents is worse than 21st in defensive efficiency since the All-Star Break. Jabari Parker has scored at least 10 points in each of his last five games despite topping out at 25 minutes. If he ever gets to 30 minutes per game, he will be a must-add.
Minnesota Timberwolves (@WAS, @SA, HOU):It is shocking Nemanja Bjelica isn’t owned in more leagues after putting up 30 points and 12 rebounds against Boston Thursday. He may not come close to that production in any other game this season, but he should continue to be solid while Jimmy Butler is out.
New Orleans Pelicans (CHA, @SA, HOU, BOS):The Pelicans are third in the NBA in pace since the All-Star break, which is one of the biggest reasons Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and Rajon Rondo have been so good for fantasy. Anthony Davis missed just one game last week with a sprained ankle, but considering his injury history and workload, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he suffers another injury before the end of the season. If he were to go down again, Mirotic, Holiday and Rondo would all see significant bumps in fantasy value.
New York Knicks (DAL, PHI, CHA):Enes Kanter and Lance Thomas missed Sunday’s game against the Raptors, and Luke Kornet took advantage with 18 points in 34 minutes while Michael Beasley had a double-double. Both are playable while Kanter is out.
Oklahoma City Thunder (SAC, @ATL, LAC, TOR): Even when the Thunder play a couple of bad teams, they do so back-to-back. The Thunder lose an hour flying to Atlanta in the process, but at least they have two days until they face the Clippers. With Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson nursing injuries, this could be a rough week for the Thunder. Look for Patrick Patterson and Corey Brewer to play more minutes if Adams and Ferguson are out.
Orlando Magic (@SA, MIL, BOS): The Magic play back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday and they could be without their two leading scorers for that contest. Jonathon Simmonsscored at least 24 points in each of his last two games with Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier out, and he needs to be owned until Fournier returns.
Philadelphia 76ers (IND, @NY, BKN): The last two games of the week are back-to-back, but their opponents are so bad, I’m not sure it matters. If you are desperate for three-pointers, Robert Covington is averaging 2.4 3PM in March.
Phoenix Suns (CLE, @UTA, GS): Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson were all out Saturday, and you have to feel sorry for anyone who has to watch the Suns with those three out. I’m not sure you want to play any Suns outside of that trio and Elfrid Payton, though Troy Daniels could be a worthwhile high-upside play.
Portland Trailblazers (MIA, CLE, DET, @LAC): The Trail Blazers have two days off between their first two games but end theweek on a back-to-back. Jusuf Nurkic is averaging 12.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in just 23.0 minutes per game over the last week, and he looks like a must-play this week despite not playing a ton of minutes.
San Antonio Spurs (@HOU, ORL, NOR, MIN): The Spurs begin the week with a back-to-back, and they hope to get Kawhi Leonard back against the Pelicans. If you own Kawhi, you probably have to start him this week. Even two games of Kawhiis worth more than three games of a replacement-level player.
Sacramento Kings (@OKC, MIA, @GS, @UTA): The Kings have road games at OKC and Utah on the second of a back-to-back. To make it even worse, they play at altitude in Denver before traveling to Oklahoma and they lose an hour traveling to Utah. You probably have to hold onto Willie Cauley-Stein, Bogdan Bogdanovic and De’Aaron Fox if you own them, but they are benchable at the very least this week.
Toronto Raptors (@BKN, @IND, DAL, OKC): The Indiana and Dallas games are back-to-back, but this is a fine schedule otherwise. Serge Ibaka is down to 22.8 minutes per game over the last week, and he is droppable in all leagues.
Utah Jazz (DET, PHO, SAC): This is about as good as a three-game week can get. Joe Ingles is averaging 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.0 assists over the last week, and he needs to be owned in all formats.
Washington Wizards (MIN, @BOS, IND): Thomas Satoransky has gotten all of the attention since John Wall went down, but Otto Porter Jr. is averaging 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals over the last two weeks. Kelly Oubre Jr. has perked up in recent weeks as well, scoring at least 11 points in 10 of his last 12 games.