Welcome to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who and what to play — when it comes to music or other things in my rotation — for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.
Each week, you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make, lineup notes (who’s in and out of rotations), followed by key takeaways on the schedule.
Press play and mix in the latest fantasy basketball information.
🏀 Week 1 wrap:
🏆 Best performers:
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Waived pickups under 50% listed
Christian Braun – SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (32% listed)
The Nuggets starting two guard is playing a versatile role in fantasy hoops, averaging 13.5 points, seven boards and 3.5 shares in his first two contests this season. Denver opens with a back-to-back set against the Raptors and Nets to start the week, which is an ideal streaming spot for fantasy managers in all leagues.
Tre Mann – PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets (35% listed)
If you haven’t seen Mann play, his game is very similar to Allen Iverson. He was a microwave bucket off the bench for the Hornets and he will continue to play a pivotal role in the rotation as the Hornets’ sixth man. Brandon Miller’s hip injury also opens up a bit more opportunity, so until he returns, he’ll sport a usage around 25%, which is great for fantasy purposes. Mann is a preferred option for dot links but is also worth collecting in category formats.
Andrew Wiggins – SF/PF, Golden State Warriors (50% listed)
For shallow leagues (eight teams or less), Wiggins has surprisingly been an effective scorer for the Dubs early in Week 1. Wiggins has scored at least 20 points in two of three contests (he scored 29 points in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers) and sandwiched between those two games, Wiggins posted a varied 10-point, 13-rebound and five-assist game. The Warriors initiated much of their offense through Wiggins without Curry, a trend that could continue.
Yves Missi – C, New Orleans Pelicans (17% listed)
The Pelicans’ frontcourt is thin and the rookie out of Baylor is stepping up as their top rim protector. Missi has hit two or more shots in 20 minutes and scored at least 20 fantasy points in every game this season. Two of the Pels’ four games this week come on lighter slates (Tuesday and Sunday), and with four games total, Missi is a player who can help fantasy managers in shares and FG% with a mid-level contribution in rebounds.
Scotty Pippen Jr. – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (20% listed)
Marcus Smart starts at SG, leaving Pippen Jr. with most of his minutes as the backup point guard. The results speak for themselves, as he generated a ton of assists in about 22 minutes a night off the bench. He recorded 11 points with 12 assists and five boards in his last contest and with Ja Morant questionable with a quad injury entering Monday, Pippen Jr. there is a must flow if Morant sits. The Grizzlies play four games this week with a Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back. The Grizzlies could choose to rest Morant or Smart in that spot, so Pippen is a player I’d hold until at least Thursday. If he keeps putting up numbers like that, he could have lasted longer, too.
Jordan Hawkins – SG, New Orleans Pelicans (26% listed)
The Pelicans’ starters have benefited from Murray’s absence, but Hawkins is next in line. He shot lights out, knocking down 53% of his field goal attempts and hitting 9-for-17 on 3s. If you need a scoring boost with five boards, Hawkins is a strong option now that he’ll continue to play 30+ minutes a night until Murray and Trey Murphy III return.
Nikola Jović – PF/C, Miami Heat (17% listed)
After averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and two shares in Week 1, Jovic is a decent streaming option to open the week against the Pistons. He starts and produces after 25-30 minutes, so he is someone to add more than 12 team points and category ties.
🗓️ Schedule highlights:
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Week 2 daily schedule of games: Monday (11), Tuesday (4), Wednesday (11), Thursday (4), Friday (9), Saturday (10), Sunday (3)
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Main Flow Days: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
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Teams playing four games: Celtics, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Hawks, Kings, Magic, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pelicans, Raptors, Spurs, Trail Blazers
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Teams playing three games: Bucks, Bulls, Clippers, Heat, Hornets, Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns, Timberwolves, Thunder, Warriors, Wizards
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Teams playing two games: 76ers
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Back-to-backs:
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Monday/Tuesday: Jazz, Kings, Mavericks and Nuggets
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Tuesday/Wednesday: Nets, Pelicans and Warriors
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Wednesday/Thursday: Clippers, Grizzlies and Spurs
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Thursday/Friday: None
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Friday/Saturday: Cavaliers, Celtics, Hornets, Kings, Nuggets, Raptors, Thunder, Timberwolves and Trail Blazers
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Saturday/Sunday: None
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🚑 Injury report:
Outside endlessly
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Sixers C Joel Embiid – charge management
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Clippers G/F Kawhi Leonard – knee
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Bucks F Khris Middleton- ankles
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Hornets C Mark Williams – foot
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Pistons F Ausar Thompson – illness (clots)
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Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein – hand (expected return date: Dec 3
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Celtics C Kristaps Porziņģis – leg (expected return date: early to mid December)
An imminent return to play
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Sixers G/F Paul George (knee) expected to receive timeline for Week 2 return
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Hornets G/F Brandon Miller (hip) will be out until at least Nov. 1
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Spurs G/F Devin Vassell (foot) will be expected out until at least Nov. 1
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Pelicans F Trey Murphy III (hamstring) is expected to be out until at least Nov. 8
Day to day
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Grizzlies G Ja Morant (thigh) is questionable Monday
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Raptors G Immanuel Quickley (pelvis) is questionable for Monday
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Raptors F RJ Barrett (shoulder) is questionable for Monday
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Hawks G/F Bogdan Bogdanović (hamstring) out Monday
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Knicks F Josh Hart (ankle) is questionable Monday
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Suns G Bradley Beal (elbow) missed Saturday’s contest
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Suns G Grayson Allen (personal) missed Saturday’s contest
🔁 Notes of rotation:
Golden State Warriors: Two of their first three games have been blowout wins, but one constant will hold true – Steve Kerr is making a deep rotation.
The play: I already mentioned naming Wiggins in all leagues. Additionally, Buddy Hield was unconscious from the bench and he must also be listed in points and category ties until further notice. Brandin Podziemski is averaging nearly 25 minutes per game, but his value has been hit by the emergence of Wiggins and Hield. However, his fantasy value received a brief lifeline with Curry expected to miss games with his ankle injury. Draymond Green has not played more than 27 minutes in any game. His numbers were also worryingly bad, so I wouldn’t be mad if you dropped him.
Portland Trail Blazers: Is Scoot Henderson’s move to the bench long-term?
The play: Toumani Camara (8% listed) started the first three games for the Blazers, replacing Henderson as the point guard for Anfernee Simons. Camara is an OG Anunoby light — a guy who can score double-digit points with mid-range rebounds but is a valuable asset for steals. Camara is better for league points than for points and can be aired out with the Blazers playing four games in Week 2. Henderson is still averaging 29 minutes off the bench, which is enough to support his value in league points (and a division if you can stomach the poor FG). % and turnovers)
Brooklyn Nets: Ben Simmons starts at center.
The play: Nic Claxton’s (hamstring) minutes continue to increase over the past three games, and one would expect him to join the starting unit soon. Claxton played 22 minutes in Sunday’s win over the Bucks, posting a double-double with one block. I’d still leave Simmons on waivers (34% listed) because while his rebounds and assists are helpful, the four turnovers per game hurt his value, especially in category formats.
▶️ My Playlist:
RIP to legendary rap producer, DJ Clark Kent. Here are five of my favorite songs he produced.
