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, a quick look at the schedule, and lineup notes (which is in and out of rotations).
Press play and mix in the latest fantasy basketball information.
🏀 End of the 3rd week:
🏆 Week 3 top fantasy performers:
🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Waiver Traps
Four players less than 50% listed who should be listed in all leagues:
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Scotty Pippen Jr. – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (49% listed)
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Bennedict Mathurin – SG/SF, Indiana Pacers (49% listed)
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Payton Pritchard – PG, Boston Celtics (44% listed)
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Al Horford – PF/C, Boston Celtics (42% listed)
Jose Alvarado – PG, New Orleans Pelicans (38% listed)
I’m shocked he’s not over 40% yet, considering almost every guard in the Pelicans’ backcourt is sitting in street clothes. In Alvarado’s last six games, he has contributed a mix of everything for fantasy managers, averaging 17.2 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 3.5 3s in 33.3 minutes per game contest.
Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson have been out for weeks, leaving only Brandon Ingram and Alvarado as the primary ball-handlers. The Pels are bad, but Alvarado should be listed in all formats for his 3s, assists and steals.
Goga Bitadze – C, Orlando Magic (30% listed)
The Magic’s backup center has a history of making an impact when given the opportunity. Bitadze has short-term appeal, as Wendell Carter Jr. is dealing with plantar fasciitis and has recently been limited to cardio. Truth is, Carter remains injured, so who knows if he’s really close to returning?
Bitadze has been ballin, averaging 33.1 fantasy points per game over his last three contests and providing numerical statistics in every category. He ranked 33rd in 9-cat leagues in Week 3. With no timetable for Carter’s return, expect Bitadze to remain in the starting lineup, playing 27-30 minutes a night. He is a must player in all leagues.
Kyshawn George, SF, Washington Wizards (28% listed)
With four games on deck in Week 4 and no timetable for Kyle Kuzma’s (groin) return to the lineup, George should be flush in points and 9-category leagues. The U’s rookie has started four of the Wizards’ last five games and has seen his minutes climb to more than 30 per game during that span. George’s on-ball defense was a plus for the Wizards and he lines up in the 100th percentile in blocks of the wing position.
Given his ability to stretch the floor with his rebounding, the Wiz have no choice but to continue giving him valuable minutes. George put up 32.6 fantasy points per game in point leagues last week and over his previous three games, he averaged over 17 points with six boards, three assists and three 3s with nearly two shares a night.
Naji Marshall – SG/SF Dallas Mavericks (4% listed)
Marshall will continue to see increased minutes without PJ Washington Jr. (knee) every day and has a history of helping fantasy managers in points, 3s, rebounds and steals when given an opportunity. It wouldn’t surprise me if Washington was more week-to-week as he deals with a sprained knee, but in any case, Marshall has started the last three games for the Mavs in Washington’s absence and is averaging 12 points with five boards and a steal on 57% shooting.
The Mavs play Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, so one transaction will get you three starts this week. He’s a good streaming option in Week 4.
Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (20% listed)
The backup big man has played 33 minutes in the last two games because of Jalen Duren’s latest ankle injury. During that span, Stewart posted a solid 13 points, 9.5 boards and 1.5 blocks. Duren is day-to-day, but it’s early in the season, so the Pistons will likely be careful with him. This leaves the door open for Stewart to play back-to-back Tuesday and Wednesday and two more games later in the week.
Fantasy managers in need of a big man might find Beef Stew valuable in Week 4. Given his low-end double-double potential, he’s flush for spots and category formats.
Royce O’Neale – SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (28% listed)
O’Neale will help fill the gap while KD is sidelined for at least two weeks with a calf injury. Through 10 games this season, O’Neale is averaging 10 points, six rebounds and 1.8 shares per game with a very efficient 48/49/89 shooting split. He will continue to come off the bench, but he was already rosterable in 12-team leagues before KD’s injury. O’Neale is preferred in division leagues and his minutes may increase soon. Also, watch out for Ryan Dunn, who is listed in only 2% of leagues.
🗓️ Schedule Highlights:
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Week 3 daily schedule of games: Monday (5), Tuesday (8), Wednesday (11), Thursday (1), Friday (12), Saturday (5), Sunday (10)
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Main Flow Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
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16 teams play four games: Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Mavericks, Nets, Pelicans, Pistons, Rockets, Spurs, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves and Wizards
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12 teams play three games: 76ers, Bucks, Celtics, Grizzlies, Hawks, Heat, Hornets, Lakers, Magic, Pacers, Raptors and Trail Blazers
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2 teams play two games: Nuggets and Warriors
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Back-to-backs: Tuesday/Wednesday: 76ers, Bucks, Celtics, Knicks, Magic, Pistons, Suns, Timberwolves and Trail Blazers
Friday/Saturday: Lakers, Kings, Pelicans, Raptors and Spurs
Saturday/Sunday: Hornets, Jazz and Mavericks
Sunday/Monday: Bulls, Clippers, Falcons, Heat, Knicks, Pacers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns and Wizards
🚑 Injury news:
Welcome back!
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Sixers C Joel Embiid: Expected to make his season debut Tuesday
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Spurs G/F Devin Vassell: Made his season debut Saturday
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Pelicans F Trey Murphy III: On track to make his season debut Monday
Waiting game:
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Pelicans F/C Zion Williamson (hamstring) is out indefinitely
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Suns F Kevin Durant (calf) is out at least two weeks
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Sixers G Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) to miss at least two weeks
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Grizzlies G Ja Morant (hip) considered week-to-week
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Heat G/F Jimmy Butler (ankle) is considered day-to-day
🔁 Notes of rotation:
Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson’s stock is rising
The play: Aaron Gordon will miss several weeks with a calf injury, moving Watson. (21% listed) into the starting lineup. The defensive specialist has hit double figures in five straight games and is shooting confidently from three, increasing his value. The problem with picking up Watson is that the Nuggets play two games in Week 4, starting on Friday. If you have the space to take him, do it.
Golden State Warriors: New starting lineup to stay?
The Play: The Warriors remain one of the most frustrating teams when it comes to managing rotations and players. On Sunday, Steve Kerr announced that he would like to continue to start Stephen Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The interesting part of his announcement is that he highlighted Melton’s attack point defense as the main reason for this decision. The Warriors have two games in Week 4, so Melton (11% listed) isn’t a must-add, but he’s worth adding to your watch list after a surprising performance of 19 points, 10 rebounds and three steals on Sunday.
▶️ LoveHate Thing – Wale feat. Sam Ross
New Orleans Pelicans: We’re running out of room in the infirmary
The play: Brandon Boston Jr. has started his last three games for the Pels and is averaging 17/4/4 with a 19% usage rate over his last five games. Trey Murphy III (hamstring) returns to the lineup Monday, but I’ll likely be on minutes restriction for several games. Boston Jr. is a good streaming option soon in all leagues, especially with Herb Jones, Jordan Hawkins, McCollum, Zion and Murray still out.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Life without Chet
The play: I’m not sure. The Thunder played little ball against the Warriors after Chet Holmgren left the first quarter with a hip injury. Now that we know Holmgren is facing a long absence, Isaiah Hartenstein’s value has increased. He’s still out with a hand injury, but Ousmane Dieng is the only true big man currently available. I expect some combination of Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace or Aaron Wiggins to step up, but for now, fantasy managers should take a wait-and-see approach.
Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey out, Embiid back
The play: The Sixers are land–me–bleh. Despite their MVP center returning to the lineup on Tuesday, Tyrese Maxey (hamstring) will be out for at least two weeks and Paul George (knee) will remain on a minutes restriction. Don’t drop Andre Drummond just yet because the Sixers play back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday, so Embiid is guaranteed to sit. Rookie Jared McCain is averaging 22.5 points with 3.5 threes in 31 minutes off the bench in his last two outings. He could be a good flow for Tuesday and Wednesday, with George and Embiid likely to miss one of the two games.
