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 4th week:
🏆 Best performers:
🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Waiver Traps
Five players less than 50% listed who should be listed in all leagues:
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Tari Eason, SF/PF, Houston Rockets (48%)
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Jared McCain – PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (44%)
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Brandon Boston Jr. – SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans (39%)
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Shaedon Sharpe – SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers (37%)
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Luguentz Dort – SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (33%)
Kris Dunn – PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers (12%)
Dunn is a nice streamer for the next two weeks in category links. The Clippers are one of three teams playing eight games in the next 14 days (the most in the NBA). In his previous four contests, Dunn averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists with 1.8 3s and 1.3 steals per game in 26 minutes a night. He has started three of the previous four games and is also shooting an efficient 48% from the field. His role is safe in the short term, so he’s worth adding a 9-cat.
▶️ “I Did It Again” – The Charmels
Donovan Clingan – C, Portland Trail Blazers (29%)
The rookie center worked without Deandre Ayton (finger) in the lineup. Clingan’s size is such a presence and he’s already showing his value to fantasy managers as a shot blocker and rebounder. The former Huskie is averaging a career-low double-double with five shares in his last three outings. Ayton is said to have a deep bruise on his finger, and there is no clear return date, so while he is day-to-day, expect Clingan to be the more reliable addition between him and Robert Williams (27%). Clingan can be added in all leagues for his blocking.
Peyton Watson – SF/PF, Denver Nuggets (20%)
Watson may have been sidelined due to the Nuggets’ unfavorable Week 4 schedule, or you may see him on waivers after a lackluster scoring performance on Sunday. Despite those circumstances, Watson continues to start in place of Aaron Gordon, getting 33 minutes a night while offering fantasy managers a decent source of shares, 3s, scoring and rebounding. In five contests without Gordon, Watson is producing 27 fantasy points per game and averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 3s and 2.0 shares while shooting 54% from the field. The Nuggets play on Tuesday and are away until Friday/Saturday for a back-to-back set so keep that in mind if you want to air him out.
Goga Bitadze – C, Orlando Magic (26%)
Week 5 is setting up nicely for Bitadze, with the Magic playing four games in Week 5 and Wendell Carter Jr. is ruled out a day before playing. Carter Jr. doesn’t seem to be coming back, so Bitadze remains a strong hold in most formats. He did poorly on Saturday night, but he’s still posting good numbers without Carter Jr. in the lineup – 9.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.4 shares and shooting 70% from the field. Bitadze should be well over 30% listed. If he’s not available, Jonathan Isaac (16% listed) is a nice backup plan for rebounds and shares.
Moussa Diabaté – C, Charlotte Hornets (24%)
The Hornets play three games on lighter days in Week 5 against the Nets, Pistons and Bucks. There has been minimal reporting of a Mark Williams or Nick Richards return and Diabaté has been a beast on the glass and as a rim protector over the past week. He averaged nearly 12 rebounds and three steals through 24 minutes per game in Week 4. He also posted two double-doubles, so even though he’s coming off the bench, the matchups in Week 5 work in his favor as a decent flow option.
Ayo Dosunmu – SG/SF, Chicago Bulls (23%)
Dosunmu has quietly been a top 80 player over the past two weeks in 9-cat leagues mainly due to a combination of production and efficiency. Dosunmu also ate up Josh Giddey’s minutes, which is always good for fantasy purposes. Over the past 14 days, Dosunmu has provided fantasy managers with 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 3s while shooting 49% from the field and 92% from the line on three attempts per game in that span. The Bulls play four games and with this week so fluid, Dosunmu can help fantasy managers in points or division ties.
▶️“South Side” – Common achievement. Kanye West
Other streaming options with four-game weeks:
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Dillon Brooks – SG/SF, Houston Rockets (14%)
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TJ McConnell – PG, Indiana Pacers (8%)
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Jonathan Isaac – SF/PF, Orlando Magic (16%)
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Taurean Prince – SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks (12%)
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Kevin Porter Jr. – PG, Los Angeles Clippers (5%)
🗓️ Schedule Highlights:
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It’s a great week for streaming, a maximum of eight games per day.
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Week 5 daily schedule of games: Monday (8), Tuesday (6), Wednesday (8), Thursday (4), Friday (8), Saturday (7), Sunday (6)
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Teams to avoid:
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Thunder and Suns – both teams have no games after Wednesday
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Heat game on Monday and Sunday
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Timberwolves play Thursday and Sunday
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Four games: 76ers, Bucks, Bulls, Clippers, Magic, Pacers, Rockets, Warriors
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Three games: Celtics, Knights, Hawks, Hornets, Jazz, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Mavericks, Nets, Nuggets, Pelicans, Pistons, Raptors, Spurs, Trail Blazers, Wizards
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Two games: Heat, Suns, Thunder, Timberwolves
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Back-to-backs:
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Tuesday/Wednesday: Cavs, Grizzlies, Pelicans and Thunder
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Wednesday/Thursday: Magic
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Friday/Saturday: Bucks, Bulls, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Rockets and Warriors
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Sunday/Monday: Celtics, Clippers, Kings, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers and Raptors
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🚑 Injury news:
Notable Week 4 injuries
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Nuggets C Nikola Jokić (personal) is considered day-to-day
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Mavericks G Luka Dončić (knee) is considered day-to-day
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Trail Blazers C Deandre Ayton (finger) is considered day-to-day
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Trail Blazers G Anfernee Simons (illness) is considered day-to-day
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Kings F DeMar DeRozan (back) is considered day-to-day
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Kings C Domantas Sabonis (back) is considered day-to-day
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Nets C Nic Claxton (back) to miss at least one week
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Celtics G Jrue Holiday (knee) is considered day-to-day
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Raptors G Immanuel Quickley (elbow) will be reevaluated this week
Latest injury report for all NBA teams
NBA Injury Report – Monday, November 18
▶️“Ain’t Sayin’ Nothin’ New” – The Roots
🔁 Notes of rotation:
Detroit Pistons: Doing things that aren’t the Hard way
The play: Malik Beasley (27%) was eager without Tim Hardaway Jr. in the lineup, starting his last two games and dropping an average of 38.8 fantasy points per game. Beasley is in the zone and is an option for any fantasy manager in need of scoring and 3s. Be sure to keep Ausar Thompson (45%) as he continues to rise.
Los Angeles Lakers: Is it time for Knecht four?
The play: Rui Hachimura has missed the past three games with an ankle injury and the rookie from Tennessee has thrived, averaging 30 minutes a night with 25 fantasy points per game in Hachimura’s absence. If Hachimura isn’t ready to return by Tuesday, Knecht (20%) has streaming potential.
New Orleans Pelicans: How long do we have to keep flying it?
The play: The good news – CJ McCollum is practicing and Trey Murphy III is back. The bad news, the Pelicans are still down four of their original starting five in Week 5. Keep Brandon Boston Jr. listed, while Yves Missi (19%) should continue to hold value for fantasy managers who need rebounds, stocks with a high FG%. The Pels play three games in four nights Tuesday through Friday, so he’s a good weekly flow. If you must move on, do so after Friday’s game.
Portland Trail Blazers: Avdija fading and Ayton hurting
The play: Shaedon Sharpe’s play forces Chauncey Billups to give Deni Avdija fewer minutes. Deandre Ayton’s finger injury led to Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams splitting time and both were effective in a time split that does not include Ayton. Anfernee Simons is dealing with an illness that opens the door for Scoot Henderson and Dalano Banton (7%). Check the injury report before the Blazers play Wednesday because Banton and Williams could be decent streams if you miss Clinga.
▶️ “The Change Above” – Memphis Bleek feat. Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z
Sacramento Kings: Fox on fire! 🔥
The Play: De’Aaron Fox has a 49% usage rate and is averaging 54.5 points per game in two games without a combo of DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis. Both players will miss Monday’s contest and aside from Fox’s offensive outburst, Kevin Huerter (24%) alternated good games with bad games. However, he plays on Monday and makes a good run with limited scoring threats outside of Fox and Keegan Murray. The Kings are off until Friday after their Tuesday game, so there’s no need to keep him if you don’t want to. Trey Lyles is another alternative as well.
