As we enter week 21 in the 2023-24 NBA season, here’s a fantasy basketball guide and analysis.
Fantasy Basketball 2023-24: Week 21 Guide and Analysis
NBA Schedule
To maximize streaming, add players who play a high of four games. Those teams are the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and Utah Jazz.
The Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards play three games.
Teams with a low of two games are the Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks.
Waiver Wire Adds/Streams
De’Andre Hunter – Hunter has an increased role with the Hawks due to the plethora of injuries they’re dealing with.
Dorian Finney-Smith – Smith offers decent value in points and rebounds, along with some steals and threes. He is a deep league option, as his production is sometimes inconsistent.
Tre Mann/Nick Richards/Grant Williams/Vasilije Micic – The Hornets don’t have an appealing schedule in week 21, but Mann and Richards offer long-term value due to injuries. Williams is a solid streamer, although his production is sometimes up and down. Micic also benefits from increased usage while Cody Martin is sidelined.
Ayo Dosunmu/Alex Caruso – Dosunmu is maintaining his high value with the Bulls shorthanded, aside from the occasional dud. Likewise, Caruso was excellent last week and is in a good position for the rest of the season.
Caris LeVert/Isaac Okoro/Georges Niang – LeVert is the most reliable streamer of all the Cavaliers. The value of Okoro and Niang depends on injuries, but with Cleveland down some key players, they are worth fliers.
Jaden Ivey/Simone Fontecchio/Isaiah Stewart – Ivey’s stats have been inconsistent, but he still offers good value. Fontecchio is playing well with Thompson out and should be streamed until he returns. Stewart is providing decent production in points, rebounds, threes, and blocks, giving him some fantasy relevance.
Trayce Jackson-Davis/Brandin Podziemski – Jackson-Davis has elevated his play over the past few weeks and offers value in the main categories. Podziemski compiled a decent stretch of games over the past few weeks. His numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he provides some stats in multiple categories.
Amen Thompson – The loss of Alperen Sengun opened more opportunities for Thompson. His minutes are in the mid-20s, but he’s posting good value in that time.
Aaron Nesmith/T.J. McConnell – Nesmith will continue to receive increased usage for the rest of the season, with Bennedict Mathurin sidelined. McConnell is on a hot streak and should be streamed while providing this value.
Rui Hachimura – Hachimura has recently strung together a good stretch of games, with contributions in the main categories and some threes.
The Grizzlies – If you plan on streaming a player on Memphis, check the injury report first and add accordingly.
Duncan Robinson/Caleb Martin/Jaime Jaquez Jr. – The trio of Robinson, Martin, and Jaquez Jr. have thrived due to injuries on the Heat. They’ve had a few off nights here and there but remain viable fantasy options.
Kyle Anderson – With the injuries the Timberwolves are dealing with, Anderson was thrust into the starting lineup. He offers solid value in the main categories.
Luguentz Dort – Dort is enjoying a nice streak of games, but fantasy managers know how hot and cold he is. Pick him up while he’s hot and drop once he switches back.
Jalen Suggs – While his numbers aren’t eye-popping and can be inconsistent, Suggs offers some stats across multiple categories.
Paul Reed/Kelly Oubre Jr. – Reed recorded some solid performances over the past week and offers fantasy managers long-term value. While Oubre is sometimes inconsistent, he still sees good minutes and holds a big role.
Scoot Henderson/Dalano Banton – Even though he was on a minutes restriction, Henderson played significantly better than earlier in the year. He also has great potential for the rest of the season. Over the past two games, Banton has received heavy minutes and provided excellent production. While posting these numbers, he’s a solid add, but monitor his minutes.
Harrison Barnes – Barnes is a very streaky player, but right now, he’s hot. Take advantage of this momentum and drop him when it runs out.
Jeremy Sochan – Sochan’s ability to contribute numbers to various categories makes him a solid add. He’ll have off nights in some stats, but he can still fill the sheet.
Kelly Olynyk/Gary Trent Jr./Bruce Brown/Jontay Porter – The Raptors were hit hard by injuries, but other players have stepped up. Olynyk is the top add, thanks to his versatility. Trent has also upped his game and is a good source of points, threes, and steals. Brown has looked better over the past week but still struggled with consistency. Finally, Toronto’s lack of frontcourt depth vaulted Porter into a bigger role, where he’s looked promising.
Keyonte George/Taylor Hendricks – The Jazz rookies are proving to be great pickups for fantasy as they appear set to have big roles for the rest of the season. George is the better add of the two, but Hendricks is flashing great potential.
Corey Kispert – The injury-riddled Wizards have relied more on Kispert lately to step up. His performance ranges from great to disappointing, but he’s in a position to receive more usage.
Drops
Saddiq Bey – Out for the season.
LaMelo Ball/Mark Williams – Ball and Williams are out indefinitely with no clear return timetable. They’re likely done for the season, but they will have significantly limited roles even if they return.
Patrick Williams/Andre Drummond – Williams is out for the season. Drummond’s minutes have hovered between the low to mid-teens, and he is a streamer rather than a hold.
Tim Hardaway Jr./P.J. Washington/Dereck Lively II – Hardaway has struggled to produce since the trade deadline and is a surefire drop. Washington has been decent but lacks consistency. He’s not a must-drop but can be cut loose if needed. Lively’s starting role has gone to Daniel Gafford, limiting his upside off the bench. He’s had some good games with limited minutes, but Lively’s value dipped significantly.
Kevon Looney – Playing very few minutes and had lots of DNPs.
Dillon Brooks/Alperen Sengun – Brooks typically provides minimal production despite playing big minutes. Sengun is likely done for the season with a Grade 3 ankle sprain.
Bennedict Mathurin – Out for the season
Russell Westbrook – Out until at least early April.
Spencer Dinwiddie – A bench role with limited minutes and little production made Dinwiddie fantasy irrelevant.
Precious Achiuwa/Bojan Bogdanovic – The return of OG Anunoby dampened Achiuwa’s minutes and production. Anunoby will miss a few games with injury management, so Achiuwa may be streamable then. Since joining the Knicks at the deadline, Bogdanovic has looked disappointing and is an easy drop.
Gordon Hayward – Hayward’s bench role with the Thunder resulted in minimal production. He can be a streamer when starting, though.
Markelle Fultz – Due to having his minutes managed, Fultz’s production is suffering. Also, due to injury concerns, he is droppable.
Shaedon Sharpe – Out for the season.
Kevin Huerter – Due to a leg injury, low minutes, and a cold stretch, Huerter is droppable.
Zach Collins – Collins’ minutes over the past few games have been limited to the mid-teens, constricting his fantasy production and upside.
Bilal Coulibaly – Out for the season.
Notable Injuries/Suspensions
Trae Young – Underwent finger surgery. Re-evaluation in a few weeks.
Ben Simmons – Out for the season.
LaMelo Ball – No clear timeline.
Mark Williams – Still out with a back injury.
Lonzo Ball – Out for the season.
Zach LaVine – Out for the season.
Donovan Mitchell – Out for a few games with a knee injury.
Evan Mobley – Re-evaulation in about a few weeks with an ankle injury. Out of a walking boot.
Alperen Sengun – Diagnosed with a severe ankle sprain and a knee bone bruise.
Steven Adams – Out for the season.
Russell Westbrook – Out until early April.
Ja Morant – Out for the season.
Marcus Smart – Suffered a severe finger injury and is still out.
Tyler Herro – Sidelined with a knee injury. Re-evaluation in one to two weeks.
Karl-Anthony Towns – Underwent surgery for a meniscus tear. Re-evaluation in one month.
Julius Randle – Dislocated his shoulder and could return in a couple of weeks.
Mitchell Robinson – Could return from an ankle injury late in the regular season.
Joel Embiid – Out indefinitely.
De’Anthony Melton – Dealing with back issues again and is out for at least two weeks.
Malcolm Brogdon – Out with elbow tendinitis.
Jerami Grant – Out with a hamstring injury.
Robert Williams – Out for the season.
Scottie Barnes – Out for multiple weeks with a fractured hand.
Jakob Poeltl – Underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his finger.
