The playlist: Week 14 fantasy basketball opt-out info and lineup tips
Welcome back to The Playlist: my weekly column that lets you know who to add to waivers and put in your lineup for next week in fantasy basketball.
[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]
Every league is different: sometimes a player with 75% of the roster gets waivers, either by mistake or because he has suffered an intolerable slump. If they fit your body size, go get them. But for this column, we’ll focus on players below 50% of the roster who are widely available and ready to help in Week 14.
Announcement
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: High score
Naji Marshall – FC, Dallas Mavericks (33% on roster)
With Anthony Davis out and PJ Washington sidelined earlier in the week, Marshall took advantage of his increased opportunities. He gave up 56 fantasy points in Week 13 and has scored at least 22 points in four of his last five games.
The Mavericks play four games this week, including three on four nights from Thursday through Sunday. This shortened schedule means healthy bodies like Marshall will log heavy minutes while guys like Cooper Flagg (coming off an injury) are more likely to get rest. It will be a strong game for anyone in shallow leagues looking for a boost over the weekend.
Announcement
Ajay Mitchell – G, Oklahoma City Thunder (29%)
With Jalen Williams out indefinitely after straining his hamstring on Saturday, Mitchell becomes a must-have in all formats. He scored 40-plus fantasy points in Week 12 and 34 in Week 13. Mitchell was a top-100 player in High Score for a significant portion of the year as Williams dealt with his wrist injury, and he’ll likely return to that form with four games this week.
Brice Sensabaugh – FC, Utah Jazz (25% on roster)
Sensabaugh gave up a season-high 58 fantasy points in Week 13 and has scored 25-plus points in four of his last five games. That guy can’t be missed right now. Plus, the Jazz are doing Jazz things – benching veterans for young guys – with Sensabaugh cashing in. Utah plays four games this week, including a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back to start. Get him now before someone else does (just look at his injury designation, as he got a GTD to start Monday morning).
Jalen Smith – FC, Chicago Bulls (23% on roster)
The Bulls have started Smith at power forward the last two games, earning two double-doubles, including one equaling 50 fantasy points. In five games as a starter, he averaged 12.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.2 digs per game. I can’t say whether Smith entered the starting lineup as an audition for teams that were keeping an eye on him at the trade deadline or whether he earned it with improved play.
Announcement
Either way, it’s producing. The Bulls are stuck in no man’s land, hovering around .500 and flirting with a play-in berth. They would likely have to make a move, which could mean Smith’s role expands or disappears. However, add him into the higher scoring and shallower leagues as he starts to get 30 minutes.
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Deeper leagues
Jaylon Tyson – SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers (20% on roster)
I took Tyson off waivers in a couple spots this weekend, so if he’s still there, take him. He still ranks in the top 90 in 9-cat leagues and is coming off a career-high 39 points on Friday, where he went 13-of-17 from the field and 7-of-9 from deep.
Announcement
For the season, Tyson is contributing in all categories, averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 stocks per game. He is one of the most improved players this year and continues to be under-rostered in fantasy formats.
Aaron Wiggins – SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (5% on roster)
If (Ajay) Mitchell isn’t available, Wiggins is on waivers in 95% of leagues. He just dropped 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting on Saturday and should see an increase in rushing with Jalen Williams sidelined. And once again the four-game schedule works in his favor.
Jordan Miller – San Francisco, Los Angeles Clippers (3% on roster)
With Kawhi Leonard out, Miller is logging heavy minutes. He had 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals against Washington in 34 minutes, then had 43 minutes and 19 points, 6 assists, 4 steals and 2 rebounds in an OT win over Toronto on January 16.
Miller is showing a well-rounded skill set with his scoring, playmaking and defensive effort. He looks like a solid streaming option while Kawhi is sidelined for at least two more games.
Announcement
The Heat play five games this week, with back-to-back games to start and end. If Davion Mitchell wasn’t available, I would look at Larsson. Larsson will start in place of Tyler Herro, playing 27-plus minutes in three of his last four games.
He’s primarily a scorer, not much else, making him better suited to point leagues. However, in a five-game week, those buckets add up quickly. Get it if you need volume.
Danny Wolf – PF, Brooklyn Nets (2% on roster)
The rookie just recorded his first career double-double in Week 12 and finished 101st in 9-cat leagues last week, averaging 8/4/2 with 1.5 3s and 2s per game. He hardly lights up the scoreboard, but we will continue to see more of him and other young players as we progress through the season.
He’s been a good source of low-end plays and points when Michael Porter Jr. rests, so check him out in a four-game week, along with fellow rookie Egor Demïn.