RADIO
Welcome to Rotation Watch, Rotoballers! Each week, this article will highlight the players that are gaining minutes in their team's rotation. Fantasy managers want to roster the players that are accumulating stats and racking up the playing time. They want to avoid the players falling out of favor and watching the action from the sidelines.
It's crazy to think about how quickly this fantasy basketball season has flown by. It feels like yesterday that we were all ready for the Kevin Durant comeback SZN and drafting him in the first round. Oh... that was just me? Well, then that should tell you how my fantasy basketball seasons are going. I have two leagues starting the playoffs after next week's set of games and another one starting the week after that. Have no fear, though! The Rotoballer team will continue bringing you A+ season-long analysis for as long as your fantasy basketball league is playing and competing in 2021.
So without further ado, let's start searching those box scores from March 29 to April 4 and look for those hidden gems that grabbed minutes to help your fantasy basketball team achieve the ultimate prize: a championship. These suggestions are the cream of the crop, and if you ever need an extra slice of advice, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter @EuanOrYouOut, and I'll happily talk about some fantasy basketball with everyone.
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NBA Playing Time Changes
Malachi Flynn - PG, Toronto Raptors
Season: 9.5 Minutes per Game
Week 14: 22.8 Minutes per Game
Fred VanVleet (hip) and Kyle Lowry (foot) have been out for a few games over the last week, and it's given Malachi Flynn a chance to spread his wings. He's taken off with his newfound opportunity and is a top-50 player in nine-category leagues over the last seven days. Flynn's best performances have come since the calendar flipped to April. In the three games he has played this month, the rookie is averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.7 three-pointers. It's been quite the breakout party for Flynn, and he will remain a viable streamer in 12-team leagues as long as FVV and Lowry are dealing with their health issues.
Duncan Robinson - SG/SF, Miami Heat
Season: 32.6 Minutes per Game
Week 14: 32.8 Minutes per Game
Robinson announced himself on the national stage last season in the NBA bubble. He's had an up-and-down season for his encore performance but has hit his stride over the last handful of games. Since Mar. 26, the third-year wing is averaging 17.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and a gigantic FIVE three-pointers per game. In nine-category leagues, he is a top-15 player over the last week and has been a welcome addition to fantasy basketball rosters down the regular-season stretch. Robinson has topped 18 points in four of his previous six games and coming through when it counts for the 69 percent of managers rostering him in Yahoo leagues.
James Johnson - PF/C
Season: 17.4 Minutes per Game
Week 14: 30.2 Minutes per Game
James Johnson has taken on a more prominent role for the New Orleans Pelicans as they deal with a rash of injuries to their stars. Lonzo Ball (hip), Zion Williamson (thumb), and Brandon Ingram (toe) have watched from the sidelines at different times over the last few weeks, and it's allowed some of the Pellies role players a chance to shine. Unfortunately, New Orleans is in the thick of a playoff race, and it will immediately reduce Johnson's ability to contribute to fantasy rosters.
It was an encouraging stretch for Johnson with 17 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.3 blocks over three games. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't rely on that kind of production moving forward, and they can leave the e34-year old on their waiver wire as the playoffs draw closer in the fantasy basketball season.
Kelly Olynyk - PF/C, Houston Rockets
With Miami: 26.9 Minutes per Game
With Houston: 28.0 Minutes per Game
Nobody's perfect; I get that. Fantasy basketball analysts make mistakes. Fantasy basketball managers make mistakes. It's the circle of life, and we are all just living day to day. However, on this one... y'all are in the wrong. Kelly Olynyk is only 59 percent rostered in Yahoo leagues, and 45.6 percent rostered in ESPN leagues. These low percentages are despite being a top-100 player in nine-category leagues and the 13th best center over the last 15 days on ESPN's player rater. Since coming over the H-town at the trade deadline, the 29-year old is averaging 18.7 points (on a career-high 10.5 shots), 5.2 rebounds, three assists, and one steal. The Canadian will keep trotting out there as long as the Rockets are short on healthy bodies.
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