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 minutes. They want to avoid the players falling out of favor and watching the action from the sidelines.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Ja Morant, and Derrick White are some of the year's early-season injury casualties. Fortunately, two of those three should return sooner rather than later. However, injuries will always create playing time for those fringe NBA players. The other thing to watch out for is COVID-19. Kevin Durant was recently put in the protocol for close contact and will miss all of Week 3. The fast fantasy manager will react and gobble up some valuable minutes in the Brooklyn Nets rotation. That's the luck of the draw sometimes, but it will allow new players to shine and possibly earn larger roles in the long term.
So without further ado, let's start searching those box scores from Dec. 28, 2020, to Jan. 3, 2021, and look for those hidden gems that grab the 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
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG - Dallas Mavericks
Season: 19.2 Minutes per Game
Week 2: 23.3 Minutes per Game
It's a popular strategy in fantasy football to roster the backup to your stud running back. It's uncommon in fantasy basketball, but Jalen Brunson may be one player that is worth a look in that capacity. When Luka Doncic sits, Brunson flourishes. In Week 2, Doncic sat out the contest against the Chicago Bulls, and it allowed the third-year guard to have his best game of the season. Brunson balled out with 31 points, seven assists, five rebounds, three makes from behind the three-point line, and perfect 6-for-6 performance at the charity stripe.
Doncic isn't injury prone by any means, but he does miss the occasional game here and there. Especially in a season like this with COVID-19 lurking around any given corner, Brunson is an incredible Luka Doncic manager's insurance policy. The former-Villanova stud is available in 93 percent of Yahoo leagues, but that number should shoot up whenever Doncic misses a night.
Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG - Indiana Pacers
Last Season: 30.9 Minutes per Game
Week 2: 37.6 Minutes per Game
Brogdon isn't lurking on your waiver wire, but he's a possible trade target for the savvy fantasy basketball manager. The 24-year old is seeing his minutes increase, his usage rate decrease, and his overall effectiveness bloom into a possible career year. It's only six games in, but the guard is looking far more comfortable in Indiana than he did during his first season with the team. On Saturday, he dropped a season-high 33 points in a loss to the New York Knicks, but it also marked the sixth time in six games that Brogdon dished at least five assists.
Sabonis is the focal point of the offense, and Victor Oladipo is working his way back to full strength, but there is still plenty of room in this team for Brogdon to shine. The former-Virginia standout is averaging career-highs in field-goal attempts, three-point attempts, and True Shooting percentage. He's a top-20 player in nine-category leagues right now, but it's worth a shot to see if you can send off a struggling big name that you don't believe in to acquire Brogdon as an early-season difference-maker.
Joe Harris, SG/SF - Brooklyn Nets
Season: 29.5 Minutes per Game
Week 2: 31.8 Minutes per Game
Although he signed a massive extension in the offseason, it was was easy to wonder how Joe Harris would replicate his offense with a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combo leading the Brooklyn Nets. Alas, the basketball gods made it possible, but it took an unfortunate season-ending injury to Spencer Dinwiddie. Since Harris' teammate went down, things are looking up for the three-point specialist.
The 29-year old attempted at least 10 shots in all four games and is averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 3.5 made threes per contest. Harris will become a significant part of the offense now and should thrive off the open looks developing from the defensive attention Durant and Irving garner. A cheap shooter that can slot into multiple positions in your lineup is an excellent foundation for your team.
Richaun Holmes, PF/C - Sacramento Kings
Last Season: 28.2 Minutes per Game
Week 2: 33.7 Minutes per Game
Things are looking up for Richaun Holme's role in the Sacramento Kings rotation. First of all, he's playing some great basketball, and second of all...
Marvin Bagley's dad has requested a trade out of Sacramento for his son. Yikes city. https://t.co/S8jVnHuqKt
— Tony Xypteras (@TonyXypteras) January 3, 2021
YIKES CITY indeed. Regardless of what happens to Bagley, Holmes is earning more minutes by the game. Last week, he ended his 2020 with back-to-back 20-point outings. Against the Denver Nuggets, the 27-year old posted a 20/5/3 line, and then on New Year's Eve, the former-Bowling Green star recorded his first double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds. Holmes played at least 32 minutes in each of the last three games and, if Bagley moves around, could be in line for that workload to continue. Grab him in one of the 20 percent of leagues where the big man is still available or trade for him before becoming a trendy target towards the fantasy basketball trade deadline.
Gorgui Dieng, PF/C - Memphis Grizzlies
This Season: 16.6 Minutes per Game
Week 2: 20.2 Minutes per Game
Dieng has proved what he can do in the NBA, so anytime he gets extended minutes is exciting for fantasy basketball managers. The 30-year old played four games during the second week of the season and showed his ability in the middle two contests. Against the Boston Celtics, Dieng posted 17 points, six rebounds, and two three-pointers. Then, on New Year's Day, he returned with 14 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two more three-pointers.
The big man from Senegal played at least 20 minutes in his previous three contests, and it will continue if the Grizzlies keep sustaining injuries to their starting lineup. He should be a priority for teams that need to add some cheap points, rebounds, and the occasional make from downtown. Dieng is available in 88 percent of Yahoo leagues, but that number, like his playing time, should increase this week.
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