RADIO
Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone. This week's column will be shorter than usual, with the anticipation of Super Bowl Sunday and my recent schedule. One quick reminder for this upcoming week: With the Thursday trading deadline looming, you should be saving your weekly adds up until Thursday, especially if your league has a limit on weekly acquisitions. Chances are there's going to be a couple of trades that could have major fantasy implications.
As a reminder for most leagues, fantasy playoffs will begin on Week 21 which begins March 12th. Drop the dead weight, make an effort to improve your team via trades / waiver wire. Don't be attached to short-term pick ups when there is a hot player with a better outlook. Be wary of weekly streaming options and stay ahead of your opponents. Owners should try to do anything in their power to squeeze their way into the playoffs, as it's a completely different ball game.
Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out! Now let's get prepared for Week 17.
Week 17 Schedule
4 Games – Wizards, Jazz, Trail Blazers, Magic, Pelicans, Pacers, Rockets, Pistons, Mavericks, Cavaliers, Hornets, Celtics, Hawks
3 Games – Nets, Bulls, Nuggets, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Knicks, Thunder, Sixers, Suns, Kings, Raptors
2 Games – Spurs
Week 17 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
Jarrett Allen, PF/C, Brooklyn Nets (48% Ownership)
It's Jarrett Allen's world, and he's quickly established himself over the past month since being inserted into the starting lineup. His contributions in field-goal percentage, boards, and blocks is similar to Steven Adams. Make sure he's not available in your league, as he's a must-own, must-start player in all 10+ team leagues.
Channing Frye, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers (10% Ownership)
Kevin Love (knee) is out "indefinitely" but reports say he's out at least 8 weeks. That would make him an obvious drop candidate. Frye was superb in the first two games, but dropped a dud in a disappointing smack down when the Rockets blew the Cavaliers out of the building on Saturday. Frye won't topple 30 + minutes per game, so that limits his upside. However, he's a 3-pointer specialist with some upside in boards and blocks.
Reggie Bullock, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons (25% Ownership)
Bullock is arguably the Piston's best shooter nowadays, as he's the perfect player to compliment Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin manning the paint. Coach Stan Van Gundy loves him and he deserves a look in 12 + teams, especially if you're in need of a marksman. He's a fine guy to own in 9-category leagues, since he doesn't turn the ball over often.
Terry Rozier, PG/SG, Boston Celtics (49% Ownership)
Rozier has been on fire lately, scoring 31 points fresh off a triple double earlier in the week. Kyrie Irving (quad) and Marcus Smart (hand) remains out, so Rozier is really using window of opportunity to put up nice value for his owners. Rozier has attempted a whopping 50 shot attempts over the past three. He's got the ultimate green light right now. He's worth using at least until Marcus Smart returns.
Mario Hezonja, SG/SF, Orlando Magic (14% Ownership)
Aaron Gordon (strained left hip flexor) remains out, and Mario Hezonja continues to get meaningful minutes, as he's scored 10+ points in third consecutive games. Gordon shouldn't be out too long, so Hezonja's time could be running out. However, it's also worth noting Magic are busy with the trading deadline, so it's worth monitoring what could happen.
Josh Jackson, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns (49% Ownership)
Jackson was really struggling earlier in the season, but the Suns front office realize they have every intent to groom him into a special player. He's coming off four consecutive 20 + point performances and he looks like a very nice upside player to own the rest of the way. He doesn't get much dimes or shoot enough 3-pointers, but he's one of those players who can go off for 30 if he's hot. Jackson is like another prototype of Andrew Wiggins. He's a must-own, grab him if he's available.
Tomas Satoransky, PG/SG, Washington Wizards (26% Ownership)
John Wall (knee) isn't expected to be back for another 6 weeks, making Satoransky a nice player to add for now. He's playing well right now, giving his contributions in assists and 3-pointers. There's no telling if he'll stay this hot, but give him a look since he'll be able to put up top-100 numbers for the next month or so.
Week 17 Deep Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
Josh Hart, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers (11% Ownership)
Hart has seen an increase of minutes over the past two games, and even logged 39 minutes against the Thunder on Sunday. He's coming off two straight double-doubles with double digit rebounding from a guard position, so he's definitely worth a look in all 14+ team leagues with the potential to be standard league relevant. It's hard to gauge how the Lakers look when Lonzo Ball(knee) returns, but he's worth grabbing and deploying while he's hot and logging heavy minutes.
Fred VanVleet, PG, Toronto Raptors (11% Ownership)
VanVleet is leapfrogged Delon Wright ahead of the back up point guard position, and he's looked very comfortable over the past few games. VanVleet scored 13 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, one 3-pointer, two steals and one turnover in 28 minutes on Sunday. He's been a top-60 play over the past month.
Andrew Harrison, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (27% Ownership)
With Mike Conley (Achilles) done for the year, and Tyreke Evans rumored heavily to be one of the candidates to be moved, Harrison is getting a chance to play significant minutes. He's dished out 29 assists over the past five games, and has scored in double digit scoring in four straight, giving him some appeal in deeper leagues.
Wayne Selden JR., SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies (9% Ownership)
Selden JR. is more of a 3-point specialist, and is streaky as they come. Because of the minutes upside, he should be added in most 14+ team leagues.
Gerald Green, SG/SF, Houston Rockets (14% Ownership)
The injury to Trevor Ariza (hamstring) and Eric Gordon (back) has opened up some minutes to Green, and he's capitalized by scoring in three straight double-figures. He's played 30+ minutes over the last three and it's evident he'll get minutes whenever there's injuries involved with Houston. Look for him as a rotational streamer down the stretch.
Buy Low
D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets
Russell has been flat-out terrible, and he hasn't logged single steal in the four games he's appeared in since returning from his knee injury. After all, Russell was out for 11 weeks. Russell was averaging 20.4 points per game prior to his injury, so the upside is obvious. If you're looking to get Russell, now is the time.
Sell High
Lou Williams, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers
Williams has seen his usage spike with all the injuries over the past month, but has finally fallen back down to earth just a bit outside of the 40-point eruption on Friday. There's still a very good chance that Williams continue to put up monster numbers, but I'd seriously consider moving him still. If you're able to package him with another player for players like Nikola Jokic, Hassan Whiteside, or Myles Turner, it makes a lot of sense.
Dario Saric, SF/PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers
With Markelle Fultz (shoulder) closer to a return, I would bet Saric is a candidate to head to a bench role. Saric has been outstanding lately, as he's been flirting with top-35 value the past month. I just don't see him averaging more than 30 minutes per game when the team is fully healthy, so I would sell everywhere I had the chance.
Tyreke Evans, PG/SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies
The rumors are getting stronger by the day, and the a lot of teams will be calling Memphis in the upcoming weeks for the veteran Evans, as he's been absolutely crushing it this season. Evans has been a steady early-round player for the season and a trade to a contender will probably bump him down a few rounds. I'd look to sell now before he's traded to a team like Cleveland.
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, New York Knicks
There's no doubt the first-time All-Star is a stud, but whether or not he's a true franchise star is still very much in question. The unicorn is still posting top-15 numbers thanks to his contributions in points (23.1 per game) and league-leading blocks (2.3 per game). However, the Knicks are not going to make the playoffs, so his outlook isn't as promising as it sounds. If you can put a package him in a trade after a few nice games for someone like Damian Lillard or Kyrie Irving, it's not not a bad idea at all.
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