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Week 12 (1/05 - 1/11)

• 5 min read • Week 12

Tools We Use To Win Our Leagues

Court Consensus
Court Consensus is a dynasty tool for managers, featuring a trade calculator and community-driven rankings. The site includes future draft picks, allowing managers to evaluate trades involving draft capital. Rankings are continuously updated based on input from the community.

Around The League

In the West, the Thunder continue to dominate, while the Clippers have also put together a strong run, winning their last six games to move within one spot of the Portland Trail Blazers for a play-in position. In the East, the standings remain relatively unchanged, with the Detroit Pistons holding the top seed followed closely by the New York Knicks. In other news, Russell Westbrook made history on January 2nd, breaking the NBA record for the most career points by a point guard. Now, let's dive into this week's data-driven insights to give you the edge you need to dominate your matchup.

This Week's Highlights

  • Schedule Advantage (4 Games no B2B): ATL, DEN, GSW, HOU, NYK, OKC, PHI, PHX, POR, TOR
  • Waiver-Wire Top Adds: Quentin Grimes, Tim Hardaway Jr., Miles McBride
  • Rotation Report:⬆️ Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu (Giddey injury)⬇️ Brook Lopez (Zubac return from injury)

The Weekly Slate

The majority of teams play 4 games this week. Fantasy managers should prioritize players from the following 4-game teams who avoid a back-to-back set, minimizing the likelihood of a planned rest day.

  • Atlanta Hawks
  • Denver Nuggets
  • Golden State Warriors
  • Houston Rockets
  • New York Knicks
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Philadelphia 76ers
  • Phoenix Suns 
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Toronto Raptors

Owning The Waiver Wire

Here are the top players to target this week based on recent trends and their upcoming schedule.

Our top pick for 10-team leagues 

Quentin Grimes (PHI - SF/PF): (Rostered: 37% ESPN, 34% Yahoo) 

  • Weekly Schedule: DEN, WSH, @ORL, @TOR
  • Recent Trends: Grimes has been on a defensive heater over the last week, averaging 2.3 steals and 2.5 blocks while also hitting 3.0 threes per game. He’s been logging starter-level minutes and should keep that role until Oubre Jr. returns. Even then, Oubre is likely to be on a minutes restriction, which should give Grimes a similar runway to maintain his workload.

Our top pick for 12-team leagues

Tim Hardaway Jr. (DEN - SG/SF): (Rostered: 8% ESPN, 16% Yahoo) 

  • Weekly Schedule: @PHI, @BOS, ATL, MIL
  • Recent Trends: Hardaway Jr. is probably the best single-category streamer on this list. Over the past 15 days, he’s averaging 3.9 threes per game and should maintain that production given how injury-depleted the Nuggets are. He’s also a strong stream for points.

Our top pick for 14-team leagues

Miles McBride (NYK - PG): (Rostered: 5% ESPN, 10% Yahoo) 

  • Weekly Schedule: @DET, LAC, @PHX, @POR
  • Recent Trends: McBride has averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 threes, and 1.0 steal since returning from injury, and he’s seen increased playing time and usage with Josh Hart expected to miss another week. Stream him for points and threes.

Top Players For Each Category

Tier key:10-team ≈ 30-40% rostered12-team ≈ 10-20% rostered14-team ≈ 0-10% rostered

POINTS

• 10-team: Bobby Portis (MIL), Cedric Coward (MEM)

• 12-team: Max Christie (DAL), Tim Hardaway Jr. (DEN)

• 14-team: Miles McBride (NYK), Caleb Love (POR)

REBOUNDS

• 10-team: Cedric Coward (MEM), Wendell Carter Jr. (ORL)

• 12-team: Moussa Diabate (CHA), Jalen Smith (CHI)

• 14-team: Collin Murray-Boyles (TOR), Robert Williams (POR)

ASSISTS

• 10-team: Collin Sexton (CHA), Dylan Harper (SAS)

• 12-team: Cam Spencer (MEM), Nikola Jovic (MIA)

• 14-team: Day’Ron Sharpe (BKN), Pelle Larson (MiA)

STEALS

• 10-team: Dylan Harper (SAS), Tari Eason (HOU)

• 12-team: Jake LaRavia (LAL), Moussa Diabate (CHA)

• 14-team: Ziaire Williams (BKN), Dru Smith (MIA)

BLOCKS

• 10-team: Neemias Queta (BOS), Tari Eason (HOU)

• 12-team: Isaiah Stewart (DET), Jalen Smith (CHI)

• 14-team: Yves Missi (NOR), Collin Murray-Boyles (TOR)

3-POINTERS

• 10-team: Bobby Portis (MIL), Quentin Grimes (PHI)

• 12-team: Tim Hardaway Jr. (DEN), Egor Demin (BKN)

• 14-team: Miles McBride (NYK), Vit Krejci (ATL)

FIELD GOAL %

• 10-team: Neemias Queta (BOS), Daniel Gafford (DAL)

• 12-team: Ryan Kalkbrenner (CHA), Luke Kornet (SAS)

• 14-team: Marvin Bagley III (WAS), Goga Bitazde (ORL) 

The Trade Market

Take advantage of fluctuating player values by targeting players in slumps and selling those who are overperforming.

Buy Low

Pascal Siakam (IND - PF)

  • The Slump: Over the past month, Siakam has averaged 22.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on 49% shooting from the floor and just 68% from the free-throw line, providing 10th-round value over that span.
  • StatCats Take: Siakam has been a disappointment so far this season with Tyrese Haliburton out. He’s been returning late-round value, but we still think he has some positive regression left in the tank. You should be able to buy low on him right now.

Paolo Banchero (ORL - SF/PF)

  • The Slump: Banchero has provided 14th-round value over the past month, with averages of 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.3 combined stocks on 45% shooting and 71% from the free-throw line.
  • StatCats Take: Banchero has struggled this season and hasn’t really improved over the past month despite having an early-round ADP. His efficiency has always been a weak spot, but his scoring numbers have also dipped. He should bounce back and raise those numbers as the season goes on.

Sell High

Kawhi Leonard (LAC - SF/PF)

  • The Surge: Over the past month, Leonard has been on fire, averaging 31.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.1 threes, and 2.4 steals on 50% shooting, which ranks him 2nd overall.
  • StatCats Take: Leonard has arguably had the best scoring stretch of his career while also being magnificent on the defensive end. He’s currently ranked 3rd on the season, behind only SGA and Jokić. His value has never been higher, so you can look to move him for a first-rounder if possible—his injury concerns will always be there.

Keyonte George (UTA - PG/SG)

  • The Surge: Over the past month, George has averaged 27.9 points, 6.8 assists, 3.7 triples, and 1.0 steals on 47% shooting, ranking 13th over the past month. 
  • StatCats Take: Keyonte George is making a strong case for Most Improved Player this season—and he may have already won that award in fantasy terms. He’s made major strides in the areas that hurt him last year and is returning 4th-round value on the season. This production looks largely sustainable, though we do expect a slight rest-of-season regression.

Injury & Rotation Report 

Recent Notable Injuries

  • Nikola Jokic (DEN - C): Reevaluation in Late January (Left Knee)
    • ⬆️ Increased Role: With Jonas Valanciunas also injured, DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji will see the biggest boost in minutes 
  • Josh Giddey (CHI - SG, PG, SF): Re-Evaluation in Mid-January (Left Hamstring) 
    • ⬆️ Increased Role: Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu will take on more minutes in Giddey’s absence

Returning to Action

  • Ivica Zubac (LAC - C): Returned 1/3
    • ⬇️ Decreased Role: Brook Lopez will see a downtick in minutes as Zubac reclaims his starting spot
  • Christian Braun (DEN - SG, SF): Likely returning this week 
    • ⬇️ Decreased Role: Peyton Watson and Bruce Brown should be most affected minutes-wise