The Heat’s Norman Powell is coming off a season-best 38-point game against the Knicks in Week 4.
Week 5 has some similarities to Week 4 in terms of schedule, as there are once again more teams with sub-four-game schedules than there are full ledgers, and there are two teams with just two games on the docket. However, injuries continue to open up plenty of opportunity for players that are still being rostered or started at very modest rates.
Each week, we’ll aim to highlight a pair of Start candidates for your fantasy rosters who may shape up as some tougher calls of the week to make, focusing on players with a start or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues.
Likewise, we’ll spotlight one Sit candidate at each position who would normally not be a consideration for a spot on your bench, often focusing on players with fewer game opportunities during the coming week.
TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers
Without further ado, let’s examine some tougher start/sit decisions for Week 5:
Guards
Start: Ajay Mitchell, Thunder
18% start rate
Mitchell is flashing plenty of upside in the early portion of his second season, making improvements across the board. Mitchell is averaging 16.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.8 steals and has demonstrated an ability to continue churning out strong multi-category production whether he’s on the first unit or coming off the bench. Mitchell has scored at least 14 points in all but two games as well, and he’s averaging a solid 27.1 minutes in games during which he’s operated on the second unit. With four more games on tap this week, Mitchell could lend a big hand across multiple categories.
Start: Norman Powell, Heat
30% start rate
Powell has been a seamless fit in the Heat’s attack over the early portion of his team tenure, helping Miami make up for multiple key absences. Tyler Herro (foot/ankle) and Bam Adebayo (toe) will remain out to start Miami’s four-game week, and Powell will check into the busy week coming off a season-best 38-point showing against the Knicks on Friday and boasting averages of 27.3 points (on 48.1% shooting, including 47.5% from 3-point range), 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and and 1.1 steals over his last eight games. Powell could well play at least three of the next four games as his squad’s top scoring option, making him a very viable Start candidate.
74% start rate
It’s extremely rare for a player the caliber of Reaves to qualify for this designation, but Reaves’ appearance is specifically due to lack of opportunity. With just two games on the schedule for the Lakers and Luka Dončić healthy for now, Reaves is going to provide very strong production, but not the kind that you can’t make up for if you have a similarly talented three- or four-game option. Moreover, LeBron James is set to practice with the Lakers on Monday, and he could therefore make his debut in one of Los Angeles’ two upcoming games.
Forwards
Start: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Heat
23% start rate
Jaquez has been a key complementary figure as the Heat have navigated the aforementioned pair of key absences, furnishing a career-best 17.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists while shooting 53.3% overall. Jaquez has a pair of outlier six-point outings this season, but otherwise, he’s scored in double digits in each contest. He’s also averaging an even more impressive 18.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists across 30.8 minutes over his last six games, despite remaining in the second-unit role throughout the entirety of that span.
Start: Kon Knueppel, Hornets
24% start rate
Knueppel still has the occasional rookie stumble, but he continues to prove a very quick study at the NBA level and should continue operating as the starting small forward in the Hornets’ upcoming four-game week as a result of Brandon Miller’s lingering shoulder injury. The rookie wing is averaging 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting a blistering 40.2% from 3-point range, and his fearlessness on the court always gives him 20-point-plus upside.
Sit: Zion Williamson, Pelicans
56% start rate
Williamson remains in this spot for a second consecutive week, as he’s still sidelined with a hamstring injury and is likely to miss at least Monday’s game against the Thunder. With seven consecutive absences and counting, there’s no way of knowing whether Zion can suit up at all during Week 5, making him a candidate to consider keeping on the bench for at least another scoring period.
Centers
Start: Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
41% start rate
Hartenstein delivered another week of rock-solid production from the Thunder’s frontcourt, averaging 14.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals across 26.4 minutes over the last nine games. The big man has four double-doubles in his last six contests as well, and he’s shooting a career-best 69.0%. Even with OKC’s first unit back at full strength, Hartenstein is still a dependable option for scoring, rebounds and defensive stats on a team that’s typically going to pile up points while setting up plenty of opportunities on the defensive glass because of its elite defense.
Start: Jakob Poeltl, Raptors
28% start rate
Poeltl had an odd start to the season where he scored in single digits in four of his first five games, but he seemingly settled into a groove in the last week-plus. The big man has averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks across 27.5 minutes in his last four games, production that’s much more in line with Poeltl’s usual standards. The seven-footer now embarks on a four-game week, one that he’ll enter with back-to-back 20-point efforts.
Sit: Bam Adebayo, Heat
51% start rate
Adebayo’s situation is similar to that of Williamson’s, as the former is also dealing with a lingering injury. In Bam’s case, it’s a toe sprain that already is guaranteed to cost him Monday’s game against the Knicks, his sixth straight absence. Adebayo did practice Sunday but remains without a firm timetable, and it’s possible you get only two games or fewer out of him this coming week.
