The ninth week of fantasy basketball is a week filled with games as the league gets ready for a slate of Christmas Day games next week. Virtually every team plays four times and every team plays at least three games this week.
Monday features 11 games with 22 teams in action. Getting on the waiver wire to fill in bench slots as soon as possible will be key to winning the week.
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As with every week this season, these are all players that are rostered on less than 50 percent of Yahoo Fantasy Hoops Leagues at the moment. Make sure to scour your pool of free agents to see which of these players are available in your leagues.
Guards
Brandin Podziemski – Golden State Warriors (40% Rostered)
Three Games: Boston Celtics (Tuesday), Washington Wizards (Friday) and the Portland Trail Blazers (Saturday)
The rookie guard is trending up week over week this season with his best week coming last week. In four games he averaged 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 three-pointers per game.
These three games present an opportunity for Podziemski to make plays against a Boston team that will be focused on the Golden State stars, then the worst defense in the league and Portland who he just had 10 points, five assists and five rebounds against in a win.
Donte DiVincenzo – New York Knicks (14% Rostered)
Three Games: @ Los Angeles Lakers (Monday), @ Brooklyn Nets (Wednesday) and Milwaukee Bucks (Saturday)
While DiVincenzo can be spotty game-to-game, he has been terrific on the road as of late. In his last three road games DiVincenzo has 44 points, 10 made three-pointers and six steals.
Since becoming a starter DiVincenzo has stepped up his game overall as a shooter, defender and scorer next to Jalen Brunson.
Malaki Branham – San Antonio Spurs (14% Rostered)
Three Games: @ Milwaukee Bucks (Tuesday), @ Chicago Bulls (Thursday) and @ Dallas Mavericks (Saturday)
Since San Antonio moved Branham to the starting lineup five games ago he is averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 three-pointers made per game. With three games this week against teams that do not pose a major point of attack defender, Branham has the potential to continue his upward trajectory.
Forwards
Duncan Robinson – Miami Heat (49% Rostered)
Three Games: Minnesota Timberwolves (Monday), @ Orlando Magic (Wednesday) and Atlanta Hawks (Saturday)
Since coming back from missing two games Robinson has made three or more three-pointers in seven of nine games, scored in double-figures in seven games and has been a key to the Miami offense.
If he is available in your league, Robinson is a great pick-up for this week and potentially the rest of the season.
Norman Powell – Los Angeles Clippers (37% Rostered)
Four Games: @ Indiana Pacers (Monday), @ Dallas Mavericks (Wednesday), @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Thursday) and Boston Celtics (Saturday)
Last week was Powell’s best week of the season averaging 17.0 points on 60.5% shooting and 1.5 made three-pointers per game. He has become a main target for James Harden off the bench and closing games as a fifth scoring option.
Taurean Prince – Los Angeles Lakers (12% Rostered)
Four Games: New York Knicks (Monday), @ Chicago Bulls (Wednesday), @ Minnesota Timberwolves (Thursday) and @ Oklahoma City Thunder (Saturday)
Prince has quietly made 16 three-pointers over the last four games while scoring 12-plus points in each. He adds three-point shooting and efficient scoring to a roster deep off the bench with four games mostly on the road where Los Angeles will need his floor-spacing.
Centers
Kevin Love – Miami Heat (28% Rostered)
Three Games: Minnesota Timberwolves (Monday), Orlando Magic (Wednesday) and Atlanta Hawks (Friday)
Love is coming off a monster week averaging 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 three-pointers per game. He will have plenty of opportunities to stretch the floor against good defenses and shot-blocking teams.
Isaiah Jackson – Indiana Pacers (9% Rostered)
Four Games: Los Angeles Clippers (Monday), Charlotte Hornets (Wednesday) @ Memphis Grizzlies (Thursday) and Orlando Magic (Saturday)
Last week Jackson had his best week of the season with 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per game on 82.8% shooting. Jackson is capable of a double-double off the bench every night and is one of the best shot-blockers per minute in the league.
James Wiseman – Detroit Pistons (24% Rostered)
Three Games: @ Atlanta Hawks (Monday), Utah Jazz (Thursday) and @ Brooklyn Nets (Saturday)
While there are very little positives this season coming out of Detroit this season, Wiseman has been getting minutes and playing well as of late.
Last week Wiseman averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game on 75.9% shooting from the field. As a one week streamer against three teams that do not have great interior presences, Wiseman is a solid deep bench pick-up.
Specialists
ASSISTS – Killian Hayes – Detroit Pistons (16% Rostered)
Three Games: @ Atlanta Hawks (Monday), Utah Jazz (Thursday) and @ Brooklyn Nets (Saturday)
Another option for a deep bench play right now is Hayes who has averaged at least 4.3 assists per game every week this season. Hayes doesn’t bring much as a scorer or shooting, but has shown flashes to add rebounds and steals beyond his assists.
THREE-POINTERS – Sam Hauser – Boston Celtics (15% Rostered)
Three Games: @ Golden State (Tuesday), @ Sacramento Kings (Wednesday) and @ Los Angeles Clippers (Saturday)
Hauser had made at least three three-pointers in three straight games before making none against the Orlando Magic. He has become a staple in the Boston rotation playing at least 20-plus minutes in 17 games this year giving him plenty of opportunities.
STEALS – T.J. McConnell – Indiana Pacers (8% Rostered)
Four Games: Los Angeles Clippers (Monday), Charlotte Hornets (Wednesday), @ Memphis Grizzlies (Thursday) and @ Orlando Magic (Saturday)
Over his last six games McConnell has at least one steal, while totaling 32 assists and 17 rebounds. You pick up McConnell for the steals and the potential for him to win you the week with his production across the board off the bench.
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