For Yahoo leagues, Week 7 spans two weeks because the NBA did not finalize this week’s schedule until after group play in the Emirates NBA Cup. As a result, most of the league won’t be active until Thursday at the earliest. This “break” in the schedule will give fantasy managers time to assess their rosters and determine who should be targeted to account for key players’ absences. Let’s look at some key injuries that will impact how the second half of Week 7 is approached.
RELATED: Fantasy Basketball Key Injuries, Week 7 (Part 1)
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Towns was held out of Saturday’s loss to the Pistons due to right patellar tendinopathy, leaving a sizable hole in the Knicks’ lineup. Jericho Sims was the choice to fill the void, but he was done for the night after playing six ineffective minutes. Precious Achiuwa (6% rostered) and Ariel Hukporti were far more effective, with the former playing 28 minutes off the bench. Towns is questionable for Monday’s game against the Raptors to begin what could be a three-game run for the Knicks during the second half of Week 7 (Yahoo has combined two weeks into one). New York hosts Atlanta in an Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday, with the winner playing in the semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas. If Towns cannot play on Monday, Achiuwa is the only one worth a roll of the dice, even with that being the only game on the schedule.
Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Already without Paolo Banchero due to a torn oblique muscle, the Magic lost Franz Wagner to a similar injury during Friday’s loss to the 76ers. He’ll be sidelined for at least four weeks, hoping Banchero can return later this month to lessen the impact of Wagner’s absence. While Tristan da Silva started Sunday’s win over the Suns, there are better options to consider with Wagner sidelined. Goga Bitadze (30%) has been a solid option ever since Wendell Carter Jr. went down with a foot injury, and he’s remained in the starting lineup after WCJ’s return.
That’s where fantasy managers should begin their search for alternatives with Franz sidelined. Older brother Moritz Wagner (30%) is another option, while Anthony Black (5%), Cole Anthony (4%), and da Silva (3%) are further down in the pecking order. The wild card: Jonathan Isaac (12%). Unfortunately, the minutes haven’t been there because of his medical history, which includes his current stint on the sideline with a hamstring injury.
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Johnson, who has been outstanding this season, did not play in Sunday’s loss to Denver due to a shoulder injury, and it’s unknown if he’ll be available for Wednesday’s matchup with the Knicks. The Hawks went big to start Sunday’s game, with Larry Nance Jr. (1%) receiving the nod. While solid (16/4/3/2 with two 3-pointers in 24 minutes), this was Nance’s first game action since November 17. Onyeka Okongwu (76%) is already rostered in most leagues, but that isn’t true for De’Andre Hunter (40%). Hunter shot 7-of-20 from the field on Sunday, and fantasy managers looking for options, if Johnson remains sidelined, should focus more on the attempts than the percentage. If he’s in the high teens in attempts, the scoring output could potentially minimize the impact of the lack of defensive stats on Hunter’s fantasy value.
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley sprained his left ankle during the first half of Sunday’s loss to the Heat and did not return. Georges Niang (1%) started the second half and finished with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three 3-pointers in 31 minutes. However, Caris LeVert (21%) may also be worth a look if Mobley is not available for Cleveland’s matchup with the Wizards on Friday. Hopefully, that’s enough time for the Cavaliers forward to recover from his ankle injury, which would render this conversation irrelevant.
James Harden and Derrick Jones Jr., Los Angeles Clippers
Harden did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Rockets due to a sore groin, while Jones played 12 minutes before exiting with a sore hamstring. Also, Amir Coffey suffered a shoulder contusion before the game and did not play. The positive for the Clippers was that Kevin Porter Jr. (4%) and Norman Powell did play, with the former filling in for Harden. The Clippers don’t play again until Friday in Denver, which could be enough time for Harden to get back onto the court. However, soft tissue injuries can be tricky in terms of recovery time. Due to the schedule, there’s no need to add a Porter, Kris Dunn (4%), or Nicolas Batum (1%) right now, but those are names to be mindful of in deep leagues.
Fred VanVleet and Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
The Rockets were also shorthanded on Sunday, with VanVleet sitting out due to a right knee contusion and Eason being in the league’s concussion protocol. Amen Thompson (78%) started for VanVleet, with he and Jalen Green playing well in the Rockets’ win over the Clippers. Even with Aaron Holiday playing 19 minutes off the bench, there isn’t an excellent waiver wire add if the Rockets are forced to play Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal without VanVleet or Eason. Possibly Dillon Brooks, but there’s a reason why he’s rostered in just 12% of Yahoo leagues despite being a fixture in the starting lineup.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been without Reaves (pelvis) since November 29, and James joined him on the sideline for Sunday’s win over Portland. The latter’s absence may have been just as much about the opposition and the schedule as his foot injury. Portland is one of the worst teams in the NBA, and the Lakers don’t play again until Friday, when they visit the Timberwolves. LeBron may have harbored ambitions of playing all 82 games before the season began, but the reality is that the Lakers needed to get him some rest. Gabe Vincent (1%) and Max Christie (1%) provided little value as replacements in the starting lineup, while D’Angelo Russell (84%) had his best game of the season. Rui Hachimura (49%) also played well and is, along with Dalton Knecht (31%), the only realistic fantasy target on the Lakers roster for managers seeking reinforcements.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Murray sat out both games of Denver’s weekend back-to-back, a loss to the Wizards on Saturday followed by a blowout win over the Hawks. Russell Westbrook (47%) started both games, but he is who he is at this stage in his career. The veteran point guard is worth rostering while Murray sits, but the percentages and turnovers can be problematic in category leagues. Christian Braun (52%) played well in Atlanta, but the weekend with Murray sidelined was about Nikola Jokic putting the team on his back more than anything else. While the Joker can continue to record monster stat lines, others (including Braun) must step up. Denver doesn’t play again until Friday; hopefully, that’s enough time for Murray’s hamstring issue to subside.
Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
After leading the Grizzlies to a win in Boston on Saturday, Morant and Bane sat out Sunday’s win over the Wizards with back and toe issues, respectively. Scotty Pippen Jr. (19%) and Marcus Smart (27%) filled the voids in the backcourt, and fantasy managers have been down this road before. When Ja sits, Pippen should be streamed. Memphis won’t play again until Friday against the Nets, which should be enough time for Morant and Bane to recover and return to the lineup.
Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
Ingram suffered a sprained left ankle during Saturday’s loss to the Thunder, and like Zion Williamson (hamstring), he’s considered to be out indefinitely. Trey Murphy (86%) and Herb Jones (73%) are of added importance with Ingram sidelined, but they’re already rostered in most leagues. Brandon Boston Jr. (18%) has filled in admirably for injured Pelicans this season, and he would be the only player worthy of streaming consideration with Ingram sidelined. However, there’s no reason why Yves Missi should still be rostered in just 34% of Yahoo leagues. He’s impacted far more by the Pelicans’ lack of options at the center position than the Ingram and Williamson injuries. That percentage must increase substantially, even with the Pelicans off until Thursday.
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors
Wiggins has been playing through a right ankle impingement for a while now, but the injury forced him to the sideline during Friday’s loss to the Timberwolves. He sat out Sunday’s rematch, which prompted multiple changes to the starting lineup. Jonathan Kuminga (77%) retained his spot in the starting lineup, while Draymond Green started at center, and Buddy Hield (45%) and Gary Payton II (1%) were also promoted. Brandin Podziemski (53%) was an anchor for the second unit on Sunday, and Trayce Jackson-Davis (46%) picked up a DNP-CD. Hield is worth adding ahead of Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup with Houston, while managers can afford to exercise some patience with Podziemski. As for TJD, it may be time to move on, especially with the second-year pivot appearing third in the pecking order behind Green and Kevon Looney.
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns
Having provided solid fantasy value in the aftermath of Kevin Durant’s sprained ankle, Allen (19%) emerged alongside Royce O’Neale (27%) as a worthwhile streamer. Unfortunately, he sprained his ankle during Sunday’s loss to the Magic and did not return. Unless O’Neale has not been claimed off of waivers, there’s no need to move with Allen sidelined, especially if Durant is cleared to return in time for Friday’s game against the Jazz.
Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins, San Antonio Spurs
The good news for the Spurs on Sunday was that Victor Wembanyama returned after missing two games with a back injury. The bad is that they lost two rotation players during the game. Collins (5%) fell on his back minutes after Wembanyama had gone to the locker room after appearing to tweak something in his back (Wemby would return) and did not return. Then, Johnson (29%) exited with a left calf strain. Johnson’s availability will be more impactful in fantasy leagues, as it likely protects the minutes of starters Julian Champagnie (27%) and Stephon Castle (23%). As for Collins, Charles Bassey (1%) would play rotation minutes behind Wembanyama, and he finished Sunday’s win with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots. He’s only an option if Collins is ruled out for multiple games, as the Spurs are off until Friday night.
