Week 4 Fantasy Basketball Overview
As Week 4 of the fantasy basketball season approaches, fans and managers alike will notice a condensed schedule offering a mix of games set against intriguing storylines. Notably, Wednesday’s lineup stands out with 12 games, while the rest of the week features 9 games on both Monday and Friday, and an 8-game slate on Sunday. The least busy day will be Thursday, hosting a mere three matchups, three of which involve teams that played the previous night. Diving deeper into the schedule, let’s break down the matchups and pivotal narratives unfolding this week.
Noteworthy Game Schedules
This week features several noteworthy game schedules:
- Three games: Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards
- Two games: Philadelphia 76ers
- Four games: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz
Back-to-Backs
Back-to-backs this week include:
- Sunday to Monday: Detroit, Milwaukee, Minnesota
- Monday to Tuesday: Utah Jazz
- Tuesday to Wednesday: Boston, Denver, Golden State, Memphis, New York, Oklahoma City, Sacramento
- Wednesday to Thursday: Atlanta, Cleveland, Phoenix
- Friday to Saturday: Charlotte, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee, Minnesota
A busy slate for the start of Week 5 includes: Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans.
Challenges for Fantasy Managers
However, fantasy managers should tread carefully, particularly regarding the 76ers, who have a challenging Week 4 ahead with only two scheduled games on Tuesday and Friday. This unlikely positioning poses a barrier for potential fantasy points, especially with their recent back-to-back games putting fatigue into play. Issues regarding minutes for key players like Joel Embiid and Jared McCain could be exacerbated due to this packed schedule. Additionally, it may cause a decline in fantasy output for other players such as Tyrese Maxey and Kelly Oubre Jr., leaving managers with limited options if considering trades or drops during the week.
Similarly, teams like the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks will also be missing from Saturday and Sunday games, meaning players such as Isaiah Stewart and Jaime Jaquez Jr. might not hold fantasy value come the end of the week. However, they do kick off Week 5 on a strong note with games on Monday.
Key Player Considerations
Notably, 14 teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Milwaukee Bucks, have a packed schedule with three games lined up from Wednesday through Sunday. Particularly concerning will be the back-to-backs, with Golden State facing a potential player fatigue issue and the Lakers dealing with a tough situation as they wrap up Week 4 against Dallas and the possibility of LeBron James returning amid recovery from sciatica. The Bucks also face a Thursday back-to-back which raises questions about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s availability due to his recent injury issues.
As for the Los Angeles Clippers, fantasy managers face uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard‘s playing status after he sprained his ankle earlier this month. His absence has seen Nicolas Batum step up, though he hasn’t made a significant fantasy impact. The situation with Jalen Green for the Phoenix Suns also casts a shadow, as his potential extended absence could lead to Ryan Dunn re-entering the starting lineup, further affecting team dynamics and fantasy value.
Check in closely on injury reports as the week progresses, as changes may present opportunities for backup players to rise during Week 4.
