The playoffs have arrived in many leagues, meaning each game of higher value with more at stake. And this is happening as the NBA season winds down, with each injury coming with the risk to end any given player’s season. Watching the nightly injury report is as important as perusing the box scores — and identifying the next player up is the most important way to add new talent to your squads at this key juncture.
So, in this space, let’s get to it and identify lightly-rostered players currently filling big roles for their teams and putting up fantasy-caliber numbers.
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, (50.4% rostered in ESPN leagues): Collier has been playing at a very high level for more than a month, whether in the starting lineup or not. Over his last 14 games, including 10 starts and four games off the bench, Collier has averaged 17.8 PPG, 9.0 APG and 2.0 SPG. He missed Saturday’s game for personal reasons, but he is scheduled to return on Monday.
, (22.6% rostered): Jones has started the last five games for the Bulls with and/or sidelined. He has scored in double figures in all five games, averaging a solid 16.0 PPG and 4.4 APG in 28.4 MPG during that stretch.
, SG/PG, Bulls (31.1% rostered): Sexton was in the midst of a brilliant four-game stretch when he suffered a lower leg contusion and had to leave Sunday’s game early. At the time of the injury, he had scored 28 points in 22 minutes. He still averaged 25.0 PPG during those four games. If the injury is minor, Sexton has clearly found his offensive footing with the Bulls. If he has to miss time, (1.6% rostered) would be “next up” as the “instant offense” option in the backcourt.
, SG/PG, (48.3% rostered): Podziemski moved into the starting lineup five games ago based upon his strong play in the face of the Warriors’ injuries. Overall, in his last seven games, Podziemski has averaged 18.1 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 4.9 APG and 2.4 3PG in 35.1 MPG.
, (8.7% rostered): Da Silva is a shooter that increasingly has been given a green light for the Magic. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 13 straight games and, over his last eight games, has averaged 12.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 2.4 3PG in six starts and two games off the bench.
., SF/SG, (50.3% rostered): Oubre returned from a two-game absence with 24 points, five boards and four assists in 36 minutes. With joining on the sidelines and questionable after having missed the last two games, Oubre and (27.9% rostered) are in line to carry the lion share of the 76ers offense in the short term.
, Jazz (30.8% rostered): Filipowski has developed into a walking double-double as a starter for the Jazz. He has started nine straight games, scoring in double figures in all nine contests. In his last three games, he has totaled 36 rebounds. Overall, in the nine games he has averaged 14.7 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 2.1 SPG in 27.2 MPG.
, PF/C, (37.3%): Achiuwa has become an impact producer as the starting power forward for the Kings. He has three 20/10 double-doubles over his last nine games and is averaging close to a double-double in that span with 17.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 2.3 stocks/game. Achiuwa’s playing time is only increasing and, in his last three games, he has just about averaged 40 MPG.
, C/PF, Warriors (10.2% rostered): Horford has become a consistent producer for the Warriors when on the court. He misses an occasional game as a nod to his age (as he will sit on Monday), but in his last six outings he has three games of at least 17 points, three games with at least six rebounds and three games of at least four assists, with a total of 15 3-pointers and 13 stocks.
, (5.2% rostered): Williams misses close to a game a week, but when he is on the court “The Timelord” has become a nightly double-double threat with excellent defensive numbers. In his last five games, Williams has averaged 11.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 3.0 stocks/game in 21.2 MPG off the bench.
