Starting Dillon Brooks would be a good decision in Week 4, as he has four games.
We have a busy Week 4 ahead, with the bulk of teams on four-game weeks and no two-game schedules on tap following a Week 3 that saw an unusually high three teams with such light dockets.Each week, we’ll aim to highlight a pair of start candidates for your fantasy rosters — usually from teams with four games — that may shape up as some of the tougher calls of the week to make, with the focus usually being on players with a start rate (when available) or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues.
Similarly, we will also highlight one ‘sit’ candidate for each position who would usually not be a consideration for a bench spot, often focusing on players with fewer game opportunities in the upcoming week.
TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs
Let’s dive right in and explore some of the more challenging start/sit decisions for Week 4:
Guards
Start: De’Anthony Melton, 76ers
43% start rate
Reports suggest that James Harden could be out for as long as a month due to a foot injury, which has increased the demand for Melton as his temporary replacement at two-guard. The younger player has already been showing promise, boasting an average of 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and an impressive 2.4 steals per game over 25 minutes in five games before Harden’s injury. In Philadelphia’s first game without Harden, Melton produced 12 points, nine assists, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, despite a below-par shooting performance (4-18 FG) against the Knicks. Nevertheless, this poor performance seems to be an anomaly, given that Melton entered the game with a shooting percentage of 51.7%, including 40.7% from the 3-point line.
Start: Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies
45% start rate
After a delayed season debut due to a thigh injury, it took Brooks a few games to find his shooting rhythm. However, he has since hit his stride. In his last five games, the seasoned wing player has averaged 18.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.2 steals, shooting at 47.8%, including 51.9% from the 3-point range, ahead of his four-game week. Despite playing alongside star backcourt players Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, Brooks has solidified his role as the third option, averaging just under 14 shot attempts per game in this sample. This trend is likely to continue given his previous performance. Brooks will have numerous opportunities to make significant offensive contributions in the coming week, making him a strong choice for a starting position.
Sit: Klay Thompson, Warriors
64% start rate
The Warriors are in a funk as their three-game week begins, and with a return home, they naturally can snap out of it in short order. However, Thompson is already the least reliable fantasy producer between him, Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins. Thompson will have only three opportunities to take the floor this week, and there’s a chance a shooting slump can derail at least one of those outings. As a result, Thompson is a candidate for a one-week benching in your lineup.
Forwards
Start: De’Andre Hunter, Hawks
31% start rate
This season, Hunter has increased his offensive play, achieving a career-high average of 12.4 shots per game and a career-best 42% shooting from beyond the arc. The fourth-year forward is averaging 14.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just under 30 minutes per game, and has scored in double digits in all nine games so far. Although the Atlanta team’s offense primarily revolves around its star backcourt, Hunter’s scoring ability is crucial, especially with Bogdan Bogdanovic still out due to a knee injury. With Trae Young possibly missing Monday’s game due to a shin injury, Hunter may have an opportunity to play a more substantial offensive role at the start of the week.
Start: Santi Aldama, Grizzlies
30% start rate
Aldama continues to hold his position as the power forward for the Grizzlies, with Jaren Jackson still not ready to return to the season due to his foot injury. The second-year player is taking advantage of this opportunity, averaging 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.2 blocks over 28.3 minutes per game. Aldama is also not shy about attempting 3-point shots, averaging 3.7 per game. Although his success rate is only 27%, it could potentially increase with more playing time. Meanwhile, a four-game week provides him with ample opportunities to increase your rebound and block categories.
Sit: Mikal Bridges, Suns
81% start rate
Bridges is undeniably a solid player in both real-world and fantasy contexts, but his potential output isn’t indispensable, especially in a three-game week. His offensive participation has dwindled in the early stages, currently averaging a mere 9.2 shots per game, down from a career-best 10.5 last season. Heading into his three-game week, Bridges has had a couple of subdued performances, averaging a modest 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals, and shooting at 43.8% in his last two games. Despite his valuable contributions in defense and 3-point shooting, it might be wise to bench him if a promising four-game option is on the table.
Centers
Start: Isaiah Hartenstein, Knicks
47% start rate
Mitchell Robinson’s projected absence due to a knee injury is expected to last at least a week, which likely positions Hartenstein for four center starts during the Knicks’ packed upcoming schedule. The schedule includes some particularly favorable matchups against the Pistons and Thunder. Hartenstein took full advantage of his first start on Saturday night against the Celtics, achieving a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double, including an assist and a block. Prior to this game, he had been averaging 8.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.0 steal in 24.5 minutes as a reserve. Therefore, with the increased opportunity, he is likely to have a productive week across the board.
Start: Precious Achiuwa, Raptors
42% roster rate
With Pascal Siakam (groin) out of action, Chris Boucher is expected to be a popular choice this week. However, Achiuwa, who is more of a true center, should also benefit significantly from Siakam’s absence. In his first 10 games, Achiuwa, a third-year player, has already scored in double digits six times, averaging 21.8 minutes per game off the bench. Despite running into foul trouble during Siakam’s initial absence against the Bulls on Sunday, Achiuwa still managed to score five points, four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in just 14 minutes. He’s been successful in staying out of the referee’s bad books this season, so he should have ample time to perform in Toronto’s four-game week and could be a rewarding player across multiple categories.
Sit: Myles Turner, Pacers
77% start rate
Turner’s performance has been inconsistent since his delayed start to the season. The experienced player has had a couple of low-scoring games mixed in with 16- and 27-point performances. He’s been reliable in terms of rebounds, averaging 7.0 per game, and exceptional in blocks, averaging 3.5 per game. However, he only has three games this week and has already missed one due to an ankle injury. If you’re desperately in need of blocks, you might still want to stick with Turner. However, if you have other solid four-game options, you might want to avoid the risk of low-scoring games or a potential absence.
