In fantasy basketball, coming up with a strategy for injured and suspended players can be very difficult. This means that tough decisions will need to be made when it comes to holding players or dropping them, especially if they were drafted with a high pick. This article should provide some insight with regards to key players this season that are supposed to have multi-week absences. Some of these decisions will vary based on how well a team is doing and how many injuries they have, but this is a good baseline for what an owner should do in case they have one of these players.
Strategy for Injured and Suspended Players
Deandre Ayton and John Collins
Both Deandre Ayton and John Collins were suspended 25 games for taking a banned substance. The question is what to do, especially since they do not qualify for IR spots in leagues that have them. Ayton and Collins have way too much upside to drop, and odds are you spent an early-round pick to get these guys. Both of these guys have 20 points and 10 rebounds per game upside on any given night, and that is not easy to replace. If you can weather the storm until mid-late December, it will be worth the wait.
Stephen Curry and Gordon Hayward
Stephen Curry and Gordon Hayward both had hand fractures and went under the knife to remedy their respective injuries. Curry is expected to miss three months, which puts a return for him around the end of the season. The hard decision here is for Curry, as most owners spent a first-round pick on him in drafts expecting a big year. Unfortunately, the move here is to drop him. He is already missing most of the year, and with the Golden State Warriors going into tank mode, he may have restrictions even when he returns. Hayward is expected to miss six weeks. He should be kept, as he was playing at an all-star level prior to going down.
Khris Middleton and De’Aaron Fox
Both Khris Middleton (bruised thigh) and De’Aaron Fox (ankle sprain) have three to four-week timetables for their injuries. De’Aaron Fox is a hold everywhere, as he was just starting to play better after his slow start and has an elite upside. Middleton, on the other hand, is a bit trickier. Chances are he was a mid-round pick, which makes him harder to drop. However, he is just an average fantasy producer with not a lot of upside. If your team has a good record or does not have a lot of injuries then holding onto Middleton is fine. However, if your team is struggling with injuries, cutting Middleton should be considered.
Victor Oladipo and Zion Williamson
Both Victor Oladipo and Zion Williamson have entered the season with knee injuries and have yet to play. Oladipo is currently without a concrete timetable for a return, although he just began practicing with the Indiana Pacers G-League team. He should be stashed in all formats, as he should have a very good second half of the season. Williamson should also return in three to four weeks and should be stashed everywhere as well. Both of these guys have an all-star upside.
Caris LeVert and Serge Ibaka
Caris LeVert was recently ruled out for four to six weeks with ligament damage in his right thumb. Serge Ibaka has been out indefinitely with a severe right ankle sprain he suffered back on November 8th. LeVert needs to be cut in most leagues, as he was not performing well before he went down. While LeVert has a lot of upside as the number two option on the Brooklyn Nets, he is not worth stashing. The same strategy goes with Ibaka, as his 22.8 minutes per game are not high enough to keep him. That combined with there being no timetable for a return make all the more reason to cut him.
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