As we enter week 18 in the 2023-24 NBA season, here’s a fantasy basketball guide and analysis.
Fantasy Basketball 2023-24: Week 18 Guide and Analysis
NBA Schedule
Week 18 features a busy schedule in the NBA, with every team playing three or four games.
Teams with four are the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors.
The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, and Washington Wizards play three games.
Waiver Wire Adds
De’Andre Hunter/Saddiq Bey – The loss of Trae Young for at least a month opens up big minutes for the Hawks. Bogdan Bogdanovic needs to be added if he can be found on the waivers, but the more available Hunter is also an add. Bey is the next-best option to pick up, especially with Onyeka Okongwu out for the next few weeks.
Nick Richards/Tre Mann – As fantasy managers should know, Mark Williams is still out and will be sidelined for a while. In his place, Richards has stepped up as the starting center and offers long-term value. Likewise, LaMelo Ball is yet to return, and as long as he’s in street clothes, Mann can ball out.
Ayo Dosunmu/Alex Caruso – With Patrick Williams undergoing season-ending surgery, this solidifies Dosunmu’s role for the rest of the season. Likewise, Caruso is also poised to play significant minutes for the Bulls.
Ausar Thompson – Dealing Bojan Bogdanovic opened up a starting spot for Thompson, who was electrifying early in the season. Aside from a few disappointing games, he is playing well so far in that role.
Amen Thompson – Even with the return of Fred VanVleet pushing Thompson to the bench, the rookie has still provided solid fantasy value. Monitor his minutes, but he’s an add as long as he’s producing this value.
Bennedict Mathurin/Andrew Nembhard – With Buddy Hield gone and Aaron Nesmith out, Mathurin and Nembard have taken on more responsibilities and have produced solid numbers.
Vince Williams Jr. – The best streamer from the Grizzlies is Williams Jr., but he’s quickly disappearing off waivers. The team has an ever-changing injury report, making it difficult to stream, but Ziaire Williams, GG Jackson II, Lamar Stevens, and John Konchar are some of the better options to consider.
Duncan Robinson/Jaime Jaquez Jr. – The Heat are short-handed for the next few weeks, especially with Jimmy Butler’s one-game suspension. Robinson and Jaquez are good short-term adds who are absorbing minutes, and Caleb Martin is a deeper-league option.
Herbert Jones – Jones has come out of the All-Star break on fire. He had consistency issues this season, but he’s an add while on this streak.
Donte DiVincenzo/Josh Hart/Precious Achiuwa – DiVincenzo, Hart, and Achiuwa are the primary beneficiaries of the Knicks’ injury situation. Their value will drop once the team is healthy, but take advantage of their production now.
Paul Reed – As the starting big man for the 76ers, Reed holds long-term value as Joel Embiid is sidelined indefinitely. He’s not a high-scoring center but provides good value in rebounds and blocks.
Tre Jones/Jeremy Sochan – His numbers aren’t eye-popping, but Jones contributes to multiple categories and plays well in his point guard role. Likewise, Sochan continues to play in his respective spot and is rewarding fantasy managers. He has some cold stretches occasionally, but he is still a solid add.
Kelly Olynyk – Olynyk’s tenure with the Raptors has been promising so far. He offered solid value in the main categories and steals in a small sample size, even while playing minutes in the 20s.
Keyonte George – The rookie locked his spot in the starting lineup for the rest of the season. As a result, he offers long-term value and has plenty of potential.
Marvin Bagley III – A Daniel Gafford trade opened up the starting center spot for Bagley. He’s a double-double threat who also offers a few assists and blocks.
Drops
Dennis Schroder – There was hope that Schroder’s value would increase following his trade to the Nets. However, that hasn’t been the case. He’s a streamer when Ben Simmons is out, but Schroder’s value depends on Simmons’ availability.
Patrick Williams – Undergoing season-ending surgery.
P.J. Washington/Tim Hardaway Jr./Daniel Gafford/Dereck Lively II – The Mavericks added plenty of depth at the trade deadline, which was good for real life but not fantasy. Washington and Hardaway are two clear drops. Gafford and Lively’s roles fluctuate as they battle for the starting spot, but their minutes and production are down. They can be held for a few more games but are trending towards drops.
Dillon Brooks/Cam Whitmore – Brook’s production usually doesn’t match the high minutes he plays. He’ll have the occasionally good game, but he’s not worth holding on to. Whitmore is a promising rookie, but the minutes aren’t there. He’s worth considering as an add when he has an increased role.
Russell Westbrook – A move to the bench has limited Westbrook’s fantasy value. His minutes are down, along with his production.
Spencer Dinwiddie – A change of scenery for Dinwiddie resulted in an even worse dip in his numbers. He is droppable as a bench player for the Lakers, whose minutes hover in the low 20s.
Naz Reid – Coming off the bench limits Reid’s value and upside. However, he is a streamer to consider when the Timberwolves are short on big men.
Gordon Hayward – Even though he returned from injury, it will take some time for him to ramp up. That means he’ll continue to stick in a bench role and play fewer minutes. He doesn’t have to be held during this period, and there is also the question of how good his fantasy impact will be in this new role.
Zach Collins – Since joining the second unit, Collins’ value spiralled downwards. He doesn’t see enough minutes to justify a roster spot.
Bruce Brown – Brown is seeing solid minutes with the Raptors but cannot produce. He’ll have a good game now and then, but more often than not, his numbers are rough.
Notable Injuries/Suspensions
Trae Young – Undergoing finger surgery and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
LaMelo Ball – Dealing with an ankle issue.
Mark Williams – Still out with a back injury.
Lonzo Ball – Out for the season.
Zach LaVine – Out for the season.
Steven Adams – Out for the season.
Desmond Bane – Diagnosed with an ankle sprain and will miss multiple more weeks.
Ja Morant – Out for the season.
Marcus Smart – Suffered a severe finger injury and is out for multiple weeks.
Jimmy Butler – Will miss one game due to suspension.
Terry Rozier – Considered week-to-week with a knee injury.
OG Anunoby – Will miss at least another week following elbow surgery.
Julius Randle – Dislocated his shoulder and will miss multiple weeks.
Mitchell Robinson – Could return from an ankle injury late in the regular season.
Joel Embiid – Out indefinitely.
Malcolm Brogdon – Out for a few weeks for elbow tendinitis.
Robert Williams – Out for the season.
