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Toumani Camara has averaged 13.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists across his past 10 games.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re set for the first of what are always a pair of unique weeks in the NBA calendar, the two scoring periods that sandwich the All-Star break. The shortened weeks mean we\u2019re dealing with multiple one-game schedules, as well as a scarcity of teams that have a full allotment of games. Therefore, we\u2019re focusing heavily on players from three-game teams this week, and fortunately, some injuries to key players are giving us solid candidates to work with at different roster spots.<\/p>\n
Each week, we\u2019ll aim to highlight a pair of Start candidates at each position for your fantasy rosters who may shape up as some tougher calls of the week to make, focusing on players with a start or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo leagues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Likewise, we\u2019ll spotlight one Sit candidate at each position who would normally not be a consideration for a spot on your bench, often focusing on players with fewer game opportunities during the coming week.<\/p>\n
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz<\/p>\n
TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n
TEAMS WITH ONE GAME: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards<\/p>\n
Without further ado, let\u2019s examine some tougher start\/sit decisions for Week 17:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Guards<\/p>\n
Start: Kevin Porter Jr., Bucks<\/a><\/p>\n 23% start rate<\/p>\n Porter is the first of two members of the Bucks\u2019 backcourt that we\u2019ll highlight this week. Milwaukee is one of the few teams with a three-game schedule. Porter\u2019s recent multi-game absence due to an oblique injury created the opportunity for Ryan Rollins<\/a> to make an airtight case to remain in the starting lineup upon his teammate\u2019s return two games ago. Meanwhile, Porter has picked up right where he left off in his first two games back in action, averaging 20.5 points, 8.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds on 50% shooting in that span. With Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> (calf) still lacking a firm return date, Porter should continue to offer strong multi-category production leading into the All-Star break.\u00a0<\/p>\n Start: Ryan Rollins, Bucks<\/a><\/p>\n 29% start rate<\/p>\n As already alluded to, Rollins, who was also a Week 16 suggestion, has been on an extended run of strong production. That held true even through Kevin Porter\u2019s first two games back from injury. Rollins averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 50%, including 38.9% from behind the arc, in that pair of contests, and he\u2019s eclipsed 20 points in six of his last seven games overall. As with Porter, Antetokounmpo\u2019s continued absence will continue to afford Rollins expanded usage, keeping the fourth-year guard firmly in play.<\/p>\n ALSO CONSIDER: Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers<\/a> (28% start rate); Isaiah Collier, Jazz <\/a>(24% start rate)<\/p>\n Sit: Josh Giddey, Bulls<\/a><\/p>\n 55% start rate<\/p>\n Giddey will retain his spot for another week after missing the entirety of Week 16 due to a hamstring injury. The Bulls have just two games to work with during Week 17, and Giddey is already listed as doubtful for the first one, Monday against the Nets. The talented guard is therefore unplayable again, but if he\u2019s healthy following the All-Star break, he\u2019ll be looking at an even bigger role than he previously enjoyed thanks to the trade-deadline departures of Coby White<\/a> and Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107<\/a>.<\/p>\n Forwards<\/p>\n Start: Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers<\/a><\/p>\n 28% start rate<\/p>\n Camara had a rough shooting night his last time on the floor Saturday, but the versatile wing has been offering impressive multi-category production more often than not. Camara has averaged 13.1 points (on 48% shooting), 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists across the last 10 games overall, and with Portland\u2019s three-game week and Shaedon Sharpe<\/a>\u2019s calf injury factoring in, the third-year pro has even more appeal than usual. Sharpe is already ruled out for Monday\u2019s game against the 76ers, and given the looming All-Star break and the lingering nature of calf injuries, he could well be sidelined through all of Week 17. Deni Avdija<\/a> (back) is also in line to potentially sit out his fifth straight contest Monday, which would only further Camara\u2019s case.<\/p>\n Start: Bobby Portis, Bucks<\/a><\/p>\n 16% start rate<\/p>\n Given the scarcity of full schedules this week, it\u2019s no surprise we have a third member of the Bucks in our Start suggestions. In this case, we\u2019re spotlighting the player who always has the potential to jump into the first unit when Antetokounmpo is sidelined. Portis checks into Week 17 in the midst of an 11-game fantasy-friendly stretch of performances that have seen him average 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists across 28.7 minutes per contest. Portis drew four starts in that span as well and averaged a robust 36.3 minutes in the last three of those. With Antetokounmpo likely out until after the All-Star break, Portis stands the chance of running with the starters for additional upcoming games.<\/p>\n ALSO CONSIDER: Matas Buzelis, Bulls <\/a>(40% start rate)<\/p>\n Sit: RJ Barrett, Raptors<\/a><\/p>\n 46% start rate \/ 69% roster rate<\/p>\n Barrett is one of those players saddled with a one-game schedule, and while he\u2019s been in relatively strong form since returning from a multi-game absence due to an ankle injury, he\u2019s worth considering for a spot on your bench during the abbreviated week. Barrett has averaged a solid-but-replaceable 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest over his first seven games, although he\u2019s posted a poor 41.4% success rate from the floor, including 28.1% from 3-point range, in that sample. Additionally, Barrett\u2019s one Week 17 game happens to come against the Pistons, a matchup in which useful fantasy production is likely to be an uphill battle.<\/p>\n Centers<\/p>\n Start: Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder<\/a><\/p>\n 36% start rate\u00a0<\/p>\n Hartenstein has posted a triple-double plus another double-digit point and assist tally apiece in his first four games back from an extended absence due to a calf injury. The versatile big man worked back up to 25 minutes in his most recent game Saturday, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> already confirmed out through the All-Star break due to an adductor injury, Hartenstein should benefit in the form of some extra usage. Hartenstein has averaged 41.3 points + assists + rebounds per 36 minutes with SGA off the floor this season, so the potential for an especially productive three-game week is certainly there.<\/p>\n Start: Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers<\/a><\/p>\n 43% start rate\u00a0<\/p>\n Clingan is another member of the Trail Blazers that can benefit from the ongoing absences of Sharpe and Avdija, and he checks into Week 17 averaging 13.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks across his last 11 games. The stellar across-the-stat-sheet production could naturally give your roster quite the boost on a full schedule, and Clingan will be in even better position to deliver above-average production on the offensive end for any games that either or both of Sharpe and Avdija remain sidelined for.\u00a0<\/p>\n ALSO CONSIDER: Deandre Ayton, Lakers <\/a>(42% start rate)<\/p>\n