By the end of Week 5, the first month of the 2023-24 season will be over. Depending on where your fantasy team ranks, evaluating your roster could mean staying with the status quo or considering drastic changes to get something back. Schedule-wise, this day, sandwiched between a jam-packed Wednesday (14 games) and Friday (10 games), is a day off for the entire league as the NFL takes over Thanksgiving. Let’s take a look at the outlook for Week 5 based on the number of games played by each team.
Games played in week 5
4 games: ATL, BOS, CHI, CLE, DEN, LAC, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOR, ORL, PHO, SAS, TOR, WAS
3 games: BKN, CHA, GSW, HOU, IND, LAL, MEM, NYK, PHI, POR, SAC, UTA
2 games: DAL, DET, OKC
Week 5 Storyline
– How will the manager understand the Pistons’ rotation?
Pistons coach Monty Williams has been making adjustments to the rotation over the past week with Jalen Duren (ankle) out for Detroit’s remaining three games and Jaden Ivey and Alec Burks returning from injuries. In terms of playing time, Cade Cunningham is the only player to play at least 30 minutes in each of Detroit’s last three games. Early fan favorite Arthur Thompson took a hit in Friday’s game against the Cavaliers, playing 17 minutes in foul trouble, but he’s not the only player whose minutes have fluctuated. Kevin Knox II started in place of the injured Duren on Friday and was productive, but at the expense of Marvin Bagley III. The Pistons will only play two games in Week 5 (Monday and Friday), so their fringe fantasy options will likely be hit on the waiver wire in many leagues.
– Mavericks and Thunder only have two games in Week 5
Dallas and Oklahoma City are also scheduled to play two games in Week 5, with both games taking place on Wednesday and Saturday. No one is going to drop Luka Doncic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They are too valuable and one of the best players in fantasy basketball (and his NBA). But what about Derek Lively II (51% enrolled in Yahoo League) or Tim Hardaway Jr. (68%)? You can make a very good argument for keeping both, but… Will some coaches have their eyes wandering, especially considering Hardaway’s start to the season? Obviously, it depends on factors like roster composition, injuries, and options available on the waiver wire. But two-game weeks can be tough, especially when he plays his four games in Week 5 while half of the NBA does.
– Hawks and Cavaliers scheduled for multiple back-to-back games
Atlanta and Cleveland are among the 15 teams scheduled to play four games in Week 5, but they also have to overcome two back-to-back games. The Hawks are relatively healthy, so that shouldn’t be much of a problem. On the other hand, Cleveland’s starting backcourt (Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell) is out with hamstring injuries, and backup point guard Ty Jerome (ankle) remains sidelined as well. Adding Isaac Okoro (knee), four rotation players have been affected by health issues recently. If the Cavaliers happen to be short on talent, these back-to-back players could make Max Strus and Caris LeVert even more valuable. Both are registered in less than 75% of Yahoo Leagues.
– Clippers settle on starting lineup
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook approached Tyronn Lue earlier this week and volunteered to come off the bench to increase continuity for the team. The team’s six-game drought ended Friday against the Rockets, with James Harden’s four-point play clinching the outcome. The Clippers will play his four games in Week 5, providing fantasy managers with a solid sample size to evaluate the rotation change and how it impacts his fantasy basketball. Westbrook and Terrence Mann (currently the starters) could increase their value, and the Clippers also added a new backup center in Daniel Theis. The team’s four-game week includes back-to-back games against the Pelicans and Mavericks on Friday and Saturday, with both games being played at home.
– Will the “Jonathan Isaac era” come again in Orlando?
The day many have been waiting for has finally arrived, as Isaac played 20 minutes off the bench in the Magic’s win over Chicago on Friday. And he was effective, recording 18 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and two 3-pointers. According to Basketball Monster, he is enrolled in his 11% of Yahoo leagues and has been in the top 75 players over the past two weeks. So is now a good time to take the plunge and add Isaac, especially with Orlando playing four games in Week 5?
You could certainly argue that. Isaac’s skill set is such that it only takes about 20 minutes to provide a solid return. However, Orlando begins Week 5 with back-to-back home games against the Raptors (Tuesday) and Nuggets (Wednesday). Isaac played both ends in Orlando’s most recent back-to-back games (Nov. 14 and 15), totaling 29 minutes. Orlando is without Markelle Fultz (knee) and Wendell Carter Jr. (finger), and Jalen Suggs also missed recent games, so players like Anthony Black, Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner remain in the spotlight. It has become a target.
– Draymond Green scheduled to end suspension in Week 5
Green will serve the final three games of his five-game suspension in Week 5, matching the number of games played by the Warriors. The player who benefited the most from Green’s absence was Dario Saric, who was providing seven rounds of value per game in the nine-cat format last week. He has attracted attention in many fantasy leagues, both as a reserve and as a starter.
Another player to watch for the Warriors is rookie Brandin Podzemski, who was a seventh-round player last week. His increased playing time is a result of Stephen Curry being sidelined with knee soreness, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after Tuesday’s loss to the Timberwolves that Podzemski would remain in the rotation. . The early season struggles of Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins also reinforce the need for players like Podzemski to get a chance to contribute. The Warriors will also have to account for the absence of Gary Payton II, who injured his foot in Thursday’s game against the Thunder.
light game day
Tuesday: 5 games
TOR vs. ORL
IND vs. ATL
CLE vs. PHI
POR and PHO
UTA vs. LAL
Thursday: 0 games
Week 5 consecutive games
Monday Tuesday: none
Tuesday Wednesday: ATL, CLE, IND, LAL, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR, UTA
Wednesday Thursday: none
Thursday Friday: none
Friday Saturday: Luck, Mia, Nord, Was
Saturday and Sunday:ATL, BKN, CLE
Sunday to Monday (6th week):Den