In-Season Strategy: Week 2 Schedule Considerations

Part of what makes fantasy basketball unique is that the the NBA is a seven-days-a-week league. Managing the schedule, and using it to your advantage, is one of the most important keys to a successful season.

With an abbreviated Week 1 now in the rear-view, we now shift focus to the first full week of the regular season.

The Wizards, Jazz, Suns, Bucks, Lakers, Warriors, Mavericks, Bulls and Hornets each play four games in Week 2, so obviously there's some built-in value to players from those nine teams. On the other hand, the Thunder, Heat, Rockets, Nuggets and Hawks play just two games apiece, so the likes of Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Nikola Jokic and Trae Young lose some upside.

Four games: WAS, UTA, PHO, MIL, LAL, GSW, DAL, CHI, CHA

Three games: TOR, SAS, SAC, POR, PHI, ORL, NYK, NOR, MIN, MEM, LAC, IND, DET, CLE, BOS, BKN

Two games: OKC, MIA, HOU, DEN, ATL

Taking into account the schedule, as well as what we've learned through the first few days of the NBA season, here are some players to consider starting or sitting in Week 2.

John Collins, Hawks
The second-year forward is among the most popular breakout candidates this season, but he's yet to take the floor for the Hawks as he works back from an ankle injury stemming from the preseason. While Collins is set to be evaluated Monday and could be cleared to return, he's probably too risky to lock into your Week 2 lineup. There's still a chance he could miss more time, and even if Collins is cleared to return for Wednesday's home matchup with Dallas, the Hawks play just two games this week. Plus, Collins will likely be rusty after missing three-plus weeks, and he could initially have his minutes monitored.

Trevor Ariza, Suns
Ariza is still available in 20 percent of Yahoo leagues, and his ownership should probably be higher. While he struggled in Saturday's loss to the Nuggets, he still played 29 minutes in a 28-point loss after seeing 37 minutes -- and hitting five threes -- in the opener. The Suns' cluttered wing rotation was (and still is) a concern heading into the season, but they didn't pay up for Ariza for nothing. Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren may be more aggressive scorers, and future building blocks, but Ariza is Phoenix's number one wing and should continue to see big minutes. Phoenix plays four games in Week 2, including dates with the uptempo Warriors and Lakers.

Russell Westbrook, Thunder
Westbrook made his debut Sunday night and wasn't limited after missing the first two games of the season following a knee procedure. It's counterintuitive to consider benching one of the best stat-hoarders in the league, and two games of Westbrook -- assuming he continues to play without limitations -- is still plenty valuable, but four games from Lonzo Ball or three from Elfrid Payton could end up yielding a better reward.

Lonzo Ball, Lakers
Speaking of Ball, the Lakers backup (for now) point guard becomes a much more attractive option in the wake of Saturday's scuffle. Rajon Rondo is set to miss three of the Lakers' four games in Week 2, meaning Ball should move into the starting lineup for games against San Antonio, Phoenix and Denver, the latter two of which are appealing matchups. Ball was a non-factor for most of the opener in Portland, but he bounced back Saturday night, playing 26 minutes and knocking down four threes en route to 14 points, six rebounds and four assists. Ball's shooting will likely come and go on a night-to-night basis, but the opportunity for a big week in Rondo's absence is there.

Kyle Kuzma, Lakers
While Rondo was at the center of Saturday's melee, Brandon Ingram was slapped with the longest suspension. Ingram will miss all four of the Lakers' Week 2 games, so expect Kuzma to temporarily take on more of the offensive burden. Whether he replaces Ingram in the starting lineup or Luke Walton continues to use him as a spark plug off the bench, Kuzma can be penciled in as the Lakers' second-best scoring weapon for the next four games. Josh Hart, who's off to a strong start, is also worth a look.

Paul Millsap, Nuggets
Millsap put up a pair of double-doubles in the Nuggets' first two games, but he enters a two-game week and, as Denver's third or fourth offensive option, doesn't carry the upside he once had earlier in his career. There's an argument to be made that Millsap could be asked to do more should Will Barton miss additional time -- Barton didn't play Sunday against Golden State -- but even if that's the case, there's probably a three-game or four-game player on your roster who can exceed Millsap's output.

Malik Monk, Hornets
Monk is still going to be prone to some inefficient nights, but he already looks to be much more comfortable than he was during what was a mostly underwhelming rookie year. The 11th pick in the 2017 draft has scored in double-figures in each of the Hornets' first three games, and he's taken at least 10 shots in all of those contests. Monk can be a bit of a gunner, but the Hornets need instant offense off the bench, and Monk can provide some scoring and made three-pointer help in a four-game week for Charlotte.

JaVale McGee, Lakers
Through two games, things haven't gone completely as planned for the Lakers, but McGee's production has been a mild surprise. He's catching lobs, finishing easy dunks and already has eight blocks, five of which came Saturday against Houston. McGee's minutes have been capped in the low-20s thus far, and that's unlikely to change, but with four games this week he's worth a look for his blocks and field goal percentage contributions, and, to a lesser degree, his scoring (14.5 PPG) and rebounding (7.0 RPG).

Eric Gordon, Rockets
Gordon isn't super-appealing in a two-game week, but he could see a rather significant uptick in usage in the absence of Chris Paul, who was hit with a two-game suspension. Gordon is already averaging more than 30 minutes per game, but when Paul missed 14 games early last season, Gordon trended closer to 35 minutes per game. During that period, Gordon put up 22.0 points, 3.2 assists and 4.0 made threes per game.

Malcolm Brogdon, Bucks
Still available in more than a quarter of Yahoo leagues, Brogdon has plenty of upside with four games in Week 2. Injuries robbed Brogdon of nearly of nearly half of last season, but new coach Mike Budenholzer has installed him as a full-time starter, and he's looked plenty comfortable. Brogdon played 38 minutes in a one-point victory Wednesday against Charlotte and followed up with 15 points, seven assists and four rebounds in Saturday's blowout win over Indiana. He's attempted 10 three-pointers -- and made four -- through two games.

Harrison Barnes, Mavericks
Barnes' status is still very much up in the air heading into Monday's game against the Bulls. The Mavs had hoped to get Barnes back on Saturday, but he's still battling a hamstring issue and could end up being close to a game-time call Monday. If you have depth at forward, it's probably worth waiting another week to get Barnes back in the lineup.

Jamal Murray, Nuggets
Again, nearly any player on a two-game week is worth reevaluating, and Murray is no exception. The third-year guard looked good Saturday against the Suns, but he's struggled in Denver's other two games, and on Sunday he appeared to be bothered by a bruised tibia. Murray was 0-of-9 from the floor, including 0-of-5 from three, with only two assists against the Warriors. Count on Murray to bounce back -- the Nuggets get great matchups against the Kings and Lakers this week -- but with only two games on the slate, he may be worth replacing if you have a decent four-game backup.