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As we enter the championship week for numerous fantasy leagues, the NBA schedule provides a great deal of flexibility for lineup management. Many teams have four games this week, and numerous late-season injuries and absences are creating chances for lesser-used players, thereby expanding our options considerably.
Every week, we will spotlight two Start candidates for your fantasy lineups, focusing on players with a start or roster percentage of 50% or lower in Yahoo leagues, who might pose tougher decisions for you.
Additionally, we’ll identify one Sit candidate from each position—a player who might typically not be a candidate for your bench but is worth considering due to limited playing opportunities in the upcoming week.
TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards.
TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns.
Let’s dive into some challenging start/sit decisions for Week 24:
**Start:** Stephon Castle, Spurs
*48% start rate*
Castle earns another week in this spotlight due to his strong performance as his rookie season comes to a close. Even with a tough outing against the Warriors on Sunday, where he converted only 3-of-11 shots, Castle averaged 18.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 28.5 minutes over his four games in Week 23. With consistent playing time and five games scoring at least 22 points in his last ten outings, he’s a solid Start choice once again.
**Start:** Spencer Dinwiddie, Mavericks
*39% start rate*
Dinwiddie is stepping up in the wake of injuries plaguing Dallas’ roster, even with Anthony Davis back in the mix. The veteran guard has assumed primary ball-handling duties following Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury, averaging 17.8 points on 51.2% shooting (including 38.8% from beyond the arc), alongside 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals over his last ten games. His average of 34.9 minutes per game also underscores his value, and while his shooting may seem out of character, he’s certainly worth staying loyal to during this productive stretch.
**ALSO CONSIDER:** Christian Braun, Nuggets (27% start rate); Nick Smith Jr., Hornets (7% roster rate).
**Sit:** Bradley Beal, Suns
*52% start rate*
We recommend keeping Beal on your bench for this critical week, as he still lacks a return date and is only just beginning to engage in five-on-five drills as he recovers from a hamstring issue. The Suns play just three games this week, and current reports suggest Beal will miss at least Tuesday’s game against the Bucks, along with potentially more.
**Start:** Naji Marshall, Mavericks
*48% start rate*
Marshall remains a key player for the Mavericks in this pivotal fantasy matchup. He performed well in Week 23, averaging 20.0 points on 61.0% shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per 33.3 minutes, even amidst a low-volume game against Orlando. That outing was quite unusual compared to his previous streak of double-digit shot attempts, as he quickly rebounded with 14 attempts against the Bulls. Given his role as a significant offensive contributor, Marshall is a reliable option with Dallas facing four games this week.
**Start:** Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks
*19% start rate*
Risacher enters Week 24 with momentum, having just scored a career-high 36 points on 12-of-21 shooting against the Bucks. His scoring average over the last ten games has risen to a commendable 17.7 points, supported by 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. With eight games featuring double-figure scoring and an impressive shooting percentage of 53.1%, he is a noteworthy Start candidate this week who could enhance your lineup.
**ALSO CONSIDER:** Shaedon Sharpe, Trail Blazers (39% start rate); Matas Buzelis, Bulls (25% roster rate).
**Sit:** Kevin Durant, Suns
*76% start rate*
In the best-case scenario, you can expect only two games from Durant this week, especially after he sustained an ankle sprain during Sunday’s match against the Bucks, ruling him out for Tuesday’s rematch. This week’s remaining matchups against the Celtics and Knicks also pose challenging scenarios for Durant, making him a risky investment during this crucial fantasy week, considering the lingering effects of ankle injuries.
**Centers**
**Start:** Alex Sarr, Wizards
*49% start rate*
Transitioning from the top overall pick to the center picked immediately after him, Sarr continues to be a reliable choice thanks to his solid performances. He backed up his Start designation from Week 23, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.3 blocks across 29.0 minutes in four games, and he has scored in double digits in 12 of his last 14 outings. With three double-doubles and eight games featuring multiple blocks in that time, Sarr remains a strong option.
**Start:** Kel’el Ware, Heat
*47% start rate*
This week features an all-rookie selection of centers, with Ware distinguished by his production of 13.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game over the last eight outings. He’s shooting a robust 66.2% overall and averaging 28.9 minutes—thanks to his ability to avoid foul trouble—making him a great choice to potentially boost your lineup during this four-game week.
**ALSO CONSIDER:** Kyle Filipowski, Jazz (27% start rate).
**Sit:** Walker Kessler, Jazz
*66% start rate*
Kessler is likely only to participate in three games this week, having already been ruled out for Monday’s match against the Hornets as he undergoes conditioning. The Jazz’s recent player management has been challenging for fantasy owners, and with the emergence of Kyle Filipowski getting more minutes, Kessler may find himself sidelined for additional games. Plus, his recent contributions—averaging just 6.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks over his last five games—don’t quite justify continued reliance during this critical period.
