Don't have an account? Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

Already have an account? Log In

All-Star weekend has come to a close, which means two things. One, and maybe most obvious, we're in the second half of the 2021-22 NBA season. Two, we're nearing the fantasy basketball playoffs, which is maybe not as obvious if you don't play the game, but that's likely why you're reading this article in the first place.

For the majority, the playoffs begin in Week 21 (March 14 - March 20) and end in Week 23 (March 28 - April 3). Subsequently, for consistency throughout the article, the advice given assumes the playoffs are between March 14 and April 3 (Weeks 21 - 23).

The trade deadline has passed and teams are fighting for real-life playoff spots. In fantasy basketball, we're doing the same thing, but there are certain advantages to be had as we head down the homestretch. One of those advantages is understanding who to acquire on the cheap and who to sell at their peak ahead of the trade deadline. For most, the trade deadline is typically in early March. Without further ado, let's see which players we should be buying low and which players we should be selling high. And as always, you can hit me up on Twitter @AdamKoffler to engage in further discussion.

Evan Mobley, CLE, PF/C

Make no mistake about it, Mobley has been a revelation for the Cavaliers this season. Many were unsure how the big man out of USC would fit next to Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt, but those questions have been answered and some. Mobley is currently the heavy favorite to take home the Rookie of the Year award, and he's helped the Cavaliers to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break.

Darius Garland on #Cavs Evan Mobley: "I mean, he's literally a unicorn. Seven-footer, 20 years old that can do everything. So I mean, I'm glad to play with him."

From a fantasy perspective, Mobley came out of the gates red hot. In the calendar year 2021 (his first 28 games), he ranked 46th on a per-game basis in 9-category leagues. This was in large part due to his efficient scoring (49.1% FG, 77.5% FT) and defensive metrics (0.8 steals, 1.8 blocks). But calendar year 2022 has been a bit different for Mobley, who turned the ball over much more (2.4 per game vs. 1.6 per game in 2021) and shot just 59.1% from the charity stripe. In fact, he ranks just 180th on a per-game basis in 9-category leagues since January 1. In college, Mobley shot nearly 70% from the line, so there's reason to believe he can settle in close to that number as the season progresses.

So while he's struggled a bit from a fantasy perspective lately, there are reasons to be excited about Mobley down the stretch. First, as mentioned previously, he's battling for Rookie of the Year honors on a really good Cavs team. That should be enough incentive right there. But wait, there's another great reason you should be buying low on Mobley right now for your playoff run. The Cavaliers have one of the most favorable schedules between Weeks 21 and 23, playing 12 games in that time span, including five games during many league championships in Week 23. They're one of just four teams to have 12 games during those three weeks.

Right now is the perfect opportunity to buy-low on Evan Mobley as you gear up for a deep playoff run in your fantasy basketball leagues.

Kristaps Porzingis, WAS, PF/C

Porzingis and Luka Doncic could never really figure out how to co-exist in Dallas, so the Mavericks finally decided to move on from KP at the trade deadline. He goes from sharing the court with a 37% usage guy in Doncic to sharing a court with Kyle Kuzma, the highest usage guy in Washington at just 27%. Porzingis himself had a 29% usage rate in Dallas this season so he should get every opportunity to be the centerpiece for this Wizards team with Bradley Beal out for the remainder of the season and Spencer Dinwiddie now in Dallas.

With Doncic off the floor this season, Porzingis saw his usage rate jump to 30.5%. He also averaged 5.7 more fantasy points per game. Additionally, the Mavericks rank dead last in possessions per game this season with just 98.9 possessions per game. The Wizards rank near the middle of the pack, averaging nearly 101 possessions per game this season.

Additionally, all signs point to Porzingis finally being fully healthy after suffering a bone bruise in his knee. It's possible the Mavericks were simply protecting their trade asset ahead of the trade deadline, holding him out in hopes of striking a deal.

Wes Unseld Jr. indicates it is likely Kristaps Porzingis will make his Wizards debut in their first game after the AS break on 2/25 vs. SAS: "I anticipate he will, but once again we'll just have to see."

When healthy this season, Porzingis has been a top-25 guy in 9-category leagues. Oh, and Washington (like Cleveland) is one of the four teams to play 12 games between Weeks 21 and 23. You can likely get Porzingis much cheaper than expected if his current fantasy manager is worried about the knee injury.

OG Anunoby, TOR, SF/PF

Anunoby currently ranks 52nd on a per-game basis in 9-category leagues. That's not bad considering his average draft position (ADP) was around 64 this season. But recently, Anunoby has found himself in a pretty big slump. In the month of February (nine games), he ranks just 140th on a per-game basis. This could simply be a result of taking a backseat to Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, and Gary Trent Jr., all of who rank in the top-31 since February 1.

He's still playing heavy minutes (35+ per night) and Nick Nurse will continue to run his starters into the ground so long as the Raptors are in the thick of the playoff race (which they are as the current 7-seed in the East). Toronto plays 19 games between Weeks 19 and 23, which is three more games than the Celtics, Clippers, and Grizzlies play (16) during that same stretch. Also, the Raptors play just one back-to-back despite having a favorable 11-game schedule during the fantasy basketball playoffs in Weeks 21 - 23.

Float those offers out for Anunoby, who should be considered a solid top-60 fantasy asset for the remainder of the season.

Christian Wood, HOU, PF/C

There's no denying the Rockets' big man has struggled of late, but so has Houston. They lost seven straight games heading into the All-Star break and lost each of the six games Wood played in by over 10 points. During those six games, Wood ranks just 187th in 9-category leagues. Prior to the last six games, he managed to post top-90 numbers as a result of his scoring, rebounding, and abilities on the defensive end of the floor.

So if we chalk up Wood's struggles recently to tough competition/blowouts, we should take a look at Houston's schedule during Weeks 21 - 23 to see if that issue might exist in the fantasy basketball playoffs. Thankfully, just four of their opponents during that time span currently have records over .500. One of those four teams is the Suns, who will almost assuredly be without Chris Paul for that game. Look for the Rockets to remain competitive down the stretch, which absolutely boosts Christian Wood's fantasy value.

And like the Raptors, the Rockets play a whopping 19 games between Weeks 19 and 23. You shouldn't even have to give up too much for Wood at this point. Maybe a guy like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Buddy Hield, or Evan Fournier is enough to do the trick.

Dejounte Murray, SA, PG/SG

Before you yell at me for suggesting to trade away one of the biggest revelations in fantasy basketball this season, just hear me out. Sure, in the last two weeks (six games) he ranks second in 9-category leagues just behind Joel Embiid. Impressive stuff. Even more impressive, he ranks ninth overall over the course of the entire season. His ADP this season was around 42, so you can see just how much of a value this guy has been.

Sure, the departure of Derrick White helps solidify his value a bit, but maybe not as much as we'd like to think. His usage goes up to 28% (from 26.7% with White on the floor) and he puts up a couple more fantasy points.

Here's the thing, if you drafted Murray, there's at least a good chance you're doing very well in your fantasy league. You'll possibly even be securing a first-round bye in the playoffs. That's a great accomplishment, but what's not great is that the Spurs play just two games in Week 22 (the first week you'll be competing in the playoffs). That stings if you're a Dejounte Murray manager. Granted, you'll get four games in championship Week 23, but you'll have to get there first! So while I don't recommend selling high on Murray if you're still trying to get into the playoffs, I would consider doing so if you're well on your way to locking up a first-round bye in Week 21. Guys like DeMar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, and Luka Doncic all play four games in both Week 22 and Week 23.

Harrison Barnes, SAC, SF/PF

It's essentially been a tale of three different seasons for Barnes. He started the season white-hot, averaging 21.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, one steal, and 1.9 turnovers per contest while shooting 49.7% FG and 85.4% FT. That was good for the 21st ranking in 9-category leagues in his first 13 games of the season. For the next two months, he cooled off in a major way, averaging just 13.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.5 steals while shooting just 42.5% from the field. The minutes were still there, Barnes just simply wasn't producing during that stretch of 26 games and ranked 176th on a per-game basis.

Fast forward to the last month before the All-Star break, and Barnes once again finds himself on a heater. In his last 16 games, he's averaging 18.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field. While he may have some more staying power now that Buddy Hield and Tyrese Haliburton are with the Pacers, it's unlikely Barnes continues putting up top-50 numbers from here on out, especially considering there's a lot of downside to his game should the shooting percentages take a hit like they did midseason.

Couple the likely regression with the Kings' unfavorable playoff schedule (just 10 games total and just two games in Week 22), and Barnes is a screaming sell-high candidate at this point for those that feel comfortable with their playoff chances.

Desmond Bane, MEM, PG/SG/SF

"Sell high on Desmond Bane, are you out of your mind!?" That's the response I envision getting when I suggest such a thing. But yes, no player should be untouchable, especially down the stretch (as evidenced by my suggestion to see what you can get for Dejounte Murray). Undrafted in many leagues, Bane finds himself ranked 39th on a per-game basis in 9-category leagues this season. Impressive stuff for the second-year man, who as a result, finds himself in the running for Most Improved Player of the Year alongside teammate Ja Morant and Cavs guard Darius Garland.

In his last 10 games, Bane is ranked 31st overall thanks in large part due to his 3.0 3PM and his 1.5 steals per contest. That's been his calling card all season. The issue for Bane as we head into the fantasy playoffs is the unfavorable Grizzlies schedule. From Week 20 through Week 23, Memphis plays just 12 total games, three per week. They play just nine games in the playoffs. We've seen Bane go cold on plenty of occasions this season, and when that happens with a minimal number of games, you'll be in trouble. So, before it's too late, consider moving Bane for a guy like Evan Mobley, OG Anunoby, or Kristaps Porzingis, perhaps.

Good luck on your quest to win a fantasy basketball championship this season!

We are now a month in the baseball season, yet it still feels like we have many more questions than answers. Will teams like the Red Sox, White Sox, Braves, and Phillies start performing up to par? When will struggling stars get back on a groove? What is the baseball going to look like in... Read More

We're into May! I hope all of your wildest dreams are coming true this fantasy baseball season. We're back with another beast of a post where I give a grade and a start/sit recommendation for every SP scheduled to start a game this week. The feedback has been great on this post so far, and... Read More

After watching Shane McClanahan just absolutely dominate with all four of his pitches on Wednesday night, I got to thinking. I wanted to take a look at the full-pitch arsenals that the leagues' starting pitchers are throwing and try to identify the players that are doing the most to dominate hitters with multiple offerings. It's... Read More

Another week of home runs, bats broken over knees, a cycle, a no-hitter, offensive eruptions in ninth innings, and so much more is behind us. It was a very exciting week in baseball, but for the first time in a while, the bullpens mostly remained away from center stage. Now, there were still plenty of... Read More

What Appears In This Article? hide 1. DraftKings, FanDuel Pitchers - MLB DFS Lineup Picks 2. DraftKings, FanDuel Infielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks 3. DraftKings, FanDuel Outfielders - MLB DFS Lineup Picks 4. DraftKings, FanDuel MLB DFS Stacks Rise and shine, RotoBallers, as we have a wonderful Friday of baseball ahead of us! After... Read More

Eric (@SamskiNYC) and Sami (@Believe_Sami) chat with Toby Guevin (@BatFlipCrazy) about the hot/cold starts of some of the preseason's most polarizing players. Plus, they cover the potential value of a victory lap and also discuss how much attention you should be paying to your standings at this point in the season. They discuss Marcus Semien,... Read More

Hey there RotoBallers, and welcome back to more of our rankings! The MLB season is well underway now, and in this article you'll see Nicklaus Gaut's updated 2022 fantasy baseball points league rankings for May. These fantasy baseball rankings are catered specifically for points leagues and head-to-head (H2H) points league formats, and are looking at... Read More

Fellow RotoBallers, we a little more than a month into the fantasy baseball season so it's time for a rankings check-in. Below you will find Nick Mariano's updated 2022 fantasy baseball rankings and tiers for 5x5 mixed roto leagues. These rankings are being released in early May, and are looking at rest-of-season fantasy baseball rankings... Read More

Making the right trades can be crucial to championship success in fantasy baseball, almost as much as the draft, if not more. While most trades can have a significant impact on your fantasy team, it’s the deals where you acquire undervalued players and then see their production improve that can really tip the scales in... Read More

Saves are an important component for many fantasy baseball leagues. Closers are one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball, and one of the highest turnover positions in MLB. Each year, closers drop like flies and many MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance. In addition to closers and saves, relief... Read More

Bubba (@bdentrek) is joined by Bat Flip Crazy (@BatFlipCrazy). In tonight's episode, the guys will recap the Week 6 NFBC FAAB and ask a lot of listener questions. Be sure to subscribe to the Benched With Bubba Podcast, part of RotoBaller Radio's Podcast Network. Like and Subscribe to the RotoBaller channel on Youtube to get all our latest podcasts and... Read More

Welcome to RotoBaller’s Recently Promoted Prospects series for fantasy baseball! Here I discuss some recently-promoted top MLB prospects and rookies, making note of what I think their upside could be for fantasy baseball managers, and whether they are potential risers or fallers. In the past two weeks, we have seen a few more high-impact rookies... Read More

Welcome to the middle of May, where all of those small-sample thoughts start to turn into "well, it's been a month" trends as we gaze once more into my weekly-updated top-101 starting pitcher rankings - looking at rest-of-season values. RotoBallers can once again peruse my notes regarding key movers and then scroll through the top-101... Read More

As fantasy football continues to grow and grow with no signs of slowing down anytime soon, there is more content available than ever. That is a good thing, but it has led to players being put under a microscope. Analysts are constantly using film and analytics to scout them and find the next breakouts to... Read More

While touchdowns are the most coveted play outcome for tight ends in fantasy football, total receiving yards must be taken into serious consideration when deciding who to draft for the position. It is true that receivers have to work harder to rack up yards, and that they don't have an overly great value at only... Read More

The 2022 NFL Draft is over and the top prospects have found new homes at the pro level. Overall, it was a weak draft for the quarterback position, as just one went in the first round. The Titans used a third-round pick to take Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. Thought by some to be a potential... Read More

There is no way to describe the average NFL front office. Each franchise has its own set of rules, follows different parameters when evaluating players, and builds its roster in a very particular way. Even with a clear mindset, an organization's principles might be tweaked in order to accommodate players into the salary cap, for... Read More

In recent seasons, rookie receivers have been on the rise and are giving fantasy managers instant starters and not only that but impact players. It would be best to not get sucked into that dream and accept that should not be the expectation. The seasons Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Jaylen Waddle have given us... Read More

The life of an NFL running back can come at you fast. There may be no other position in professional football that changes so quickly and so profoundly. Two years ago, Christian McCaffrey was one of the greatest fantasy football running backs of all time. Fast forward to 2022, and there are some people who... Read More

In the NFL and fantasy football, things can change as easily as the snap of a finger from campaign to campaign. One season, somebody breaks a record, and the next, they are fighting for targets and struggling to produce. Based on the game script, chemistry, and availability of weapons, targets can fluctuate for pass-catchers. In... Read More

With the 2022 NFL draft completed, it feels like the preparation for the 2022 season can officially begin. What better place to start than the Wide Receiver position, where big names have been moving around the league and teams treating money like Oprah Winfrey gives out cars. Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, and A.J.... Read More

The son of former NFL running back Michael Pittman Sr. (who won Super Bowl 37 as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), junior made waves at USC before heading to the NFL where he was taken in the second round (34th overall) of the 2020 Draft by the Indianapolis Colts in the same draft... Read More

There is no way to describe the average NFL front office. Each franchise has its own set of rules, follows different parameters when evaluating players, and builds its roster in a very particular way. Even with a clear mindset, an organization's principles might be tweaked in order to accommodate players into the salary cap, for... Read More

The 2022 NFL Draft brought us the most highly touted wide receiver class in recent memory, yet one of the selections that generated the most excitement in fantasy circles came in Round 2. Western Michigan standout Skyy Moore was selected with the 54th overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. He joins free-agent additions JuJu... Read More

The element of surprise is always good in fantasy football. The 2022 NFL Draft had plenty of surprises. Some of them resulted in teams’ offenses improving enough that it will make a difference in your fantasy football drafting strategy. We continue our analysis of the draft with a look at the most-improved offenses heading into... Read More

For fantasy football GMs, draft season is gearing up. Preparing for what is waiting for us in our virtual war rooms is a key part of the process, and the first thing to know is the language our leagues will speak to us in. The first step is to know if you're going to battle your... Read More