After two lean days due to the In-Season Tournament, Wednesday’s NBA schedule was a robust one. There were 11 games on the slate, meaning that there was no shortage of options for managers looking to improve their rosters. But the most impactful development in fantasy basketball didn’t involve a healthy player. Shortly after a win over the Hornets, the Bulls announced that Zach LaVine would be out for another 3-4 weeks due to inflammation in his right foot.
Wednesday’s game was the third that he’s missed, with Patrick Williams filling the resulting void in the starting lineup. And with LaVine set to miss an extended period of time, Williams stands to have some staying power in fantasy basketball. Rostered in 39% of Yahoo leagues, he’s struggled when sharing the court with LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic, hence the decision to move Williams to the bench last month.
Williams didn’t have a great offensive game on Wednesday, finishing with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 1-of-2 from the foul line. What he did do well against Charlotte was rebound and defend, finishing with nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots. Add in the 29 minutes played, and it isn’t too difficult to envision Williams offering consistent fantasy value while LaVine is sidelined.
Let’s take a look at a few more of Wednesday’s top pickups:
Nick Richards (9%)
With starting center Mark Williams (knee) ruled out shortly before tipoff, Richards was bumped up into the starting lineup for the first time this season. He played 28 minutes against Chicago, scoring six points to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. As the fifth starter on a team that boasts multiple ball-dominant players, it was going to be difficult for Richards to get the touches he needs to be at his best offensively. Had LaMelo Ball been healthy, maybe Richards’ opportunities around the basket would have been higher.
Ochai Agbaji (3%)
Wednesday was a nightmare for the Jazz, as they were on the wrong end of a 50-point beating in Dallas. Agbaji was one of the few bright spots in that game, as he scored 21 points with two steals and five…
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