In leagues with weekly changes one of the best ways to rack up stats is to squeeze extra games out of your roster.
While superstars should be started every week, scheduling will factor in when deciding whom to round out your roster with.
This is an in-depth look at the schedule for each week, identifying teams with extra games and favorable match-ups to help you take advantage.
Two Games: LA Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards,
Three Games: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, LA Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Four Games: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz
Favorable Schedules
Atlanta Hawks(CHI, @TOR, NJ)—The Hawks have a very good schedule this week, including a game against a Toronto team that, I believe, has yet to play defense. The Bulls and Nets aren’t much stronger, and all three teams rank in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency. Not only are the usual suspects good plays (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford), but Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, and Jamal Crawford are viable options depending on what your team needs. Assists in particular are hard to come by this year, so Bibby especially deserves a look.
Denver Nuggets(@PHI, @CHA, @DET, PHO)—Not only do the Nuggets get four games this week, but three of them are against teams particularly bad at preventing opponents from scoring. The Suns, Pistons, and 76ers all have defensive efficiency ratings over 105.5. Charlotte is a strong defensive squad, but a whole host of Nuggets make good fantasy plays this week. Chauncey Billups and Ty Lawson are great sources for assists, Lawson in particular if you’re looking to scrounge some off the waiver wire this week. JR Smith should hit a few extra threes, and the extra blocks from Chris Andersen will prove to be very valuable in H-2-H leagues as well.
New Jersey Nets (@CHI, GS, @IND, @ATL)—While the Nets contribute to the Hawks’ favorable schedule, they’ve got a pretty nice slate of games themselves. The Bulls aren’t particularly strong on the defensive end, and the Warriors and Pacers are downright awful. Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Brook Lopez, and CD-R are useful in most formats anyway, and you can add Terrence Williams and Rafer Alston to this week as well. Williams could a bit contribute in all categories, while Alston will be a nice source of steals and assists.
Unfavorable Schedules
Los Angeles Clippers (ORL, SAS)—The Clippers play only two games this week; one against the best defensive team in the league (Boston), and one against the 12th best (San Antonio). Outside of Baron Davis and Chris Kaman, I’d sit any Clipper this week. But hey, Blake Griffin is coming back fairly soon. So Clipper fans have that going for them…which is nice.
Milwaukee Bucks (@BOS, TOR, POR)—Rookie stud Brandon Jennings has cooled off in recent games, and this week he faces a tough slate. Sandwiched around the Raptors (see: Atlanta), the Bucks face the Celtics and Portland, two of the top six defensive teams in the league. Outside of Jennings and backup PG Luke Ridnour, everyone else is a risky play. Other than Ersan Ilyasova and Andrew Bogut, there’s no one else on the roster I’d consider this week.
New York Knicks(POR, @NOR)—The Knicks have an awful fantasy slate this week as well, playing only two games. The New Orleans matchup is a good one, but Portland is just the opposite, though their defense figures to struggle some adjusting to the loss of Greg Oden for the season. Other than David Lee and Al Harrington, there’s nothing to like this week. If you have daily changes, Danilo Gallinari and Larry Hughes could have some use against the Hornets.
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