The fantasy playoffs have arrived for some and are quickly approaching for others. Managers who’ve earned a bye week have different objectives when adding players compared to less fortunate managers that are either fighting for a playoff berth or to advance in the postseason. Managers watching the carnage from the comfort of a one- or two-seed are free to stash riskier plays for a week while they await their opponent. For managers in a bye week, adding a guy like Cameron Payne (right wrist sprain) or Alex Caruso (right wrist surgery recovery) is a low-risk, high-reward move available to you in a bye week.

On the flip side, GMs fighting to get into the playoffs or advance in them don’t have the time to sit on Payne or Caruso for a week. These GMs are looking at guys like Cameron Johnson, who’s performing at a must-roster level now and has been for some time. They’re looking at Maxi Kleber as he posts top-35 value in his last three appearances and think, “Yeah, I could use some of that this week.” For these guys, there is only one answer, and that is survive at all costs.

At this point in the season, managers have to be cutthroat. Ben Simmons is occupying your IR spot with his sore back and without a timetable for a return, but you’ve been squatting on him all season. You couldn’t possibly drop him now! Then again, you’re at a games disadvantage and you’re missing Kyle Lowry for personal reasons on Monday. Gabe Vincent’s the man for the job, but it’ll cost a Simmons. It’s win or go home time, and in order to win we’ve got to make some tough calls.

Another huge component to advancing in the fantasy playoffs is maximizing weekly adds. Once again, if you’re competing for your fantasy life, you can’t add somebody based on future value alone. It’s time to consider games played more seriously than at any point this season. The Raptors offer five games this week. Somebody as off the radar as Thaddeus Young, ranked outside the top-250 over the past two weeks and on the season, is somebody to consider due to the Raptors’ schedule and OG Anunoby’s fractured finger on his shooting hand. A combined 100 minutes or so out of Young is more beneficial than two-to-three games out of some backend big man on your roster.

Managers that can still make deals should capitalize on their sell-high opportunities ASAP. Streamers like Luke Kennard and Kleber are piecing together some serious value at the moment. Carmelo Anthony has seen a clear boost in value since Anthony Davis’ (right mid-foot sprain) awful injury and he’s primed for a sell-off. Sell-high moves, along with optimized streaming, are surefire ways to get ahead before or during the fantasy playoffs. As for managers primed for bye weeks, stashing an injured guy or two ahead of your first matchup could provide some incredible value as you make your march to the promised land. Happy playoffs fantasy GMs, it’s the best time of the year.

Schedule Breakdown

Two Games: Blazers

Three Games: Hawks, Celtics, Hornets, Bulls, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans, Knicks, Sixers, Suns, Spurs, Jazz, Wizards

Four Games: Nets, Cavaliers, Rockets, Pacers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Wolves, Thunder, Magic, Kings

Five Games: Raptors

Back-to-Backs

Monday/Tuesday: Nets, Wolves, Raptors

Tuesday/Wednesday: Rockets

Wednesday/Thursday: Heat, Kings

Thursday/Friday: Hawks, Bulls, Pistons, Raptors

Friday/Saturday: Wolves, Magic, Sixers

Saturday/Sunday: Grizzlies

Schedule Maximizers

The Raptors’ five-game schedule is an automatic target for GMs, especially with the news that OG Anunoby is dealing with a fractured right finger and Fred VanVleet’s sore right knee is bothersome. The Nets also offer a strong schedule in week 19 as they kick it off with a doubleheader against the Raptors and play their last two games on relatively low-volume nights on Thursday and Sunday. The Wolves offer a back-to-back set to start the week and another on Friday and Saturday. The Mavericks, Warriors and Lakers all play on the three lowest-volume nights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Best Schedule: Raptors (@ Nets, vs. Nets, vs. Pistons, vs. Magic, @ Cavs)

The Raptors offer two back-to-back sets and are the only squad playing five games in week 19. They play on three low-volume nights and on Sunday to close out the week. They’re also dealing with a couple of injuries to key guys in OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, so they could finally start digging into their bench for once. The Raptors’ schedule is also light in terms of the strength of their opponents. They will face the Nets without Kyrie Irving for one side of their doubleheader against Brooklyn before taking on the Pistons and Magic for their back-to-back on Thursday and Friday.

Worst Schedule: Blazers (@ Suns, @ Wolves)

The Blazers are the only team playing just two games this week. Both games are on the road against playoff squads. Their Wednesday night game comes during an eight-game slate, though their Saturday game is much more appealing as it’s part of a six-game night. The other issue with the Blazers is that there are currently no clear streamers for this team. The Blazers are a team to avoid, and in weekly leagues only Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart are worth considering.

Game of the Week: Sixers @ Heat, Saturday, March 5^th, 8:00 pm ET.

Normally an NBA Finals rematch like the one we have coming up on Sunday between the Suns and Bucks would take the title for ‘Game of the Week,’ especially after their first showdown earlier this season. However, with Chris Paul (right thumb avulsion fracture) out for the game, the next best game on the slate is between the new-look Sixers and a fellow Eastern Conference contender in the Heat. It’ll be the first time they meet since the James Harden deal went down and a proud franchise like the Heat are surely salivating at the opportunity to strike first in Saturday’s meeting against a potential postseason opponent.

Quick Adds

Isaiah Jackson, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

In Jackson’s first game post All-Star break, he went for 17 points, six boards and five swats on greater than 70% shooting from the floor while hitting 7-of-10 free throws in just under 23 minutes. In addition, Myles Turner (left foot stress reaction) is set to miss at least another few weeks. Of the remaining big men for Indiana, Jackson has the highest ceiling and cannot be left unattended on waiver wires due to his upside.

Cameron Johnson, SF, Phoenix Suns

With Chris Paul (right thumb avulsion fracture) and Cameron Payne (sprained right wrist) both out, the Suns have gone with Devin Booker at point guard and slid Johnson into the starting group. If that’s not enough of an incentive, Johnson’s at No. 89 on the season and top-60 over the past two months in 29 minutes a night. His playing time and usage off the bench were the concerns with rostering Johnson, but as a starter managers should pick him up without trepidation. The Suns don’t play until Wednesday, but they close out the week with three games in five nights.

Daniel Gafford, C, Washington Wizards

Gafford has been disappointing this season. He has battled with Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell for minutes throughout the campaign. Harrell was moved before the deadline and Bryant has disappointed since his return. The Wizards added Kristaps Porzingis in a deadline acquisition, but he has yet to suit up and has no set return date due to a right knee bone bruise. In two games since the All-Star break, Gafford’s averaging just over 26 minutes a night and has posted borderline top-100 numbers while shooting an unsustainably low 33% from the foul line (1-of-3). His shot-blocking penchant and usually strong FG% combined with Porzingis’ unclear return date make Gafford an interesting option at center heading into the fantasy playoffs.

Thaddeus Young, PF/C, Toronto Raptors

Young is probably the biggest gamble of the bunch. The recommendation to play the veteran big is based on his schedule and potential opportunity based on an injury to OG Anunoby (fractured right finger). The Raptors play five games this week that consist of two back-to-back sets, including one to kick week 19 off on Monday and Tuesday, and a Sunday night conclusion. Young’s averaging nearly 22 minutes a night in two appearances post All-Star weekend. Anunoby’s already missing the team’s game on Monday and shouldn’t be considered likely to go on Tuesday, so Toronto’s frontcourt could use Young’s veteran presence off the bench.

Injury Report

John Collins (right foot strain) remains without a firm timetable for a return, but the big man has increased his activity lately and is trending towards playing in the near future.

Kevin Durant will miss at least the team’s next two games with a sprained MCL in his left knee, but KD’s return is on the horizon now. Ben Simmons is dealing with back soreness during the early part of his reconditioning process and remains out indefinitely.

Gordon Hayward is out indefinitely with a sprained left ankle.

Alex Caruso (right wrist surgery recovery) hasn’t begun ball-handling as of last Wednesday. Lonzo Ball (torn left meniscus) remains without a firm timetable for his return.

Darius Garland is dealing with a bone bruise in his back and is out for Monday’s contest. Caris LeVert is out for one-to-two weeks with a sprained right foot.

Draymond Green (left calf tightness, back) will miss three-to-four weeks from February 20^th while Klay Thompson missed the team’s Sunday contest with a non-COVID illness.

Myles Turner (left foot stress reaction) was originally expected to make his return shortly after the All-Star break, but it appears he won’t be back for at least a few more weeks.

Paul George’s (right elbow) MRI showed some improvement, but the Clippers didn’t provide a clear timetable for his return. Kawhi Leonard (right ACL) remains sidelined with very little hope of returning for a regular season run. Norman Powell has no timetable for a return from a broken bone in his left foot.

Anthony Davis (mid-food sprain) will be re-evaluated in four weeks. LeBron James keeps popping up on injury reports with left knee soreness but suited up for Sunday’s meeting with the Pelicans, though he didn’t look great.

Kyle Lowry will miss Monday’s contest due to personal reasons.

Josh Giddey will miss Monday’s contest and potentially more games as the rookie deals with right hip soreness.

Markelle Fultz (left knee injury recovery) is probable to make his season debut on Monday against the Pacers.

Chris Paul is out for most, if not all, of the regular season with a right thumb avulsion fracture.

Damian Lillard (abdominal surgery) is beginning the conditioning portion of his rehab and will be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks. Jusuf Nurkic will miss at least four weeks with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Dejounte Murray missed the team’s contest on Saturday with a left knee contusion.

OG Anunoby (right finger fracture) will miss the team’s game on Monday and visit a specialist. Managers should have a clearer update on Anunoby after his consultation. Fred VanVleet has been dealing with right knee soreness and is considered questionable for Monday’s contest.

Kristaps Porzingis (right knee bone bruise) is without a firm timetable for a return despite optimism from Washington’s coaching staff.