Injuries in fantasy basketball can be tough to navigate. Even if a player is back, teams often put players on a minutes restriction to ease them back in and reduce the chance of re-injury. Any manager’s challenge is figuring out the best time to insert them into the lineup and when to wait a week. In the Eastern Conference, there are multiple stars in the process of making a comeback. Is this the week they come off minutes restrictions?
Fantasy Basketball: Key Injuries
Three players are coming off of injuries: Tyrese Haliburton, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley. Haliburton has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He has been in the news because he may miss the 65-game threshold to be eligible for awards. If you have Haliburton on your fantasy basketball team, you likely need him back as soon as possible. His 22 points and 12 assists per game would be very helpful in these midseason matchups.
The Cavaliers have been on a tear lately without Garland and Mobley. However, both play huge roles on the team. Mobley is likely one of your top rebounders and shot-blockers. Getting him back in the lineup is huge for the stat sheet. Garland is a playmaker who can go off if teams focus on Donovan Mitchell. Is this the week we see a full workload from these players?
Indiana Pacers Week From A Fantasy Basketball Perspective
The good news for Haliburton owners is the Pacers are only playing three games this week. None of them are back-to-backs. Teams often rest injured players on one of the back-to-back games. Haliburton has a much higher chance of playing in all three games if he is off a minute restriction. The opponents and where the Pacers currently stand matter as well.
The Pacers have winnable games this week against the Rockets and Warriors. They will want to ensure they beat the league’s bottom feeders. The Saturday matchup is against the New York Knicks, a team they chase in the standings. Speaking of those standings, the Pacers currently sit in the seventh spot in the East, which could cause them to get Haliburton in the lineup. They are in danger of falling even further, as Miami is only a half-game back. This bodes well in fantasy basketball because the team will feel pressure to play Haliburton even if he isn’t 100%.
Cleveland Cavaliers Schedule
The Cavalier’s situation is a little more up in the air for Garland and Mobley. They play four games this week, with a back-to-back in the middle of the week. One of those games is against the Washington Wizards who have one of the worst records in the league. Cleveland may look to rest Garland and/or Mobley for that game. The other factor working against Garland and Mobley in fantasy basketball is how well the team has been playing.
Cleveland is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They have won 13 of their last 14 games without the services of their two young stars. The Cavaliers know they can win without them, so they might sit if the team doesn’t feel comfortable with their health. Unlike the Pacers, the Cavaliers feel good about their place in the standings. They are currently third and only one game behind the Bucks. Fantasy basketball owners might want to be cautious with these two, as it might be another week before they are inserted fully into the lineup.
The fantasy basketball season is a little over halfway gone. Playoff positioning is likely starting in leagues. Knowing when to re-insert injured players can be the difference between winning and losing.
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Matt has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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