The Playlist: Week 4 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups and lineup advice

Welcome to The Playlist: My weekly column that lets you know who to add off the waiver wire and what to play — when it comes to setting your lineup or music in my rotation — for the upcoming week in fantasy basketball.

Each week, you’ll see a compilation of the pickups you need to make in various scoring formats and how the schedule could impact your start-sit decisions. So press play and shuffle through the latest fantasy basketball info with a few of my favorite tracks from Rock-and-Roll Hall-of-Fame inductees, OutKast.

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Before we get into the pickups,be sure to check out who the top six performers were from High Score from last week.

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation:High Score

Kon Kneuppel, G/FC, Charlotte Hornets (36% rostered)

The Hornets are running low on stars and the rookie out of Duke is stepping up in the interim, putting up numbers like a seasoned vet. Kneuppel notched a career-high 30 points with 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 stocks on Friday, amassing 50 fantasy points in High Score. With LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller out, he’ll continue to see a 25% usage rate and play over 35 minutes per night. Add him to all leagues, not just High Score.

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Jusuf Nurkić, FC, Utah Jazz (37% rostered)

Start the week with a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back where Nurk can get into your lineup both nights, even though the first matchup versus the Timberwolves on Monday is not a good one. It gets better on Tuesday, though, with the Jazz facing the Pacers. Against that thin frontcourt, Nurkić could realize a 40-fantasy point ceiling like he accomplished a couple of games ago.

Derik Queen, FC, New Orleans Pelicans (15% rostered)

The rookie center made a splash in Week 3, dropping at least 40 fantasy points in High Score in two of his last three contests.

Queen provides a mix of points, rebounds and assists, but the assists from the center position have been invaluable to his fantasy value. He’s racked up 17 assists over the past three games.

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Although his minutes are still in the mid-20s, his fantasy points per minute (FPPM) stands at a healthy 1.14, indicating that more minutes will only lead to greater ceiling outcomes. The Pelicans also play four games this week.

Davion Mitchell, G, Miami Heat (27% rostered)

There are several auto-start type guards (Stephen Curry, Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball and Jordan Poole) who are injured. Those fantasy managers needing a viable fill-in should consider Mitchell. The Heat starting PG ranks ninth in assists per game and top 20 in steals per game and recorded two 40+ fantasy point performances last week. He should be rostered in far more leagues given his assist potential, scoring and lockdown defense.

🎧 Who’s in My Rotation: Points and 9-Cat

Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Houston Rockets (30% rostered)

Although Sheppard continues to serve in a backup capacity, he showed a ton of growth in Week 3. In Sunday’s win over the Bucks, he ignited the Rockets’ comeback with his defense and 3-point shooting. He’s scored 16 points in consecutive games and is averaging over a steal per game in under 25 minutes a night. The minutes will trend up so now is a good time to buy for anyone needing points and stocks.

Jaylon Tyson, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (13% rostered)

The second-year pro has hit double-digits in six straight contests. Tyson has quietly been a top-50 player in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, providing a mix of efficiency on offense and gathering two stocks per game over that span. The Cavs have a four-game week, with two games on the lighter slates, so start Tyson with confidence in Week 4.

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Naji Marshall, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (11% rostered)

The Mavs are atrocious, but someone other than Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington has to produce. Recently, it’s been Marshall who closed out Week 3 as a top-40 asset in 9-cat leagues. He can also be utilized in points leagues because his skill set generally impacts multiple categories (especially steals) whenever he plays more than 25 minutes. He’s been over 25 minutes in his last three contests, so I’d stream him with Dallas having four games this week. If he’s not available, Max Christie (14%) could be a worthwhile streaming option on Monday and the rest of the week.

Royce O’Neale, SF/PF, Phoenix Suns (26% rostered)

A Year 9 breakout is something you don’t see very often, but that’s what’s occurring with O’Neale. He’s averaging over 12 points per game, hitting 3.6 3s per night with 1.5 steals per game and has a true-shooting percentage of 63.8 (on pace for career highs in each field). O’Neale will benefit from Jalen Green’s absence (hamstring), so keep him rostered across all formats as he’s been a top-65 player on a per-game basis through 10 games.

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If he’s not available, Collin Gillespie (18%) is another strong addition who has been a top-100 player despite coming off the bench.

Sandro Mamukelashvili, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (2% rostered)

Coming off my Trendon Watford recommendation on Friday, here’s another deep cut that will help fantasy managers this week. Mamu has scored in double figures in his last three contests, providing counting stats in points, rebounds, 3-pointers and steals, too. The Raptors have a great schedule, playing on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and two of those matchups are against the Nets and Pacers. Even in a reserve role, Mamu is a streaming option in 12+ team 9-cat leagues.

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In deep leagues, look to add these players:

• Trendon Watford, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers (21%)

• Jay Huff, C, Indiana Pacers (5%)

• Cole Anthony, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (9%)

• Tre Mann, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets (7%)

Weekly Schedule Notes

Teams to target

Both teams play on the lightest slates of Tuesday (six games), Thursday (three games) and Saturday (five games). Depending on the injury reports, players like Jay Huff, Ben Sheppard, Jamal Shead and Collin Murray-Boyles could become streaming options in deeper leagues.

Teams to avoid

Pick up and hold Watford if he’s available until Paul George returns. Still, the Sixers only play two games on Tuesday and Friday in Week 4. That doesn’t leave much of any opportunity to stream, especially with a few days in between games to reduce the risk of resting players. I’d hold through Tuesday, but after that, drop the fringe options.

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