This article is part of our NBA Category Strategy series.
Every week I focus on players owned in less than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues and 43 percent of ESPN leagues, as standard Yahoo leagues have 156 roster spots and standard ESPN leagues go 130 deep. The percentages correlate with the players owned in each format. I also suggest players on teams with at least four games on the schedule to help maximize weekly category totals.The Timberwolves play five games this week, four of which occur on nights with fewer than eight games. The Bulls, Heat, Suns,and Wizards play a league-low two games this week, while the Nets, Cavaliers, Rockets, Pacers, Bucks, Thunder and Spurs play three times. The rest of the league (18 teams) play four games.
POINTS
Dwight Powell (PF)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 11; ESPN - 10.1)
Powell gets identified here because I had too many rebounders in the queue. He's Dirk Nowitzki's primary backup, and both have actually played together at times. Powell is third on the team in scoring (11.3 points per game) and field goal attempts (9.5) even though he's seventh in minutes (22.7). The Mavericks are thin in the frontcourt, JaVale McGee (leg) isn't likely to return until after November and when Chandler Parsons isn't resting, he's playing fewer than 14 per game. Don't fret about the 56 percent free-throw mark; Powell made 72 percent during his four years at Stanford and 70 percent during his D-League stint. Eventually, Powell will add three-pointers to his stat line, of which he converted 39 percent in the D-League last season. The Mavericks are bad enough that Powell will continue to get run in blowouts as long as he can suppress his fouling proclivity.
REBOUNDS
Nemanja Bjelica (PF)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 14; ESPN - 2.5)
The Timberwolves play five games this week, including two back-to-back sets. Bjelica is Kevin Garnett's primary backup and averaging 29 minutes per game. They've played less than one minute together all season. Garnett is a solid bet to sit two of the five games, thrusting Bjelica into the starting lineup and increasing his playing time this week. He's second on the team in rebounds per game (8.0) and first in three-pointers made (1.2). Bjelica is a volume add this week with potential to extend his welcome. Zaza Pachulia, who I incorrectly slotted behind Steven Adams (back) last week, is grabbing 10.2 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. Because no one goes out of their way to roster Pachulia, he's likely on your waiver wire with four games this week.
ASSISTS
T.J. McConnell (PG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 33; ESPN - 21.4)
There is no option better the McConnell. In fact, he's probably no longer available in competitive leagues. He was promoted to the starting lineup, and he's flirted with a triple-double in three of the past four games. McConnell prefers setting up teammates and rarely looks for his own shot. He's currently splitting point guard duties with Phil Pressey, and he will continue to be the lead facilitator until Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten return.
McConnell could have also been listed in the rebound category because he's a chronic rebound stealer, averaging 6.3 rebounds per over the last four. His presence has been a positive impact for Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, both of whom are shooting over 50 percent when McConnell is on the court as opposed to under 40 percent when McConnell is on the bench.
| Player | FG % w/ McConnell | FG % w/o McConnell |
| Jahlil Okafor | 64.0 | 39.5 |
| Nerlens Noel | 52.5 | 30.6 |
STEALS
Will Barton (SG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 13; ESPN - 9.1)
Barton should have been used in the points category, but there were so many rebounders that something had to give. Barton has scored at least 10 points and recorded at least one steal in every game this season, and he's ranked 40th overall in standard Yahoo leagues. However, Barton is the beneficiary of garbage-time stats. In the fourth quarter, he's averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in a team-high 10.0 minutes. 40 of those 60 minutes have come with the Nuggets behind at least 11 points, and 53 percent of his points have been scored in the fourth. Barton give off a Corey Brewer vibe, and the Nuggets' continued struggles will afford Barton superfluous court time late in games to pad his stats.
BLOCKS
Dewayne Dedmon (C)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 3; ESPN - 1.7)
Dedmon's value lasts until Nikola Vucevic (knee) returns. The Magic begins the week with games against the anemic frontlines of the Pacers and Lakers. Because Vucevic is dealing with a bone bruise, he could miss another few games. The Magic have been notoriously tightlipped regarding timelines for injured players, so you'll have to take a leap of faith. Dedmon has stayed out of foul trouble long enough to play 30 minutes in the past two starts, and he's provided six blockedshots. Channing Frye and Jason Smith, Dedmon's competition for playing time, have both played fewer than 15 minutes per game over the last two, and Frye received a DNP-CD in one.
THREE-POINTERS
Marco Belinelli (SG)
(Ownership percentages: Yahoo - 10; ESPN - 12.3)
The Kings play four times this week. On the precipice of DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) returning to action, Darren Collison has been diagnosed with a hamstring injury and is considered day-to-day. Collison and Rajon Rondo were both playing roughly 30 minutes per game and have complemented each other in the lineup, with Ben McLemore scuffling. Belinelli is third on the team in minutes per game (27.3) and third in assists (2.9). His role in the offense is bound to increase without Collison, and he's attempting a team-high 5.1 three-pointers per game. Marcus Thornton, owned in less than 35 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues, makes more sense here, but it's unclear how his role will be affected when Terrence Jones (eyelid) returns. If Jones is ruled out another week, Thornton is the preferred three-point threat.
