We get it. In Fantasy Basketball, you always have to start your studs. When Kevin Durant is healthy and playing, he starts. When LeBron James is available, he’s in. Though sometimes it isn’t as easy as just rolling out a bunch of studs. Where you win in Fantasy Basketball is in the margins. Fantasy Basketball can be complicated… but we’re here to help.

In “Game Pick” style play, as one of our staff Belly Up Fantasy leagues here is, it’s even more difficult. With those players in the margins, you’ve got to figure out what game they’re most likely to be successful in. It’s not good enough to know to pick up Darius Bazley off of the Waiver Wire, you have to also know where he will play best.

Here are some names of “non-studs”, and which games to be sure they’re playing in this week:

Tuesday Fantasy Basketball: Domantas Sabonis Versus Boston

Domantas Sabonis is starting to look a lot more like his dad… except he is stateside for his best basketball. A week into the season, Sabonis is averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists per game on 57.4-percent shooting. He was an All-Star last season, but he’s finally playing more like it this season. 

Play him early in the week in case this is a “hot hand” type of situation. Sabonis is just 24, and younger players tend to be streaky. If his luck runs out later this week, or he hits the peak of the roller coaster soon, you’re going to kick yourself for not playing him against Boston. Boston is intimidating for Game Picks, typically because of their stout defense, but if you’re going to ride the wave you need to hop on soon. Sabonis may become a regular must-start for your Fantasy Basketball league, but is definitely one in Week 2.

Wednesday Fantasy Basketball: Jarrett Allen Versus Atlanta

Allen continues to find over 22 minutes a game, even with a healthy DeAndre Jordan available. He is currently just averaging 8.3 points per game, but he’s getting nearly 11 rebounds and over two blocks a night.

Couple that with the Hawks issues covering the roller in pick and roll situations, and Atlanta becomes a time you have to play Allen. With Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu out with injuries, the Hawks have had to play John Collins out of position at center. If that’s any indicator for struggles protecting the rim, his backups are six-foot-nine Bruno Fernando and, in very small lineups, Danillo Gallinari. Look for Allen to finish a lot of lobs Wednesday night.  Start Jarrett Allen in your Fantasy Basketball league.

Thursday Fantasy Basketball:  Christian Wood Versus Sacramento

Christian Wood’s first game in a Houston Rockets uniform was an explosion. He is playing an “Anthony Davis Lite” role in Houston, serving as a big that handles the ball along the perimeter to spread the floor. 31 points and 13 rebounds against Portland was no fluke, and he and James Harden appeared to have a lot of chemistry. Harden has historically had big games on New Year’s Eve, and Wood ought to be on the receiving end of a lot of assists that night. 

And if he gets to see Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley? It’s hard to visualize either guy being able to keep up with him working from the perimeter. The young duo will have to choose between Wood and Harden on pick and rolls. That Dynamic favors Wood, as no one will just let Harden get by. Wood is a must-start for your Fantasy Basketball league.

Friday Fantasy Basketball: Montrezl Harrell Versus San Antonio

In two blowout wins last week, Harrell was an effective big man off the bench for the LA Lakers. While he didn’t even need to play twenty minutes in a 36 point win against Minnesota, in a 23 point win against Dallas he logged 22 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.

The Lakers ought to route San Antonio, but it should feel much more like the Dallas game than the Timberwolves one. Dallas was competitive for much of the game before LA separated themselves in the early parts of the fourth quarter. The Spurs may not win many games this year, but thus far they clearly have the same fight that every Popovic team has had for over 20-years now. Look for another big night out of Trez to start 2021.

Saturday Fantasy Basketball: Markelle Fultz Versus Oklahoma City

At the risk of sounding like a Markell Fultz-stan account on Twitter, it’s been great to see him play like the number one pick he was in 2017. Fultz is averaging 20.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.7 rebounds. After a slow first night, Fultz has been over 20 points in each game since.

Against Oklahoma City, Fultz will get some combination of young Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and veteran George Hill. “SGA” is too inexperienced to know how to stay in front of Fultz, and George Hill has lost too many steps to do it physically. With Dort, Bazley, and Horford all matching up well with Orlando’s big-men, it appears much of Orlando’s hopes for this game will fall on Fultz’s shoulders. He’s a must-start for your Fantasy Basketball team.

Sunday Fantasy Basketball: Mike Conley Versus San Antonio

In the 2020-21 basketball season, Mike Conley is averaging 19 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Yes, you read that correctly. While Conley may have found the fountain of youth in Utah, what’s worth pointing out is that he’s drawing a lot of teams’ second and third defensive options along the perimeter. That’s clearly working in his favor.

And for San Antonio? That is likely Lonnie Walker IV. Walker is not your typical strong Spurs defensive presence, but with Derrick White out, he’s one of the only options they have. And if Conley gets by him? Power Forward DeMar DeRozan and Center LaMarcus Aldridge are both playing undersized as rim protectors. Conley is primed to take full advantage and be sure your Fantasy Basketball team is too.

Keep up with my writing at Belly Up Sports, more Fantasy Basketball writing on the Belly Up Fantasy page, follow me on Twitter @painsworth512 for more, and give our podcast“F” In Sports a listen wherever you listen to podcasts!