As is usually the case as we enter the second full week of the season, we have a little more clarity on important factors such as minutes, rotations and overall roles. Luckily, injuries haven't been an overtly disruptive factor as of yet.
We have a solid schedule in front of us this week, considering a large number of teams have four games, and there are no two-game schedules for any team, as was the case with the Suns in Week 2.
Without further ado, let's examine some of the tougher start/sit decisions for Week 3:
Teams with four games: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards
Teams with three games: Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns
Guards
Start: Terry Rozier, Hornets
53% start rate in CBS leagues
Rozier already carries a solid start rate in CBS leagues, but I'm including him as a suggestion since some Fantasy managers may still be wary of deploying him after he missed five of the first six games. Now apparently recovered from his ankle sprain, Rozier was able to return to the first unit Sunday against the Blazers and compile 14 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal. Most encouragingly, he saw a full workload (33 minutes), which indicates that he likely won't face any restrictions going forward.
Start: Gary Trent, Raptors
39% start rate in CBS leagues
Goran Dragic got his Raptors career off to a forgettable start with just 31.8 percent shooting through his first four games, and he's now been a healthy scratch for the last three. The reshuffling of the backcourt has led to Trent taking over starting shooting guard duties, and he's responded with averages of 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.5 steals across 32.3 minutes in six games with the first unit. Trent has only shot 38.8 percent from the field during that stretch, but that's par for the course for a player with a high three-point-attempt rate (5.7 3PA/G). For managers in search of points, threes and steals (2.6 SPG), Trent is a worthy target on a four-game week.
Also consider: Terance Mann, Clippers (19% start rate in CBS leagues)
Sit: Kyle Lowry, Heat
56% start rate in CBS leagues
Dragic's replacement in Miami is off to a bit of a slow start with his new team. Lowry has opened the season averaging 8.4 points (on 33.3 percent shooting) while taking a modest 9.0 shot attempts per contest. While the veteran is providing 7.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game, he has single-digit scoring tallies in four games. With the likes of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo absorbing plenty of usage, Tyler Herro (22.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists) thriving behind him off the benchm, and a three-game week on tap, Lowry is a rare Sit consideration if you have a decent four-game option on your bench.
Forwards
Start: Kevin Love, Cavaliers
31% start rate in CBS leagues
Somewhat improbably, the big man has settled in nicely as the backup power forward behind star rookie Evan Mobley, posting a pair of double-doubles and four double-digit scoring tallies overall in his first seven games. Love's minutes have been steady for the most part, as he's logged between 20 and 24 in five of those contests. Given his ability to contribute in points, rebounds and assists -- and a likely improvement in his current field goal percentage (35.5% FG) -- Love is a consideration on a four-game week that doesn't include any back-to-back sets.
Start: Norman Powell, Trail Blazers
36% start rate in CBS leagues
Powell recently missed a pair of contests with a knee injury, but he's averaged 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists while shooting 40.0 percent from distance over his first two games back in action. The veteran wing has notched double digits in the scoring column in all four games thus far while also logging over 30 minutes in two of the three he played without an early exit. As customary with Powell, you'll primarily get some solid scoring and shooting contributions, yet it's also worth noting he could be due for a boost in steals after averaging 1.2 swipes in each of his last two seasons.
Also consider: P.J. Washington, Hornets (31% start rate in CBS leagues)
Sit: Kristaps Porzingis, Mavericks
58% start rate in CBS leagues
Porzingis enters the Mavs' three-game week dealing with a back injury that's already cost him three games. Dallas doesn't take the floor until Tuesday against the Heat and then travels to San Antonio on Wednesday, so there's a good chance Porzingis misses at least one of those games. With only one additional game on the schedule, there's not much upside to starting the big man given the context.
Centers
Start: Ivica Zubac, Clippers
10% start rate in CBS leagues
Zubac is rarely going to blow anyone away with his numbers, but he's evolved into a serviceable source of scoring and rebounding as far as lower-tier centers go. He's even seen an uptick in his facilitating early on. The big man is providing a career-high 2.2 assists alongside his averages of 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. His slight bump up from 5.5 to 6.2 shot attempts per contest compared to last season has also helped lead to three double-digit scoring games in his first five appearances. At some point, the return of Serge Ibaka could eat into Zubac's workload, but it remains unclear when the veteran, who's appeared in just four games since last March, will be back in the mix.
Start: Mitchell Robinson, Knicks
38% start rate in CBS leagues
Robinson is once again serving as a steady provider of scoring, rebounding and blocks in the early going, putting up figures of 8.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG and 1.2 BPG across 30.2 minutes in his first six games. The big man has a pair of double-digit scoring tallies, and there's reason to believe he'll eventually get at least a bit more involved offensively after putting up just 4.2 shot attempts per contest thus far -- a notable drop from the 5.7 he averaged last season. With Nerlens Noel (knee) yet to be cleared, Robinson's workload should be sustainable for at least one more week.
Also consider: Andre Drummond, 76ers (37% start rate in CBS leagues)
Sit: Steven Adams, Grizzlies
56% start rate in CBS leagues
Adams has seen just a slight improvement in the reduced offensive role he held with the Pelicans last season thus far in his time with the Grizzlies. The big man has jumped up to 10.2 points per game, and he's also averaging 9.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Nevertheless, not only does Adams have just three games to work with this coming week, but he's also logged 21 minutes or fewer in the last three contests, scoring in single digits in two of those games. Entering a three-game week, and having recorded just seven total blocks and steals on the season, Adams can be benched in favor of a four-game player.
