Fantasy basketball managers need to adjust their strategies. The Wizards returned on Sunday for their first game in two weeks. The Grizzlies, Spurs, and Pelicans could be the next teams facing extended layoffs because of COVID outbreaks. Fantasy managers in ten or 12-team leagues should drop any player ranked outside the top 75 if they do not have an IR spot available. There is no sense in going two weeks with no production.
The season is one-quarter in the books already. Now is the time to take a status report of your team and try to patch the holes to gear up for a championship run. Let us take a look at some trade targets in Week 6.
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Buy
Here are three players to trade for during Week 6.
Devin Booker (PHO – PG/SG)
Booker is off to a bit of a slow start. The Suns have only played 15 games because they had three straight postponements in mid-January. Booker ranks 53rd on the FantasyPros Player Rater for the season and his numbers are virtually down across the board.
Booker finished fifth on the Player Rater last season and he had an ADP of 13th overall. Expect him to return to the top 15 in short order. The 24-year-old is an elite scorer that contributes in nearly every fantasy category.
Take advantage of his hamstring injury and buy low. Look to trade anyone ranked outside the top 30 for Booker right now. Getting his manager to bite could be a league-winning move.
Jimmy Butler (MIA – SG/SF)
It has been a rough start to the season for Butler. He has only played in six games and has not suited up since Jan. 9 as he is in the league’s health and safety protocols. Butler’s numbers are down on the season because he played just 16 minutes because of injury on Christmas Day.
Butler had an ADP of 21 but currently sits 185th on the Player Rater. His manager could be in a significant hole and be looking to get anyone producing for Jimmy Buckets. Offer a player ranked outside the top 50 and reap the rewards of another second-round talent joining your roster when he gets healthy.
Clint Capela (ATL – C)
Capela was underrated during draft season. He was the 60th overall pick and currently sits 64th on the Player Rater. So why trade for him? Capela was a top 40 player for two straight seasons before last year, and he is playing the best basketball of his career right now. The 26-year-old could finish inside the top 30.
Do not be afraid to offer a player drafted around his range or someone that ranks just inside the top 50 to get Capela. He should outperform that. Managers looking for big man stats should try to grab Clint Capela this week.
Sell
Here are two players to trade away during Week 6.
Paul George (LAC – SF/PF)
George is 3rd on the Player Rater right now. It has been an outstanding start to the season for a player that went outside the top 20 in most drafts. He just entered the league’s health and safety protocols, which could mean he is facing an extended absence. Fantasy managers should trade him now.
Expect George to revert to being a second-round talent. Try to sell high and see if you can secure a top 15 player for Paul George. Let the other manager set through his absence and continue stockpiling pieces that have yet to perform their best on your roster.
Kyrie Irving (BRK – PG/SG)
Irving has been outstanding in the games he played this season. He is averaging 29.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game on elite percentages. Irving has been the fantasy manager’s dream when he takes the court. He has only played in ten games, though.
Irving has top 70 games played just once in the last five seasons. Try to trade Irving now for another second talent before another absence springs up. The numbers will be outstanding, but the games played are a massive question. Expect Irving to miss more time this season. Sell high with his value peaking.
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Tyler Watts is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Tyler, follow him @tylerpwatts.