Welcome to Sleeper NBA Lock-In mode. To learn more about Lock-In mode, read our article here. This season, we will be discussing Lock or Pass decisions once per week in this column. Don’t miss out on the fun! Draft your team today!
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Sleeper NBA Lock In: Lock or Pass Week 8
What is Lock-In mode?
Lock-In Mode is a new way to play fantasy basketball that allows fantasy managers to Lock-In a player’s fantasy points following a game or choose to take the risk that they will score more fantasy points in one of the remaining games that week. You can Lock-In just one game per week and cannot Lock-In bench players.
This introduces a new layer of strategy to fantasy basketball while also making fantasy basketball more of a weekly endeavor with daily upkeep as opposed to daily management game that requires one to be on top of injuries and rest days to maximize output. This is great for those who are not available every evening or night to make lineup changes as needed and for those who just do not appreciate the daily grind that season-long fantasy basketball often requires.
Scottie Barnes (G/F – TOR): 63.00 fantasy points
Scottie Barnes was excellent on Wednesday, racking up 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assets, and one block while draining three of four from deep. He did have three turnovers, but the 63 fantasy points are still hard to pass on. He has just one game left this week, but he has topped this total in two of his previous four games. Still, fresh off a 52.5 point disappointment on Monday, I am not willing to take the risk of passing up what is an excellent line for Barnes. Is he capable of more? Yes? Is this a must-lock? No. However, the potential 10 point increase is not worth the risk of a 10 point decrease. I will be locking in this total.
Choice: Lock
Gordon Hayward (G/F – CHA): 38.50 fantasy points
Gordon Hayward was rock solid on Wednesday night, posting 20 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. While 20-5-7 is a good night by any means, especially for someone like Hayward, this was just his 12th-highest fantasy output all season and his lowest in four games. Hayward has two games left this week, and with four turnovers sapping eight points from the solid total, we will pass on locking in this number.
Choice: Pass
Onyeka Okongwu (F/C – ATL): 39.50 fantasy ponts
Onyeka was solid against the Toronto Raptors, putting up 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and two blocks while hitting three of his five attempts from deep. The 39.50 fantasy points, while nothing special in a vacuum, represents the third-highest fantasy output we have seen from Okongwu all season. There is no chance I am passing on this total and taking a risk of fantasy point totals in the teens. This is an easy lock decision.
Choice: Lock
Victor Wembanyama (C – SAS): 87.00 fantasy points
Wemby went nuts against the Lakers on Wednesday night, racking up 30 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, three steals, and six blocks. He drained four of his five attempts from deep. However, he had five turnovers, turning a 97 fantasy point night into an 87 point total. Still, this is his second-highest fantasy output of the season, helping to make my lock/pass decision an easy one. Despite two games left this week, I Will be locking in the rookie big man.
Choice: Lock
Jakob Poeltl (C – TOR): 54.50 fantasy points
Jakob was excellent on Wednesday night, recording a double double with 15 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. He was intentionally fouled several times late due to his low free throw percentage, finishing the night five of eight from the stripe after starting one of four. The 54.4 fantasy points are his highest total of the season. This is an easy lock decision.
Choice: Lock
Derrick Rose (G – MEM): 45.00 fantasy points
The former MVP was excellent against the Houston Rockets, dropping 19 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one block. With just one turnover, this was his best fantasy point total of the season. Rose is starting for the time being, so he does have a chance at bettering this performance on Friday night. However, passing on his highest total of the season is ill-advised. I will be locking in this total.
Choice: Lock
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.