Fantasy Basketball Start and Sit: Week 22 Top 150 rankings

With Dwyane Wade and Eric Bledsoe on the shelf, Fantasy owners are left scrambling at the worst possible time.

Editor’s Note: Every week we will release the Top 150 players based on their projections for that scoring period. Use this list to compare players and help make those really tough decisions.

I’ve long been a proponent of shortening the Fantasy basketball season, and I’ve gotten some great examples of why lately.

While the NBA season runs through April 12, we’re already seeing teams start to wind things down, either in anticipation of the playoffs or another offseason of rebuilding. In pretty much every league, I have to deal with the loss of a key player in the final weeks, in some cases solely in order to rest them. It happens every year, and makes the last few weeks even more of a mad dash than normal.

Some of these decisions don’t make much of an impact for Fantasy. The Lakers’ decision this week to rest Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov for the remainder of the regular season won’t change much for Fantasy players, beyond giving some promising young guys a bit more run over the last few weeks. There are opportunities in Los Angeles for Fantasy value to come to the fore, but losing Mozgov and Deng isn’t something any Fantasy player with championship aspirations is sweating.

Some, however, can be the difference between a win and an inglorious first-round exit in Week 22 (March. 20-26). In one league, for instance, I just lost Eric Bledsoe, who the Suns announced this week will not play again this season. He is dealing with knee soreness, but Bledsoe told reporters he did not want to be shut down. He missed just one game this season prior to the injury, and was averaging 21.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in a nice bounce-back season. That obviously leaves me with a huge hole in my rotation heading into the most important part of the season.

The obvious answer here is to pick up Tyler Ulis. Ulis might not be the shortest player in the league, but he is among the most slight, which helps explain why he tumbled in the draft to the second round. However, he is starting to look like a piece for the Suns moving forward, averaging 9.3 points and 6.0 assists per game since the All-Star break. His ascension made sitting Bledsoe out an easier one, because the Suns want to see just how good this kid can be -- with 13 points and 13 assists in the first game without Bledsoe, every Fantasy player should want to find out too. The likes of T.J. Warren, Marquese Chriss and Devin Booker should all see more usage in Bledsoe’s absence, as well.

Bledsoe wasn’t the only player ruled out for the season this week, as the Bulls also lost Dwyane Wade to a season-ending elbow injury. Wade was diagnosed with a fracture in his right elbow, as well as a sprain, though it’s possible he could be back for the playoffs if the Bulls get there. This seems like one of those injuries that likely wouldn’t have been a season-ender a month ago, but this makes Wade droppable in all formats.

It also opens up a big opportunity in Chicago. Wade isn’t the star he used to be, but he is still a big part of Chicago’s offense, sporting a 29.7 percent usage rate and 23.0 percent assist rate, two big things the team will need to replace. On the passing front, it looks like Rajon Rondo is going to step up for the Bulls. It’s been an up-and-down season for the former star, but he has played well of late, recording at least six assists in six of 10 games since the All-Star break, while averaging 10.8 points and 5.9 assists per in that span. He has played 30-plus in each of the past two games heading into Friday, and with Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams looking like non-factors, Rondo should get plenty of opportunities moving forward.

The Bulls will also likely need someone to step up and replace some of Wade’s scoring, and I would look to the likes of Nikola Mirotic and Denzel Valentine. Fred Hoiberg can’t seem to decide if he likes Mirotic or not, as he went from not playing in three straight games to topping 27 in each of the next two. Mirotic will be risky, but with 38 points and 16 boards over those two games, he’s worth betting on if you need a starter in Week 22.

Valentine hasn’t been any more consistent overall, though he enters play Friday having scored in double figures in three straight, while adding at least two assists in three of the last four. He is a lower-end option than Mirotic, but could be useful for Fantasy purposes in Wade’s absence.

The Bulls and Suns both play four times in Week 22, so this a great opportunity for them to provide value. It’s bad timing if you were relying on Bledsoe and Wade -- or both, as I was in one league -- but these rotation changes could be Fantasy winners if you play it right. 

5 Games: LAC
4 Games: WAS, CHA, ATL, MIL, PHO, POR, DEN, BKN, PHI, CHI, BOS, IND, GS, NY 
3 Games: DET, CLE, HOU, ORL, NO, MIN, OKC, MIA, UTA, LAL, SA, SAC, DAL, MEM, TOR

Week 22 Sportsline Projections
Rank	Name	G	3PM	RPG	APG	SPG	TOPG	BPG	PPG	FPTS
1	Chris Paul, PG, LAC	5	10.5	5.04	8.78	1.9	2.4	0.13	19.28	207.56
2	Blake Griffin, PF, LAC	5	2.02	8.92	4.9	0.84	2.32	0.54	21.8	197.88
3	John Wall, PG, WAS	4	5.01	4.53	10.3	1.89	4.12	0.68	22.18	182.97
4	Russell Westbrook, PG, OKC	3	6.27	10.23	10.47	1.94	5.1	0.4	30.43	176.52
5	Stephen Curry, PG, GS	4	17.38	5.02	6.47	1.66	3.58	0.23	27.45	174.96
6	Damian Lillard, PG, POR	4	11.66	4.75	6.35	0.87	2.45	0.3	26.23	169.6
7	Isaiah Thomas, PG, BOS	4	12.71	2.95	6.53	1.01	2.7	0.1	26.85	165.06
8	Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF, MIL	4	2.34	8.53	5	1.48	2.75	1.6	21.88	162.91
9	James Harden, SG, HOU	3	8.87	7.47	9.8	1.61	4.17	0.57	28.07	159.45
10	Jimmy Butler, SG, CHI	4	4.68	5.53	4.65	1.73	2.25	0.55	24.98	159.32
11	Kemba Walker, PG, CHA	4	11.09	4.15	5.62	1.24	2.15	0.34	23.23	152.2
12	DeAndre Jordan, C, LAC	5	0	14.4	0.9	0.72	1.24	1.99	11.72	146.97
13	Paul George, SF, IND	4	9.83	6.92	3.65	1.5	2.88	0.27	22.35	141.91
14	Nikola Jokic, PF, DEN	4	2.56	9.48	4.75	0.91	2.42	0.76	16.88	140.37
15	Draymond Green, PF, GS	4	5.17	9.05	6.38	1.68	2.67	1.64	12.25	138.78
16	Carmelo Anthony, SF, NY	4	7.41	6.95	3.4	0.82	2.05	0.45	21.43	137.58
17	Devin Booker, SG, PHO	4	8.91	4	4.05	0.8	3.52	0.3	24.25	135.71
18	LeBron James, SF, CLE	3	4.38	7.23	7.63	1.33	3.27	0.61	23.77	134.82
19	Jeff Teague, PG, IND	4	4.12	4.03	7.4	1.22	2.65	0.36	15.15	131.64
20	Paul Millsap, PF, ATL	4	4.09	7.82	3.65	1.36	2.42	0.97	17.8	131.33
21	CJ McCollum, SG, POR	4	10.02	3.45	3.65	0.99	1.8	0.49	22.32	131.03
22	Karl-Anthony Towns, C, MIN	3	3.93	12.83	2.57	0.67	2.8	1.33	26.5	131.02
23	Nicolas Batum, SF, CHA	4	7.32	6.5	5.72	1.02	2.52	0.56	14.97	127.89
24	Dennis Schroder, PG, ATL	4	4.9	3.2	6.55	0.94	3.15	0.1	17.62	127.25
25	Bradley Beal, SG, WAS	4	11.48	3.33	3.38	1.14	1.98	0.2	22.23	126.65
26	Klay Thompson, SG, GS	4	14.25	3.88	2.2	0.74	1.95	0.64	23.52	124.94
27	Al Horford, C, BOS	4	4.33	7.57	4.35	0.79	1.55	1.29	14.22	124.11
28	DeMarcus Cousins, C, NO	3	4.55	10.73	3.73	1.2	2.93	1.4	22.7	121.71
29	Brook Lopez, C, BKN	4	5.41	5.88	1.85	0.61	2.42	1.51	19.98	116.96
30	Kawhi Leonard, SF, SA	3	5.79	5.87	3.57	1.91	1.87	0.72	25.1	116.6
31	Anthony Davis, PF, NO	3	1.55	10.53	1.9	1.11	1.9	1.82	23.17	115.58
32	Derrick Rose, PG, NY	4	1.8	3.95	4.83	0.67	2.35	0.22	16.38	114.05
33	Kristaps Porzingis, PF, NY	4	6.21	7.73	1.65	0.61	1.68	1.85	16.57	113.56
34	DeMar DeRozan, SG, TOR	3	1.48	5.63	4.17	1	2.67	0.21	25.3	113.43
35	Khris Middleton, SG, MIL	4	7.57	4.53	3.62	1.4	1.93	0.22	16.77	112.98
36	Dwight Howard, C, ATL	4	0	11.95	1.38	0.86	2.25	1.29	13.45	112.23
37	Myles Turner, PF, IND	4	1.81	7.85	1.43	0.96	1.3	2	14.9	109.04
38	Mike Conley, PG, MEM	3	7.49	3.6	6.37	1.39	2.2	0.25	20.03	107.43
39	Jusuf Nurkic, C, POR	4	0	9	2.48	1.17	2.35	1.68	12.4	107.41
40	Marc Gasol, C, MEM	3	3.48	6.87	4.63	0.91	2.2	1.27	19.6	107.13
41	Kyrie Irving, PG, CLE	3	6.01	2.93	5.3	1.17	2.17	0.37	22.67	106.71
42	Hassan Whiteside, C, MIA	3	0	15.1	0.63	0.76	2.17	2.77	17.2	104.77
43	Goran Dragic, PG, MIA	3	4.94	4.07	6.17	1.1	2.8	0.21	19.83	104.21
44	Ricky Rubio, PG, MIN	3	3.37	4.53	9.1	1.96	2.83	0.09	12.23	102.55
45	Gordon Hayward, SF, UTA	3	6.02	5.3	3.9	1.11	2	0.28	21.47	101.88
46	Rajon Rondo, PG, CHI	4	2.51	5.03	6.2	1.27	2.6	0.23	8.7	100.11
47	Avery Bradley, SG, BOS	4	9.21	4.9	2.15	1.23	1.52	0.2	15.9	100.05
48	Jeremy Lin, PG, BKN	4	6.15	3.15	4.28	0.98	2.75	0.35	14.43	98.86
49	Alan Williams, C, PHO	4	0	10.25	0.88	0.95	1.38	1.02	12	98.4
50	Andrew Wiggins, SF, MIN	3	4.07	4.33	2.27	1.07	2.43	0.38	24.9	98.35
51	Nikola Vucevic, C, ORL	3	0.6	10.73	2.6	0.89	1.67	1.25	16.23	97.93
52	T.J. McConnell, PG, PHI	4	0.88	3.7	6.8	1.72	2	0.13	7.33	97.9
53	Tyler Ulis, PG, PHO	4	1.78	1.98	6.3	1.23	1.9	0.15	10.2	97.03
54	Robert Covington, SF, PHI	4	10.1	6.28	1.6	1.77	1.95	0.9	13.97	96.67
55	T.J. Warren, SF, PHO	4	1.78	5.55	1.52	0.98	0.97	0.51	14.97	96.38
56	Dario Saric, SF, PHI	4	5.78	6.75	2.4	0.73	2.3	0.34	13.55	95.48
57	Marcin Gortat, C, WAS	4	0	10.15	1.25	0.53	1.4	0.94	11.15	95.45
58	Danilo Gallinari, SF, DEN	4	6.87	4.4	1.88	0.66	1.1	0.28	15.85	95.35
59	Andre Drummond, C, DET	3	0	13.53	0.93	1.51	1.73	1.35	15.13	94.96
60	Markieff Morris, PF, WAS	4	3.27	6.35	1.95	1.21	1.7	0.53	13.43	94.84
61	Greg Monroe, C, MIL	4	0	6.97	2.12	1.08	1.57	0.51	12.32	94.23
62	Wilson Chandler, PF, DEN	4	5.87	5.92	1.88	0.7	1.52	0.38	14.25	93.93
63	JJ Redick, SG, LAC	5	11.7	2.26	1.26	0.62	1.02	0.11	14.28	93.85
64	Marcus Smart, PG, BOS	4	5.07	4.15	4.17	1.6	1.82	0.36	10.3	91.75
65	Jameer Nelson, PG, DEN	4	5.87	2.73	5.47	0.75	2.02	0.09	10.1	90.36
66	Julius Randle, PF, LAL	3	0.68	9.8	3.67	0.64	2.17	0.46	13.93	90
67	Jae Crowder, SF, BOS	4	7.56	5.67	2.02	1.01	0.93	0.34	12.35	89.98
68	LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, SA	3	0.83	7.43	2.07	0.58	1.37	1.02	18.17	89.9
69	Thaddeus Young, SF, IND	4	2.31	6.48	1.93	1.53	1.4	0.36	11.62	89.77
70	Evan Turner, SF, POR	4	2.25	4.57	4.1	0.85	1.7	0.35	10.07	89.39
71	Otto Porter, SF, WAS	4	6.65	5.8	1.38	1.46	0.62	0.51	12.12	88.05
72	Jrue Holiday, PG, NO	3	4.25	3.4	6.27	1.29	2.63	0.42	14	87.03
73	Marvin Williams, PF, CHA	4	6.72	6.5	1.5	0.74	0.78	0.78	11.5	86.99
74	Kevin Love, PF, CLE	3	6.17	9.03	2	0.68	1.47	0.4	16.2	86.56
75	Reggie Jackson, PG, DET	3	3.64	2.87	5.83	0.77	2.27	0.11	15.6	86.23
76	Rudy Gobert, C, UTA	3	0	11.87	1.4	0.73	1.77	2.18	12.77	85.73
77	Elfrid Payton, PG, ORL	3	1.2	4.8	6.27	1.23	2.2	0.57	11.63	85.68
78	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, CHA	4	0	7.55	1.48	0.94	0.82	0.89	9.8	85.22
79	Jahlil Okafor, C, PHI	4	0	5.55	1.3	0.42	1.95	1.19	13.45	85
80	Malcolm Brogdon, SG, MIL	4	4.27	2.75	4.1	1.13	1.57	0.15	10.43	84.3
81	D’Angelo Russell, PG, LAL	3	6.46	3.8	4.7	1.26	2.7	0.25	15.87	83.62
82	George Hill, PG, UTA	3	5.74	3.7	4.2	1.04	1.53	0.25	15.97	83.49
83	Victor Oladipo, SG, OKC	3	5.46	4.83	2.9	1.4	1.93	0.44	16.97	82.52
84	Will Barton, SG, DEN	4	4.5	4.1	2.62	0.68	1.52	0.45	11.65	82.42
85	Jamal Crawford, SG, LAC	5	6.06	1.66	1.98	0.72	1.24	0.19	10.98	82.06
86	Frank Kaminsky, PF, CHA	4	5.5	4.75	1.9	0.7	0.95	0.56	11.57	81.7
87	Cody Zeller, C, CHA	4	0	6.55	1.5	0.8	1.1	1	9.78	80.08
88	Harrison Barnes, SF, DAL	3	3.22	5.47	1.67	0.68	1.33	0.23	18.27	79.92
89	Zach Randolph, PF, MEM	3	0.93	8.53	1.87	0.58	1.53	0.19	14.83	79.02
90	Tobias Harris, SF, DET	3	3.84	5.73	1.9	0.77	1.13	0.53	16.6	78.9
91	Sean Kilpatrick, SG, BKN	4	5.85	3.77	1.95	0.66	1.82	0.09	12.93	78.09
92	Al-Farouq Aminu, SF, POR	4	5.12	6.88	1.62	0.95	1.23	0.77	8.88	77.97
93	Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, ATL	4	7.59	2.5	2.08	0.64	1.23	0.2	13.12	77.56
94	Andre Iguodala, SF, GS	4	3.8	4.33	3.35	0.96	1	0.47	7.85	77.23
95	Alex Len, C, PHO	4	0	8.25	0.88	0.49	1.65	1.2	9.22	77.06
96	Robin Lopez, C, CHI	4	0	5.88	0.97	0.21	1.23	1.71	10.72	77
97	Tyreke Evans, PG, SAC	3	3.37	4.2	4.63	1.24	2.3	0.27	12.97	76.93
98	Trevor Booker, PF, BKN	4	1.28	7.12	1.62	0.87	1.62	0.35	9.05	76.1
99	Cory Joseph, PG, TOR	3	1.96	4.1	4.67	1.1	1.77	0.21	12.37	76.03
100	Zaza Pachulia, C, GS	4	0	7.25	2.08	0.84	1.48	0.58	7.58	75.7
101	Darren Collison, PG, SAC	3	3.8	2.4	4.7	1.13	1.67	0.23	13.6	75.3
102	Pau Gasol, C, SA	3	1.55	7.17	2.63	0.38	1.27	1.14	12.23	74.75
103	Tyler Johnson, SG, MIA	3	3.83	4.03	3.43	1.13	1.2	0.55	13.37	74.24
104	Courtney Lee, SG, NY	4	5.4	3.4	2.3	0.82	0.85	0.29	10.12	73.81
105	Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL	3	4.3	6.57	1.53	0.52	1	0.64	14.8	73.78
106	Evan Fournier, SF, ORL	3	5.62	3.33	2.9	1.03	1.87	0	16.2	73.48
107	Austin Rivers, SG, LAC	5	5.55	1.98	1.92	0.62	1.06	0.11	9.18	73.35
108	Dion Waiters, SG, MIA	3	5.13	3.2	3.73	0.93	2	0.37	14.43	73.2
109	Mason Plumlee, C, DEN	4	0	5.83	2.52	0.63	1.32	0.66	7.42	73.07
110	Serge Ibaka, PF, TOR	3	4.3	7.13	0.87	0.58	1.43	1.73	14.57	72.95
111	Monta Ellis, SG, IND	4	2.61	2.35	3.3	0.98	1.68	0.27	9.7	72.92
112	Willy Hernangomez, C, NY	4	0	7.9	1.52	0.53	1.55	0.59	7.55	72.29
113	Bojan Bogdanovic, SG, WAS	4	6.95	3.23	1.27	0.45	1.3	0.1	13	72.11
114	Kent Bazemore, SF, ATL	4	4.8	3.4	2.15	1.04	1.68	0.62	10.3	71.94
115	Jordan Clarkson, PG, LAL	3	4.2	3.3	2.77	1.12	1.93	0.11	15.8	71.79
116	Jonas Valanciunas, C, TOR	3	0	10.2	0.77	0.41	1.53	0.99	12.3	71.7
117	Lou Williams, SG, HOU	3	7.16	2.2	2.73	1.1	1.3	0.34	16.07	71.62
118	Marquese Chriss, PF, PHO	4	4.9	4.9	0.93	0.95	1.43	0.86	10.72	71.48
119	Sergio Rodriguez, PG, PHI	4	5.34	2.15	4.72	0.6	1.75	0.11	7.28	71.33
120	Gorgui Dieng, PF, MIN	3	0.42	8.4	1.8	1.1	1.57	1.11	11.03	71.05
121	Kelly Olynyk, C, BOS	4	4.14	4.88	1.98	0.71	1.35	0.43	9.03	70.6
122	Michael Beasley, PF, MIL	4	1.28	4.25	1.12	0.55	1.38	0.51	11.43	70.43
123	Gary Harris, SG, DEN	4	5.59	2.48	1.88	1	1.1	0.19	11.25	70.28
124	Wesley Matthews, SG, DAL	3	7.42	3.8	2.6	1.04	1.43	0.23	14.3	69.39
125	Matthew Dellavedova, SG, MIL	4	3.84	2	4.53	0.65	1.68	0	7.25	69.11
126	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SG, BKN	4	0.84	5.3	1.77	1.03	1.48	0.44	8.38	68.9
127	Marcus Morris, PF, DET	3	4.34	4.83	2.2	0.77	1.07	0.32	13.7	68.87
128	Seth Curry, SG, DAL	3	6.43	3	3.07	1.1	1.57	0.11	14.17	68.83
129	Kenneth Faried, PF, DEN	4	0	6.43	0.85	0.56	0.97	0.57	8.82	68.4
130	Nerlens Noel, C, DAL	3	0	7.83	1.43	1.2	1.37	1.21	11.03	68.33
131	Nikola Mirotic, PF, CHI	4	5.76	4.9	0.97	0.67	1.15	0.79	9.93	68.33
132	Enes Kanter, C, OKC	3	0.36	7.83	0.9	0.47	1.73	0.54	13.83	68.21
133	Eric Gordon, SG, HOU	3	8.96	2.63	2.6	0.84	1.37	0.45	14.9	67.98
134	Matt Barnes, SF, GS	4	6.16	4.6	2.23	0.57	1.35	0.64	8.05	67.85
135	Patrick Beverley, PG, HOU	3	4.68	5.37	3.83	1.45	1.13	0.45	8.7	67.51
136	Ty Lawson, PG, SAC	3	1.74	2.57	5.5	1.13	1.87	0.12	9.53	67.46
137	Bobby Portis, PF, CHI	4	2.06	6.2	0.6	0.36	0.9	0.35	9.62	67.33
138	Ersan Ilyasova, PF, ATL	4	5.3	4.12	1.2	0.57	0.95	0.23	10.12	66.93
139	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, DET	3	5.55	3.33	2.27	1.37	1.07	0.21	13.9	66.85
140	Clint N’Dumba-Capela, C, HOU	3	0	8.27	0.8	0.61	1	1.36	11.43	66.83
141	Ish Smith, PG, DET	3	0.91	2.93	5.23	0.87	1.37	0.32	9	66.67
142	Tony Parker, PG, SA	3	1.35	1.97	5.07	0.58	1.53	0.09	10.9	66.41
143	Jared Dudley, SF, PHO	4	6.09	4.17	2.1	0.77	1.32	0.26	8.5	66.29
144	Derrick Favors, PF, UTA	3	0.09	7	1.3	0.84	1.2	1.01	11.83	66.25
145	Aaron Gordon, PF, ORL	3	2.4	5.93	1.83	0.79	1.07	0.68	11.97	65.93
146	Maurice Harkless, SF, POR	4	3.58	4.3	1.1	0.97	0.85	0.75	9.1	65.88
147	Amir Johnson, PF, BOS	4	1.11	5.55	1.77	0.62	1.07	0.95	6.8	65.58
148	C.J. Miles, SG, IND	4	9.14	3.12	0.78	0.65	0.68	0.36	11.35	65.44
149	Gerald Henderson, SG, PHI	4	3.55	2.88	1.7	0.65	1.12	0.21	10.25	65.04
150	Trevor Ariza, SF, HOU	3	6.41	5.47	2.03	1.68	0.87	0.23	10.73	63.91