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Last season, the Hornets rode a top-flight defense and top-heavy offense to a surprise playoff berth, and appeared ready to take the next step after another solid offseason. The addition of Lance Stephenson was supposed to boost the offense, and it was expected to change the team's Fantasy outlook as well.

However, with 18 games under their belts, it is pretty clear everything that went right for the Hornets has disappeared. Jefferson is still a load in the post, but the backcourt combination of Stephenson and Kemba Walker is an outright disaster. With the team playing just twice this week, it is best to sit everyone except Jefferson in Week 6 (Dec. 1-7); however, will Fantasy owners even want to go back to this well beyond that?

Walker shot just 39.3 percent from the field a year ago, but managed to remain Fantasy relevant thanks to his high usage rate. With just Jefferson around to split touches, Walker posted a 25.8 usage rate a year ago, which led to 17.7 points and 6.1 assists per game, the best marks of his three-year career.

This season, his usage is down to 22.8 percent of the team's possessions, which was to be expected while playing alongside Stephenson. However, he is still averaging 7.6 minutes of possession per game, according to NBA.com's SportsVU tracking data, compared to 7.7 a year ago. He is still getting plenty of opportunities with the ball in his hands. The biggest problem is, more of his passes have gone to Stephenson than any other player, and Stephenson is shooting just 30.4 percent on assist opportunities created by Walker.

And Walker has returned the favor to Stephenson, shooting just 35.8 percent on his assist opportunities. This was always going to be an awkward fit, since neither player is much of a 3-point shooter, and both need the ball in their hands to thrive. You can get away with one non-shooter in the backcourt, but the floor gets awfully tight if neither of your primary ball-handlers can shoot, and that is what the Hornets are dealing with right now.

Jefferson's post-up game carries with it a ton of gravity, which forces defenses to crash inside, something they can do with relative impunity when Walker and Stephenson are shooting a combined 24.3 percent from 3-point range. Walker and Stephenson both need room to get to the basket, and that room simply isn't there when teams know they can help off the perimeter.

You almost have to assume both players will improve down the road, because they've been so disastrously bad so far. However, nearly one-quarter of the season is in the books, and the duo has already played 390 minutes together, so it's not like we're dealing with a terribly small sample size here.

If you own either Stephenson or Walker, you're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Neither player has much trade value at all, but both have played so poorly that it's hard to justify sticking them in your starting lineup every week. Bench them both in Week 6, and start fielding offers for trades, because it is hard to see things getting much better.

Start 'Em

Arron Afflalo, Nuggets (49 percent started)
The Nuggets have been a tough team to pin down this season, especially from a Fantasy perspective. They have depth at every position, which makes it easy for coach Brian Shaw to ride the hot hand if he wants to. Of course, early in the season, there were no hot hands on the roster; Afflalo shot just 37.9 percent through the first seven games, and he wasn't the exception. He has found himself in nine games since, scoring more than 15 points in eight of those games, while averaging 18.2 points per game on 49.6 percent from the field. The Nuggets have a solid four-game slate coming up in Week 6, and Afflalo should be viewed as a solid option at this point.I would start Afflalo over ... Lance Stephenson, Avery Bradley, Jeremy Lin

Greivis Vasquez, Raptors (9 percent started)
The loss of DeMar DeRozan is going to drastically alter the Raptors' plans for the next month or so, and it's tough to say exactly how they will move forward without him. Vasquez is a pass-first point guard who needs the ball in his hands, which can make him a somewhat awkward fit next to Kyle Lowry, however the duo has worked well together in the past. Vasquez scored 35 points with nine assist over the last two games, and could be in line for 25-plus minutes per game moving forward, as the team runs through more two-point-guard lineups in DeRozan's absence. The Raptors have a decent slate of matchups on the way, so Vasquez could be a solid option. I would start Vasquez over ... Isaiah Thomas, Ben McLemore, Gary Neal

Mo Williams, Timberwolves (48 percent started)
Williams is hardly the guy you think of when thinking about point guards who distribute the ball around, but that's exactly who he has been for the Timberwolves. He has three double-digit assist games in his last four and is averaging 7.8 overall over the last nine. His scoring hasn't been particularly impressive, but assists are always going to be one of the rarest commodities in Fantasy, making Williams a solid option at this point, even with a subpar schedule on the way. I would start Williams over ... Kemba Walker, Isaiah Thomas, Reggie Jackson

Bust Alert

Evan Fournier, Magic (49 percent started)
I am far away from giving up on Fournier, who is still seeing 30-plus minutes and 10-plus shots per game consistently. However, Fournier is always going to be a marginal Fantasy option given how little he does when he isn't scoring. When his shot is falling, he makes for a solid source of shooting and scoring. However, he is shooting just 36.4 percent from the field and 25.0 percent on 3-pointers over the last five games, and can be sat for safer options this week.

Forward

Start 'Em

K.J. McDaniels, 76ers (20 percent started)
On a 76ers team bereft of hope, McDaniels stands out as a rare exception. He has been about as inconsistent as a second-round pick can be expected, but the flashes of brilliance have been blinding, relative to the rest of the team's failures. He is coming off the best two-game stretch of his career, as he combined for 39 points, 19 rebounds and three blocks in those two games. McDaniels is hard to rely on, but he has also made it impossible for the Sixers to ignore him, and Fantasy owners should follow suit. The Sixers face a tough schedule, but they also play four times, which could give him plenty of opportunities to fill up the box score, something he does expertly when he's on. I would start Morris over ... Luol Deng, Jeff Green, Jordan Hill

DeMarre Carroll, Hawks (36 percent started)
Carroll is something of a forgotten man, but he has been a solid, dependable Fantasy option over the last two seasons, especially for category-based formats. Over the last five games, he is averaging 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 3-pointers per game, while turning the ball over just two times total. He is a supremely useful Fantasy option, and the Hawks have a great set of matchups on the way for Week 6, with the third-best schedule lined up. I would start Carroll over ... Shawne Williams, Solomon Hill, Corey Brewer

Ersan Ilyasova, Bucks (18 percent started)
With how inconsistent Ilyasova has been in recent weeks, this is definitely one that could come back to haunt you. However, he has emerged as a fire-starter off the bench for the Bucks, averaging 15.6 points per game over the last five in just 21.8 minutes. He is shooting over 50 percent from the field for the season and appears to be fitting in well in Jason Kidd's offense, and could be a decent contributor of shooting and scoring if you need to fill a lineup spot in Week 6. I would start Ilyasova over ... Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marcus Morris, Harrison Barnes

Bust Alert:

Tristan Thompson, Cavaliers (22 percent started)
Thompson recorded a solid double-double in place of Anderson Varejao as a starter Saturday, dropping 13 points and 11 rebounds in the win. With Varejao dealing with a rib injury, Thompson may be in line for a larger workload this week, however this isn't the best week for him to take advantage of that. The Cavaliers have a tough slate of games coming up, with the Bucks and Raptors ranking among the stingiest defenses in the league. The Cavaliers' lack of depth in the frontcourt can make Thompson a useful option, but a three-game schedule makes him a tough play.

Center

Start:

Boris Diaw, Spurs (21 percent started)
It's easy to overlook Diaw, who rarely puts up big numbers and is an unconventional choice at the center position. He has blocked just six shots all season, and can leave a lot to be desired as a rebounder. However, his specific skill set is so tough to find at the center position, given his 3-point shooting and high assist rate, and he could be in for a big week coming up, with matchups against three bottom-12 defenses. If you've got a big rebounder at another position, Diaw makes plenty of sense. I would start Diaw over... Brook Lopez, Miles Plumlee, Anderson Varejao

Timofey Mozgov, Nuggets (34 percent started)
Like many Nuggets players, Mozgov is enjoying a solid stretch of play, averaging 12.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game over the last five. That now brings his season averages to 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, solid numbers all around, especially once you take into account his strong percentages across the board. The Nuggets have a decent schedule on the way in Week 6, but Mozgov has probably reached the point where you can feel OK about starting him even if the matchup isn't great. I would start Lopez over... Nikola Pekovic, Andrew Bogut, Anderson Varejao

Bust Alert:

Kelly Olynyk, Celtics (30 percent started)
Olynyk has been a useful Fantasy option at times this season, averaging 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game so far. However, his defensive contributions have left much to be desired, and the team recently moved him to a bench role as a result. Olynyk is skilled enough to still be productive off the bench, but he is stuck in a bad slump right now, which makes it hard to trust him. The Celtics have a solid week of games on the way, but Olynyk is shooting just 32.4 percent from the field over the last five, and is best left on your bench.

Schedule preview

(A higher strength-of-schedule ranking is a good thing, based on points allowed)

Hawks: Four games, 3rd in strength of schedule
Celtics: Four games, 5th in strength of schedule
Nets: Three games, 25th in strength of schedule
Hornets: Two games, 28th in strength of schedule
Bulls: Three games, 19th in strength of schedule
Cavaliers: Three games, 26th in strength of schedule
Mavericks: Four games, 7th in strength of schedule
Nuggets: Four games, 11th in strength of schedule
Pistons: Four games, 2nd in strength of schedule
Warriors: Three games, 20th in strength of schedule
Rockets: Three games, 14th in strength of schedule
Pacers: Three games, 17th in strength of schedule
Clippers: Three games, 9th in strength of schedule
Lakers: Four games, 13th in strength of schedule
Grizzlies: Three games, 30th in strength of schedule
Heat: Four games, 22nd in strength of schedule
Bucks: Four games, 10th in strength of schedule
Timberwolves: Four games, 24th in strength of schedule
Pelicans: Four games, 15th in strength of schedule
Knicks: Four games, 8th in strength of schedule
Thunder: Three games, 18th in strength of schedule
Magic: Four games, 6th in strength of schedule
76ers: Four games, 23rd in strength of schedule
Suns: Three games, 29th in strength of schedule
Trail Blazers: Three games, 21st in strength of schedule
Kings: Three games, 27th in strength of schedule
Spurs: Four games, 4th in strength of schedule
Raptors: Three games, 12th in strength of schedule
Jazz: Three games, 16th in strength of schedule
Wizards: Four games, 1st in strength of schedule

Waiver-wire

Add these players

Rodney Stuckey, G, Pacers (64 percent owned), worth $5 FAAB bid
Like pretty much everyone on the Pacers, Stuckey has been sidelined by nagging injury issues this season. However, he has been healthy lately, and is doing exactly what we expected coming into the season, providing solid scoring for a team that is totally desperate for it. He is averaging 16.2 points and 2.8 assists per game over the last five games, despite playing just 27.8 minutes, and should remain a primary option for this Pacers squad. Given his current role, Stuckey is a worthwhile investment if you need guard help.

Donatas Motiejunas, F, Rockets (25 percent owned), worth $2 FAAB bid
Motiejunas has lingered as an intriguing option for the Rockets as frontcourt depth, but has failed to do justify any current day value before the last few weeks. However, with Dwight Howard dealing with a knee injury, Motiejunas has stepped up lately, dropping 20 points in two of the last three games while averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over the last five. Motiejunas probably won't do much when Howard is around, but he is establishing himself as a solid handcuff option, at the very least, and makes for some solid depth.

Lou Williams, G, Raptors (20 percent owned), worth $10 FAAB bid; Greivis Vasquez, G, Raptors (26 percent owned), worth $5 FAAB bid; Terrence Ross, F, Raptors (61 percent; owned), worth $5 FAAB bid
Sorting through the potential DeRozan replacements is going to be a chore, because his absence leaves such a huge hole in the team's plans. DeRozan was 12th in the league in usage rate prior to his injury, so the Raptors are going to have to figure out how to live without him, something they've rarely done, as DeRozan has missed just 11 games in his career. Williams has already been stepping up his play recently, and seems to be the most natural fit to step up, since he is arguably the team's best scorer left. However, both Vasquez and Ross should see more responsibility, and are well worth taking a flier on.

Droppable players

Jeremy Lamb, G, Thunder (45 percent owned); Anthony Morrow, G, Thunder (15 percent owned)
Morrow and Lamb had their chances to prove themselves with Russell Westbrook out, but neither showed enough consistency to make Fantasy owners take much note. Both players have the ability to get hot and drop 15-18 points on any given night, but they just don't do enough to make up for the nights when the shot isn't falling. With Westbrook out, Reggie Jackson should see plenty of time at shooting guard, and the looming return of Kevin Durant is only going to further push Lamb and Morrow down the team's hierarchy.

Chris Copeland, F, Pacers (45 percent owned)
Even before David West returned, Copeland's value was starting to fizzle. Copeland got hot early in the season and was a solid scoring option for the Pacers, but his Fantasy value always seemed to have an expiration date. With West back from a lingering injury, Copeland has played just 40 minutes in the team's last two games, and that should be about what we expect from him moving forward. In deeper category-based leagues, his shooting still has some value, but Copeland probably has no worth in standard Fantasy scoring leagues.