Welcome to “The Schedule Edge,” a weekly column uncovering the most favorable and challenging fantasy basketball matchups for individual players over the next seven days to help your team take advantage. This column will provide the best and worst weekly outlooks at each position to guide your start/sit decisions and possible transactions.
These picks are backed up by data, incorporating a blend of stars, mid-tier players, and under-the-radar options. (Statistics as of January 13th, 2025)
Point Guard
Best
Isaiah Collier
(PG/SG, Utah Jazz)
With Jazz starting point guard Keyonte George nursing a heel injury, Collier had the best game of his rookie season on Sunday, posting 27 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists on 9/16 FG and 3/6 3FG against the Nets. Collier has struggled from the field this season (35% FG, 20% 3FG) but has averaged a solid 7.7 assists per 36 minutes. After two days of rest, Utah will face Charlotte on Wednesday, followed by two straight games in New Orleans on Friday and Monday.
The Hornets and Pelicans give up the most and third-most assists to opposing point guards, respectively, and each ranks bottom-four in defensive efficiency, offering Collier a great opportunity to build on his last performance. Keep an eye on George’s injury status and consider adding Collier to your lineup if he remains out.
Other Favorable Schedules
Keyonte George
(PG/SG, Utah Jazz)
Coby White
(PG/SG, Chicago Bulls)
Lonzo Ball
(PG, Chicago Bulls)
LaMelo Ball
(PG, Charlotte Hornets)
Vasiliji Micic
(PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets)
Jose Alvarado
(PG, New Orleans Pelicans)
Worst
Jamal Murray
(PG, Denver Nuggets)
Starting on Wednesday, the Nuggets will have a difficult stretch of opponents on the offensive side of the ball, taking on Houston on Wednesday, Miami on Friday, Orlando on Sunday, and Philadelphia next Tuesday, four of the top-ten stingiest defenses in the league this season in terms of points allowed.
The Rockets and Heat are particularly unrelenting against the mid-range shot, allowing bottom-three field goal percentages from that range, an area where Murray operates frequently compared to other guards. Additionally, the 76ers and Magic are each top-five in turnovers forced against opposing point guards.
Other Challenging Schedules
Russell Westbrook
(PG, Denver Nuggets)
Darius Garland
(PG, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Ty Jerome
(PG, Cleveland Cavaliers)
D’Angelo Russell
(PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets)
Ben Simmons
(PG/PF, Brooklyn Nets)
Jalen Brunson
(PG, New York Knicks)
Miles McBride
(PG, New York Knicks)
Cameron Payne
(PG/SG, New York Knicks)
Scotty Pippen Jr
(PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies)
Ja Morant
(PG, Memphis Grizzlies)
Chris Paul
(PG, San Antonio Spurs)
Stephon Castle
(PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs)
Shooting Guard
Best
Dejounte Murray
(SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans)
Murray has had a challenging start to the season, shooting 39% from the field and 29% from three while ranking seventh in turnovers per game (3.8), but he maintains fantasy relevance through his second-best steals rate (2.3 per game) and top-ten assists per game mark (7.7). Murray has a great chance to improve his numbers with back-to-back matchups against the Jazz on Friday and Monday.
The Jazz are second-worst in the league in defensive efficiency and their defense is especially porous against opposing shooting guards, allowing the most points and three-pointers of any team against that position. Utah also gives up the most steals of any team (10.0 per game), an area where Murray excels, and forces the fewest turnovers in the league (11.3 per game), giving Murray some relief in an area where he struggles.
Other Favorable Schedules
Tyler Herro
(SG/PG, Miami Heat)
CJ McCollum
(SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans)
Zach LaVine
(SG/SF, Chicago Bulls)
Josh Giddey
(SG/PG/SF, Chicago Bulls)
Worst
Donovan Mitchell
(SG/PG, Cleveland Cavaliers)
This assessment primarily results from the Cavaliers’ Thursday rematch away at Oklahoma City, which is by far the best defense in the league this season, according to NBA.com’s Defensive Rating and ESPN’s Defensive Efficiency metrics. While Cleveland’s Saturday matchup at Minnesota will also be a challenge as the Timberwolves rank highly on both metrics as well, it is the Thunder game that should concern Mitchell owners. Despite coming out with the win against the Thunder last Wednesday, he was locked down offensively, scoring just 11 points on 3-16 from the field.
With an abundance of elite perimeter defensive options, OKC has shut down opposing shooting guards all season. Against opposing 2s, they have allowed the fewest points per game and three-pointers, by far the lowest field goal percentage (38%), and forced by far the most turnovers per game (3.8). Expect another poor performance from Mitchell and consider benching any opposing shooting guard facing the Thunder this season.
Other Challenging Schedules
Caris LeVert
(SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers)
Gradey Dick
(SG/SF, Toronto Raptors)
Christian Braun
(SG, Denver Nuggets)
Aaron Wiggins
(SG, Oklahoma City Thunder)
Cason Wallace
(SG, Oklahoma City Thunder)
Luguentz Dort
(SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder)
Small Forward
Best
Brice Sensabaugh
(SF, Utah Jazz)
Sensabaugh has quietly put together an efficient start to the season off the bench for Utah, averaging nearly 10 points per game on shooting splits of 48/42/93 in limited minutes in his second season out of Ohio State. The Jazz have back-to-back matchups against the Pelicans, one of the worst defensive teams in the league, on Friday and Monday, and Sensabaugh makes for a solid play for teams needing a small forward fill-in.
New Orleans allows the second-most points and second-most three-pointers to opposing small forwards, so expect Sensabaugh to knock down a few from deep and continue his hot recent shooting stretch (15-27 on threes in his last three games).
Other Favorable Schedules
Amen Thompson
(SF/SG/PF, Houston Rockets)
Dillon Brooks
(SF/SG, Houston Rockets)
Cam Whitmore
(SF, Houston Rockets)
Josh Hart
(SF/SG, New York Knicks)
OG Anunoby
(SF/PF, New York Knicks)
Mikal Bridges
(SF/SG, New York Knicks)
Worst
Scottie Barnes
(SF/SG/PF, Toronto Raptors)
Despite a solid season in many areas, Barnes has struggled mightily from distance, shooting 29% on the season, and it won’t get any easier with upcoming games against Boston on Wednesday and Orlando next Monday, as the Celtics and Magic allow the fewest three-pointers per game to opposing small forwards. Orlando actually allows fewer points per game to the small forward position than any team allows to a specific position across the league.
Meanwhile, with its elite wing defenders, Boston allows the second-lowest field goal percentage and second-fewest assists per game to opposing small forwards. It will be a tough stretch of games for Barnes and his teammate RJ Barrett as they face off against Giannis and the Bucks on Friday, sandwiched between these two daunting matchups.
Other Challenging Schedules
RJ Barrett
(SF/SG/PF, Toronto Raptors)
Ochai Agbaji
(SF/SG, Toronto Raptors)
Cameron Johnson
(SF/PF, Brooklyn Nets)
Ziaire Williams
(SF, Brooklyn Nets)
Tyrese Martin
(SF, Brooklyn Nets)
Zaccharie Risacher
(SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks)
De’Andre Hunter
(SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks)
Power Forward
Best
Kyle Kuzma
(PF/SF, Washington Wizards)
Kuzma has had his worst season as a pro, with dreadful shooting splits of (43/24/59), but has a great opportunity with upcoming matchups against the Suns on Thursday and Kings on Sunday. Despite his poor shooting performance, specifically from distance, Kuzma has not shied away from the long ball, attempting 4.4 per game, including 6+ in two of his last three outings.
Phoenix and Sacramento allow by far the most three-pointers to opposing power forwards of any teams, offering Kuzma a chance to turn things around if he can recover his shooting stroke from prior seasons.
Other Favorable Schedules
Kyle Kuzma
(PF/SF, Washington Wizards)
Zion Williamson
(PF, New Orleans Pelicans)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
(PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans)
Kevin Durant
(PF, Phoenix Suns)
Worst
Aaron Gordon
(PF, Denver Nuggets)
Gordon has been a revelation from deep this season, converting 1.3 threes a game on 44%, easily the best efficiency in his 11-year career, but will be tested this week with matchups against Houston on Wednesday and Orlando on Sunday. The Rockets and Magic have been elite defensively this season, ranking top-three in both Defensive Rating and Defensive Efficiency.
They have been notably unyielding against opposing stretch-fours, allowing the fewest three-pointers to power forwards. Each defense also ranks top-three in assists per game allowed to opposing power forwards.
Other Challenging Schedules
Noah Clowney
(PF, Brooklyn Nets)
Jalen Wilson
(PF, Brooklyn Nets)
Toumani Camara
(PF/SF, Portland Trail Blazers)
Center
Best
Walker Kessler
(C, Utah Jazz)
As mentioned twice already, the Jazz face off against the Pelicans twice, on Friday and Monday. Kessler currently leads the NBA in field goal percentage at 72%, taking 68% of his field goals from inside three feet. New Orleans concedes the second-most field goals per game in the restricted area and allows the second-highest field goal percentage to opposing centers.
The Pelicans also yield by far the most rebounds per game to opposing centers (17.6, 1.3 more than the second-highest). Start Kessler with confidence and expect significant gains in those categories.
Other Favorable Schedules
Mark Williams
(C, Charlotte Hornets)
Nick Richards
(C, Charlotte Hornets)
Yves Missi
(C, New Orleans Pelicans)
Daniel Theis
(C, New Orleans Pelicans)
Worst
Jakob Poeltl
(C, Toronto Raptors)
Poeltl has been one of fantasy basketball’s most consistent center options this season, but he and the Raptors face a challenging stretch with matchups against three of the league’s best defenses in Boston, Milwaukee, and Orlando. These defensive units have been particularly effective against opposing centers.
The Celtics are blocked the least amount by opposing 5s, the Bucks allow the lowest field goal percentage to centers, and the Magic give up by far the fewest rebounds to opposing centers. Poeltl will face unique challenges in each game and fantasy owners needing gains in those three categories should proceed with caution.
Other Challenging Schedules
Nikola Jokic
(C, Denver Nuggets)
Jakob Poeltl
(C, Toronto Raptors)
Nic Claxton
(C, Brooklyn Nets)
Day’Ron Sharpe
(C, Brooklyn Nets)
Resources: hashtagbasketball.com, espn.com,