{"id":641840,"date":"2026-03-05T22:16:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/641840\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T22:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:16:19","slug":"fantasy-basketball-hot-topics-trae-youngs-washington-debut-giannis-antetokounmpos-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/641840\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy basketball hot topics: Trae Young\u2019s Washington debut, Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s return"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are five weeks left in the fantasy hoops season. It\u2019s amazing how fast time flies when having fun. My thoughts on last week are below. May some nugget help guide you to glory.<\/p>\n

Injuries schminjuries<\/p>\n

Isaiah Hartenstein suffered left calf tightness on Wednesday, which is somewhat troubling because Hartenstein missed 16 games in January due to a right calf injury. In the three most recent games that Hartenstein missed, Jaylin Williams averaged 23.6 points, 13 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.0 blocks and 3.6 treys. The answer to your question is yes, add him.<\/p>\n

John Collins took a hard fall a little over a week ago and missed four of the past five games due to a neck strain. Kobe Sanders started three of those games, while Bennedict Mathurin received one start. When Collins is healthy, Kawhi Leonard slides down to shooting guard. Darius Garland made his Clippers debut two games ago and averaged 23.5 minutes off the bench. Garland will likely enter the starting lineup at some point, but will coach Tyronn Lue keep Kris Dunn in the starting lineup or stay with the bigger lineup? Dunn is shooting 38% from downtown, albeit on only 2.7 attempts per game.<\/p>\n

Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a 15-game absence and averaged 26 minutes over two games. Interestingly, Ousmane Dieng started while Ryan Rollins was moved to a reserve role. Dieng won\u2019t provide much outside of points, but the efficiency has spiked while playing alongside Antetokounmpo. Rollins started the most recent game, but that\u2019s because Kevin Porter was out. It looks like coach Doc Rivers wants A.J. Green\u2019s 41% shooting from downtown on the floor next to Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee is five games out of the Play-In tournament. It wouldn\u2019t surprise me if Antetokounmpo gets shut down if the Bucks don\u2019t make a run soon.<\/p>\n

Trae Young will finally make his Wizards debut on Thursday. It\u2019s already been announced that he will be on a minutes restriction in the 17-20 minute range. Washington has no incentive to win, and, when healthy, nearly everyone gets 20 minutes. Bub Carrington will likely be the most affected by Young\u2019s integration, as his minutes will be capped in the low-20s. The presence of Young should benefit the bigs and shooters, but the impact will be mitigated by the limited playing time.<\/p>\n

Devin Booker returned from a four-game absence and played 31 minutes and was slotted in at small forward with Dillon Brooks out. That means the backcourt consisted of Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green. Booker had a 29.2% usage rate in his return game. On the season, he\u2019s at 31.4%. Gillespie\u2019s usage dropped to 15.6%, but he still played 31 minutes, and minutes are half the battle. Green garnered a 32.2% usage rate and is at 34.1% on the season. He\u2019s had only one game (against a decrepit Sacramento Kings team), but Green\u2019s shooting efficiency was much better playing alongside Booker \u2014 43% vs. 36% on the season.<\/p>\n

Keyonte George came back after a six-game absence and started in three contests. He received 23 minutes in his return, then played 30 minutes in each of the last two. Isaiah Collier, who was balling out and playing 34 minutes a night, is most impacted. He\u2019s down to 23 minutes with George back.<\/p>\n

Kyshawn George suffered an elbow injury and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. There\u2019s no reason to hold him since he wasn\u2019t playing particularly well and was averaging only around 20 minutes when healthy. Will Riley, already a significant part of Washington\u2019s rotation and averaging 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 treys while shooting 47\/32\/84 in 32.8 minutes over six games, has started with George out.<\/p>\n

Washington is dealing with a plethora of injuries \u2014 Alex Sarr, Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins. As a result, Julian Reese and Leaky Black have seen 30 minutes off the bench. Both are low-usage players and won\u2019t provide points, but they can provide rebounds. Black averaged eight rebounds and two blocks in two games.<\/p>\n

Obi Toppin returned from a 56-game absence and played in three games. He averaged 9.7 minutes and won\u2019t be a fantasy factor, nor will he impact anyone else.<\/p>\n

Observations from the Son<\/p>\n

Reed Sheppard started three of the past four games and averaged 35.3 minutes, 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.5 steals, 1.3 blocks and 5.0 treys.<\/p>\n

Reed Sheppard. CLUTCH THREE.<\/p>\n

Rockets up 4 with 11.1 to play! pic.twitter.com\/pUmoi9LXRL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) February 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Before we start building statues and genuflecting, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith have missed time due to injury. Sheppard\u2019s defense is a concern because of his size and, at times, his instincts, but the Rockets could really use his shooting and playmaking on offense. My gut, which is enormously large, grumbles that coach Ime Udoka may want to continue trotting out length and size when everyone\u2019s healthy, which would relegate Sheppard back to a reserve role. But maybe, just maybe, this recent stretch has given Sheppard some staying power.<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro saw his minutes mired in the low-20s when he returned from a 15-game absence, but is now at 33 minutes and started the past two contests. He only played 28 minutes in the last game, but it was a blowout.<\/p>\n

Dejounte Murray made his season debut five games ago and averaged 25.3 minutes, 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 treys over four games. That\u2019s been top-40 on a per-game basis for fantasy! He obviously wasn\u2019t his Meep Meep Road Runner-ing self, but he has looked good for someone who tore an Achilles a little over a year ago. Murray likely won\u2019t see more than 25 minutes a game and will sit in back-to-back situations, but he\u2019s proven he can still be a fantasy beast on a per-minute basis. The presence of Murray isn\u2019t good for Jeremiah Fears, but he\u2019ll still have plenty of opportunities down the stretch.<\/p>\n

Oso Ighodaro has been a part of the rotation all season, primarily backing up at center. I was impressed with his athleticism and play during Summer League, but he hasn\u2019t made a consistent fantasy impact. However, over the past three games, Ighodaro received 28 minutes and averaged 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 65% from the field. He will likely start on Thursday, with Mark Williams ruled out. I\u2019m intrigued if he continues to get minutes in the high-20s.<\/p>\n

Danny Wolf has averaged 22.5 minutes over the past 14 games, with the low at 18 minutes and the high at 29. He\u2019s also had a wide range of productivity, but the high is impressive \u2014 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals and three treys against Cleveland. The usage rate has been in the 25% range, so the chances of ceiling games are always within the range of outcomes.<\/p>\n

Tre Jones has started the past two games alongside Josh Giddey. The usage rate has been 20% in both contests. Jones will never win a week, but he rarely turns the ball over, shoots at a high percentage, dishes out some dimes and racks up some steals.<\/p>\n

Collin Sexton will always have a special place in my heart:<\/p>\n

He plays hard and can get buckets. Over the past two games, Sexton has averaged 30.0 minutes, 21.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 3.0 treys. The usage rate has been 25%, and he is now the Bulls\u2019 microwave scorer. Sexton doesn\u2019t provide much beyond points, but he normally shoots at a high clip (48% on the season).<\/p>\n

Precious Achiuwa is a top-25 player on a per-game basis over the last seven games. That is all.<\/p>\n

Adem Bona got the start over Andre Drummond in the last game with Joel Embiid out. Drummond is averaging 1.06 fantasy points per minute while Bona is at 0.79.<\/p>\n

Jevon Carter received 30 minutes in each of the past two games. Tyus Jones was sent to Dallas, so Carter is the likely player to back up at point guard and shooting guard. Anthony Black is currently dealing with an injury, while Jalen Suggs is always on call. Carter is far from an exciting fantasy player. He\u2019s bordering on need-to-get-paid to roster him. That said, minutes are half the battle, and Carter could see significant playing time down the stretch.<\/p>\n

Robert Williams won\u2019t play back-to-back or ever receive 30 minutes a night, but when he\u2019s on the court, he\u2019ll do what he does best \u2014 dunk, grab boards and block shots. Since the start of February (10 games), Williams has shot 74% from the field, grabbed 7.7 rebounds and blocked 2.1 shots per game. He\u2019s been a top-70 player for fantasy on a per-game basis.<\/p>\n

Micah Potter sprained his ankle on Wednesday, so the short-term future is in doubt. Over the past 10 games, though, he averaged 25.5 minutes, 14.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.2 treys, backing up Jay Huff at center. Potter has good size and can make it rain from downtown, exactly what Indiana wants at the position.<\/p>\n

Tristan da Silva has started the past six games with Franz Wagner out. The usage rate is low at 14%, but he\u2019s still managed to post top-80 numbers for fantasy. Nothing overwhelms, but it\u2019s a little here, a little there \u2014 11.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 2.3 treys.<\/p>\n