In-Season Strategy: Week 21 Start/Sit

While Week 20 was packed full of games, Week 21 is much lighter. As a result, many start/sit decisions will be made based on games played. Keep an eye out for players on four-game weeks who may be sitting on the waiver wire, and players on your team who will only take the court twice. Here's the breakdown:

Teams with four games: BOS, BKN, CHA, CHI, DEN, UTA

Teams with three games: ATL, CLE, DAL, GSW, HOU, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOP, NYK, OKC, ORL, POR, SAS, WAS

Teams with two games: DET, IND, PHI, PHO, SAC, TOR

And here are some players to consider starting and some to consider sitting:

Point Guard

Consider Starting: Monte Morris, DEN

Opponents: Mil, @Dal, @SA, @LAL

Even when everyone is healthy and available for the Nuggets, coach Michael Malone still makes sure to find consistent run for Morris. Since the All-Star break, Morris is seeing 25.1 minutes per game and he's registered a fantasy rank of 97. Considering Denver is on a four-game week, he should be able to provide some value as a streaming option, even in leagues as shallow as 12 teams. His passing (3.4 APG), defense (1.6 STL) and efficiency (52.8 FG%) are the driving factors in his fantasy relevance.

Consider sitting: Ja Morant, MEM

Opponents: Orl, @Por, @Uta

Morant's scoring (17.4 points on 48.2 FG%) and passing (6.3 APG) have been solid since the All-Star break. However, the other areas of his game have dragged him down. In addition to poor free-throw shooting (70.3% on 4.6 attempts per game), he's averaging just a combined 4.5 threes, rebounds, steals and blocks. It's possible he bounces back, but it's also possible he's hit the dreaded "rookie wall".

Shooting Guard

Consider starting: Terrence Ross, ORL

Opponents: @Mem, Chi, Cha

Helped by a monster 35-point effort that included eight threes during Wednesday's narrow loss to the Heat, Ross has been ranked 41st in fantasy since the All-Star break. He'll be heading into a three-game week against some relatively weak competition. Plus, with Evan Fournier (elbow) set for an extended absence, Ross could see extra shots. Fantasy owners in need of threes can certainly turn to Ross for help, as he's hitting 4.7 per game across the past seven.

Consider sitting: Buddy Hield, SAC

Opponents: NO, Bkn

Given that coach Luke Walton is handing Hield just 23.9 minutes per contest since the break, it's relatively impressive that Hield has ranked 61st over this span, notably averaging 3.5 threes and 1.4 steals while making all of his free throws. That said, on a two-game week, it's hard to trust Hield, who could easily see fewer than 50 total minutes. I'd rather take a chance elsewhere in 12-team formats.

Small Forward

Consider starting: Otto Porter, CHI

Opponents: Cle, @Orl, @Mia, Bos

Hopefully before weekly lineup lock, we'll get a better idea of Porter's fitness and how many minutes he'll be able to play moving forward. In his first two games back from an extended absence, he's seen 17 and 18 minutes, respectively, totaling 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and two blocks. If Porter gets bumped up to at least 24 minutes per game, he could provide solid fantasy value on a four-game week. Last season, he was the 60th-ranked player in 30.1 minutes per contest.

Consider sitting: Norman Powell, TOR

Opponents: @Uta, Det

Powell has been a massive beneficiary of the Raptors' extensive injury report, which he is no stranger to himself. He's appeared in only four games since the break, but in those contests, he's notably averaged 27.3 points on 53.5 FG%, 2.8 threes and 1.3 steals in 38.3 minutes. That's resulted in a fantasy rank of 22 over this timeframe. However, with the Raptors inching closer to full health, especially Fred VanVleet (shoulder), I wouldn't necessarily lock in Powell for elite performances on a two-game week.

Power Forward

Consider starting: PJ Washington, CHA

Opponents: @Atl, @Mia, Cle, @Orl

Washington's performances in eight games since the break haven't been groundbreaking, but he's provided enough to be ranked 138th. On a four-game week, that's good enough to be in starter consideration for 12-team and, especially, 14-team formats. Washington's efficiency hasn't been easy on the eyes (41.3 FG%, 61.9 FT%), but he's hitting 2.6 threes per game since the break. Plus, he's providing passable contributions elsewhere, such as 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a combined 1.3 steals-plus-blocks.

Consider sitting: Derrick Favors, NOP

Opponents: @Sac, @Uta, @LAC

Favors and PJ Washington have been close in rank since the break, with Favors checking in at 124. However, Favors plays one fewer game, they're all on the road, and the matchups are tougher. The emergence of Zion Williamson continues to be a hindrance on Favors' upside. If you're desperate for rebounding (10.7 RPG) and field-goal percentage (59.6), Favors can probably help you, but he's not providing much elsewhere with just 11.1 combined points, threes, assists, steals and blocks.

Center

Consider starting: Wendell Carter, CHI

Opponents: Cle, @Orl, @Mia, Bos

In a similar situation to teammate Otto Porter, Carter has recently returned from injury and is due to get a bump in his minutes restriction next week. In three games since his return, he's averaging 6.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 block in 22.0 minutes. If he can get toward minutes in the upper-20s or low-30s, he should be able to provide value on a four-game week. On the season as a whole, Carter is ranked 102nd in 29.4 minutes per contest.

Consider sitting: Al Horford, PHI

Opponents: Det, Ind

Horford has done a good job of filling in for the injured Joel Embiid (shoulder), ranking 45th across the past four games. However, the 76ers are about to play on just a two-game week, and it seems like a strong possibility that Embiid makes his return Wednesday. Fantasy owners in 14-team leagues may have to take the risk, but if you're in a 12-teamer, see what other options are available before locking Horford in.