Fantasy Basketball Week 17 Start/Sit: Sleeper Picks & All-Star Break Insights

Week 17 presents one of the most unique stretches on the fantasy basketball calendar, as the schedule surrounding the All-Star break creates uneven game totals and forces tougher lineup decisions. With several teams playing just one or two games, monitoring NBA starting lineups, depth charts, and the latest NBA injury report is critical. This Start/Sit guide focuses on under-the-radar options who can outperform their fantasy basketball rankings based on opportunity, usage trends and NBA player stats. Whether you're tracking updated fantasy basketball news, evaluating projections, or adjusting strategy for the stretch run, these insights can help you maximize value in a condensed scoring period.

TEAMS WITH THREE GAMES: Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs

TEAMS WITH ONE GAME: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

Fantasy Basketball Week 17 Start/Sit Guide

Guards

Start: Kevin Porter, Bucks

23% start rate

Porter is the first of two members of the Bucks' backcourt that we'll highlight this week. Milwaukee is one of the few teams with a three-game schedule. Porter's recent multi-game absence due to an oblique injury created the opportunity for Ryan Rollins to make an airtight case to remain in the starting lineup upon his teammate's return two games ago. Meanwhile, Porter has picked up right where he left off in his first two games back in action, averaging 20.5 points, 8.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds on 50% shooting in that span. With Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) still lacking a firm return date, Porter should continue to offer strong multi-category production leading into the All-Star break. 

Start: Ryan Rollins, Bucks

29% start rate

As already alluded to, Rollins, who was also a Week 16 suggestion, has been on an extended run of strong production. That held true even through Kevin Porter's first two games back from injury. Rollins averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 50%, including 38.9% from behind the arc, in that pair of contests, and he's eclipsed 20 points in six of his last seven games overall. As with Porter, Antetokounmpo's continued absence will continue to afford Rollins expanded usage, keeping the fourth-year guard firmly in play.

ALSO CONSIDER: Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers (28% start rate);  Isaiah Collier, Jazz (24% start rate)

Sit: Josh Giddey, Bulls

55% start rate

Giddey will retain his spot for another week after missing the entirety of Week 16 due to a hamstring injury. The Bulls have just two games to work with during Week 17, and Giddey is already listed as doubtful for the first one, Monday against the Nets. The talented guard is therefore unplayable again, but if he's healthy following the All-Star break, he'll be looking at an even bigger role than he previously enjoyed thanks to the trade-deadline departures of Coby White and Nikola Vucevic.

Forwards

Start: Toumani Camara, Trail Blazers

28% start rate

Camara had a rough shooting night his last time on the floor Saturday, but the versatile wing has been offering impressive multi-category production more often than not. Camara has averaged 13.1 points (on 48% shooting), 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists across the last 10 games overall, and with Portland's three-game week and Shaedon Sharpe's calf injury factoring in, the third-year pro has even more appeal than usual. Sharpe is already ruled out for Monday's game against the 76ers, and given the looming All-Star break and the lingering nature of calf injuries, he could well be sidelined through all of Week 17. Deni Avdija (back) is also in line to potentially sit out his fifth straight contest Monday, which would only further Camara's case.

Start: Bobby Portis, Bucks

16% start rate

Given the scarcity of full schedules this week, it's no surprise we have a third member of the Bucks in our Start suggestions. In this case, we're spotlighting the player who always has the potential to jump into the first unit when Antetokounmpo is sidelined. Portis checks into Week 17 in the midst of an 11-game fantasy-friendly stretch of performances that have seen him average 14.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists across 28.7 minutes per contest. Portis drew four starts in that span as well and averaged a robust 36.3 minutes in the last three of those. With Antetokounmpo likely out until after the All-Star break, Portis stands the chance of running with the starters for additional upcoming games.

ALSO CONSIDER: Matas Buzelis, Bulls (40% start rate)

Sit: RJ Barrett, Raptors

46% start rate / 69% roster rate

Barrett is one of those players saddled with a one-game schedule, and while he's been in relatively strong form since returning from a multi-game absence due to an ankle injury, he's worth considering for a spot on your bench during the abbreviated week. Barrett has averaged a solid-but-replaceable 15.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest over his first seven games, although he's posted a poor 41.4% success rate from the floor, including 28.1% from 3-point range, in that sample. Additionally, Barrett's one Week 17 game happens to come against the Pistons, a matchup in which useful fantasy production is likely to be an uphill battle.

Centers

Start: Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder

36% start rate 

Hartenstein has posted a triple-double plus another double-digit point and assist tally apiece in his first four games back from an extended absence due to a calf injury. The versatile big man worked back up to 25 minutes in his most recent game Saturday, and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander already confirmed out through the All-Star break due to an adductor injury, Hartenstein should benefit in the form of some extra usage. Hartenstein has averaged 41.3 points + assists + rebounds per 36 minutes with SGA off the floor this season, so the potential for an especially productive three-game week is certainly there.

Start: Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers

43% start rate 

Clingan is another member of the Trail Blazers that can benefit from the ongoing absences of Sharpe and Avdija, and he checks into Week 17 averaging 13.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks across his last 11 games. The stellar across-the-stat-sheet production could naturally give your roster quite the boost on a full schedule, and Clingan will be in even better position to deliver above-average production on the offensive end for any games that either or both of Sharpe and Avdija remain sidelined for. 

ALSO CONSIDER: Deandre Ayton, Lakers (42% start rate)

Sit: Nikola Vucevic, Celtics

85% start rate

Vucevic also has just a single opportunity to take the floor in Week 17 for his new Celtics squad, and it appears the veteran big man will be coming off the bench for the time being. Vucevic has been solid in that role over his first two games in Boston – he's generated averages of 11.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 25.5 minutes per contest – but a similarly talented option with more games and a larger role could certainly prove to be a better option this week.