Rotoworld Fantasy Basketball Podcast

With the first day of the 2021 NBA play-in tournament behind us, Matt Stroup and Steve Alexander break down some of the most notable performances, including big numbers from Domantas Sabonis, Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker, and a disappointing night for Russell Westbrook and the Wizards. We also look at what to expect from LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges moving forward after the Hornets were blown out/knocked out, and discuss our expectations for the LeBron James-Steph Curry showdown as well as the Spurs against the Grizzlies.

On Monday, the Roundball Stew crew (Matt Stroup, Dr. A and Ryan Knaus) took part in a live NBC Sports EDGE NBA Playoff Preview Show, hosted by Sara Perlman and featuring Corey Parson, Vaughn Dalzell, Drew Dinsick and Jay Croucher. The show covered everything from the top seeds to the play-in tournament (including a much-anticipated LeBron James-Steph Curry matchup), as well as the 4-5/3-6 matchups in the East and West. That's where Ryan, Matt and Steve come in (around the 31:00 mark), breaking down Jimmy Butler and the Heat's chances of knocking of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, and a much-anticipated Hawks-Knicks showdown featuring Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Julius Randle. Plus, what to expect when Damian Lillard's Blazers meet Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, and can Luka Doncic and the Mavs spring an upset on Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers?

With the 2020-21 NBA regular season almost finished, Dr. A and Ryan Knaus join Matt Stroup to hand out some fantasy awards. We hand out the MVP (spoiler: It's Nikola Jokic), debate the Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year, consider whether Steph Curry was the clear-cut best old guy, and hold a Bust of the Year debate including Kelly Oubre, Ja Morant and Devin Booker. Plus, the best and worst fantasy coaches, and a showdown between Clint Capela, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and others for best value pick.

Midway through the final week of the regular season, Matt Stroup is joined by Ryan Knaus, Raphielle Johnson, Dr. A and Jared Johnson to discuss an absurd late-season heater from Domantas Sabonis and how high we rank him moving forward. We also look at Russell Westbrook as a major common denominator on fantasy championship squads, debate the Fantasy Rookie of the Year (LaMelo Ball vs. Tyrese Haliburton vs. Anthony Edwards), and consider why Clint Capela and Julius Randle were so underrated in drafts heading into this year.

With the final week of the NBA regular season upon us, Dr. A joins Matt Stroup to highlight some waiver wire pickups for anyone who plays all the way to the finish line in their fantasy leagues. We look at Kenyon Martin Jr., Armoni Brooks and the Houston Rockets, a team with nothing left to play for and very few players left to play. Plus, Jaxson Hayes is finishing strong for the Pelicans with Steven Adams and Zion Williamson sidelined, Terance Davis posts some strong numbers for Sacramento in the absence of Harrison Barnes, De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, and Juan Toscano-Anderson has quietly been filling up box scores down the stretch for the Warriors.

Anthony Edwards went nuts with 42 points on Wednesday night, and has showed a better-than-expected level of efficiency (not to mention explosive numbers) since the arrival of Chris Finch as head coach. Today, we look at his ridiculous future upside, as well as some other young players making big impressions: Mo Bamba, Isaac Okoro and Daniel Gafford, who for some reason cannot consistently get 25+ minutes for the Wizards despite some eye-catching per-minute stats. Also on this episode: some league-winning late-season production from Delon Wright, and to a lesser extent Facundo Campazzo.

As we sprint toward the end of the regular season, Matt Stroup is joined by Raphielle "The Champ" Johnson, Dr. A, Ryan Knaus and Jared Johnson to discuss how LaMelo Ball has hit the ground running immediately upon his return from injury. We also highlight some breakout performances from two Orlando Magic rookies — R.J. Hampton and Cole Anthony — and debate the immediate and long-term fantasy value of Ja Morant and yes, Kelly Olynyk, who has absolutely been thriving in meaningless games in a Houston Rockets uniform. Plus, the impact of Tyrese Haliburton's knee injury on Delon Wright, who's set up for some big games in the days ahead.

Special guest and avid fantasy hoops player Andy Hull from the band Manchester Orchestra joins us to talk about some of the top names to consider on waivers for Week 20. We discuss Malachi Flynn, Killian Hayes, a surging Kent Bazemore with Kelly Oubre injured, as well as Aaron Nesmith, Willy Hernangomez and more. Also on this episode: Andy takes us behind the scenes for one of the music videos from Manchester Orchestra's new album, The Million Masks Of God, and seeks help for a last-minute Week 19 playoff dilemma (which will hopefully work out).

Robert Williams is back for Boston, Kelly Olynyk is thriving in Houston and Mo Bamba is starting to emerge (again) for Orlando, and today those three big men are at the center of our conversation, as Steve Alexander and Matt Stroup look at some of the latest developments on the fantasy hoops landscape during Week 19. Also on this episode: Facundo Campazzo puts it all together in a truly spectacular stat line for Denver, and Isaac Okoro is making a late-season run for Cleveland with Collin Sexton sidelined.

On an express edition of our 4x5 episode, Ryan Knaus and Raphielle Johnson join Matt Stroup to look at the latest happenings in the Rockets rotation. With John Wall done for the year (and Christian Wood out recently), what's the upside for Armoni Brooks, KJ Martin and Jae’Sean Tate the rest of the way? Plus, we examine why Monday’s stat line from Malachi Flynn was potentially very significant at the start of a five-game week for the Raptors, what Tyrese Haliburton is doing with the opportunity to show his ceiling and some ominous signs for the fantasy potential of Hassan Whiteside moving forward.

With Week 19 approaching, Matt Stroup and Dr. A look at some of the latest intriguing waiver wire additions for the fantasy basketball playoffs. Denver’s P.J. Dozier is near the top of the list after his big game on Saturday (and in the wake of the injuries to Jamal Murray and Will Barton). We also look at some options in Toronto, Dallas and Oklahoma City with the Raptors, Mavericks and Thunder all playing five times this week, as well as late-emerging names ranging from Mo Bamba to Oshae Brissett to Reggie Bullock to Armoni Brooks.

Dr. A and Ryan Knaus join Matt Stroup to discuss an impressive (and extremely long-awaited) season debut from Jaren Jackson Jr., who finally suited up for the Grizzlies after 56 games. We break down what to expect from him the rest of the way based on Memphis's schedule, consider what tanking means for Moses Brown and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and what making a run at a playoff spot means for Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. We also look at some late-week waiver options, including Reggie Bullock and Bruce Brown.

Ryan Knaus, Raphielle Johnson, Dr. A and Jared Johnson join Matt Stroup to highlight and break down some recent fantasy developments, including the rise of rookies Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes in Detroit, and more turbulent times for Tyrese Haliburton and Moses Brown in what's become a somewhat messy Oklahoma City frontcourt. Plus, an absurd barrage of points and 3s from Steph Curry, the late-season emergence/re-emergence of 3-point specialists Grayson Allen and Davis Bertans, and an eye-catching stat line from De'Anthony Melton.

With the fantasy playoffs upon us, Dr. A joins Matt Stroup to look at some of the most intriguing names that might be available on your waiver wire, including Isaiah Stewart, Grayson Allen and Daniel Gafford, who all posted big stat lines over the weekend. We also look at some eye-catching performances from undrafted players Naji Marshall and Paul Watson, and the appeal of Reggie Jackson, Josh Jackson and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Ryan Knaus and Steve Alexander join Matt Stroup to look at some recent developments on the fantasy landscape, including the sudden retirement of LaMarcus Aldridge, and what it means for Nic Claxton and DeAndre Jordan in the Brooklyn frontcourt. We also look at significant opportunities in front of Hassan Whiteside (with Richaun Holmes injured) and Raptors big man Khem Birch, big box scores from Lu Dort and Darius Bazley, and a couple of our favorite silly season memories.

Matt Stroup is joined by Ryan Knaus, Raphielle Johnson, Steve Alexander and Jared Johnson to react to the brutal news that Jamal Murray is done for the season with a torn ACL. We discuss what this means in fantasy leagues for Facundo Campazzo, Monte Morris, Will Barton and others. We also marvel at the rare sight of Joel Embiid crushing it during the fantasy playoffs, and consider the long- and short-term upside for young centers Mo Bamba and Daniel Gafford.

Matt Stroup and Steve Alexander (broadcasting from a yacht, sort of) are joined by special/frequent guest Brian Rosenworcel of Guster to look at the top fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups for Week 17. We discuss an impressive run from Raptors rookie Malachi Flynn (and whether it's about to come to and end), notable recent performances from Jalen and Jaden McDaniels, plus the rise of Mo Bamba and the return of Darius Bazley. We also consider names ranging from Daniel Gafford to Aaron Holiday to Isaiah Hartenstein — and coin two new absurd/possibly not absurd fantasy league formats — on this episode.

Matt Stroup and Steve Alexander react to Wednesday night's big breakout performance from Jalen McDaniels in Charlotte and why he's worth adding now and asking questions later in fantasy leagues. We also discuss the huge opportunity being given to Aleksej Pokusevski (and Theo Maledon) in Oklahoma City, and similar chances for R.J. Hampton, Mo Bamba and Chuma Okeke in Orlando. Plus, a bona fide LaMarcus Aldridge sighting in Brooklyn, and encouraging news for Karl-Anthony Towns on the shutdown front.

Matt Stroup is joined by Raphielle Johnson, Ryan Knaus, Steve Alexander and Jared Johnson for a very rookie- and point guard-heavy episode. We discuss the latest performances from, and our expectations for, Malachi Flynn (who's emerging after injuries to Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet), Aleksej Pokusevski, Theo Maledon, Tyrese Haliburton and Killian Hayes, who posted an eye-catching stat line on Monday night. Also on this episode: Jared shares the story of a trade that broke his favorite league.

Dr. A and Matt Stroup run through some of the most notable waiver wire pickups to consider in fantasy leagues right now, including OKC rookies Aleksej Pokusevski and Theo Maledon, as well as Shake Milton, Jalen Brunson and Jordan McLaughlin after his big game on Saturday night. We also react to a weekend of wild blowout games in the NBA, and why Malachi Flynn of the Raptors is worth considering with Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet recently dealing with injuries.