Fantasy Basketball Week 13 Key Injuries

The Week 13 fantasy basketball schedule has some critical injuries for fantasy managers to consider when approaching the waiver wire. Evan Mobley and Jalen Williams are among the fantasy standouts dealing with injuries, and Philadelphia’s injury list remains loaded. Here are some player statuses that will affect Week 13 of fantasy basketball.

PF/C Evan MobleyCleveland Cavaliers

Monday’s game against the Suns will be the second straight that Mobley will miss with a strained right calf. Caris LeVert (17% of roster, Yahoo) started Saturday’s win over Minnesota, leaving Jarrett Allen as the lone big in the Cavaliers’ starting lineup. While LeVert doesn’t usually provide much value as a scorer when starting alongside Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, his defensive play accounted for Anthony Edwards shooting 9-for-22 from the field. While Ty Jerome (5%) and Georges Niang (1%) had better offensive nights than LeVert in backup roles, Mobley’s absence isn’t enough to put him on the streaming radar in most leagues of fantasy

SG/SF/PF/C Jalen Williams i C Isaiah HartensteinOklahoma City Thunder

Already playing Hartenstein, who is out with a strained left sole, Oklahoma City was without Williams for its last game because of his hip. Isaiah Joe (4%) got the starting nod for Sunday’s win against the Nets. Joe shot 8-for-10 from three on Sunday, scoring 24 points. Also of note was Aaron Wiggins (7%) who started Friday’s loss to Dallas for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but the early MVP favorite returned to the lineup for Sunday’s game. Joe and Wiggins can add value in deeper leagues, but Cason Wallace (25%) should be the first low-roster Thunder player for whom fantasy managers run their waiver wires.

As for Hartenstein, his continued absence has freed up minutes for Jaylin Williams (11%). JayWill didn’t add much value in his first start, the Jan. 16 blowout of Oklahoma City by the Cavaliers, but the matchup (Mobley and Jarrett Allen) had a lot to do with it. However, he recorded a double-double against the Mavericks and followed that up with another solid performance against the Nets. Although the Thunder don’t play their first game of Week 13 until Wednesday, two of the team’s three games are against teams targeting the draft lottery (Utah and Portland). Because of Hartenstein’s absence and the Wednesday-Thursday back-to-back, Williams is worth a look in the deep leagues.

SG/SF/PF Paul GeorgePhiladelphia 76ers

George has missed Philadelphia’s last two games, most recently sitting out the 76ers’ Jan. 19 loss to the Bucks with a groin strain. With Joel Embiid (knee) still sidelined, Tyrese Maxey has once again been left to shoulder the bulk of the offensive workload. George’s absence has freed up more opportunities for Eric Gordon (2%) and Ricky Council IV (2%), both deep league streamers at best. Kelly Oubre Jr. (55%) is worth pursuing in some shallow formats, especially if the 76ers are forced to continue without George and Embiid. Also worth noting are the absences of Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele, which saw rookie Adem Bona (1%) make his first start on Sunday. Philadelphia plays three games in Week 13, including a back-to-back Friday/Saturday, so some low-roster options deserve broadcast consideration.

SF/PF Kawhi LeonardLos Angeles Clippers

Leonard played 24 minutes in Sunday’s win against the Lakers, which likely takes him out of the mix for Monday’s game against the Bulls. And because the Clippers have back-to-back Wednesdays and Thursdays, Klaw may only be available for two of the team’s four Week 13 matchups. Derrick Jones Jr. (6%) started Sunday alongside Leonard, with Kris Dunn (3%) coming off the bench. Both were considered questionable for this game but played, which may affect their availability for Monday night. If Jones or Dunn can’t play against Chicago, Amir Coffey (3%) should be on the transmission radar for deep league managers.

SG/SF/PF Brandon MillerCharlotte Hornets

Miller suffered a torn ligament in his right wrist last week and is out indefinitely. With the Hornets heading into Week 13 with a 10-28 record, it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the Hornets decide to shut him down for the rest of the season. Nick Smith Jr. (1%) started Charlotte’s Jan. 17 win over the Bulls, finishing with 15 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and three 3-pointers in 26 minutes. If he continues to play starting minutes, which wouldn’t be bad since Smith was Charlotte’s other first-round pick in 2023, he may have some value, especially during the “dumb season.” However, this may be a spot where fantasy managers are better off waiting a few games before making a move, especially with Cody Martin (3%) and Seth Curry (1%) also playing rotation minutes.

PF/C John Collins, SF/PF Lauri Markkaneni PG/SG Collin SextonUtah Jazz

Has Utah pulled the plug this season without coming out and declaring it? Their injury report is littered with established veteran names, and the absences have opened up playing time for some of Utah’s younger players. Isaiah Collier (10%) has shown flashes at the point, and Utah’s recent decision to rest Sexton on multiple occasions makes it worth adding the rookie and keeping him for the rest of the season. The Jazz used a 2023 first-round pick on Keyonte George, but this could be Collier’s chance to prove he has what it takes to be the franchise’s point guard of the future.

The absences of Markkanen and Collins mean more playing time for Brice Sensabaugh (12%), Cody Williams (<1%) and Kyle Filipowski (2%), with Sensabaugh the only one fantasy managers should target actively ahead of Utah's three. Week 13 board game. Williams and Filipowski will certainly get their chances to produce, but Sensabaugh offers a substantially higher fantasy ceiling, even if he can hurt you in the field goal percentage category.

PG/SG/SF Donte DiVincenzoMinnesota Timberwolves

DiVincenzo has missed Minnesota’s last two games with a sprained left big toe, and has also been ruled out for Monday’s game with the Grizzlies. As a result, Mike Conley (40%) returned to the starting lineup, but the performances were mixed. After a productive Friday night against the Knicks, the veteran point guard had nine points, three assists and three triples in Saturday’s loss to the Cavaliers. Also, while Conley’s minutes increased with his return to the starting lineup, he’s only in the mid-20s. Rookie Rob Dillingham (2%) played 18 minutes Saturday, but hasn’t reached the point where it’s worth risking the reformulation of leagues. However, Dillingham’s skill set makes him one to watch for the future. Minnesota is playing three games in Week 13 without back-to-backs, which may help keep Conley on the floor longer.

PF/C Draymond GreenGolden State Warriors

After returning from illness and a back injury, Green injured his calf during the first quarter of Saturday’s win against Washington. It was reported that he would undergo an MRI on Sunday, but there was no word on the results (or if the exam even occurred). All that is known now is that Green will not play in Monday’s game against the Celtics, the first of four games on the Warriors’ Week 13 schedule. Gui Santos (<1%) started Golden State's Jan. 15 win over Minnesota, but Andrew Wiggins (67%) and Moses Moody (1%) are the players to watch, especially with Kyle Anderson (1%) also injured

After Saturday’s win, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Moody “seems to really thrive” when playing the four. He might show what he can do, whether it’s up front or the three with Wiggins dropping. Lindy Waters III (< 1%) has played rotation minutes recently, but hasn't been productive enough to merit broadcast consideration. With Wiggins listed in most standard leagues, Moody is the one to watch.