Veteran big man John Collins is a shoo-in candidate to start Week 4.

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We have a more balanced schedule in Week 4, but there are still more teams with four games available than those with three or two. And injuries to some of the league’s biggest stars have hit the entire league hard (we have several Pelicans players rounding out our suggestions this week).

Each week, we’ll try to highlight a couple of starting candidates for your fantasy rosters that may shape up to be some of the toughest decisions to make, generally focusing on players with a starting or roster rate of 50% or less in Yahoo Leagues. We will also typically focus on players with four-game weeks in an attempt to maximize production opportunities.

Likewise, we’ll highlight one candidate to sit at each position who wouldn’t normally be considered for a spot on your bench, and we’ll often focus on players with fewer playing opportunities over the next week.

TEAMS WITH FOUR GAMES: Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz , Wizards of Washington

TEAMS WITH THREE MATCHES: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors

TEAMS WITH TWO GAMES: Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors

Without further ado, let’s examine some of the toughest start/sit decisions for Week 4:

guards

Begin: Jose Alvaradopelicans

39% listing rate

CJ McCollum He is still projected to be out for all of Week 4 due to his right adductor strain, meaning the indefatigable Alvarado should be ready for four more starts. The fourth-year pro has provided solid production during what is now a six-game season with the first unit, averaging 17.2 points (on 44.7% three-point shooting), 5.7 assists, 3 .7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 33.3 minutes per game. . Alvarado’s efficiency from behind the arc has room for improvement, but it’s hard to argue with his overall contributions and he should get plenty of opportunities to once again showcase his diverse skill set this week.

Begin: Keyonte Georgejazz

10% start rate

George is one of two dynamic guards: Wizards Carlton Carrington The others listed below are those who have very promising prospects for next week, but are currently dealing with injuries that need to be monitored. George’s ailment is a sore foot that kept him out of Saturday’s game against the Spurs, but with Utah out until Tuesday, he should have a solid chance to return for that contest. The second-year guard has had promising production despite shooting woes earlier this season, putting up 15.6 points, 6.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game while averaging a solid 31.8 minutes. per match. Assuming he gets the nod by Tuesday, he’s worthy of starting a four-game week.

ALSO CONSIDER: Carlton Carrington, Magicians (staff rate of 25%), Miles McBrideKnicks (13% staff rate)

Feel: D’Angelo RussellLakers

71% start rate

Russell was recently demoted to the second unit and, as expected, played well in his first two games off the bench, while at times facing lower-caliber opposition and enjoying a bit more usage than with the Anthony Davis–LeBron James-centered initial five. While Russell has averaged 16.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26 minutes per game in those first two games of the second unit, there’s always a chance his playing time could dip a bit on certain nights. Consequently, he’s not likely to generate the kind of production in a three-game schedule that couldn’t be surpassed by a similarly talented three- or four-game starter.

Forwards

Begin: Tari Easonrockets

34% startup rate

Eason is enjoying the best season of his career on the offensive end early, averaging a career-high 11.8 points on 55.2% shooting, including 41.4% from 3-point range . The third-year forward enjoys a consistent role on the second unit that is currently yielding 22.2 minutes per game, and enters Week 4 having scored in double figures in five of his previous six games. Eason also contributes a career-high 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game, underscoring how valuable he could be to his roster despite his bench role.

Begin: Caris Le Vertgentlemen

34% listing rate

LeVert is always an interesting consideration when on a four-game schedule, and he opened the season with the most efficient shooting of his long NBA tenure. LeVert is making a career-best 57.5% of his 8.1 shot attempts per game, including 46.9% of his 3.6 3-point attempts per game. The veteran wing is averaging 23.3 minutes off the bench in his second unit role, and enters Week 4 having scored in double figures in four of his last five games, while logging 28 and 31 minutes in two of those. matches.

ALSO CONSIDER: Brandon Boston Jr.pelicans (31% staff rate)

Feel: Draymon Greenwarriors

71% start rate

Green is on one of two teams with a light two-game schedule this week, a big reason for his inclusion here. The veteran is providing his usual production on every stat sheet so far, but now that Stephen Curry Healthy again, Green’s offensive involvement has decreased as expected. Green has scored in single digits in each of his last three games after three straight double-digit scoring efforts and, despite what he can contribute in other categories, he is certainly worthy of a seat on the bench with just two opportunities to take the field.

Centers

Begin: Jeremiah Robinson-Earlpelicans

5% listing fee

There aren’t many viable center-eligible players with low starting or roster rates this week who also have a full schedule, but the Pelicans’ injury-ravaged roster serves Robinson-Earl as a potentially productive streaming option. The veteran center has started two of his last three games and averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 33 minutes per game in those games. With sion williamson (hamstring) considered indefinitely, Robinson-Earl could have another four-game stretch with the first unit this week.

Begin: John Collinsjazz

28% startup rate

Collins’ modest early pace is surprising considering he has continued to offer starting-level production off the bench. The veteran big man enters Week 4 averaging 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.3 minutes per game over his last six games, a span during which he also shot 54.8% overall. Collins is capable of stretching the floor occasionally (he shot a decent 35.7% from 3-point range during that same sample) and has as secure a second-unit role as any player in the league.

Feel: Brook Lopezdollars

71% start rate

The Bucks have one more game than the minimum of two this week, but Lopez’s recent work deserves consideration for a spot on their bench. The veteran has scored in single figures in four of his last five games, including three in a row, a streak that includes a forgettable one-point outing against the Jazz three games ago. Lopez isn’t making up for that elsewhere either, as he averaged 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in that same sample. His 1.0 steals and 2.1 blocks per game on the season are valuable to a point, but you can probably find a more reliable center option with three or four games on his schedule.