If you look at the NBA in the same fashion as the NFL then there are 25 weeks of NBA action. By breaking down each week and analyzing team schedules you can load your roster with players appearing in more games and sit those who are playing fewer games.

If all this sounds like a lot of work then you need not worry; because we have done the leg work for you. We are posting a weekly NBA start em’ and sit em’ fantasy guide to assist you in maximizing your fantasy roster potential.

Last week I recommended five players for your fantasy roster; John Wall, Jrue Holiday, Mike Conley, LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Wall, Holiday, Conley and Lillard all came through and had tremendous weeks as they each out performed their season averages. Aldridge seemed to have played this past week with beast-mode activated as he was a monster. Four out of five games were double-doubles and all five games saw Aldridge score over 20 points and in two of those five he scored over 30 points.

This week in the NBA every team plays a minimum of three games, there are not teams playing on a short week. About half the league, or to be exact 14 teams, have four game weeks so there are plenty of decent fantasy options available. 

There are only four weeks left in the regular season so it is imperative that you capitalize on every possible fantasy point available. As boring as it might be, look to draft players whose production is steady, constant and predictable. Fill the holes on your roster with guys carrying the hot hand into the week and those who have favorable schedules.

Here we go with eDraft’s week 22 fantasy start em’s and sit em’s. Week 22 in the NBA runs from March 25 through to the evening games on March 31.

WEEK 22 – START EM’

Dwight Howard - Los Angeles Lakers

It took 22 weeks of NBA action but I’m finally ready to recommend Howard to fantasy general managers. Howard seems to be playing with a purpose these past weeks; be it for a playoff spot or a lucrative new contract the on-court production is finally starting to show. The Lakers have a nice four game stretch ahead with games against teams that lack strong centers who can run the floor with Howard. Downfall to the upcoming week is that all the games are on the road, but upside is that it sees stops in Golden State, Sacramento, Minnesota and Milwaukee. I’m expecting a solid week of fantasy stats for Howard; 16-plus ppg and 13.5-plus rpg are to be expected here.

Jrue Holiday - Philadelphia 76ers

Aside from one dismal performance against the Los Angeles Clippers last week, Holiday was superb. In a game against he scored 18 points and added 15 assists. Last night in Sacramento he went off for 21 points, 7 assists, 10 rebounds and 5 steals. I really like this coming week for Holiday as he matches up very well against the opposition. The 76ers will go up against the likes of Utah, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Charlotte; I’m expecting big things from Holiday against them all. Plug him into your fantasy lineup for the week and reap the rewards; we could see some ridiculous numbers out of him for this stretch.

John Wall - Washington Wizards

I have got to go with the hot hand here and for that I turn once again to Wall. He had a tremendous last week as he averaged over 20 ppg and 8.0 apg. A four game week lies ahead for Wall and the Wizards with games against Memphis, Oklahoma, Orlando and Toronto. If Wall can keep himself from getting ejected again he projects to have another solid fantasy week here.

Jeff Teague - Atlanta Hawks

Teague's play of late has been exceptional. Last week he averaged a whopping 18.4 ppg and 9.6 apg while chipping in with 2 rpg and 1.8 steals per contest. Teague has really elevated his game as evidenced by a 15 assist, 11 point, 5 rebound performance against the Brooklyn Nets. Teague marks a nice pickup for the week as the Hawks have four games on the schedule. Atlanta is currently holding onto that fifth spot in the Conference and the continued stellar play of Teague will go a long way in ensuring the Hawks make the playoffs.

WEEK 22 – SIT EM’

Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics

Injury concerns have dampened Garnett’s fantasy value as the regular season winds down. An ankle sprain has held Garnett out of duty in three of Boston’s last five games and his return is uncertain at this point. The Celtics do have four games ahead this week; however, given Garnett’s current status he cannot be counted on for regular nor consistent production. Garnett is a must sit for the week.

Rudy Gay - Toronto Raptors

There are league wide rumblings that Gay could get shut-down by the Raptors for the duration of the season due to lingering back problems. This would be a shame as Gay has been the only thing keeping anyone’s interest in the Raptors. Gay did not travel with the team when they went into New York and the game before that he only played 14 minutes. There is obviously something wrong with him physically and given the fact that the Raptors have exactly nothing to play for, the right decision would be to shut him down for the year. In the interim, sit gay down for the week at minimum and listen for any announcement coming out of Toronto on his long-term future.

Omer Asik - Houston Rockets

Asik’s production of late has been in decline. A strong start to the season raised many fantasy general managers’ expectations; however, those expectations have come down considerably as Asik seems to have settled into his role on the Rockets. With the decline in scoring and with the rebounding numbers becoming more and more pedestrian, Asik’s fantasy value is in decline. There are much better value players out there that give similar production at a much discounted price.