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 playing 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 legwork for you. We are posting a weekly NBA start em’ and sit em’ fantasy guide to assist you in maximizing your fantasy roster potential.

Week 5 in the NBA officially runs from November 27th up to and including December 3rd. Now that the season is at the one month mark, the players with the most sustainable fantasy sucess have self-identified and are distancing themselves from the wannabees.

This week has every team playing either a three or four game week. Ten teams play the short week and those include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, New Orleans Pelicans, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now is a good time to sit the likes of Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. All that means that the top four fantasy options in any league are out for the week.

With those fantasy studs on your bench lets take a look at who is poised to pick up the slack. We start in Dallas as the Mavericks have a favourable schedule with three home games against Golden State, Minnesota and Charlotte as well as a road game in Atlanta.

The home cooking seems to be served just right, particularly in the case of the Mavericks stat leader to this point. You might be thinking that Dirk Nowitzki would be the guy here; alas, the old guard is already in change as it is infact Monta Ellis who is the hot-hand here. The last two weeks has seen Ellis average 24 ppg, 6.1 apg and 3.0 rpg to go along with shooting 51% from the field.

From Dallas we move to a Western Conference foe in Denver. Despite the Nuggets struggles early this season the bright spot has been that of guard Ty Lawson. Given the output thus far, Lawson is in great shape to be called on to represent at the All-Star game in February.

The Nuggets have a lone home game against the the struggling New York Knicks and three games on the road against Minnesota, Toronto and Brooklyn. The guard play for these opponents is weak and Lawson will be looking to capitalize. Lawson has been averaging a near double-double (points-assists) for the past two weeks which makes this a great time to roll him out there.

Switching conferences, now is a great time to put the Washington Wizards John Wall into your lineup. His backcourt mate in Bradley Beal is going to miss the next couple weeks and Wall will be looking to put up his usual numbers and then some to compensate for the loss of Beal.

Wall is coming off back-to-back 30-point performances and by all accounts his shooting touch has been regained as he shot a blistering 15-21 (71.4%) from the field against the Toronto Raptors. The Wizards do have to travel into Indiana to play the Pacers; however, the other three opponents in the week are not known for their defense. Expect Wall to continue his torrid pace into this week.

As for my fantasy dark horse pick of the week, I’m throwing super-rookie Michael Carter-Williams in the mix. Philadelphia has a nice schedule this week that includes a home-and-home series against Orlando, a travel day into Detroit and another home game against New Orleans.

At this point in the 2013-14 NBA season, much as it was in the 2012-13 season with the early play of Damian Lillard; a massive calamity is the only thing preventing MCW from winning rookie of the year honours here. The super-stud out of Syracuse is averaging 17.3 ppg, 7.4 apg and 5.7 rpg to date with no signs of slowing down. The uptempo offense instilled in Philadelphia fits MCW style perfectly and with an open floor and a full head of steam he is proving to be unstoppable.