Justin

Edwards

Justin Edwards’s absence from the 76ers’ lineup opened up a spot for Walker, who made the most of his opportunity. The former first-round pick recorded season highs in points and three-pointers, providing solid value in those categories. The problem for managers whose leagues remain active is that Walker did not do much else in Miami. That said, you take what you can get this time of the year from players who were not on the fantasy radar until the “silly season.”

Edwards suffered a rib contusion during the first half of Saturday’s loss to the Timberwolves and did not return. His absence means Lonnie Walker IV will move into the starting lineup after starting the second half of Saturday’s defeat.

While Edwards was injured during the first half of Saturday’s loss to the Timberwolves, Lowry was inactive for that game. The rookie has been a starter when available, so his status will be far more impactful on fantasy leagues that remain active. Lonnie Walker IV started the second half of Saturday’s game and should retain that role if Edwards cannot play. As for Lowry, his availability does not significantly impact fantasy basketball.

Walker came off the bench to begin Saturday’s game, but was ultimately inserted into the lineup to start the third quarter after Justin Edwards was ruled out for the night with a rib contusion. For fantasy managers whose leagues run through Week 23, Walker would have value during Philadelphia’s four-game week if Edwards has to miss time. And Monday’s game against Miami would be a prime streaming opportunity since only two games are on the schedule.

Edwards suffered a rib contusion during the first half of Saturday’s game and will not return. The rookie played 11 minutes, finishing with five points, one rebound, one steal and one three-pointer. Lonnie Walker IV replaced Edwards in the lineup and would have the most to gain regarding fantasy value if Justin misses time.

While Saturday’s game will be the second straight missed by Lowry, the 76ers have been without Oubre since March 12. For Philadelphia, these final games are about improving their draft lottery odds, as the 76ers’ first-round pick is only top-6 protected. Expect plenty of Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards as Philadelphia plays out the remainder of its schedule.

Grimes has been a featured player in Philly’s offense for a while now but has been rested as the team tries to pile up enough losses to keep their draft pick. Oubre, on the other hand, will miss his 10th straight game on Sunday. Justin Edwards appears set to have a prominent role on Sunday after at least 17 points in his previous seven games.

Edwards continues to produce for the 76ers, extending his streak of games with at least 17 points to seven. Over the last two weeks, the undrafted rookie has offered fourth-round value in nine-cat formats. Edwards is rostered in 40 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so standard league managers have not been asleep at the wheel. But there are still spots where he can be found. Even with Philadelphia playing three games during Week 22, now is an excellent time for managers competing for league titles to add Edwards.

With the 76ers focused on strengthening their chances of holding onto their 2025 first-round pick, Edwards will play plenty between now and the end of the season. The good news for fantasy managers is that his minutes have not been “glorified cardio.” Over the past two weeks, Edwards has offered fifth-round value in eight-cat formats. The 76ers end Week 21 with a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back, and fantasy managers should have Edwards on their radars.

Edwards has had a lot of success as an undrafted rookie out of Kentucky, and Monday’s game was just the latest chapter. He wasn’t able to score 20 points for a third-straight game, but he was able to set a new career-high for three-pointers. He has now scored at least 18 points and hit five triples in five consecutive games. Edwards should continue to get the opportunity to build on performances like this one for the remainder of the season.