Kyshawn

George

Monday’s game will be the second missed by Middleton and the fourth by George. Their absences have freed up places in the starting lineup for Justin Champagnie and AJ Johnson, with the former being the player worth targeting in deep leagues.

George sustained his ankle injury in Monday’s matchup with Toronto, and it will cost him a second straight game. Middleton’s continued absence isn’t a surprise, given the veteran’s recent injury history. While both players are sidelined, Justin Champagnie should see a substantial uptick in playing time.

Champagnie stepped in for the injured Kyshawn George and acquitted himself well in Philadelphia. He recorded his third double-double of the season, and the 18 points are the most Champagnie has scored in a game since December 28. Rostered in 11 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he has offered top 100 value in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. Champagnie will be worth a look in more leagues if George remains out with his sprained ankle.

Washington is still managing Middleton carefully in a down year following a pair of ankle surgeries. George has shown some flashes but tweaked his ankle after just two minutes his last time out. Justin Champagnie will likely have a featured role against Philadelphia with both wings ruled out.

George injured his left ankle during the first quarter of Monday’s game, exiting after two minutes of action. His departure frees up additional minutes for Justin Champagnie and AJ Johnson, with the former offering a higher fantasy ceiling if George misses time.

George’s double-double was his first, and the Wizards rookie has been a much-improved player as the season has progressed. And fantasy managers have benefitted from the strides made, as George has provided sixth-round value in eight-cat formats over the past month. Given the recent production and Washington’s upcoming schedule, his rostership (27 percent of Yahoo! leagues) is a bit low. The Wizards play four games during weeks 21 and 22, an excellent schedule for managers looking to win their leagues.

George will be back after missing Wednesday’s game against Utah. Tristan Vukcevic moved into the starting lineup with George sidelined, while JT Thor, Colby Jones and Jaylen Martin all played significant roles off the bench. George’s return should push Vukcevic back to the bench, and Washington really balanced out the rotation against Utah to help improve their lottery odds. They shouldn’t have to do that against Orlando.

George will miss Wednesday’s game with a right knee contusion, which opens up a spot in the Wizards’ starting lineup. Justin Champagnie is a potential replacement in the starting lineup, while Colby Jones should play additional rotation minutes off the bench again. Champagnie is worth adding in deep leagues.

George is dealing with a right knee contusion, casting some doubt on his status for Wednesday’s game. With Corey Kispert (thumb) done for the season, Colby Jones and Jaylen Martin played additional rotation minutes in Monday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. That will remain the case on Wednesday, regardless of George’s status. If Kyshawn sits, one of those two could move into the starting lineup.

With just a few weeks left in the 2024-25 campaign, the last-place Wizards will be without another key option. In Kispert’s place, Kyshawn George and Justin Champagnie should continue to see increased playing time with AJ Johnson picking up a few extra minutes, too.