For the first weekend of 2016 we have a couple of teams playing a back-to-back, and acquiring a key player from one of those teams could be key in securing a last-minute win.

Remember, these streamers focused on making short term gains in specific categories. For recommendations on guys to add for the long-term, be sure to check out our Waiver Wire Pickups List.  Also, be sure to check out the rest of our Week 10 NBA coverage, including our recommendations for Waiver Wire Centers, Waiver Wire Forwards, and Waiver Wire Guards.

 

NBA Waiver Wire : Category Streamers – Weekend Edition (Week 10)

Weekend of 1/2 & 1/3

Teams with 2 games: DEN, PHO

Teams with 0 games: None

 

Points

John Leuer (PF/C, PHO)

Owned in 41% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 @ Sacramento & Sunday, January 3 @ Los Angeles Lakers

ANALYSIS: Leuer, a former second-round pick, has bounced around the league a bit, but has found a home with the Suns. It’s been a disastrous year for Phoenix for numerous reasons, but Leuer has managed to keep his place in an otherwise unstable and inconsistent rotation. He is clearly the choice of the coaching staff over the more talented but moody Markieff Morris (who should return this weekend from a suspension but might not play much). Leuer is coming off three straight games in double-figures and is facing the two teams ranked last in the NBA in points allowed. Expect Leuer to play at least 25 minutes in both and his double-figure scoring to continue.       

 

Rebounds

Nikola Jokic (C, DEN)

Owned in 27% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 @ Golden State & Sunday, January 3 vs. Portland

ANALYSIS: The steady minutes have not been there, but Jokic has managed to rebound the basketball at a high-rate despite this, averaging 7.2 rpg in only 23 minutes over his last five games. His status beyond this weekend will be in question as Denver’s other talented young center Jusuf Nurkic returns Saturday (most likely in a limited role for now) following offseason knee surgery. Despite a double slate of games, if Nurkic’s return scares you away, Taj Gibson (40% ownership) remains a viable option with Joakim Noah out.

 

Assists

 J.J. Barea (PG, DAL) 

Owned in 26 % of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 vs. New Orleans

ANALYSIS: Because assists remain one of the hardest categories to find on the waiver wire, Barea has become a must-own asset while Deron Williams remains out with a hamstring injury. Barea is distributing the rock (21 assists in his last three games), scoring in bunches (32 and 26 in back-to-back games last week) and opening up the floor with the three-ball (13 made over his last three games), so even if Williams returns this weekend, Barea’s hot play of late will keep his minutes high enough to warrant a start against a bad Pelicans defense.

 

Steals

P.J. Tucker (SG/SF, PHO)

Owned in 37% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 @ Sacramento & Sunday, January 3 @ Los Angeles Lakers

ANALYSIS: The suspension/benching combination for Morris has opened up minutes and opportunity for other Suns players, and Tucker is seizing the opportunity. Coming off back-to-back games in which he hit the 38 minute mark, Tucker has become a valuable defender for the Suns, compiling 5 steals in those contests. With two games this weekend against offenses capable of committing multiple turnovers, it’s likely that Tucker continues his streak of multiple steals per contest. 

 

Blocks

John Henson (PF/C,MIL)

Owned in 12% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 @ Minnesota

ANALYSIS: Henson has been an interesting player since coming into the league as a 2012 lottery pick for the Bucks. He has only been given over 20 minutes per game once in his career (2013), but regardless of his role, he has maintained one elite ability on the floor: blocking shots. In only 16 mpg this season, Henson is swatting an unbelievable 1.9 shots (his per 36 has him at 4.2 bpg!) and he has 18 blocks over his last five games. The bottom line on Henson: regardless of playing time, he is a lock to register some key blocked shots this weekend.

 

Three Pointers

Devin Booker (SG, PHO)

Owned in 23% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 2 @ Sacramento & Sunday, January 3 @ Los Angeles Lakers

ANALYSIS:  Booker should be a guy to add for this weekend (two games) and beyond. Following the season ending injury to Eric Bledsoe, the Suns have a gaping hole in their backcourt. Booker entered the league this season with a reputation for being one of the best 3-point shooters to come out of college in years. In his brief NBA career thus far, he has displayed some of his elite long-range ability, which should be on full display for the rest of the season. The promising rookie should be able to knock down multiple treys this weekend against two poor defenses.

 

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