Week 8 is here! This week I stuck to three categories again, as the waiver wire pool just keeps getting thinner and thinner. Going forward you should be paying very close attention to injury news, even if it’s just for a game or two. Rotations are pretty locked in by this point in the season, so the injury replacements will probably be your best source of streamers for the rest of the season.

This column will be posted every week as part of RotoBaller's regular season NBA coverage for the 2015-16 NBA season. It will focus on available players who could win you your H2H matchup in specific categories.

All of these players will have multiple games over the weekend, but in most cases will only help your team in one or two categories. To be clear, most of these players are “streamers,” meaning that unless they drastically increase their basketball skills overnight, these players should NOT be rostered for an extended period of time in leagues of standard depth. Everyone should only be used if you need help winning a specific category in your matchup and you don’t have to drop anyone valuable.

For long term adds to consider, check out our NBA Waiver Wire Blog, as well as our other Week 8 coverage, including Waiver Wire Centers, Forwards, and Guards.

Last thing, we’ll usually only focus on one player per category, but list other available options underneath. Certain guys might be listed in more than one category, so if you need help in both, be sure to make those players a priority.

Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List

 

NBA Week 8 Category Streamers

Rebounds and Blocks Streamer

Bismack Biyombo (TOR, C) - 13% owned

Weekend Schedule: Fri @ MIA, Sun vs. SAC

I’m sure you've noticed in the last few weeks of this article I’ve combined the rebounds and blocks streamers into one. Earlier in the season, I had them separated into two categories and provided a unique streamer recommendation for each one. Unfortunately, as the season has progressed I’ve realized how difficult it is to find legitimate streamer recommendations for both categories. So instead of sacrificing quality, I’ve had to sacrifice quantity. Of course, if I find a quality recommendation for both categories they will be included, but for now I'll focus on one streamer who can contribute in both categories.

I’ve listed Bismack Biyombo under the “Also Consider” section a few times, but never really felt compelled to write about him.  However, his playing time has been consistent with Jonas Valanciunas out with an injury, and his rebound numbers have been outstanding. Over his last five games his rebounding totals have been 13,9,9,7, and 13 again. Those are very legit rebounding totals.  However, that will be pretty much all you get out of Bismack, plus a block or two depending on his matchups.

This weekend Bismack draws relatively tough individual matchups, but as I’ve mentioned almost every week, that usually means a great opportunity for rebounds and blocks. Remember, there are no fantasy deductions if DeMarcus Cousins scores 40 points on Biyombo this Sunday. As long as Biyombo can grab 7-10 rebounds and maybe block one or two of Cousins shot attempts, that’s a pretty darn good fantasy day for Bismack.

On Friday Biyombo will have to try to deal with Hassan Whiteside, but he will benefit from not having to guard anywhere outside the paint. Hassan Whiteside’s shooting range is about the length of his arm, so Biyombo will be in great position to snatch up defensive rebounds.

This isn’t a particularly exciting weekend streamer, but if you need rebounds, and potentially a few blocks, look no further than Bismack--he’ll get the job done.

Also consider:  Ian Mahinmi (IND, C)

 

3PM Streamer

Isaiah Canaan (PHI, PG) - 13% owned

Weekend Schedule: Fri vs NYK, Sun @ CLE

I don’t love recommending players on the 76ers, but Canaan has gotten the most consistent amount of playing time of any guard on the roster, and he’s jacking a ton of three pointers. However, please note, if Mirza Teletovic is available in your league pick him up OVER Canaan. I only included Isaiah here because I wrote about Mirza last week, and his ownership level is higher now (28%).

Over his last ten games, Isaiah has shot 6.8 threes a game and made just about 2.5. That’s even more impressive when you consider there were two games over that stretch where he didn’t hit a three. Basically, the potential is there, which is one of the most important things to look for when considering a weekend streamer.

This weekend Isaiah gets to face off against the bad perimeter defense of the Knicks, and may be playing against Kyrie Irving in his first game back on Sunday. Even if Kyrie already has a game under his belt by Sunday, he’s never been known as a good defender, and should be even more than a step behind on the defensive end trying to keep up with Canaan.

Overall, I think we can expect Canaan to produce somewhere in the range of four – six 3PM over the weekend, which could definitely swing the category in your favor.

Also consider: Mirza Teletovic (PHX, SF/PF)

 

Assists Streamer

Jameer Nelson (DEN, PG) - 16% owned

Weekend Schedule: Fri @ UTA, Sun vs NOP

This is the no brainer streamer pick up of the weekend, and could be a slightly more long term add depending on how he plays over the next couple games. With Emmanuel Mudiay out with a lingering ankle injury, Nelson has been the Nuggets starting point guard and has been playing huge minutes the last two games.

Now when I say huge, I mean over 37 minutes a game huge. Each of those monster outings has produced seven assists, along with decent production in points, 3PM, and rebounds. Finding seven assists off the waiver wire is extremely difficult, so let’s hope that Mudiay takes his time coming back and decides to miss the weekend as well. Currently he is listed as questionable for Friday’s game against Utah, but even if he does play, I think Nelson is still your best shot to get some assists over the weekend.

While most of this recommendation is based on playing time, Nelson has pretty solid matchups, for two completely different reasons. Utah plays at a slow pace, but sometimes that works in favor of a point guard like Nelson, who would not be racking up assists in transition- he’s just too old for that. Utah will force the nuggets to operate in the half court, which is where Nelson will thrive being forced to command the offense. On Sunday, when Jameer faces off against the Pelicans, he will be playing the second worst defense in the league, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers in defensive rating by  .1 points per game. Plain and simple, the Pelicans can’t stop anyone, and Nelson should be able to rack up plenty of assists as long as his teammates can hit shots.

If Mudiay sits all weekend, this could wind up being the highest producing assist streamer I’ve recommended to date. Even if Mudiay plays both days, Nelson will probably still get some extra time while Mudiay gets back into the swing of things, and should be able to still get you around 5 assists in each of the games this weekend. This is a pretty safe pick as far as weekend streamers go, so if you need assists, make Nelson priority number one.

Also consider: N/A

 

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