RADIO
We're almost halfway into the season -- it's time to really bear down and fight for playoff positioning. Today we have some advice on some guys to target to address specific categories in your H2H matchup.
Remember, these streamers focused on making short term gains in specific categories. For general recommendations on guys to add, be sure to check out our Waiver Wire Pickups List.
NBA Waiver Wire: Week 13 Category Streamers – Weekend Edition
Weekend of 1/23 & 1/24
Teams with 2 games: None
Teams with 0 games: GSW, MIA, ORL, SAS
Points
Gary Harris (SG, DEN)
Owned in 15% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 23 vs. Detroit
ANALYSIS: Harris has emerged as a valuable scoring asset both for the Nuggets and for fantasy owners. Playing over 30 minutes in six straight games, Harris has also scored double figures in each of those games (and 10 of his previous 12), including a 20 point game Sunday. The Nuggets lack pure scoring options, and Harris has become one of the guys that they rely on in that category. Points will be at a premium against a strong Pistons defense this weekend, but as long as his reaches the 30 minute mark, another double digit scoring effort should be in store for Harris.
Rebounds
Trevor Booker (PF, UTA)
Owned in 2% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 23 @ Washington
ANALYSIS: Guys like Booker and Jeff Withey have benefited from the extended and surprisingly lengthy absence of Derrick Favors due to back spasms. The veteran Booker is currently playing some good basketball, and contributing solid and steady rebounding numbers, averaging 7.3 rpg in nine January games without Favors. A good matchup this weekend against a poor rebounding Washington team should yield some helpful rebounding stats. Should Favors finally return, Darrell Arthur of the Nuggets has seen an uptick in playing time of late and has also been able to rebound at an effective rate.
Assists
Donald Sloan (PG, BKN)
Owned in 22 % of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Sunday, January 24 vs. Oklahoma City
ANALYSIS: This is more of a realization of opportunity over talent. Sloan is far from an impressive, must-own point guard, but the opportunity is there to contribute. Following the season ending injury to starter Jarrett Jack, Sloan only had to beat out the underwhelming Shane Larkin, which he has apparently done, outplaying Larkin (in both minutes and production) for a third straight game. Sloan has averaged an impressive 7.5 apg over his previous six games, and is the clear lead guard for the Nets.
Steals
Tony Allen (SG/SF, MEM)
Owned in 37% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 23 @ Minnesota
ANALYSIS: Allen is a more valuable NBA player than he is a fantasy contributor, however, he has always been money in the steals department. His 1.6 spg ranks 18th in the league, and has averaged an impressive 2.2 spg during nine January games. He faces a Timberwolves team thanks ranks 20th in turnovers, so the multi-steal games should continue this weekend. Cameron Payne, the Thunders first-round pick this year, has been getting inconsistent minutes all month, but has contributed heavily in the steals category of late (3.0 spg over his last four games) and remains a solid alternative.
Blocks
John Henson (PF/C, MIL)
Owned in 16% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 23 @ New Orleans
ANALYSIS: Henson is one of the ultimate one-trick ponies in fantasy basketball. His blocked shot numbers, even in limited minutes, is tantalizing. Whether Henson plays 15 minutes or 30 minutes, he almost a lock to block multiple shots, and he usually has no ceiling on his output. He is a guy that we would like to see get more court time, but still should contribute multiple blocks this weekend against a Pelicans team that gets their shot blocked just under 5 times per contest. If Henson’s inconsistent minutes scare you away, look at Pacers rookie Myles Turner who is rebounding and blocking shots at an impressive clip after returning to the lineup Dec. 30 following a November thumb injury and looks as healthy as he did during his eye-opening preseason.
Three Pointers
Jared Dudley (SG, PHO)
Owned in 10% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, January 23 vs. Utah
ANALYSIS: Dudley has a recipe for success this weekend to continue his prowess from downtown. The well-traveled swingman has been getting huge minutes of late (33 mpg in January), has been quite effective from downtown (1.8 three-pointers per game in January), and faces a Jazz team that currently ranks 26th in the NBA in opponents 3PT%. I was never good with formulas, but those three factors sound quite positive for Dudley’s 3-point contributions. Another option comes in the form of a guy I have been touting for weeks if you need some help with the long-ball is Suns rookie shooting guard Devin Booker, an incredibly talented shooter who is emerging as a bright spot in the wake of the season ending injury to Eric Bledsoe.
