RADIO
We are about two thirds of the way to the playoffs in most leagues, so it's time to get serious about sharpening your streaming skills. Remember, the later in the season we get, the less long-term value trumps short-term value. As we get closer to the playoffs, it's all about what your available roster spots can do for you now.
This column is posted weekly 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.
For other adds to consider, check out our NBA Waiver Wire Blog, as well as our other Week 15 coverage, including our Waiver Wire Forwards, Guards, and Centers.
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 Waiver Wire: Week 15 Category Streamers
Weekend of 2/5 - 2/7
Teams with 2 games: ATL, BOS, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, NYK, ORL, PHI, SAC, SAS, UTA, WSH
Teams with 0 games: TOR
Points
Evan Turner (SG/SF, BOS)
Owned in 29% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 @ Cleveland & Sunday, February 7 vs. Sacramento
ANALYSIS: Since entering the league as the 2nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Turner has not evolved into an elite scorer by any means. Not a three-point shooter, he often has to work for his points. However, he has been showing the ability to get to the rack and has a good stroke from the line. Despite a brutal matchup Friday, Turner ends the weekend against the league’s 30th ranked defense in points allowed.
Alternate options: Pelicans guard Norris Cole has never been known for his scoring, but has scored in double-digits in six straight--including a 23-point effort Monday. Like Cole, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is not a known scorer, but has scored 32 points in his two games since debuting for the Hornets for the season. Pistons rookie small forward Stanley Johnson hasn’t scored with consistency, but he has averaged 14.5 ppg over his previous four contests.
Rebounds
Amar'e Stoudemire (PF/C, MIA)
Owned in 9% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 @ Charlotte & Sunday, February 7 vs. LA Clippers
ANALYSIS: Everything inside of me tried to avoid putting Stoudemire in this spot. I just don’t feel good recommending Stoudemire to be relied on. However, the numbers don’t lie. Despite somewhat limited playing time (23 mpg) in his last five games, Stoudemire is rebounding at an impressive rate, averaging 9.4 rpg in that span. Even better, Miami has a two-game schedule this weekend and they are not back-to-back, which gives Stoudemire’s body a day to rest. It’s amazing that he could be a reliable source of anything at this point in his career, but his potential rebounding totals are worth a short-term add for the weekend.
Alternate options: The Hornets’ Cody Zeller is due back Wednesday night after a six-game absence. We’ll see how he holds up, but he was rebounding the basketball at a decent clip before his shoulder injury sidelined him. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, also of the Hornets, debuted for the Hornets last week and has grabbed 19 total rebounds in two contests. He offers solid rebounding potential out of the SF position. Suns SG/SF P.J. Tucker is a good rebounding swingman that has averaged 7.0 rpg in the last week and is playing massive minutes, especially with T.J. Warren now out for the season. Lavoy Allen is an unspectacular but steady rebounding deep-league option with a two-game weekend ahead.
Assists
J.J. Barea (PG, DAL)
Owned in 12% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 vs. San Antonio & Saturday, February 6 @ Memphis
ANALYSIS: With the hip injury suffered by Deron Williams Monday night, Barea could be in for some extended run at point guard. He has proven to be a useful fantasy asset -- particularly in the assists category -- when given extended time on the floor. He could prove pivotal this weekend with two division games this weekend if Williams misses time.
Alternate options: As I mentioned last week, Evan Turner is one of the Celtics only playmakers on offense, and has been dishing out assists at a decent clip over his last five (5.4 apg). Shane Larkin appears to be outplaying Donald Sloan of late in the Nets’ riveting point guard battle. Larkin’s 14 assist game Monday night certainly turned heads, and he could contribute solid assist totals in two weekend games.
Steals
Wesley Johnson (SG/SF, LAC)
Owned in 5% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 @ Orlando & Sunday, February 7 @ Miami
ANALYSIS: Johnson is not a player that offers much fantasy value, and is not a slam-dunk option for steals (1.0 spg on the year). However, if you are looking for a late surge in this category over the weekend, the long-armed Johnson faces two opponents that both turn the ball over right around 15 times per contest, and he should be the cause of a few of those.
Alternate options: Alonzo Gee of the Pelicans has averaged over 2 spg in his last five games but only has one game this weekend. Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley is a strong defensive player and a safe bet for steals in his lone game.
Blocks
Taj Gibson (PF/C, CHI)
Owned in 50% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 @ Denver & Saturday, February 6 @ Minnesota
ANALYSIS: As many predicted, Gibson has become a helpful fantasy asset for owners following the season-ending injury to Joakim Noah. Blocks are a somewhat difficult category to predict and there are only so many guys who can truly contribute multiple blocked shots on a given night. Since Gibson’s significant bump in minutes over the past week, he has emerged as one of those players, blocking multiple shots in four of his previous five contests for a 1.8 bpg average. He’s a safe bet to contribute multiple swats this weekend in back-to-back road games.
Alternate options: Keep an eye on the Pacers injury situation this weekend. We should have an idea by Thursday whether the banged up Ian Mahinmi can return from injury for a two-game set. If he can’t go, Jordan Hill will get plenty of run and should provide plenty of blocked shots to tilt your matchup. Sixers forward Jerami Grant hasn’t been blocking shots at the incredible rate he was earlier in the season, but is still a safe bet with two games on the slate.
Three Pointers
Jared Dudley (SG/SF, WSH)
Owned in 13% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 5 vs. Philadelphia & Saturday, February 6 @ Charlotte
ANALYSIS: The struggling Wizards inserted Dudley back into the starting lineup this past weekend, and he is coming off back-to-back games in which he has played over 30 minutes. Dudley managed just three total 3PM in those games, but faces two teams this weekend ranked in the bottom half in the NBA in opponents 3PT%. Dudley is not the most intriguing name out there, but his situation will allow for multiple three-point shot attempts this weekend.
Alternate options: Blazers big man Meyers Leonard provides intriguing range and ability (Seven 3PM in his previous three games) from downtown from the PF/C spot. Trey Burke has had another up-and-down season, but is averaging 3.0 3PM in his last three contests. Dion Waiters has never seen a shot he doesn’t like, and has attempted 16 threes over his previous three games, connecting on eight.
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