RADIO
We are now past the All-Star Break, so it's time is running short to improve your playoff positioning. 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.
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 16 Category Streamers
Weekend of 2/19, 2/20, & 2/21
28 NBA teams have 2 games this weekend
CLE & LAC are the only teams with 1 game this weekend
Points
Archie Goodwin (PG/SG, PHO)
Owned in 36% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 vs. Houston & Sunday, February 21 vs. San Antonio
ANALYSIS: In a seemingly lost season, the 21-year-old Goodwin has emerged as a potential building block for the Suns. Goodwin was a seldom-used bench player prior to the season-ending injury to Eric Bledsoe in late December, but has made his presence known both in the NBA and around the fantasy world. After some impressive scoring outputs immediately following the Bledsoe injury, Goodwin is now a heavily relied upon member of the Suns starting five, scoring no less than 14 points over his previous five games. The Suns are a team that play a fast-paced, up-tempo style of play and routinely score (and give up) 100 points. Goodwin has a tough matchup Sunday against the lock-down Spurs, but Friday night’s matchup against the disappointing and defensively challenged Rockets (T-28th in points allowed) is certainly enticing.
Other alternatives: Blazers swingman Gerald Henderson was on a nice scoring run (15 ppg on his last three) prior to the All-Star break and continues to get solid usage. Jerryd Bayless sees consistent minutes in the high 20s and remains a favorite of head coach Jason Kidd. Bayless is a guy capable of scoring in bunches with his three-point shooting prowess . E'Twaun Moore is an inconsistent deeper-league option who has bounced around the league for several seasons, but is capable of scoring 20 while playing a ton of minutes for the backcourt-needy Bulls.
Rebounds
Ed Davis (PF/C, POR)
Owned in 43% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 vs. Golden State & Sunday February 21 vs. Utah
ANALYSIS: Davis is still a young player (26) who came to the Blazers this season and was expected to have a significant fantasy role. Davis seemed to be a flop earlier in the season. Although still not playing the high minutes many expected, Davis was rebounding the basketball at an impressive rate in five games prior to the break (8.8 rpg). With two home weekend games, expect Davis to continue his helpful rebounding output.
Other alternatives: Hornets center Cody Zeller returned from an injury on February 3, and managed to corral an impressive 8.6 rpg in five February games. Wishing him the best, Heat All-Star Chris Bosh will likely miss extended time again following the news of his blood clots returning. This weekend, Heat forwards Amar'e Stoudemire and Justise Winslow will see a significant rise in minutes and rebounding output.
Assists
Evan Turner (SG/SF, BOS)
Owned in 49% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 @ Utah & Sunday, February 21 @ Denver
ANALYSIS: Turner is having a really nice, well-rounded season for the Celtics and has emerged as one of their top distributors (4.4 apg on the season). Turner was particularly impressive in terms of playmaking and dishing the rock just before the All-Star break, averaging 7.2 apg over his previous five contests, including a 10-assist game at Milwaukee on February 9. Expect Turner, along with All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, to be the main contributors of assists in two weekend road games.
Other alternatives: Pelicans guard Norris Cole has seemingly locked up the starting point guard role following the season-ending injury to Tyreke Evans and has impressed, averaging over 5 apg in the month of February. Donald Sloan, J.J. Barea, and Mario Chalmers are deeper, low-upside options for assists this weekend with each of their teams playing two games.
Steals
Gary Harris (SG, DEN)
Owned in 18% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 @ Sacramento & Sunday, February 21 vs. Boston
ANALYSIS: Harris has cemented himself a valuable NBA player this season, and is currently averaging 1.2 spg on the year. While steals are impossible to predict, Harris has been fairly consistent when it comes to the category, averaging 1.8 spg over his previous five contests while notching at least one steal in four of those games. His two weekend opponents rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of turnovers per game, and are likely to cough up several more this weekend.
Other alternatives: Suns swingman P.J. Tucker is a strong option this weekend for steals, averaging a solid 1.3 spg, but has been a bit more inconsistent of late. The Clippers only have one game this weekend, but the long-armed Wesley Johnson has carved out a valuable defensive role for the Clips and should be able to collect several steals in his lone contest.
Blocks
Jerami Grant (SF/PF, PHI)
Owned in 15% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 @ New Orleans & Sunday February 21 @ Dallas
ANALYSIS: Grant has been one of my favorite category streamers for blocks all year, and his game has evolved throughout the season where he is no longer considered to be a “one trick pony”. However, his specialty is still swatting shots, which he does with tremendous frequency and consistency. Grant has registered a block in every game since January 24 and is more than capable of registering two multi-block games this weekend.
Other alternatives: Milwaukee’s blocked shots specialist John Henson could return from injury this weekend following the All-Star break, and could get a significant bump if the Bucks find a taker for Greg Monroe. Though he now sees limited playing time, Raptors backup center Bismack Biyombo remains a deep-league, high upside option
Three Pointers
Doug McDermott (SF, CHI)
Owned in 5% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, February 19 vs. Toronto & Sunday, February 21 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
ANALYSIS: “McBuckets” is finding his niche in the NBA as a spot up, knock-down 3-point shooter. He has yet to diversify his game, making him a limited fantasy option, but if its three-pointers you are looking for, he can be a valuable asset this weekend against a Raptors team that struggles to defend the three and the Lakers who are one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. With All-Star Jimmy Butler expected to remain sidelines through the remainder of February, McDermott should continue to see an uptick in minutes this weekend.
Other alternatives: Suns forward Mirza Teletovic has been a strong source of three-pointers all season long. The Bucks’ Bayless and the Bulls’ Moore, mentioned in the points category above, are decent waiver caliber options from long-range as well.
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