NBA Fantasy Weekly Streamers for Week 4 (Jan 11 - Jan 17)

Milos Zvekic's fantasy basketball waiver wire streamers for head-to-head leagues. He reviews the Week 4 NBA schedule (1/11 - 1/17) and streaming options to pick up.

Week four of the NBA fantasy is upon us and I hope you are doing well so far!

Something that can help keep the ball rolling or make it change direction if things didn't go your way in previous weeks is definitely streaming some players with favorable schedules. Maximizing your games played and having the luxury of picking up players who are strong in those cats that you believe will be close is something that can pay dividends if cutting the guy at the bottom of your bench won't hurt you long term.

I've taken a look at next week's schedule and it's a doozy! Here are my thoughts on the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 4. 

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 4

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 5 games:
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers

Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

Teams with 3 games:
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors

Teams with 2 games:
Minnesota Timberwolves

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 16
Tuesday: 14
Wednesday: 20
Thursday: 10
Friday: 20
Saturday: 14
Sunday: 14

Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: CLE, IND, PHI
Tuesday/Wednesday: BOS, BKN, LAL, OKC, UTA
Wednesday/Thursday: CHA, POR
Thursday/Friday: GSW
Friday/Saturday: ATL, DET, MEM, ORL, PHO
Saturday/Sunday: IND, PHI
Sunday/Monday the following: CHI, CLE, DAL, NYK, WAS

Days with SIX or fewer games:
Thursday: 5 games

Teams playing on Thursdya:
Indiana Pacers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Philadelphia 76ers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Charlotte Hornets (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Denver Nuggets (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Fri)
Houston Rockets (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)
Toronto Raptors (3 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat)
San Antonio Spurs (3 games - Tue, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Indiana Pacers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Philadelphia 76ers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Charlotte Hornets (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Portland Trail Blazers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Indiana Pacers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Philadelphia 76ers (5 games - Mon, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Chicago Bulls (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sun)
Detroit Pistons  (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Los Angeles Clippers (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tue, Wed, Fri)
Milwaukee Bucks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 4

Five NBA games will be played on Thursday in Week 4, and with all other days having at least seven games, our full focus will go to players from teams that play on Thursday and three more games during the week.

I don't really see the point in analyzing players from teams that do play on Thursday, but play just three games during the week, as they are far less likely to provide enough streaming value. I would much rather go into more detail with players from the four teams that play at least four games, one of which is on Thursday. These teams are Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers with five games apiece next week and Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers who both play four games.

Please do bear in mind that the 76ers are currently dealing with some difficulties due to COVID-19 and have barely put together a team to face the Denver Nuggets on Jan 9, so before picking up their players, check if Philly will play their games and if the player you have your eye on is available. Players that are currently listed as out due to contracting the virus or being in NBA's COVID protocol are Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle and Vincent Poirie. Furthermore, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are out due to (reportedly minor) injuries.

Streaming Options for Week 4

Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75 % of Yahoo leagues):

Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (29% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of everything
Shake Milton, PG/SG, PHI, (33% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, AST - buyer beware: currently in NBA's COVID protocol
P.J. Washington, SF/PF, CHA, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, 3PM
Miles Bridges, SF/PF, CHA, (52% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, 3PM
Bismack Biyombo, C, CHA, (26% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG%
Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, POR, (33% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Enes Kanter, C, POR, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, FT%, REB

Shallower League Add

P.J. Washington, SF/PF, CHA, (67% Rostered)

Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, 3PM

It's slim pickings in the shallow leagues this week as only four teams meet our "strict" scheduling criteria and PJ is the most talented of the group. Granted, he isn't available in most games, and he does have some downsides to his game, but for the right team, he can be worth gold. Especially with four games from Monday to Saturday next week.

First, let's focus on the things that might put you off from picking PJ up.

He is pretty inefficient. All three non-counting stat categories will suffer with him on your roster. This season he is shooting just 40.2% from the field, 65.6% from the line and is turning the ball over 2.1 times in just 26 minutes per game. This is no coincidence as he shot just over 45% from the field and just under 65% from the charity stripe last season as well. He did however average 1.6 turnovers in 30 minutes of action, so there is legitimate hope for improvement in that department.

If you're still reading it means that you just might be able to live with these flaws that Washington brings to the table, if the rest of his upside is high enough. And it just might be.

His counting stats are pretty awesome, as he is averaging 10.7 PTS with 1.0 3PM, 6.1 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.2 STL and 1.0 BLK. Having in mind that he plays just over 26 minutes per game, that resonates with me even more.

Now, of course, he is not getting too many points and threes - his poor shooting prevents it. But he makes a decent contribution in every other category, especially stocks. So, if this is the type of player that can help you win your matchup next week, with his schedule next week, he is worth a pickup (at least) for streaming purposes in most leagues.

Deeper League Add

Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (29% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of everything

Positive circumstance: more minutes while T.J. Warren is out

Not many people would have picked Justin Holiday to be ranked inside the top 100 after almost three weeks of the season, but here we are. His averages of 10.5 PTS with 1.8 3PM on 52.6 FG% and 83.3 FT%, 3.5 REB, 1.4 AST, 1.4 STL, 0.4 BLK and 1.1 TO in almost 30 minutes a game have him ranked at #87 on the year.

Furthermore, with T.J. Warren and Jeremy Lamb out for some time, it looks like Justin is here to stay! Not necessarily as a top 100 asset, but for the short term he will be a valuable contributor for his fantasy managers.

There's not much to it. Indiana has 5 games next week. Holiday doesn't hurt your team anywhere and contributes nicely to most categories. If he is available in your league and you have someone to drop - pick him up NOW!

Insanely Deep League Add

Tyrese Maxey, SG, PHI, (9% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS

Positive circumstance: more minutes while half the team is out

I started preparing this article before the Philly COVID news broke. Maxey was 1% rostered. At this moment, he is already at 9% and I hope you won't miss out on him so I will be as short as possible here so I can post ASAP!

He just had a game where he put up 39 points with three 3-pointers on 54.5% from the field (no free throw attempts), seven boards, six dimes, two steals, no blocks and just 2 turnovers in almost 44 minutes. Yes, this was with half the team missing. But most of those guys will be missing next week as well as it is COVID protocol that is keeping them out (except Embiid and Simmons).

Maxey is available in your league? You need some threes and points (and some other stats as well it seems)? Pick him up! Get something positive out of this nasty virus 🙁

Other Deep League Options for the Week (Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues)

Doug McDermott, SF/PF, IND, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Aaron Holiday, PG, IND, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, FT%
T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, IND, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL
Danny Green, SG/SF, PHI, (19% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit little of everything - positive circumstance: more minutes while half the team is out
Tyrese Maxey, SG, PHI, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS - positive circumstance: more minutes while half the team is out
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK - positive circumstance: more minutes while Seth Curry is out; - buyer beware: poor FG% + currently in NBA's COVID protocol
Dwight Howard, C, PHI, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK, FG% - buyer beware: poor FT% - positive circumstance: more minutes while half the team is out
Caleb Martin, SG/SF, CHA, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - positive circumstance: has his brother's back!
Cody Martin, SG/SF, CHA, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: none really - don't pick him up...
Derrick Jones Jr., SG/SF, POR, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL, FG%
Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF, POR, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%
Rodney Hood, SG/SF, POR, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT% - buyer beware: just returned from injury and hasn't played more than 16 minutes in any one game so far this season

I hope you guys enjoyed the article and I hope that you will dominate your opponent next week!

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis