NBA Waiver Wire Streamers for Fantasy Basketball Week 12 (Jan 3 - Jan 9)

Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 12 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues for the 2021-22 season. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.

We're about halfway into the season and I hope your fantasy NBA teams are doing well, despite the challenges this season has put in front of us.

In case you found yourself struggling, don't be discouraged but look to take advantage of the situation. Streaming is more powerful than ever with all the absences and new guys getting a ton of minutes. So if you've got a guy at the back end of your roster not living up to your standards, don't hold on too tight. A streaming spot or two could be worth a lot more.

Here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 12.

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 12

Tuesday with five and Thursday with four games will be the most difficult for fantasy owners to have a full starting lineup. Saturday follows them with six games. We will focus on these three days.

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 5 games:
Memphis Grizzlies

Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

Teams with 3 games:
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ers
Phoenix Suns

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 20
Tuesday: 10
Wednesday: 22
Thursday: 8
Friday: 18
Saturday: 12
Sunday: 20

Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: MEM, NOP
Tuesday/Wednesday: IND, SAC, SAS, TOR
Wednesday/Thursday: BOS, DET, GSW
Thursday/Friday: -
Friday/Saturday: MIL, UTA
Saturday/Sunday: LAC, MEM, ORL
Sunday/Monday the following: CLE, SAC, SAS

Days with SIX or fewer games
Tuesday: 5 games
Thursday: 4 games
Saturday: 6 games

Teams playing on all three days:
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
New York Knicks (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)

Teams playing on Tue/Thurs:
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
New York Knicks (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sun)

Teams playing on Tue/Sat:
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
New York Knicks (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)

Teams playing on Thurs/Sat:
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
New York Knicks (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Boston Celtics (3 games - Wed, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sun)

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Memphis Grizzlies (5 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Los Angeles Clippers (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Chicago Bulls (3 games - Mon, Fri, Sun)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sun)
Los Angeles Lakers (3 games - Tue, Fri, Sun)
Oklahoma City Thunder (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Tue, Wed, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 12

Tuesday with five and Thursday with four games are the most difficult days to have a full starting roster. Right after them is Saturday with six games. This is why players from teams playing on these days will be the ones we turn to in this article.

Players from Memphis will be absolute stars next week. Memphis has five games and they play on all three of these scarce days. New York and Phoenix (both with three games next week) are the only other teams playing on all three of these days. Therefore, players from these teams can provide help to most fantasy teams.

There are five other teams that play two games on these three scarcest days:

• Tuesday and Thursday - New Orleans (4 games)
• Tuesday and Saturday - Indiana (3 games)
• Thursday and Saturday - Detroit, LA Clippers (both with 4 games) and Boston (3 games)

Players playing on these teams are worth a longer look as well.

Before reading my recommendations I would like to point out that I have listed some players that are currently out. As the league has shortened its quarantine period after entering the health and safety protocols some of these players could return sooner or later during next week. Be sure to check their status before adding them of course.

Streaming Options for Week 12

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

Steven Adams, C, MEM, (66% Rostered) -Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, MEM, (50% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
De'Anthony Melton, PG/SG, MEM, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, AST, 3PM - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Dillon Brooks, SG/SF, MEM, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of AST, FT%, STL - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Alec Burks, SG/SF, NYK, (51% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL - positive circumstance: is seeing some additional minutes with Derrick Rose missing time
Kemba Walker, PG, NYK, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL - positive circumstance: is back in the rotation with Derrick Rose missing time, but buyer beware: he missed his last two games with a knee issue
Evan Fournier, SG/SF, NYK, (67% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Nerlens Noel, PF/C, NYK, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
JaVale McGee, C, PHO, (33% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK, FG% - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF, PHO, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, PTS, REB
Josh Hart, SG/SF, NOP, (72% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, PTS, STL
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG/SF, NOP, (61% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (36% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB
Chris Duarte, SG, IND, (44% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%, a bit of REB, STL - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Hamidou Diallo, SG/SF, DET, (51% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB, STL, a bit of BLK, AST, FG% - buyer beware: he will hurt your FT%
Reggie Jackson, PG/SG, LAC, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Ivica Zubac, C, LAC, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Marcus Morris Sr., PF/C, LAC, (65% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS REB, a bit of everything
Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, LAC, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, AST
Terance Mann, SF, LAC, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL
Luke Kennard, SG/SF, LAC, (37% Rostered) -Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of REB - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Dennis Schroder, PG, BOS, (69% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL, PTS, FT%

Shallower League Add

Marcus Morris Sr., PF/C, LAC, (65% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS REB, a bit of everything

With Paul George now joining Kawhi Leonard on the sidelines, the Clippers will have to find their groove without their pair of superstars. This is where Morris comes in.

In the three games he played since George went down, Morris averaged 22.3 PTS with 2.0 3PM on 44.0 FG% and 94.4 FT%, 7.0 REB, 3.7 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.3 BLK and 1.3 TO in over 34 minutes per outing. this is good enough for #37 in the Yahoo rankings for the previous seven days.

He passes the eye test as well as he looked like the focal point of the Clippers offense (albeit with Reggie Jackson still out), so you can rely on him getting enough looks to keep his offensive game at a high level. Furthermore, Morris has usually delivered when called upon, so this is nothing new for him.

Should you need an all-around contributor (mostly for offensive stats though) who won't hurt your in any category and you're lucky enough for Morris to be available still, I doubt you can find a better streamer for next week. Moreover, with George set to miss a few weeks, Morris could be a long-term add as well.

Deeper League Add

Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (36% Rostered)

Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB

The rookie is tearing it up lately! His averages of 18.3 points with 2.0 three-pointers on 48.8% from the field and no misses from the line (seven attempts) 6.3 boards, 2.3 dimes, 1.3 steals, 2.3 blocks and just 1.0 turnovers in 36 minutes per action over the previous week have him ranked at #15! That's right - fifteen!

Now the Pelicans did have several players out like Brandon Ingram, NAW and Jonas Valanciunas so this certainly helped Jones get more minutes and usage, so don't expect him to be this good (at least not offensively) going forward. But I don't see why he wouldn't get around 30 minutes a night (he is at 28 on the season) and be able to get averages of around 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and around 2.5 combined steals and blocks with decent percentages and low turnovers.

So, in addition to Herb being a decent streaming option, if you have an appetite for stocks and are looking for a multi-cat contributor who is also efficient both with his shots and with keeping the ball safe, he could prove to be a season-long add as well.

Insanely Deep League Add

Oshae Brissett, SF/PF, IND, (3% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of PTS, STL, BLK

Now, this is going out on the limb with Oshae, but it might just pay off. And in this deep a league, there's usually not much more we can hope for, is there?

First of all, Oshae is playing well - for a guy rostered in just 3% of Yahoo leagues that is. He is ranked inside the top-200 over the last week and the last 15 days, while just missing the mark over the previous full month (#206). His averages over the last 30 days are 8.8 PTS with 1.2 3PM on 48.8 FG% and 56.3 FT%, 5.2 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.3 BLK and 0.6 TO in 24 minutes per outing.

And this is actually the biggest lure for those only looking to stream next week. So if his stats aren't good enough for you, or his FT% is too much to handle (even with just 0.9 attempts per game this season) you might want to find another streamer.

But, if you like what Brissett brings to the table, and wouldn't mind waiting a bit for some more, perhaps he can become more than just a deep league streamer.

With the trade deadline drawing closer (10th of February) the rumors of either Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner being dealt away are heating up. Indiana is sitting at 14-22 and they're probably not thinking hard about competing this year. So in the right scenario, Oshae could find himself in a larger role - perhaps even starting in a month's time.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues

Tyus Jones, PG, MEM, (8% Rostered) -Strong Cats: AST, STL, 3PM
Brandon Clarke, SF/PF, MEM, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK - buyer beware: plays limited minutes
Killian Tillie, C, MEM, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Immanuel Quickley, PG, NYK, (17% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% - positive circumstance: is seeing some additional minutes with Derrick Rose missing time
Obi Toppin, SF/PF, NYK, (10% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Taj Gibson, PF/C, NYK, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Quentin Grimes, SG, NYK, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - buyer beware: only getting time due to a lot of regulars missing
Jae Crowder, SG/SF, PHO, (23% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, REB, PTS - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Cameron Payne, PG/SG, PHO, (14% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, AST, PTS
Landry Shamet, PG/SG, PHO, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM
Willy Hernangómez, C, NOP, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB
Garrett Temple, PG/SG/SF, NOP, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Jaxson Hayes, C, NOP, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Oshae Brissett, SF/PF, IND, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of PTS, STL, BLK
Torrey Craig, SG/SF/PF, IND, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB
Killian Hayes, PG/SG, DET, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB, but poor FG% - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Cory Joseph, PG, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Josh Jackson, SG/SF, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Trey Lyles, PF/C, DET, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of PTS - buyer beware: is currently out due to health and safety protocols
Luka Garza, C, DET, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, a bit of 3PM, BLK/STL - buyer beware: only getting time due to a lot of regulars missing
Cassius Stanley, SG, DET, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL - buyer beware: only getting time due to a lot of regulars missing
Serge Ibaka, PF/C, LAC, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK
Amir Coffey, SF, LAC, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Josh Richardson, SG/SF, BOS, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of everything
Payton Pritchard, PG, BOS, (18% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, PTS - buyer beware: could see a drop in playing time with the starters returning
Grant Williams, SF/PF, BOS, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of everything - buyer beware: could see a drop in playing time with the starters returning

Good luck with your next week's matchup! I hope this helps!

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis