NBA Waiver Wire Streamers for Fantasy Basketball Week 13 (Jan 10 - Jan 16)

Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 13 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues for the 2021-22 season. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.

Hi there my fellow fantasy NBA fanatics. Another week is ahead of us and as the playoffs are drawing near there's a growing sense of urgency for most of us to win our matchups.

And what better way to increase our chances than to maximize our games played, and focus on categories we believe will be a close call based on the strengths and weaknesses of our team compared to our next week's opponent's team. Streaming allows us to do just that.

As always, I have taken a look ahead at the NBA schedule for next week, and here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 13.

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 13

Monday has seven games, Tuesday six, Thursday five and Sunday four. These days will be harder for fantasy GMs to field a full starting lineup compared to the other three days, all with nine (Wednesday and Friday) or ten (Saturday) games played.

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 4 games:
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs

Teams with 3 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Dallas Mavericks
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

Teams with 2 games:
Los Angeles Lakers

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 14
Tuesday: 12
Wednesday: 18
Thursday: 10
Friday: 18
Saturday: 20
Sunday: 8

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

Days with SEVEN or fewer games
Monday: 7 games
Tuesday: 6 games
Thursday: 5 games
Sunday: 4 games

Teams playing on at least three of these days:
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Tues, Fri, Sun)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Brooklyn Nets (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Denver Nuggets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Los Angeles Lakers (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Atlanta Hawks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Dallas Mavericks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Orlando Magic (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Toronto Raptors (3 games - Tues, Fri, Sat)
Phoenix Suns (3 games - Tues, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Los Angeles Lakers (2 games - Wed, Sat)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Indiana Pacers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
New York Knicks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Utah Jazz (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sun)
Washington Wizards (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 13

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday all have between four and seven games. Most of us will have spaces available in our lineups for streamers on these days, so we will be taking a look at players from teams that play at least three times on these four days.

There are only four such teams and we will focus on their players:

• Detroit Pistons (4 games - Mon, Tues, Fri, Sun)
• Denver Nuggets (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)
• Golden State Warriors (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
• Minnesota Timberwolves (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sun)

As there aren't too many options here, I would like to mention a few other tactics that may prove helpful (although I won't cover players from the teams I mention below as there are too many variables and combinations):

1. "Retain flexibility" - Brooklyn has three games from Mon to Thurs, and there are plenty of teams that have a back-to-back on Fri/Sat which leaves your streaming spot open for another add on Sunday. This will allow your streaming spot to have six games with three ads plus it will allow you to have more info before adding your second and third pickup (as you do this on Friday and Sunday) so you will have a pretty clear picture of which categories you're targeting.
2. "Follow the back-to-backs" - Detroit plays on Mon and Tues, Brooklyn on Wednesday and Thursday and 10 teams have back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. This will give you six games in six days with three adds and just one streaming spot. If you have an extra add, it will allow you to complete a seven-game week from your one streaming spot.
3. "In-form players and injury/Covid beneficiaries" - This strategy is not related too much to the schedule itself, but just plain makes sense in today's NBA where half a team can be out and low rostered players suddenly find themselves in a large role. Prime examples are Omer Yurtseven (Miami, 60% rostered), Anfernee Simons (Portland, 61% rostered) and Brandon Clarke (Memphis, 33% rostered). Of course, before adding any of them, make sure you will have space in your starting lineups on the days they play.

Streaming Options for Week 13

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

Hamidou Diallo, SG/SF, DET, (50% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB, STL, a bit of BLK, AST, FG% - buyer beware: he will hurt your FT%
Monte Morris, PG/SG, DEN, (50% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL
Aaron Gordon, SF/PF, DEN, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB, a bit of everything
Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, GSW, (32% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Jarred Vanderbilt, PF/C, MIN, (57% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Jaden McDaniels, PF, MIN, (40% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, REB - buyer beware: his minutes and usage could be in jeopardy with the starters returning
Malik Beasley, PG/SG, MIN, (37% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL - buyer beware: his minutes and usage could be in jeopardy with the starters returning
Patrick Beverley, PG/SG, MIN, (37% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, PTS, STL, BLK - buyer beware: missed his previous game (Jan 7) with groin soreness

Shallower League Add

Monte Morris, PG/SG, DEN, (50% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL

Monte Morris is the starting PG for the Nuggets. He just returned from health and safety protocols so that should mean he is safe, at least in the short term. Furthermore, Morris has been pretty good all season, with averages of 12.9 PTS with 1.7 3PM on 48.0 FG% and 72.4 FT%, 2.7 REB, 4.2 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.1 BLK and just 1.2 TO in 30 minutes a night. Yahoo places him at #162 based on this, but that's mostly due to his low output in stocks and boards. Furthermore, his FT% should improve also as he is an 80.7% career shooter.

His FG% is quite decent for a guard and his turnovers are really low if you take into consideration how much he plays and the number of assists he generates. So, if you're looking for someone who will contribute in more less all "small guy" stats and won't hurt you anywhere, Monta is your guy.

And not necessarily just for next week. He should maintain a big role in Denver for the rest of the season and could prove helpful down the line as well.

Deeper League Add

Facundo Campazzo, PG/SG, DEN, (20% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, STL

Another Nuggets guard here. With the void left due to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. being injured long-term, a lot of the guys in Denver have the increased opportunity to prove themselves worthy. Facu is one of those who have been doing so the whole season long.

But he has been especially good in the past month with averages of 8.4 points with 1.3 three-pointers on 36.9% from the field and 82.8% from the charity stripe, 2.8 boards, 6.5 dimes, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 turnovers in over 27 minutes per outing. This has him at #75 in Yahoo 9-cat rankings for the period. Insane for a guy rostered in just 20% of leagues.

Now Facu will not help your FG% - on the contrary, but if you don't care much about that, he is definitely someone to consider. He is a pest on the defensive end and always a threat to rack up some steals while being a floor general on offense, looking for his open teammates, but being able to put the ball through the hoop himself, both from downtown and with a fast-paced drive. With a favorable schedule, he should definitely be on your watch list for next week's streaming.

Insanely Deep League Add

DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, DEN, (9% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK

Buyer Beware: just signed with the Nuggets, we don't know his role yet

We all know Boogie used to be a fantasy monster back in his Sacramento days, so we know he is capable of enormous contribution when given the chance. But he just hasn't been able to settle in one team ever since leaving the Kings and was without a team to start the season. An increased number of players being out forced Milwaukee's hand and they decided to give Cousins a chance.

In the 17 games he played with the Bucks this season, he averaged 9.1 PTS with 0.8 3PM on 46.6 FG% and 81.6 FT%, 5.8 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.5 BLK and 0.9 TO in just 17 minutes a night. Pretty cool in such limited time, right?

Now he is signing with the Nuggets and we can only guess how well he will fit there, but being reunited with Mike Malone (his coach from the Sacramento days) could be a positive thing.

The potential is there, we all know that. But will Boogie be a boom or a bust? With him you can never tell.

All I can say is - for the risk of one weekly add in a deep league I the reward could be quite high. And with the schedule in Week 13 for Denver, it makes even more sense to roll the dice on Boogie.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues

Killian Hayes, PG/SG, DET, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, REB, but poor FG%
Cory Joseph, PG, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% 
Josh Jackson, SG/SF, DET, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of REB
Trey Lyles, PF/C, DET, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of PTS
Jeff Green, SF/PF/C, DEN, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB
Bones Hyland, PG/SG, DEN, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, STL
Facundo Campazzo, PG/SG, DEN, (20% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM, STL
JaMychal Green, PF/C, DEN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
Austin Rivers, PG/SG, DEN, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
DeMarcus Cousins, PF/C, DEN, (9% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - buyer beware: just signed with the Nuggets, we don't know his role yet
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, GSW, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a little bit of everything - positive circumstance: is seeing increased minutes with Andrew Wiggins out and now Draymond Green has entered the health and safety protocols as well
Gary Payton II, PG/SG, GSW, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, 3PM
Kevon Looney, PF/C, GSW, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Juan Toscano-Anderson, SF/PF, GSW, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, STL (but not a lot of any of them) - buyer beware: missed the previous game (Jan 6) with an ankle issue
Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GSW, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, a bit of everything - buyer beware: misses a lot of games due to injuries and rest
Damion Lee, SG/SF, GSW, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, REB
Naz Reid, C, MIN, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Jaylen Nowell, SG, MIN, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, AST, REB, STL - buyer beware: his minutes and usage could be in jeopardy with the starters returning
Taurean Prince, SF/PF, MIN, (0% Rostered) - Strong Cats: a bit of 3PM, REB, STL - buyer beware: usally plays limited minutes

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

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis