NBA Waiver Wire Streamers for Fantasy Basketball Week 15 (Jan 24 - Jan 30)

Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 15 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues for the 2021-22 season. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.

For most fantasy teams WIN NOW mode is on! We're in the race for the playoffs and with all the injuries and Covid - it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Streaming is always a useful tool to help you gain an advantage in any given week, and Week 15 is no different.

As always, I have taken a look ahead at the NBA schedule for next week, and here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 15.

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 15

Thursday has just two games, followed by Monday (four) and Saturday (six games). These three days will give fantasy managers the most headaches.

All other days have between eight and 11 games played, so we are going to focus on teams that play at least two games on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 4 games:
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz

Teams with 3 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
New York Knicks
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors

Teams with 2 games:
Houston Rockets
Oklahoma City Thunder
Washington Wizards

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 8
Tuesday: 18
Wednesday: 20
Thursday: 4
Friday: 22
Saturday: 12
Sunday: 16

Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: NOP
Tuesday/Wednesday: BKN, CHA, DAL, DEN, LAC, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR
Wednesday/Thursday: -
Thursday/Friday: LAL, MIN
Friday/Saturday: BOS, IND, MEM, MIA, NOP
Saturday/Sunday: DAL
Sunday/Monday the following: ATL, CLE, LAC, POR

Days with SIX or fewer games
Monday: 4 games
Thursday: 2 games
Saturday: 6 games

Teams playing on at least two of these days:
Indiana Pacers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat)
New Orleans Pelicans (4 games - Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
-

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Los Angeles Lakers (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Minnesota Timberwolves (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Houston Rockets (2 games - Tues, Fri)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Washington Wizards (2 games - Tues, Sat)
Atlanta Hawks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Boston Celtics (3 games - Tues, Fri, Sat)
Detroit Pistons (3 games - Tues, Fri, Sun)
Memphis Grizzlies (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Miami Heat (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Milwaukee Bucks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Orlando Magic (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Houston Rockets (2 games - Tues, Fri)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2 games - Mon, Fri)
Washington Wizards (2 games - Tues, Sat)
Brooklyn Nets (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)
Cleveland Cavaliers (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sun)
New York Knicks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Fri)
Sacramento Kings (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)
Toronto Raptors (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 15

Thursday (with two games played) along with Monday (four games) and Saturday (six games) are the days with the least amount of games. All other days have 8+ games. The math is simple. Players from teams that play on the three scarce days will be more valuable for streaming purposes. Therefore, we will focus on them.

There are only four teams that play two games on these days (and no teams play on all three):

• Indiana Pacers (4 games - Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat)
• New Orleans Pelicans (4 games - Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat)
• Golden State Warriors (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)
• Philadelphia 76ers (3 games - Tues, Thurs, Sat)

I would like to add that the NBA trade deadline is Feb 10 so holding guys who perhaps don't have the best schedule, but could find themselves in a better spot after the trading frenzy is over could be worth holding for another week or two. Of course, if you're in a spot that provides you such luxury.

Streaming Options for Week 15

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

Chris Duarte, SG, IND, (56% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, a bit of REB, STL
Justin Holiday, SG/SF, IND, (46% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Goga Bitadze, C, IND, (29% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, PTS, FG%, BLK - positive circumstance: getting more minutes with both Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis being out
Josh Hart, SG/SF, NOP, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, PTS, STL
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG/SF, NOP, (42% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (53% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB, 3PM
Devonte' Graham, PG/SG, NOP, (74% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST, STL
Kevon Looney, PF/C, GSW, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Jonathan Kuminga, SF/PF, GSW, (28% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, PTS, a bit of everything
Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, GSW, (30% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Matisse Thybulle, SG/SF, PHI, (32% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK - buyer beware: missed five straight games due to a shoulder issue
Andre Drummond, C, PHI, (64% Rostered)- Strong Cats: REB, FG% STL/BLK - buyer beware: plays limited minutes

Shallower League Add

Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (53% Rostered)

Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB, 3PM

Despite having played just two games in Week 14, Herb still stuck around in over half of Yahoo leagues which shows that fantasy managers know what he's capable of and he is starting to become a household fantasy name.

He carved himself a nice role on the Pelicans playing more than 33 minutes a night in the past month. Over that stretch he is the highest-ranked player in his team at #34 with averages of 14.1 PTS with 1.4 3PM on 54.9 FG% and 87.5 FT%, 4.3 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.9 STL, 1.0 BLK and 0.9 TO.

This is pretty crazy from the rookie, and I really think he still isn't being recognized enough, despite him becoming more and more rostered each week. The defensive stats have been there all season long, and while I do doubt he can keep the percentages and the points at this high a level, they aren't THAT far off from his season averages either (50.2 FG%, 81.1 FT% and 9.1 PTS).

All this and a tasty schedule for next week - I wouldn't wait too long to pick Herb up if he was up for grabs in any of my leagues!

Deeper League Add

Kevon Looney, PF/C, GSW, (30% Rostered) 

Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK

I believe that there is no seasoned fantasy manager who hasn't been burnt by Looney at one point or the other in our fantasy careers. He stumbled upon so many opportunities with the Warriors having some poor luck with their big men's health, just to end up disappointing us time and time again. Therefore, I reluctantly mention him here as I find it difficult to trust him again. But his recent play has to be applauded, and the lack of options at this mid-level league depth for next week kind of forced my hand here. Although, Goga Bitadze might be a better punt here. But do beware - he is a biter.

Looney is a top 70 player based on Yahoo rankings in the past two weeks with averages of 6.8 points on 57.1% from the field and 73.7% from the charity stripe, 11.5 boards, 2.1 dimes, 1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 turnovers in just over 24 minutes a night.

Now, even though his playing time is inflated due to both James Wiseman and Draymond Green being out, Kevon has finally done something that his fantasy managers can be proud of. And he is doing it for some time now.

If you need the stats he brings to the table, and your Looney-burns from the past have healed nicely, he could be worth it with his decent schedule next week.

Insanely Deep League Add

Torrey Craig, SG/SF/PF, IND, (12% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK

Craig is a typical "it ain't much, but it's honest work" player right here. He won't hurt you too much in any category, but he won't win you the league either. However, he might win you a category or two if you pick him up in the right situation. And with his schedule for next week being pretty decent, and Indiana having half of their team out, this might be just that situation.

Over his four games last week he has averaged 7.3 PTS with 1.3 3PM on 35.3 FG% (on 8.5 attempts), 6.8 REB, 1.8 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.8 BLK and 0.8 TO in over 27 minutes per outing. This has him ranked inside the top 120 for the period. And this is with his shot not falling (he is at 46.6 FG% on the season and 45.9% in his career).

If you don't mind the potentially lower FG% and could use his help with the defensive stats along with a three-pointer here or there you could do a lot worse than Craig, especially if we're looking only at next week.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues

Lance Stephenson, SG/SF, IND, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST
Oshae Brissett, SF/PF, IND, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, a bit of PTS, STL, BLK
Torrey Craig, SG/SF/PF, IND, (12% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, STL/BLK
Keifer Sykes, PG, IND, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL - buyer beware: only getting time due to a lot of regulars missing
Jeremy Lamb, SG/SF, IND, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, 3PM, FT%, a bit of everything
Garrett Temple, PG/SG/SF, NOP, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL
Jaxson Hayes, C, NOP, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Jose Alvarado, PG, NOP, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, AST
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, GSW, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a little bit of everything
Gary Payton II, PG/SG, GSW, (11% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL, FG%, 3PM
Juan Toscano-Anderson, SF/PF, GSW, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, AST, STL
Damion Lee, SG/SF, GSW, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, a bit of STL, REB
Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, GSW, (1% Rostered) - Strong Cats: AST, a bit of everything - buyer beware: misses a lot of games due to injuries and rest
Furkan Korkmaz, SG/SF, PHI, (5% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Georges Niang, SG/SF, PHI, (3% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%

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

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