Fantasy Basketball Category Streamers for Week 5: Isaiah Hartenstein, Anfernee Simons, Jae Crowder, Gary Payton II

We're getting into the meat of the fantasy season and guys are about to hit their strides. Many of the streamers we're suggesting in these articles wind up being fantastic guys to keep. Last week we had Luke Kennard, Anfernee Simons, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Nicolas Batum in this article. All of those guys should be kept for the time being.

The Spurs are the only team with two games this week. Other than that, every team is pretty much fair game with a whopping 19 (!) out of the remaining 29 teams having four games on the docket. Let's go win some categories.

Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out. Now, let's get prepared for the upcoming week and go win your leagues. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.

Week 5 Standard 9-Category Leagues

Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

Isaiah Hartenstein - PF/C - Los Angeles Clippers (9% rostered)

I'm not gonna bury the lede here: Go out and get Isaiah Hartenstein if you need a big man. There are other options, but Ivica Zubac isn't exactly the most solidified starter in the league and Isaiah Hartenstein has looked impressive over the past few weeks for the Los Angeles Clippers. I could see this situation turning into a timeshare, which isn't necessarily great for either guy but if Hartenstein can continue to perform as he has been in the past few weeks, he should see his minutes climb. He's only averaging 7.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game over that period, but he has looked like the more impressive presence on the floor over their last several games between the two center options in LA. This is a speculative add with the hope he can get up to the 22+ minute mark where he can become a nice low-end center.

Other streamers:

• Alize Johnson - SF/PF - Chicago Bulls (1% rostered)
• Derrick Favors - C - Oklahoma City Thunder (28% rostered)
• JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (12% rostered)
• Dwight Powell - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (8% rostered)
• Frank Kaminsky - C - Phoenix Suns (39% rostered)

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

Anfernee Simons - PG/SG - Portland Trail Blazers (22% rostered)

The fact that this guy is only rostered in 22% of leagues is laughable. Damian Lillard has just been ruled out with an abdominal strain, so he's worth a speculative add at the very least. If Dame winds up missing an extended period of time, you'll be happy you jumped on him early so you could take advantage of his points, threes, and free throw percentage. Go pick him up and follow the Dame news closely.

Other streamers:

• Monte Morris - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (30% rostered)
• Danny Green - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (23% rostered)
• Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (27% rostered)
• Otto Porter Jr. - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors (17% rostered)
• Jae Crowder - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (33% rostered)

POINTS

Frank Kaminsky - C - Phoenix Suns (40% rostered)

Frank Kaminsky has stepped in and played a boatload of minutes over the last few games without Deandre Ayton. Ayton is still out and his return date is still unclear, though it's probably imminent. Enjoy the ride with Frank the Tank for now, but don't expect any more 31-point games. He only managed that feat twice in college, so that was a huge surprise. Still, he'll provide points, rebounds, blocks, and some threes here and there. He's well worth a roster spot as a third-round value in 9-cat fantasy over the last few weeks.

Other streamers:

• Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Philadelphia 76ers (39% rostered)
• Cameron Payne - PG/SG - Phoenix Suns (6% rostered)
• Kevin Huerter - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (26% rostered)
• Anfernee Simons - PG/SG - Portland Trail Blazers (22% rostered)
• Terance Mann - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (37% rostered)

THREE-POINTERS

Jae Crowder - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (33% rostered)

Jae Crowder has been a fourth-round value in fantasy basketball over the past few weeks. A notoriously streaky shooter, right now is the time to snag up this particular wing player who has contributed 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks over the last two weeks on 48/44/100 shooting splits. He's also connecting on 2.5 three-pointers in this period. Just be ready to drop him should he get cold again.

Other streamers:

• Pat Connaughton - SG/SF - Milwaukee Bucks (27% rostered)
• Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (24% rostered)
• Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (29% rostered)
• Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (27% rostered)
• Danny Green - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (23% rostered)

REBOUNDS

Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (39% rostered)

Hassan Whiteside is at the top of this category for the second or third week now. People have been dropping him because he hasn't necessarily had the best stretch of games recently, but he's still entirely capable of grabbing boards and blocking a shot or two in each outing. That's going to be good enough for many teams for a streamer.

Other streamers:

• Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Philadelphia 76ers (39% rostered)
• Isaiah Hartenstein - PF/C - Los Angeles Clippers (9% rostered)
• Dwight Howard - C - Los Angeles Lakers (12% rostered)
• Dwight Powell - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (8% rostered)
• Derrick Favors - C - Oklahoma City Thunder (28% rostered)

ASSISTS

Andre Iguodala - SG/SF - Golden State Warriors (3% rostered)

Yep, old man Andre Iguodala is rearing his head in his swan song season. He's gotten 17 or more minutes in six of seven games. Be prepared for some random "DNP-Old" nights, but for the most part, he seems to be locked in as the main distributor for the second unit. He's dishing out 5.6 assists per game over the last two weeks and no one else that's likely available in your league can touch that production in this single category over the same timespan.

Other streamers:

• Rajon Rondo - PG - Los Angeles Lakers (3% rostered)
• Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (47% rostered)
• Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (16% rostered)
• Killian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (13% rostered)
• Davion Mitchell - SG - Sacramento Kings (24% rostered)

STEALS

Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (18% rostered)

Gary Payton II has come out of nowhere to be a solid contributor on this Golen State Warriors squad. He's the team's defensive specialist on the perimeter and has managed 16 minutes or more in six straight games. He has solidified his spot in the lineup until Klay Thompson returns, so he's worth a scoop in all leagues to see what happens.

Other streamers:

• Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (30% rostered)
• Killian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (13% rostered)
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - PG/SG/SF - Washington Wizards (12% rostered)
• Bruce Brown - SG - Brooklyn Nets (7% rostered)
• Dorian Finney-Smith - SF/PF - Dallas Mavericks (16% rostered)

BLOCKS

Dwight Powell - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (8% rostered)

Dwight Powell is a bit of an underrated asset in fantasy, but if you're in desperate need of great field goal percentage, blocks, rebounds, and the occasional three, he's worth a look in a four-game week where the Mavericks will be playing the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns twice. Hopefully, Deandre Ayton can return for the Suns soon so that it becomes necessary to play Powell closer to the 22+ minutes he's been seeing recently.

Other streamers:

• Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (39% rostered)
• Isaiah Hartenstein - PF/C - Los Angeles Clippers (9% rostered)
• Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (30% rostered)
• Jarred Vanderbilt - PF/C- Minnesota Timberwolves (7% rostered)
• JaVale McGee - C - Phoenix Suns (12% rostered)

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