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Cheers to those who survived one of the craziest weeks in NBA history and somehow squeaked out a win. We knew this fantasy season would not be easy, but it has proven to be quite a challenge and we are only four weeks in.
We saw a plethora of games suspended, included the entire week for the Washington Wizards, who had six positive tests at one point. We even saw a blockbuster trade surrounding James Harden, Caris Levert, Jarrett Allen and Victor Oladipo. Now we look ahead to Week 5 where 16 teams have four games and 14 teams have three games. It will be incredibly tough to stream on Monday (10 games), Wednesday (11 games) and Friday (13 games), so the prime streaming days are Tuesday (2 games), Thursday (3 games), Saturday (7 games) and Sunday (8 games).
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 Week 4. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Week 5 Standard 9-Cat Leagues - Category Streamers
Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (29% rostered)
Diallo was probably one of the most added then dropped players following a hot streak that ended with a dud on Friday. Despite shooting just 1-for-6 in the contest, Diallo is shooting 54.1 percent from the field in 20.5 minutes per game this season. Diallo has had added opportunity with the Thunder experimenting with their youth project and Darius Bazley struggling with consistency. The Thunder only play three games this week but are one of four teams with a game on Tuesday while also having a game Friday and Sunday.
Other streamers:
Jakob Poeltl - C - San Antonio Spurs (17% rostered)
Jeff Green - SF/PF/C - Brooklyn Nets (4% rostered)
Isaiah Roby - PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (4% rostered)
Xavier Tillman Sr. - PF - Memphis Grizzlies (3% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Immanuel Quickley - PG - New York Knicks (29% rostered)
Don't look now, but a changing of the helm could come soon with Quickley severely outplaying starting point guard Elfrid Payton lately. Quickley is a savvy guard who consistently gets to the rim and draws fouls. Quickley has missed just one free throw attempt this year, shooting 95.2 from the stripe, and has a free throw attempt in all, but two games on the season. Quickley can also get you counting stats and benefits from New York having a four-game week.
Other streamers:
Norman Powell - SG/SF - Toronto Raptors (49% rostered)
Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (41% rostered)
Cole Anthony - PG - Orlando Magic (31% rostered)
Jalen Brunson - PG - Dallas Mavericks (2% rostered)
POINTS
Cedi Osman - SF/PF - Cleveland Cavaliers (26% rostered)
We have been here before with Osman and, personally, have been burned by him as well. However, Osman is currently on a hot streak and is getting big minutes with the Cavs who are ravaged with injuries right now. Osman has scored in double figures in six of his past eight games, including three straight. Osman's field goal percentage can certainly be an issue at times, but he does offer some three-point and steals value as well. Disclaimer: the Cavs game on Monday was postponed due to the Washington Wizards in contact tracing, but they still have three more games starting on Wednesday.
Other streamers:
Norman Powell - SG/SF - Toronto Raptors (49% rostered)
Carmelo Anthony - SF/PF - Portland Trail Blazers (38% rostered)
Luguentz Dort - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (33% rostered)
Gary Trent Jr. - SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers (12% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Gary Trent Jr. - SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers (12% rostered)
Trent started off the year hot and had a huge hype train following his efforts in the bubble. That has calmed down since then, but the hype is picking back up as teammate C.J. McCollum (foot) has a mid-foot sprain and is already ruled out Monday. The Blazers have a four-game week and Trent is coming off a 4-three, 18-point effort in a win Saturday. This is the same foot McCollum has had issues with before so he could be looking at an extended absence. Trent would be the immediate beneficiary but does not have many strengths for fantasy outside of his three-point shooting.
Other streamers:
Patty Mills - PG - San Antonio Spurs (38% rostered)
Luguentz Dort - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (33% rostered)
Cedi Osman - SF/PF - Cleveland Cavaliers (26% rostered)
J.J. Redick - SG - New Orleans Pelicans (13% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Josh Hart - SG/SF - New Orleans Pelicans (27% rostered)
Entering Sunday, Hart has grabbed at least six rebounds in every game this season outside the opener, which he had five. New head coach Stan Van Gundy has praised Hart as an essential part of their rotation and has rewarded him with 29.2 minutes per game. The Pelicans are one of only two teams who play on both Tuesday and Thursday this week, making him a prime target to stream on the pseudo back-to-back.
Other streamers:
Royce O'Neale - SF/PF - Utah Jazz (24% rostered)
Tristan Thompson - C - Boston Celtics (28% rostered)
Dwight Howard - C - Philadelphia 76ers (26% rostered)
Willie Cauley-Stein - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (19% rostered)
ASSISTS
Delon Wright - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (35% rostered)
Assists have become slim pickings in Week 5 with the top 25 players in assists per game all over 70% rostered. With that in mind, we turn to Wright who, as I have said before, may cause you to roll your eyes after dealing with his inconsistency before. Wright is coming off a 10-assist game in Saturday's win and has been playing much more now that Killian Hayes (hip) has been injured. Yes, the field-goal percentage has been abysmal lately, but this should go up sooner rather than later. If you are desperate for assists, most fantasy managers are going to overlook Wright and you should have no trouble picking him off the wire.
Other streamers:
Cole Anthony - PG - Orlando Magic (31% rostered)
Immanuel Quickly - PG - New York Knicks (29% rostered)
George Hill - PG/SG - Oklahoma City Thunder (23% rostered)
T.J. McConnell - PG/SG - Indiana Pacers (4% rostered)
STEALS
Xavier Tillman Sr. - PF - Memphis Grizzlies (3% rostered)
Tillman recently stepped up for 15 points, four rebounds and four steals in 28 minutes on Saturday after it was reported Jonas Valanciunas was put in the health and safety protocols. Valanciunas will likely miss the full week of play and Tillman is slated to pick up some extra minutes either behind Brandon Clarke or in the starting lineup. Tillman is averaging 1.3 steals per game in just 19.3 minutes so far this season and would be a strong steals streamer with four games ahead this week.
Other streamers:
Luguentz Dort - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (33% rostered)
Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (15% rostered)
T.J. McConnell - PG/SG - Indiana Pacers (4% rostered)
James Johnson - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (6% rostered)
BLOCKS
Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (31% rostered)
Noel has been a "stock" machine in his career and continues to do so despite limited minutes with the Knicks. Noel is averaging 1.6 blocks in just 14.5 minutes per game this season. He also has recorded a block in five of his past six games. The Knicks have a great streaming schedule this week with four games and a strong finish with games on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Noel is a great stream candidate for you to push ahead in blocks towards the end of your match up.
Other streamers:
P.J. Tucker - PF/C - Houston Rockets (21% rostered)
Derrick Favors - PF/C - Utah Jazz (10% rostered)
James Johnson - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (6% rostered)
Josh Okogie - SG/SF - Minnesota Timberwolves (1% rostered)
TURNOVERS
Monte Morris - PG/SG - Monte Morris (23% rostered)
Morris has been a glue-piece for the Denver Nuggets off the bench this season and has done his damage without coughing up the ball. In fact, Morris has more games played (13) than turnovers (5) so far. The Denver Nuggets are one of four teams playing on Tuesday then they have a Friday/Saturday back-to-back to finish out their week. This gives Morris a strong chance to give you some extra games without costing you turnovers.
Other streamers:
Cameron Johnson - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (34% rostered)
Gary Trent Jr. - SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers (12% rostered)
Eric Paschall - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors (11% rostered)
Xavier Tillman Sr. - PF - Memphis Grizzlies (3% rostered)
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