RADIO
Week 8 fantasy basketball streamers based on H2H 9-category leagues for the 2020-2021 NBA season. Dale Johnson recommends guards, forwards and centers to target through waivers or free agency in fantasy leagues who may help in specific categories.
The COVID-19 bug strikes again as we had an absolutely bizarre situation on Friday with Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant was held out of the starting lineup, but was then cleared to play off the bench only to be pulled again during the third quarter. Now Durant is in the health and safety protocols and won't be available until this Friday at the earliest. To make matters worse for the Nets, Kyrie Irving is dealing with a finger sprain. This makes a big opportunity to stream some Nets players this week.
Thursday and Sunday are the only days with less than six games while Wednesday, Friday and Sunday all have at least nine games. Thursday and Sunday are the games we want to hit to maximize your streaming potential, but we should have some wiggle room early in the week on Monday and Tuesday.
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. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
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Week 6 Standard 9-Cat Leagues - Category Streamers
Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Juan Toscano-Anderson - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors (10% rostered)
Toscano-Anderson has been starting for Golden State with injuries to James Wiseman (wrist), Kevon Looney (ankle) and Eric Paschall (knee). Toscano-Anderson has been making the most of his opportunity with averages of 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.7 three-pointers 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in the past three games (all starts). Toscano-Anderson is also shooting 72.2 percent from the field, ranking him at 48 over this stretch. Wiseman is set to be evaluated this week, but Looney and Paschall's timelines are murky and head coach Steve Kerr has nothing but praise for the young forward. The Warriors have four games this week including a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back set then a game on Thursday.
Other streamers:
Tristan Thompson - PF/C - Boston Celtics (21% rostered)
Derrick Favors - PF/C - Utah Jazz (12% rostered)
Xavier Tillman Sr. - PF - Memphis Grizzlies (11% rostered)
Alex Len - PF/C - Washington Wizards (9% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Kendrick Nunn - PG/SG - Miami Heat (28% rostered)
This more of a risky stream as Nunn could fall out of Miami's rotation at any minute. However, the Heat are hurting right now, having lost Avery Bradley (calf) for the next three-to-four weeks and now Goran Dragic (ankle) has gone down with an ankle injury. Dragic already missed one game with the injury, but could miss more given his injury history. If that's the case, look for Nunn to step in in his place. Nunn had a 25-point, eight-rebound outing on Friday in 28 minutes. Nunn is also a 84.6 percent free-throw shooter in his young career and should get to the line more often with more run.
Other streamers:
Cam Reddish - SG/SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (40% rostered)
Carmelo Anthony - SF/PF - Portland Trail Blazers (34% rostered)
Shake Milton - PG/SG - Philadelphia 76ers (21% rostered)
Jalen Brunson - PG/SG - Dallas Mavericks (4% rostered)
POINTS
Josh Jackson - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (17% rostered)
Don't look now, but Jackson is heating up again like we saw at the beginning of the season. Jackson is coming off a 28-point performance against the reigning NBA champion Lakers on Saturday and has double-digit scoring efforts in four straight games. Just like Wayne Ellington sometime last week, the Pistons are riding the hot hand. Speaking of Ellington, he has been out for the past two games and has not been playing well over his last four. Plus, there is speculation of a Derrick Rose trade in the near future which would open up even more minutes for Jackson.
Other streamers:
Naz Reid - C - Minnesota Timberwolves (33% rostered)
Alec Burks - SG/SF - New York Knicks (32% rostered)
Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (29% rostered)
Shake Milton - PG/SG - Philadelphia 76ers (21% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Patty Mills - PG - San Antonio Spurs (30% rostered)
Mills has not been great since Derrick White returned from his injury, but we are hopping back on the three-point bandwagon this week. The Spurs have four games in week 8 and start the week with a back-to-back Monday and Tuesday. It is very possible White is sat during one of the two games given head coach Gregg Popovich's prior coaching moves. If that's the case, Mills would have an extended role and more opportunity to knock down threes. You could also grab Mills for the back-to-back then grab someone like Cam Reddish on the Atlanta Hawks or Justin Holiday of the Indiana Pacers to finish out the week. Both players have three games from Wednesday to Saturday.
Other streamers:
Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (47% rostered)
Cam Reddish - SG/SF/PF - Altanta Hawks (40% rostered)
Kelly Olynyk - PF/C - Miami Heat (29% rostered)
Luguentz Dort - SG/SF - Oklahoma City Thunder (20% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Jakob Poeltl - C - San Antonio Spurs (36% rostered)
Poeltl probably has been snatched up from your waiver wire as he was one of the most popular adds towards the end of the week after LaMarcus Aldridge (hip) went down. However, he is still available in way too many leagues and opens up this week on a back-to-back set. Aldridge is set to see a doctor at some point this week and could be looking at an extended absence. Even if Aldridge miraculously comes back healed, Poeltl has been producing rebounds regardless of who starts. Poeltl has at least five rebounds grabbed in 12 straight games and at least six in his past seven games.
Other streamers:
Darius Bazley - SF/PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (46% rostered)
Tristan Thompson - PF/C - Boston Celtics (21% rostered)
Josh Hart - SG/SF - New Orleans Pelicans (20% rostered)
JaMychal Green - PF/C - Denver Nuggets (14% rostered)
ASSISTS
T.J. McConnell - PG/SG - Indiana Pacers (26% rostered)
How many times do we need to feature McConnell in this column?! McConnell now has back-to-back games with double-digit assists and is averaging 6.7 on the year in just 22.0 minutes per game. There is no one else on the wire who has as much assists upside than McConnell right now. Regardless, the Pacers have a poor start to the week with their first game Wednesday and all three games this week between Wednesday and Saturday. If you feel confident enough to leave McConnell on the wire for now, you could stream someone like Ish Smith of the Washington Wizards on Monday with Russell Westbrook (rest) most likely out then grab McConnell ahead of Wednesday.
Other streamers:
Ricky Rubio - PG - Minnesota Timberwolves (45% rostered)
Cole Anthony - PG - Orlando Magic (45% rostered)
Tyus Jones - PG - Memphis Grizzlies (13% rostered)
Tomas Satoransky - PG - Chicago Bulls (3% rostered)
STEALS
Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (7% rostered)
Thybulle has quietly been averaging 1.5 steals per game this season. He has recorded multiple steals in six of his past 10 games and has finally cracked around 20 minutes in the rotation. Thybulle has always been known as a defensive specialist in his young career and it has been reflected on the box score. Thybulle is also averaging 0.9 blocks on the season, but does not help elsewhere outside of steals.
Other streamers:
Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (47% rostered)
Ricky Rubio - PG - Minnesota Timberwolves (45% rostered)
T.J. McConnell - PG/SG - Indiana Pacers (26% rostered)
David Nwaba - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (2% rostered)
BLOCKS
Maximillian Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (11% rostered)
Kleber has finally settled into a steady role this season after a stint with COVID-19. Kleber is now starting alongside Kristaps Porzingis and are starting win more frequently after a five-game losing streak while Kleber was out. A career 1.0 block per game player, Kleber is averaging 0.9 blocks per game this year, but has blocked at least one shot in three of his past four games. Kleber's minutes are slowly creeping up and the Mavericks have a four-game week coming up.
Other streamers:
Jakob Poeltl - C - San Antonio Spurs (36% rostered)
Naz Reid - C - Minnesota Timberwolves (33% rostered)
Josh Jackson - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (17% rostered)
Robert Williams III - C - Boston Celtics (13% rostered)
TURNOVERS
Monte Morris - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (17% rostered)
I am featuring Morris again as Gary Harris (adductor) and P.J. Dozier (hamstring) still remain out, but now Jamal Murray (knee) is dealing with an injury. In the spot start Saturday, Morris had a near double-double with 11 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 35 minutes. Morris did cough up two turnovers, but that brings his average to just 0.7 on the season. Even if Murray doesn't miss any more time, Morris would remain a solid streamer as a player who can contribute across the board without hurting you in turnovers. The Nuggets have four games this week with no back-to-backs.
Other streamers:
Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (47% rostered)
Danuel House Jr. - SF/PF - Houston Rockets (11% rostered)
Maximillian Kleber - PF/C - Dallas Mavericks (11% rostered)
Deni Avdija - SG/SF - Washington Wizards (10% rostered)
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