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Lance Roberson looks at some early-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 14.
After an exciting start, it's Week 14 of the 2023-2024 NBA season. While you want to have faith in the players you drafted, don't get too attached. You may feel confident about your draft decisions, but remember: stars are born and eroded every day. Take a moment to see what's on the other side of the waiver wire.
Most leagues limit how many players you can stream each week in daily leagues. If your league only allows three moves per week, you need to be very efficient with your moves and grab players who will help you maximize your games played and help you win an extra category or two of counting stats.
The goal of this article each Monday morning will be to help you plan your roster moves for the first half of the week. Planning is important, and I always include which teams play on optimal days for streaming in the very first section so you can look for additional players that I don't mention as well. All the rostered percentages used in this article are from Yahoo! Let's see who can help us start the week strong!
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Weekly Schedule: Monday to Thursday
Teams that play one game (AVOID): Houston, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans, Orlando
Teams that play three games (TARGET): Minnesota
Shallow League Streaming Options
Malik Beasley - SG, SF (41%)
Anytime a team's schedule features the Detroit Pistons, you're practicing fantasy malpractice not to seek a streamer to trounce the lottery-destined franchise. The Milwaukee Bucks face the Pistons on Monday, and it just so happens that the league's third-best three-point shooter regarding shooting percentage (.472), Malik Beasley, has another opportunity to blaze an opposing unit. Beasley recorded a 41 percent mark from distance in his last five outings. Aside from Monday's game vs. Detroit, the Bucks also play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Duncan Robinson - SG, SF (44%)
For a Most Improved Player of the Year award candidate, having only a 44 percent roster percentage boggles my mind. Nonetheless, consider Duncan Robinson's surprising availability as a blessing in disguise. Set for a back-to-back schedule on Wednesday and Thursday, there is plenty of opportunity to continue his resurgence.
Duncan Robinson with the pump fake and DRAINS the three 🎯pic.twitter.com/ZD0SKIAk2m
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCP) January 20, 2024
On Wednesday, the Miami Heat face the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies in the first game. Robinson impressively records above-average in true shooting and effective field goal percentage. In light of those numbers, practice due diligence by snagging Robinson before your fantasy league opponents catch on to the wave.
Kevin Huerter - SG, SF (48%)
There was a time when Kevin Huerter's stock sat relatively low in the league, especially from a fantasy standpoint. However, in the last three games, Huerter's numbers sit in a place fitting of one of the better shooters in the league. During that stretch, Huerter registered a magnificent 55 percent from the three-point line on an astonishing 15-27 shooting line, including a career-high 31-point performance.
Kevin Huerter is getting hot here in the 3rd 🔥
Pacers-Kings | Live on the NBA App
📲https://t.co/F84nUu2Axi pic.twitter.com/LGWQYibDO7— NBA (@NBA) January 19, 2024
Aside from the typical shooting numbers, Huerter managed a double-double and averaged a steal per contest in his previous five outings. Seek Huerter for your shooting needs, and perhaps receive a bonus in the other fantasy categories.
Kelly Oubre Jr. - SF (47%)
Before Kelly Oubre Jr. endured a rib injury, the Kansas alum shot lights out as a surprisingly delightful fourth option on the Philadelphia 76ers. However, Oubre Jr.'s shooting percentages haven't helped his fantasy worth recently. Oubre Jr. recorded an abysmal 49 percent true shooting percentage in his previous five performances. Put away those shovels, fantasy managers, as Oubre Jr.'s recovery potentially comes in Week 14.
Philadelphia hosts the San Antonio Spurs on Monday evening, which sets up a marvelous comeback moment for the struggling Oubre Jr. Next on the Sixers' schedule, the Indiana Pacers, provide everyone involved with an uptick in numbers as they make for a great fantasy opponent. While it seems I'm championing a fantasy dud, keep in mind the fantasy world still sees value in Oubre Jr. in light of the 47 percent roster percentage.
Deep League Streaming Options
Lonnie Walker IV - SG, SF (9%)
It's time for another week of "Hey, Lonnie Walker IV is an underrated fantasy option." I will continue the campaign this week. He averaged only 14 minutes of action in his past five outings and managed a 50 percent three-point mark on 20 attempts. Given he averaged a mere nine points in the process, Lonnie Walker IV recorded 20 points during that stretch. The Brooklyn Nets play the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves this week, allowing Walker IV more room to impress.
The ball indeed has healing powers. See: Lonnie Walker IV pic.twitter.com/AaCuuk0V9d
— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 18, 2024
Simone Fontecchio - SF (6%)
The NBA is a beautiful league. There aren't many sports associations in which a player such as Simone Fontecchio makes ripples in a pond full of larger fish. Of the two games the Utah Jazz play in their early-week schedule, one is the Washington Wizards. When you think of lowly teams with little to no redeeming qualities, Washington sits chief among the crowd. Fontecchio, averaging 8.9 points on the season, is liable for an outstanding performance vs. the Wizards. Think of Fontecchio as a prime streamer this week.
Simone Fontecchio breaks Buddy Hield with a pump fake side step three pic.twitter.com/F9HONg8gDV
— Jazz Clips (@UtahJazzClips) January 16, 2024
Kyle Anderson - SF, PF (22%)
As the only team that plays three games in the early-week schedule, the Minnesota Timberwolves provide fantasy managers with a great return on stats. From a streamer standpoint, Kyle Anderson is a potential sneaky candidate. Minnesota faces the Charlotte Hornets today, then finish the early-week sequence against the Wizards and the Nets. While Anderson doesn't provide much three-point shooting, if any, he does a little of everything else. If anything else, the three games scheduled merit a rental of Anderson's services.
Andre Drummond - C (29%)
Father Time remains undefeated (although LeBron James says otherwise), but Andre Drummond has something to say 12 seasons into his career. Averaging 16 minutes of action, with eight points and a steal to show for it, Drummond continues to remind fantasy managers why he's worth the roster spot on deep rosters. Look for him to outrebound Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic on Monday evening.
