Fantasy Basketball Mid-Week Streamers: Week 5

Mike Barner looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 5.

Thanksgiving brings one of the rare days when the NBA has no games. That means we’ll be looking at a busy schedule Friday through Sunday as the league look to pack in some games.

Injuries continue to be a problem for fantasy managers. Some big names like Tyler Herro (ankle), CJ McCollum (chest), and Walker Kessler (elbow) all remain sidelined. Even Donovan Mitchell (hamstring) has missed four straight games.

Let’s look at the remaining schedules for each team and discuss some players to consider streaming. For those in daily lineup leagues, streaming players with favorable schedules can be key to having a winning week. However, be sure to be aware of your league rules. If you have a games played cap for the week, then streaming too much might not be ideal. All roster percentages used in this article are from Yahoo.

Weekly Schedule: Thursday to Sunday

Teams that play only game (AVOID): Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, LA Lakers, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Portland, Sacramento, Utah

Teams that play two games (TARGET): Boston, Chicago, Denver, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, Toronto

Teams that play back-to-back (TARGET): Atlanta, Brooklyn, Cleveland, LA Clippers, Miami, New Orleans, Washington

Shallow League Streaming Options

Alex Caruso, PG/SG (48%)

Considering how poorly the Bulls have played, Caruso might not be on the team once the trade deadline has passed. Given his ability to defend multiple positions, he’s extremely appealing to contending teams. As of right now, the Bulls have moved him into their starting lineup as they try to stay afloat. Over four games in that role, he has averaged 13.5 points, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 2.5 three-pointers. With the Bulls set to plat two more games, he could provide a significant boost in three-pointers and defensive stats.

Eric Gordon, SG/SF (46%)

The Suns still haven’t had their star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal all play in the same game together. Beal is currently tending to a back issue that will keep him out at least two more weeks. All of their injuries have resulted in Gordon averaging 13.9 points, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.6 three-pointers over 31 minutes per game. Expect him to remain in the same role as the Suns play their final two games of the week.

Saddiq Bey, SF/PF (46%)

Bey comes off the bench firing for the Hawks. He has been a valuable source for three-pointers, making at least two of them in nine of the last 11 games. For the season, he is shooting 38.7 percent from behind the arc. Add his three-point shooting prowess to him averaging 5.5 rebounds per game and he’s an intriguing option with the Hawks scheduled to play two more games.

Goga Bitadze, C (34%)

Talk about racking up defensive stats. Since replacing Wendell Carter Jr. (finger) in the starting lineup, Bitadze has averaged 1.1 steals and 2.1 blocks over 10 games. Not only that, but he has provided 8.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. Carter is still not close to making a return, so expect Bitadze to remain in the starting five for the Magic.

Deep Leagues Streaming Options

Moritz Wagner, C (26%)

Wagner has averaged 20 minutes per game off the bench since Carter went down. His numbers haven’t been eye-popping, but his averages of 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during that stretch is nothing to be ignored. He has also been efficient, shooting 61.0 percent from the field and 84.0 percent from the charity stripe. If Bitadze is already gone in your league, Wagner is also worth adding for the Magic’s final two games of the week.

Malik Beasley, SG/SF (26%)

Beasley is never one to shy away from jacking up three-pointers. Despite not averaging more than 26 minutes per game the last two seasons, he averaged exactly 8.1 three-point attempts per game in both campaigns. He is averaging 2.7 three-pointers made per game this season, which puts him on track to average at least that many for the fourth straight season. Those in deep leagues who need a boost from behind the arc could get it from Beasley with the Bucks set to play two more games.

Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF (25%)

Jaquez wasn’t playing a ton at the beginning of his rookie season, but the injury to Herro has forced the Heat to put him in an expanded role. He has responded by averaging 15.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.0 three-pointers over the last seven games. He averaged 32 minutes a game during that stretch, compared to the 19 minutes per game that he averaged before Herro went down. The eventual return of Herro could limit his upside, but as things currently stand, he’s worth streaming in deeper leagues.

Reggie Jackson, PG (21%)

Another star who has remained sidelined is Jamal Murray (hamstring). He’s not expected to play Friday and he could also be out Sunday. With the potential that he misses at least two more games, Jackson is a viable waiver wire option. Since Murray went down, he has averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 three-pointers over eight games.

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