Mid-Week Fantasy Basketball Category Streamers for Week 9

December 15, 2021

Max Kulish looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 9.

If you're one of those fantasy basketball players that sets a lineup at the beginning of the week, checks out, and then comes back seven days later to see how things shook out, this post is not for you.

This is for those who are grinding through each day and keeping track of categories as the days tick off. Maybe you need a handful of assists to get you over and win the week, or maybe a key injury is forcing you to rethink a category you previously considered stable. The goal is here to is target specific players who are rostered in less than half of Yahoo! leagues who will help you get you into the winner's circle. Mostly we're looking at players who might be available in 12-team leagues, but there will be some deeper options too when available.

As is always the case when streaming, it's possible that some of these recommended options are worthy of a longer-term add. But in order to hold long term, you first have to make the pickup. Regardless of where you're deficient, here are some names to consider to help you make up ground in the short term. Be sure to check out my Twitter (@Maxadelphia) for my nightly NBA plays, as well. Let's get into it!

Points - Streaming Options

Anfernee Simons - PG/SG - Portland Trailblazers (42% rostered)

The Blazers backcourt situation has been anything but uneventful this year. After being so thin last week Dennis Smith Jr made an appearance in this very article, this week we revisit an old friend in Simons. In Simon's return to the lineup, he posted 26 points in 33 minutes, which was the first game he's played without CJ McCollum.

Other streamers: 

• Kevin Huerter - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (39% rostered)
• Garrison Mathews - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (42% rostered)
• Luke Kennard - SG/SF - Los Angeles Clippers (30% rostered)
• Malik Beasley - PG - Minnesota Timberwolves (37% rostered)

Assists - Streaming Options

Tyus Jones - PG - Memphis Grizzlies (42% rostered)

The Grizzlies continue to march on without Ja Morant. Winners of 8 of 9 without their star PG, Jones has been a key contributor in filling those shoes. Jones has registered 6+ assists in all but one of those nine games (a 35-point blowout of my Sixers, in which he only played 24 minutes), and figures to continue seeing a large ball-handling role moving forward while Morant remains out.

Other streamers: 

• Davion Mitchell - PG - Sacramento Kings (18% rostered) 
• Monte Morris - PG/SG - Denver Nuggets (41% rostered) 
• Kylian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (14% rostered)
• Joe Ingles - SG/SF/PF - Utah Jazz (37% rostered)

Rebounds - Streaming Options

PJ Tucker - PF/C - Miami Heat (18% rostered)

Bam Adebayo underwent surgery and is scheduled to be out until around late January, which leaves a huge hole in the Miami frontcourt and defense. Tucker has seen his minutes spike in the last 3 games and has responded positively, including a huge game at Cleveland where he put up 23 points, 9 rebounds, and knocked down 5 3-pointers. Tucker is a savvy veteran who was brought in to fill whatever role is needed of him, and his opportunities should continue to roll in.

Other streamers: 

• Marcus Morris Sr. - SF/PF - LA Clippers (28% rostered)
• Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (9% rostered) 
• Guillermo Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (25% rostered)
• Chimezie Metu - PF - Sacramento Kings (10% rostered)

Blocks - Streaming Options

Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (41% rostered)

After Julius Randle, Noel has the most secure frontcourt role for the Knicks. Noel has always been known as a defensive-minded player, and this year is no different; Noel currently averages 1+ Block and Steal per game. Noel has recently replaced Mitchell Robinson in the Knicks' starting lineup, and a thin statistic Noel could be a good wave to ride for the time being.

Other streamers: 

• Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (9% rostered)
• Isaiah Hartenstein - PF/C - LA Clippers (19% rostered)

Steals - Streaming Options

De'Anthony Melton - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (47% rostered)

We touched on the Grizzlies already, so I'll keep this short; Melton fits our criteria of sub-50% rostered and has multiple steals in 5 of his last 6 games. That is not a typo. If you need help on your steals category, and Melton is available, he is unquestionably the best possible option here.

Other streamers: 

• Dorian Finney-Smith - SF/PF - Dallas Mavericks (37% rostered) 
• Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (17% rostered)
• Danny Green - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (27% rostered)
• Herbert Jones - SF - New Orleans Pelicans (11% rostered)

Threes - Streaming Options

Cameron Johnson - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (30% rostered)

Running it back with Cam Johnson this week, because he has continued lighting it up from deep. Johnson has extended his 10+ points streak to seven, and his 2+ made 3s to ten games. Johnson has officially become an analytics darling because he has finally hit the magical 3 point shooting percentage of over 40%. Grab him while (if) you can!

Other streamers: 

• Garrison Mathews - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (42% rostered)
• Danny Green - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (28% rostered)
• Luke Kennard - SG - Los Angeles Clippers (37% rostered)

Field Goal Percentage - Streaming Options

Guillermo Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (19% rostered)

The Hernangomez brother formerly known as Willy has been extremely efficient in the 9 games he's played this year, with his season FG% sitting at a very impressive 69.6% overall. In the 5 full workload games he's played since returning from an injury; Hernangomez hasn't taken less than six shots or shot below 50% in a single contest. The Pelicans have shown signs of life recently, and Hernangomez has absolutely been a contributing factor in that. If you have the space/need there is a legitimate possibility Hernangomez becomes a consistent fantasy asset.

You might want to get used to seeing Hernangomez in this section because at the rate he's playing against the rate he's being added to rosters, he's going to be the best sub-50% rostered option for quite some time. The Spaniard is shooting a blistering 62.7% from the field so far this year and is coming off back-to-back double-double games. I'm not sure you should necessarily expect double-doubles regularly, but Hernangomez has been a beast on the offensive boards and that's the simplest formula for a high FG%.

Week 3: I've decided I'm just going to continue adding to the previous week's Hernangomez write-up for as long as I consider him the top option for this stat. Hernangomez has a clear bench role, allotting him around 20 minutes per game, and he continues to shoot efficiently inside. It's nothing sexy, but the numbers are there.

Other streamers: 

• Thad Young - PF/C - San Antonio Spurs (15% rostered)
• Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF - Detorit Pistons (5% rostered)
• Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (9% rostered)
• Nicolas Claxton - C - Brooklyn Nets (8% rostered)

Free Throw Percentage - Streaming Options

Lonnie Walker IV - SG/SF - Chicago Bulls (10% rostered)

Walker is shooting a career-best 86.4% from the free-throw line on a career-best 1.7 free-throw attempts per game. Walker is not much of a shooter, and offensively he prefers attacking the rim. Walker has attempted, and made, 11 free throws in his last three games, which makes Walker one of the least-thin recommendations I've given for this traditionally weak pool of players.

Other streamers:

• Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (37% rostered)
• Danillo Gallinari - SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (18% rostered)
• Shake Milton - PG/SG - Philadelphia 76ers (13% rostered)
• Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF - Detorit Pistons (5% rostered)

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