NBA Waiver Wire Streamers for Fantasy Basketball Week 16 (Jan 31 - Feb 6)

Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 16 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues for the 2021-22 season. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.

We're nearly at the finish line, and most of us are scrambling to try and get the best possible position for the playoffs (or just to make them at all).

This means there's little to no room for error. The same applies to our players, especially those end-of-the-bench guys who you can afford to drop in favor for someone hot from the waiver wire who will get you more of what you need for next week.

As always, I have taken a look ahead at the NBA schedule for next week, and here are the fantasy basketball streamers for Week 16.

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 16

All seven days have between six and nine games played. And even though statistically Thursday and Saturday with six games played apiece are the scarcest, it seems to me that the difference between a six-game night and a seven, eight, or nine-game night isn't that big. So today, I will take a different approach and focus on players from teams that play 4 games next week and are in good form.

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Denver Nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
Toronto Raptors

Teams with 3 games:
Charlotte Hornets
Dallas Mavericks
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Knicks
Phoenix Suns
San Antonio Spurs
Washington Wizards

Teams with 2 games:
Utah Jazz

Number of teams playing each day:
Monday: 16
Tuesday: 14
Wednesday: 18
Thursday: 12
Friday: 18
Saturday: 12
Sunday: 16

Back-to-Backs (beware of older or banged-up players who might rest):
Monday/Tuesday: GSW, MIA, NOP, TOR
Tuesday/Wednesday: BKN, DEN, ORL, WAS
Wednesday/Thursday: LAL, SAC
Thursday/Friday: ATL, CHI, DET, SAS, TOR
Friday/Saturday: CHA, OKC, POR
Saturday/Sunday: MIL, ORL
Sunday/Monday the following: CHI

Teams with a GOOD START to the week (three games from Monday to Thursday)
Toronto Raptors (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
Miami Heat (4 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat)
Sacramento Kings (4 games - Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs)

Teams with a GOOD END to the week (three games from Thursday to Sunday)
Atlanta Hawks (4 games - Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Chicago Bulls (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)
Detroit Pistons (4 games - Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun)

Teams with a POOR START to the week (one or no games from Monday to Thursday)
Utah Jazz (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Charlotte Hornets (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sat)
Dallas Mavericks (3 games - Wed, Fri, Sun)
Milwaukee Bucks (3 games - Tues, Sat, Sun)

Teams with a POOR END to the week (one or no games from Thursday to Sunday)
Utah Jazz (2 games - Wed, Fri)
Golden State Warriors (3 games - Mon, Tues, Thurs)
Memphis Grizzlies (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
New York Knicks (3 games - Mon, Wed, Sat)
Washington Wizards (3 games - Tues, Wed, Sat)

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 16

All days have between six and nine games next week, and the target days for streaming will be different for many teams. Therefore, I have decided not to focus so much on the schedule itself, but rather to pick out top players for shallow and for deeper leagues that play four games this week.

In case that you're looking to maximize games played - which makes sense for streaming, of course, I would like to mention a few other strategies that may prove helpful (although I won't cover players from the teams I mention below as there are too many variables and combinations). If you read my post from a few weeks ago, you will be familiar with these strategies:

1. "Retain flexibility" - Toronto, Miami , Sacramento (all with four games next week) and Golden State (3 games) all have three games from Mon to Thurs. Picking a player from these teams will get you three games before Friday, and leave you with the rest of your weekly moves on Friday to focus on the categories that are close. Additionally, we're getting close to the trade deadline (on the 10th of February). Keeping your adds for later might even come in handy in case of some trades happening and opening up more minutes for a player you like that is still on your waiver wire.
2. "Follow the back-to-backs" - Golden State, Miami, New Orleans and Toronto all play on Mon and Tues, the Lakers and the Kings play on Wednesday and Thursday, and Charlotte, Portland and Oklahoma City have back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. This will give you six games in six days with three adds and just one streaming spot. If you have an extra add, it will allow you to complete a seven-game week from your one streaming spot on Sunday by adding a guy who targets the categories you need to win your matchup.
3. "In-form players and injury/Covid beneficiaries" - This strategy is what we will focus on below.

   Unfortunately, I am unable to go into my usual amount of detail, hope you guys don't mind too much. I'm hoping to be back to my usual ways next week.

Streaming Options for Week 16

Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week (Rostered in 25-75% of Yahoo leagues):

Will Barton, SF/PF, GSW, (75% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, AST, a bit of everything
Luguentz Dort, SG/SF, OKC, (68% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, FT%
Patty Mills, PG/SG, BKN, (55% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Kevin Love, PF/C, CLE, (73% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, FT%
Chuma Okeke, PF, ORL, (41% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, PTS, STL/BLK
Herbert Jones, SF/PF, NOP, (60% Rostered) - Strong Cats: STL/BLK, REB, a bit of everything
Trey Lyles, PF/C, DET, (27% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, a bit of everything
Monte Morris,PG/SG, DEN, (51% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT%, a bit of everything
Ayo Dosunmu, PG, CHI, (52% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL, a bit of everything

Shallower League Add

Ayo Dosunmu, PG, CHI, (52% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL, a bit of everything

Ayo is the starter in Chicago and seeing over 35 minutes over the last 7 days. He is averaging 12.0 points with 1.3 threes on 50% from the field, 87.5% from the line, 4.8 boards, 6.5 dimes 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.5 turnovers which has him at #61.

He shows no signs of stopping and if you need a young, exciting and talentend playmaker for your team, both in short and long term, Dosunmu shows no signs of stopping.

Deeper League Add

Trey Lyles, PF/C, DET, (27% Rostered)

Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, a bit of everything

Trey is on fire lately, hitting 44.0% of his field goals and 86.0% of his FTs (on 6.7 attempts per game). In addition to this he is getting 4.7 REB, 1.3 AST, 1.7 STL and 1.3 BLK with just 1.3 TO. And all this in just 22 minutes a game over the last 7 days. He is ranked at #57 for this period and with him available in 3/4 of Yahoo leagues, he is someone worth considering for sure.

Insanely Deep League Add

Isaiah Jackson, PF, IND, (7% Rostered)

Strong Cats: - REB, STL/BLK

Hi upside play here with the rookie here, but Isaiah is thriving with Myles Turner out and enjoying the increased role, returning top 85 value over the past week in just 18 minutes per outing. He is shooting well, getting points with a three here and there while providing a decent amount of his value through blocks (2.0) and boards (4.7). Not too bad for a guy who is sitting on most waiver wires.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Rostered in less than 25% of Yahoo leagues

P.J. Tucker, PF/C, MIA, (21% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Austin Rivers, PG/SG, DEN, (6% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, 3PM, STL
Dean Wade, PF/C, CLE, (2% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, SF/PF/C, OKC, (4% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, a bit of STL/BLK
Isaiah Jackson, PF, IND, (7% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK - positive circumstance: Indiana centers are mentioned in trade talks so he could get a bigger role after the deadline
Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, ATL, (25% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, STL/BLK
Darius Bazley, SF/PF, OKC, (15% Rostered) - Strong Cats: REB, STL/BLK
KJ Martin, SF, HOU, (8% Rostered) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB
Davion Mitchell, PG/SG, SAC, (22% Rostered) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, FT% - positive circumstance: Sacramento guards are mentioned in trade talks so he could get a bigger role after the deadline

Good luck with your next week's matchup! I hope this helps and let me know what you think of this new format.

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