October 26, 2016

Trevor Crippen picks fantasy basketball waiver wire streamers and adds for rebounds, steals, and blocks in Week 1 of the NBA season. These players can be sleepers.

It's never too early to start streaming.  Whether you have an opening due to an injury, you auction-drafted a crew of stars and scrubs, or you just didn't bother putting any effort into your last couple draft picks, you probably have a player or two on your team who isn't must-own.  You're better off using that roster spot to stream players to eke out wins in close categories in your weekly head-to-head matchups.

This year, RotoBaller will be making weekly recommendations for extreme short term category specialists every week in all six counting stat categories (points, assists, threes, rebounds, steals, and blocks).  Your week one defensive category streamers for rebounds, steals, and blocks are below. All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

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Rebounds Streamers

Trevor Booker, PF/C, BKN, Fri @ MIL, Sun vs. CHI (owned in 10% of Yahoo leagues)

Trevor Booker has a big opportunity as starting power forward for the Nets.  While his ability to contribute on offense remains a huge question, Booker's defensive intensity and energy in attacking the glass have never been called into question.  The combination of that intensity and the opportunity for minutes will guarantee solid rebounding numbers for Booker in two games this weekend.

He's averaged about 9 rebounds per 36 minutes in his career, so if you pencil him in for just under 30 minutes a game, he's going to be good for about 14 rebounds this weekend.  Better yet, you get to have him on your roster already in the case that his offensive game looks better than expected.  He's both a streamer and a sleeper -- short term production with the chance at hitting a lottery ticket.

Other options: Roy Hibbert, C, CHA (23% owned); Matt Barnes, SG/SF, SAC (15% owned); Cole Aldrich, C, MIN (2% owned)

Steals Streamers

Kyle Anderson, SG/SF, SAS, Sat vs. NOP, Sun @ MIA (owned in 19% of Yahoo leagues)

With Danny Green out for the Spurs, Kyle Anderson will get a chance to show off his potential across the board production in all nine categories.  He didn't get off to an especially hot start to the season with only 3 pts, 4 reb, 1 stl, and 1 3PM in 22 minutes in the Spurs season opening win against the Warriors.  However, he'll make an especially nice target for an influx steals the coming weekend.

SloMo's juicy career average of 1.7 steals per game will meet up with two opposing back courts that will have their fair share of turnovers.  A crew of opposing guards featuring Tim Frazier, E'Twaun Moore, Buddy Hield, Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Johnson will be prone to some occasional sloppiness of which Anderson should take advantage.

Other options: Garrett Temple, PG/SG, SAC (1% owned); T.J. McConnell, PG, PHI (6% owned); Andre Roberson, SG/SF, OKC (2% owned)

Blocks Streamers

Roy Hibbert, C, CHA, Fri @ MIA, Sat v. BOS (owned in 23% of Yahoo leagues)

Hibbert's game is not fantasy friendly in general.  He didn't show anything extra this preseason, with 6.8 points per game on a .417 FG%, that's for sure.  He's never going to turn into a long term fantasy option again.  However, he can have his moments in the short term.

With fellow center Cody Zeller somewhat hobbled with a bone bruise, Hibbert is locked into matchup-proof minutes in the short term (long term, I think he could be phased out in some game plans).  He'll be needed against a couple of high-level centers this weekend when the Bobcats face Hassan Whiteside and Al Horford.  If Hibbert's on the floor, he's going to get blocks at least, and he'll be on the floor this weekend.  He's a safe play to add a couple of blocks to your line in week one.

Other options: John Henson, PF/C, MIL (5% owned); Jerami Grant, SF/PF, PHI (6% owned); Willie Reed, PF/C, MIA (4% owned)