November 2, 2018

Milos Zvekic analyzes Week 3 streaming opportunities for head-to-head fantasy basketball leagues. He reviews the upcoming NBA schedule and players to add.

Each and every one of us knows the feeling of disappointment when the guy we were hoping would be the surprise of the season turns his back on us. When our last round flier shows why he wasn't picked up earlier, and probably shouldn't have been picked at all.

If you're in a competitive league and the guy you're just barely holding onto doesn't show much promise to drastically improve over the course of the season, don't get too attached. Streaming is a decent fantasy strategy, it can be utilized differently for each individual matchup and can mean the difference between making the playoffs or scratching our heads come March having barely missed them.

If you're looking to stream and give yourself a better chance of winning your matchup next week, here are our Fantasy Basketball Streamers for Week 3.

NBA Schedule Guide - Week 3

It's pretty evened out this week with no days having less than six games. However, two teams play 5 games each next week, so, we will be looking mostly at players from those two teams as they are likely to help you out the most.

Here's the low-down:

Teams with 5 games:
Philadelphia 76ers
Portland Trail Blazers

Teams with 4 games:
Atlanta Hawks
Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers
Los Angeles Lakers
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Toronto Raptors

Teams with 3 games:
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Dallas Mavericks
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Los Angeles Clippers
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Orlando Magic
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

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

Back-to-Backs (beware of older banged up players who might rest):
Atlanta: Mon*/Tue*
Chicago: Fri/Sat
Denver: Wed*/Thurs*
Detroit: Tue*/Wed*
Houston: Fri*/Sat*
Indiana: Fri*/Sat
LA Clippers: Thurs*/Fri*
LA Lakers: Sat*/Sun
Miami: Mon/Tue*
New Orleans: Wed*/Thurs*
Oklahoma City: Thurs*/Fri*
Philadelphia: Mon/Tue* & Sat/Sun*
Portland: Mon*/Tue* & Sat/Sun
Sacramento: Mon*/Tue*
San Antonio: Sat/Sun
Toronto: Mon*/Tue
Utah: Fri/Sat*
* = away game

There are no days with fewer than 6 games

Teams playing three games over the weekend (Thursday to Sunday):
Philadelphia
Portland

Baller Streaming Strategy for Week 3

With a week that has no specific days with a shortage of games, the biggest advantage can come from the sheer volume of games. As mentioned before, players from the 76ers and the Trail Blazers will have 5 games during next week so we will primarily focus on them, but also take a look at some viable streaming options from teams with 4 games.

Streaming Options for the Week

Shallower League Streaming Adds for the Week:

Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, PHI (61% Owned) - Strong Cats: AST, STL
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF/PF, POR, (32% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL/BLK
Dewayne Dedmon, PF/C, ATL (59% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REG, BLK
Joe Harris, SG/SF, BKN, (50% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, PTS
Allen Crabbe, SG/SF, BKN, (53% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, PTS
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG, BKN, (55% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, AST
Bojan Bogdanovic, SG/SF, IND, (54% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Taj Gibson, PF/C, MIN, (51% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%, BLK
Derrick Rose, PG, MIN, (53% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, AST
Cameron Payne, PG/SG, CHI, (25% Owned) - Strong Cats: AST, STL, FT%
E'Twaun Moore, SG/SF, NOP, (35% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Trey Burke, PG, NYK, (26% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, AST, 3PM
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, SAC, (50% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, a bit of everything
Pascal Siakam, PF, TOR, (30% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG% REB, a bit of everything

Player Recommendations

Shallower League Add

Zach Collins, PF/C, POR, (30% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, BLK

Zach Collins has been rewarding his owners heavily. If he was your last round flier or your waiver wire pick up, well done! He is averaging 10.8 PTS with 1.0 3PM on 69.2 FG% and 86.7 FT%, 5.2 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.6 STL, 2.2 BLK and 1.2 TO in just 20 minutes per game. That great production in limited minutes has him in the top-50 in Yahoo 9-cat rankings.

And while his owners shouldn't expect 2 blocks a game and those percentages to stick going forward, the absence of Maurice Harkless could give some extra minutes to Zach. Even though Moe and Zach don't play the same position, Portland could utilize Aminu as a SF and slide Collins in the PF role. In the last game, where Harkless reinjured his aching knee and played only 10 minutes, Collins got 24 and filled it up with 13 points on 2-of-4 from the field, including a three-pointer, and 8-of-8 from the line with four boards and two blocks.

Increased opportunity during Moe's absence could help Zach keep rolling, and in this 5-game week, could prove key in his owners winning their matchups.

Deep League Add

Justin Holiday, SG/SF, CHI, (27% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL

I'm not a huge fan of Holiday, but with so many injuries in Chicago, they have to turn to him for some offensive help. Justin is averaging 11.5 points with 2.3 threes on 42.1 FG% and 87.5 FT%, with 4.0 boards, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.3 blocks and 0.3 turnovers in over 24 minutes through 5 games so far. That's not half bad and has him ranked at #59.

Now those steals are hardly sustainable, and the lack of turnovers is very commendable but not likely to continue. Nevertheless, Holiday is an in-form sharp-shooter with decent multi-cat production playing 34 minutes per game and has four games next week. What else could you ask for from a guy available in two out of three leagues?

Insanely Deep League Add

Evan Turner, SG/SF, POR, (6% Owned) - Strong Cats: STL, FT%, AST

Another possible beneficiary from the injury to Moe Harkless, Evan Turner is reminding us this season of the player he was back in Boston. His averages of 9.4 points on 51.2% from the field and 83.3% from the charity stripe, 3.6 boards, 4.8 dimes, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks and 2.2 turnovers in almost 24 minutes a game are enough for a top-150 spot at the moment.

He contributes across the board, is probable to get an extended run with Harkless out, seems to have regained his confidence and for, and has five games next week. He is a great streaming candidate for next week.

Other Deep League Options for the Week

Mike Muscala, PF/C, PHI (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, FT%, STL/BLK
Nik Stauskas, SG/SF, POR, (15% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, FT%
Seth Curry, PG/SG, POR, (3% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, FT%, PTS
Deandre Bembry, SF, ATL, (6% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, 3PM, STL/BLK
Vince Carter, SG/SF, ATL, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL/BLK
Omari Spellman, PF, ATL, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, REB, rookie factor
Jared Dudley, SF/PF, BKN, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, STL, AST
Ed Davis, PF/C, BKN, (8% Owned) - Strong Cats: FG%, REB, STL/BLK
Ryan Arcidiacono, PG, CHI, (2% Owned) - Strong Cats: AST, 3PM
Cristiano Felicio, C, CHI, (1% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, FG%
Monte Morris, PG, DEN, (17% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, STL, AST
Trey Lyles, PF, DEN, (9% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Cory Joseph, PG/SG, IND, (5% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, AST, STL
Lance Stephenson, SG/SF, LAL, (18% Owned) - Strong Cats: PTS, REB, STL
Josh Okogie, SG, MIN, (2% Owned) - Strong Cats: REB, STL
Damyean Dotson, SG, NYK, (22% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, REB, STL
Bryn Forbes, PG, SAS, (21% Owned) - Strong Cats: 3PM, PTS, STL

Hope you guys enjoyed the article and the advice, and I hope that this will help you win your matchups next week and bragging rights for the week after.

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