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).
Below are my Week 19 offensive category streamers for fantasy basketball - points, threes, and assists are below. All position eligibility and ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.
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Three Points Made Streamer
Nik Stauskas, SG/SF, PHI, Opponents: Friday @ MIA, Saturday vs. NYK (7% Owned);
Anytime Stauskas gets hot, we should ride the wave. He’s averaging 12.1 points and 2.1 treys on 46.2 percent from the field and 80.8 percent from the line in his last eight games. He’s also recorded a three in each one of those games. Additionally, he’s seeing 26.7 minutes and continues to provide spacing for Brett Brown and company. With a back-to-back set starting Friday, picking up Stauskas will allow flexibility to add another player on the last day of your matchup.
Other options in Week 19 include Ben McLemore, who’s been great since the unloading of Boogie to New Orleans. The only downfall is he has only one game, but it lines up great because it lands on the Sunday. He’s a hold in deeper leagues. C.J. Miles has been waiver wire fodder all season with due to his three-point shooting. Wayne Ellington and Joe Harris remain my deep league picks if you’re in need of three pointers. Josh Richardson is back, but it looks like Miami will take it slow with him at least for the rest of the week.
Other options: Ben McLemore, SG, SAC (10% Owned); C.J. Miles, SG/SF, IND (23% Owned); Wayne Ellington, SG/SF, PHI (6% Owned); Joe Harris, SG, BKN (1% Owned);
Points Streamer
Alan Williams, PF, PHX, Opponents: Thursday vs. CHA, Friday vs. OKC, Sunday vs. BOS (14% Owned);
Tyson Chandler has been a frequent DNP-CD since teams passed on the trade deadline. Phoenix is focused on developing their young core with Williams seeing a noticeable bump in minutes in the last three games. He’s been outplaying Alex Len over those two games and Earl Watson has been rewarding him. If you need points with an opportunity to raise your field-goal percentage, Williams seems like a pretty good bet. Add in that he has three games in the late week, which will boost volume, and he makes for an easy streaming option this week.
Richaun Holmes has been great since Nerlens Noel was traded to Dallas and Joel Embiid (knee) has missed time. Jahlil Okafor has been serviceable when he’s avoided foul trouble, but Holmes is the primary backup, which should be enough to provide value in the points category for Week 19. He’s a hold candidate past this week since Embiid is a shut-down candidate. Bobby Portis has a great opportunity in front of him with Taj Gibson gone, but he holds more risk as a streaming option. Shabazz has scored in double-figures in four of the last six games and can be snagged for this week if you need the offense. Gerald Henderson remains a solid deep-league points option as long as he’s healthy and starting, but beware that he has an equal chance of dropping 20 or recording a dud.
Other options: Richaun Holmes, PF/C, PHI, (15% Owned); Bobby Portis, PF/C, CHI (17% Owned); Shabazz Muhammad, SG/SF, MIN (7% Owned); Gerald Henderson, SG/SF, PHI (4% Owned);
Assists Streamer
Matthew Dellavedova, PG/SG, MIL, Opponents: Thursday vs. LAC, Friday vs. TOR (20% Owned);
Dellavedova has been mostly disappointing in February with averages of 4.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 threes on 32.3 percent from the field in 26.2 minutes. While virtually every stat category contribution has been minimal, he’s still dishing out at an above average rate. Over his last five games, he’s putting up 5.0 assists, which is fine for a streaming option with a back-to-back starting on Thursday. That leaves us with flexibility to happily drop the Aussie and add another option over the weekend.
Ish Smith is a great option with Reggie Jackson seeing a flux in playing time over the last few games. Of course, his upside is capped with Reggie still in the mix, but with a game on Saturday, he makes a good add and possible hold if you add Delly for the late week. Dave Joerger has been mixing lineups with Ty Lawson recently entering the starting unit. Anytime he can get additional playing time, he’s able to provide value for his ability to dish the rock. Spencer Dinwiddie is a decent deep league option in Week 19 as the Nets are being cautious in acclimating Jeremy Lin to the lineup.
Other options: Ish Smith, PG, DET (20% Owned); Ty Lawson, PG, SAC (11% Owned); Spencer Dinwiddie, PG, BKN (3% Owned);
By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.