I'm still pissed off about my Bulls losing to the Orlando Magic, but at least in fantasy Magic, I'm holding it down. I guess we all have to be good at something, right?
Let's see how our top picks last week fared: Nicolas Claxton (FG%, N/A INJ), Danilo Gallinari (FT%, 10th-round value), Coby White (PTS & 3PTM, 11th-round value), Kevon Looney (REBS, fifth-round value), Patrick Beverley (ASTS, unranked/INJ), Jae Crowder (STLS, 10th-round value), De'Andre Hunter (BLKS, eighth-round value). Hey, hey, now we're cooking! That's five out of seven guys that were suggested that hit standard league ranking! A nice bounceback after a down week, though it looks like the injury bug crept in to prevent a sweep. Oh well.
13 teams have four games this week. 14 teams have three games. There are just three teams that have two games this week: the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Washington Wizards. We'll be avoiding players on those teams for this week.
Featured Promo: Get any full-season NBA Premium Pass for 50% off. Win big with our exclusive DFS lineup tools, matchup rating projections, powerful Research Station, Lineup Optimizer, daily DFS lineup picks/cheat sheets and more! Sign Up Now!Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out. Now, let's get prepared for the upcoming week and go win your leagues. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
Week 15 Standard 9-Category Leagues
Columns are written based on H2H nine-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
Bismack Biyombo - C - Phoenix Suns (19% rostered)
I can't believe I'm even writing this, but yes you should probably roster Bismack Biyombo, at least for tonight's game against the Utah Jazz. Deandre Ayton is still out with a bad ankle. As long as Rudy Gobert can play, JaVale McGee could get into foul trouble again, which would mean more run for Biyombo. Biyombo has shown out for the Suns, averaging 10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks through eight games for the Suns. He's also shooting 70% from the field.
Other streamers:
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (42% rostered)
- Moritz Wagner - PF/C - Orlando Magic (2% rostered)
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (11% rostered)
- Day'Ron Sharpe - PF - Brooklyn Nets (6% rostered)
- Caleb Martin - SG/SF - Miami Heat (13% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Danilo Gallinari - SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (14% rostered)
This is his second week at the top of this streaming category. He's averaging a little over three attempts per game over the last 10 games and hitting his free throws over 90% of the time. He doesn't provide much outside of points, threes, and free throw percentage, but with Bogdan Bogdanovic out, he's getting enough looks to warrant a roster spot. He was a 10th-round value over the last week, so don't go crazy but if you have dead weight and need to win free throw percentage, he's a nice grab.
Other streamers:
- Alec Burks - PG/SG/SF - New York Knicks (44% rostered)
- Cameron Johnson - SF/PF - Phoenix Suns (45% rostered)
- Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (5% rostered)
- Amir Coffey - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (35% rostered)
- Cory Joseph - PG - Detroit Pistons (10% rostered)
POINTS
Rodney McGruder - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (3% rostered)
Is it really Rodney McGruder szn? Whether it's a trade bait showcase or something else, McGruder is averaging 25 minutes per game over their past four games and putting up 13.8 points per game. He doesn't provide anything outside of threes and points, but if you're looking for those two things and your waiver wire is thin, he's an intriguing add. Just understand that the wheels can fall off at any moment.
Other streamers:
- Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (45% rostered)
- Marvin Bagley III - PF/C - Sacramento Kings (40% rostered)
- Amir Coffey - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (35% rostered)
- Nicolas Batum - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (29% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Justin Holiday - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (45% rostered)
The Indiana Pacers are a mess, and there's no telling when Malcolm Brogdon or Myles Turner will be back. Domantas Sabonis is also out for the time being, which means there are plenty of shots to go around. Most of those shots are going to go to Justin Holiday, and most of those shots will be from the three-point range. Stream him now and for the next few weeks probably if your team needs three-pointers. He's averaging 3.6 of them per game over the last two weeks.
Other streamers:
- Rodney McGruder - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (3% rostered)
- Malik Beasley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (33% rostered)
- Patty Mills - PG/SG - Brooklyn Nets (45% rostered)
- Ben McLemore - SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers (3% rostered)
- Max Strus - SG/SF - Miami Heat (22% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (32% rostered)
It's his second week in a row at the top of this category, and it's no wonder he jumped 13% in ownership over last week. He's been on a tear, averaging a shade over 11 boards over their last six games. He shoots a high percentage as well, but don't expect much scoring or a ton of blocks. He is what he is. How old is Kevon Looney, by the way? Any guesses? Yes, he's just 25 years old. Kind of strange to think about.
Other streamers:
- Marvin Bagley III - PF/C - Sacramento Kings (40% rostered)
- Bismack Biyombo - C - Phoenix Suns (19% rostered)
- Day'Ron Sharpe - PF - Brooklyn Nets (6% rostered)
- Mason Plumlee - PF/C - Charlotte Hornets (36% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (29% rostered)
ASSISTS
Cory Joseph - PG - Detroit Pistons (10% rostered)
It might be a trade bait showcase, but Cory Joseph has been getting nice minutes for the Pistons for a few weeks now. The absence of Killian Hayes with a hip injury surely helped him, but even last night with Killian back in the lineup, CoJo played over 28 minutes. Saben Lee may supplant him eventually, but for now, enjoy his five or six assists per game with some nice scoring and three-point production.
Other streamers:
- Eric Bledsoe - PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers (29% rostered)
- Ayo Dosunmu- PG - Chicago Bulls (47% rostered)
- Kevin Huerter - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (35% rostered)
- Immanuel Quickley - PG/SG - New York Knicks (12% rostered)
- Amir Coffey - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (35% rostered)
STEALS
Chuma Okeke - PF - Orlando Magic (27% rostered)
I had dropped Chuma Okeke from my list of streamers because it seemed like he'd be getting fewer minutes with Mo Bamba and Wendell Carter Jr. both getting healthy. Yet, he's managed over 30 minutes in their last two games and looks like a much better fit beside WCJ on the court over Bamba. Bamba seems almost like the odd man out here, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him moved at the deadline. That would open up a firm spot for Okeke the rest of the way and make him an excellent source of steals and threes.
Other streamers:
- Otto Porter Jr. - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors (31% rostered)
- Caleb Martin - SG/SF - Miami Heat (13% rostered)
- Kessler Edwards - SF - Brooklyn Nets (7% rostered)
- Gabe Vincent - PG - Miami Heat (13% rostered)
- Killian Hayes- PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (7% rostered)
BLOCKS
Nerlens Noel - PF/C - New York Knicks (34% rostered)
Here's your scoop of the week as it seems Nerlens Noel is finally back. He hangs his hat on defensive stats and didn't disappoint in his first game back with four "stocks" (steals and blocks) in that one. He should be available in your league, and with Mitchell Robinson tweaking his ankle in their last game, he may even be in line for some more minutes in the short term. He's not going to blow you out of the water, but he will produce in steals, blocks, points, and boards in limited minutes.
Other streamers:
- Brandon Clarke - SF/PF - Memphis Grizzlies (42% rostered)
- Onyeka Okongwu - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (29% rostered)
- Jaden McDaniels - PF - Minnesota Timberwolves (31% rostered)
- Naz Reid - C - Minnesota Timberwolves (7% rostered)
- Goga Bitadze - C - Indiana Pacers (30% rostered)