Another NBA season is underway! The highs, the lows, the drama! It's all part of the game, and NBA fans everywhere are all full of smiles. As for fantasy players, it's time to dig in to our team standings and see where we stand in each of the nine categories that matter to us most. Who might be out there on your waiver wire to snag to win you that borderline category week-to-week? Category streamers are coming in hot!
Over half the teams have four games this week, while the Phoenix Suns only have two games this week. Fade all Suns players for this week, but we should be able to find some value in the 29 other teams, don't you think?
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. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
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Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
LaMarcus Aldridge - PF/C - Brooklyn Nets (38% rostered)
After his first game back with the Nets, people really wanted to call this guy "cooked." Yet, he's come out in the few games since and played more minutes than Nicolas Claxton, and he's shot it at a decent clip. He's picking right back up where he left off as a mid-range assassin from the post. He shot 10-for-12 in game two and 4-for-7 in game three. The Nets have four games this week, and LaMarcus Aldridge can help you out in blocks, points, and rebounds as an end of the bench player.
Other streamers:
- Nemanja Bjelica - PF - Golden State Warriors (36% rostered)
- Gorgui Dieng - PF/C - Atlanta Hawks (3% rostered)
- Doug McDermott - SF/PF - San Antonio Spurs (10% rostered)
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE
Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (11% rostered)
While the Ben Simmons drama continues, other Sixers get a moderate boost. Tyrese Maxey is the obvious boost, but Furkan Korkmaz is a guy who might have been overlooked that can give you a leg up in threes and FT% without hurting you anywhere else. He's a perfect 9-for-9 from the line on the season and a career 76.2% shooter from the stripe.
Other streamers:
- Damion Lee - SG/SF - Golden State Warriors (4% rostered)
- Kevin Love - PF/C - Cavaliers (19% rostered)
- Davis Bertans - PF/C - Washington Wizards (10% rostered)
- Javonte Green - PG - Chicago Bulls (0% rostered)
POINTS
Desmond Bane - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (45% rostered)
Desmond Bane has been getting extra minutes as Dillon Brooks recovers from a broken hand. Memphis is particularly bad with injury updates, but Brooks could be back any day and be a buzzkill for Bane owners. However, he's worth a scoop until we get an update and in the first three games he has gotten up 16, 15, and 15 shot attempts through the first 3 games. He's scoring at a decent clip on those attempts as well with 22, 19, and 17 points. As long as he's this hot, he's worth an add.
Other streamers:
- Cam Reddish - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (32% rostered)
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (20% rostered)
- Furkan Korkmaz - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (11% rostered)
THREE-POINTERS
Patty Mills - PG - Brooklyn Nets (43% rostered)
Patty Mills just went off for seven three-pointers in the last Nets game, and he's capable of doing that on any given night. The Australian guard is a 39% career shooter from beyond the arc and he's a fantastic fit on this Nets squad as James Harden and Kevin Durant draw so much attention. The Nets have a four-game week, with Washington and Detroit circled as games where Patty Mills could shine. As long as Kyrie Irving is out, Patty Mills should get close to 30 minutes nightly, which is more than enough for him to give you points and threes without hurting you anywhere.
Other streamers:
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (20% rostered)
- Doug McDermott - SF/PF - San Antonio Spurs (10% rostered)
- Desmond Bane - PG/SG - Memphis Grizzlies (45% rostered)
- Cam Reddish - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (32% rostered)
REBOUNDS
Precious Achiuwa - SF/PF - Toronto Raptors (41% rostered)
Precious Achiuwa got off to a bit of a slow start this season with the Raptors, managing just 18 minutes in their first game of the season. It was unclear how the frontcourt rotation would shake out, but Precious has gotten 25 and 33 minutes in their last two games, and he's grabbed 11.3 rebounds per contest. He has nice upside, but it will be interesting to see how he fits in again after Pascal Siakam comes back into the lineup. He doesn't get many blocks, but he is good for points, rebounds, and FG%. His free throw percentage isn't great, but he has such a low volume there that it shouldn't hurt you.
Other streamers:
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (21% rostered)
- Nemanja Bjelica - PF - Golden State Warriors (36% rostered)
- Dorian Finney-Smith - SF/PF - Dallas Mavericks (17% rostered)
- Terance Mann - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (33% rostered)
ASSISTS
Derrick Rose - PG/SG - New York Knicks (50% rostered)
The youngest MVP ever is still at it, albeit not in as large a role as his MVP days. He's playing on a team that is going to give 110% per game with Tom Thibodeau at the helm. As long as he is healthy, he should be locked into a 22-25 minute bench role, with added duties should Kemba Walker get injured or take the night off. He's capable of putting up gaudy scoring numbers any given night as well. He dished out six assists per game just a season ago and there's no reason at all to believe he can't do it again.
Other streamers:
- Patrick Beverley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (1% rostered)
- Tyus Jones - PG - Memphis Grizzlies (2% rostered)
- Jalen Brunson - PG/SG - Dallas Mavericks (12% rostered)
STEALS
Raul Neto - PG - Washington Wizards (3% rostered)
It remains to be seen if Raul Neto is going to stick in the rotation. He's been the beneficiary of Bradley Beal missing time, but even with Beal in the lineup in the first game he managed 23 minutes. He seems to be the first guard off the bench for the Wiz and he averaged 1.1 steals per game last season. His stint in Washington has been successful, so he could stick as a role player and is worth a stream on a 4-game week for teams looking for some help in steals.
Other streamers:
- Alex Caruso - PG/SG - Chicago Bulls (28% rostered)
- Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (38% rostered)
- Jarred Vanderbilt - PF/C - Minnesota Timberwolves (1% rostered)
- Royce O'Neale - SF/PF - Utah Jazz (21% rostered)
BLOCKS
Naz Reid - C - Minnesota Timberwolves (13% rostered)
A lot of people continue to sleep on Naz Reid simply because he isn't the starter and doesn't get a lot of minutes. Still, in the 20ish minute role he has with the team, he puts up serviceable numbers and helps you a lot in blocks. If he can find his way into a role on any team that is 25 or more minutes, he could be a nice fantasy asset. It would likely take an injury or a trade, but he's worth rostering now for teams that need blocks and can be viewed as a bit of a stash. He's only 22 years old.
Other streamers:
- LaMarcus Aldridge - PF/C - Brooklyn Nets (38% rostered)
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (21% rostered)
- Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (38% rostered)
- Royce O'Neale - SF/PF - Utah Jazz (21% rostered)
TURNOVERS
Grayson Allen - SG/SF - Milwaukee Bucks (16% rostered)
Grayson Allen got a bit of extra opportunity with Jrue Holiday missing some time early here, but even if the Bucks are at full health, he is a nice fit as a floor spacer who isn't going to turn the ball over. He's often the recipient of a pass late in the clock for a three-point attempt and otherwise isn't super involved with creating offense. He simply doesn't have to be. He's gone over 25 minutes in each game, whether Jrue Holiday has played or not.
Other streamers:
- Patty Mills - PG - Brooklyn Nets (43% rostered)
- Terance Mann - SF - Los Angeles Clippers (33% rostered)
- Hassan Whiteside - PF/C - Utah Jazz (21% rostered)
- Larry Nance Jr. - PF/C - Portland Trail Blazers (46% rostered)
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