RADIO
The regular season for fantasy basketball is coming to a close, with the playoffs only a week or two away in most leagues. It's time to start giving it all you can and go all-in streaming for close-fought categories. It's all about what your available roster spots can do for you now.
This column is posted weekly as part of RotoBaller's regular season NBA coverage for the 2015-16 NBA season. It will focus on available players who could win you your H2H matchup in specific categories.
Last thing, we’ll usually only focus on one player per category, but list other available options underneath. Certain guys might be listed in more than one category, so if you need help in both, be sure to make those players a priority.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Waiver Wire: Week 18 Category Streamers
Weekend of 3/4, 3/5 & 3/6
Teams with 2 games: ATL, BKN, BOS, CLE, DEN, DET, HOU, IND, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR, UTA, WSH
Teams with 1 game: CHA, CHI, DAL, GSW, LAC, OKC, ORL, NOP, SAC, SAS
Points
Gary Harris (SG, DEN)
Owned in 27% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 4 vs. Brooklyn & Sunday, March 6 vs. Dallas
ANALYSIS: Harris is a player I wrote about earlier in the week as an obvious waiver-wire addition (you can access that here). Harris has emerged seemingly out of nowhere after a lost rookie season and has become a valuable NBA and fantasy two-way player. As far as scoring, Harris is not a spectacular scorer, but he has been very steady of late, scoring double digits in 7 of his previous 8 games. His 16.3 ppg average in his previous three is certainly something that could be useful this weekend in two games, especially a home tilt Friday against a terrible Nets defense.
Other alternatives: Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless is a favorite of the coaching staff and returned Monday night from a knee injury where he scored 18 points. Bojan Bogdanovic of the Nets is young player who has flashed scoring potential of late (18.5 ppg in his last two games). The Nets need to see what they have in Bogdanovic and the recent release of veteran Joe Johnson opens up a ton of opportunity. Timberwolves swingman Shabazz Muhammad was mentioned in trade rumors before the deadline, primarily for his ability to score the basketball. The release of veteran shooting guard Kevin Martin this week will provide Muhammad with more chances on the floor.
Rebounds
Ed Davis (PF/C, POR)
Owned in 48% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 4 @ Toronto & Sunday, March 6 @ Detroit
ANALYSIS: Davis’ season average in rebounding is good (7.4), but it’s his prowess on the glass of late that has him primed for a strong weekend of rebounding. Davis has averaged an impressive 9.7 rpg over his previous four contests where he has managed to haul in at least 9 rebounds in each of those games. Davis has garnered the reputation of a somewhat disappointing player in his NBA and fantasy career, but there is no denying his potential to be a useful fantasy asset on the boards, particularly this weekend in two weekend road games.
Other alternatives: If Suns big man Alex Len is available (currently at 54% ownership), hurry to pick him up (14 rpg in his last two games). Bulls rookie power forward Bobby Portis has emerged as a valuable member of the rotation, and due to injuries and his play, is getting more time on the floor, resulting in more rebounds (8.4 rpg over his previous five). Cody Zeller of the Hornets is a deep-league option as a somewhat inconsistent rebounder with two games on the slate this weekend. Monitor the playing time of newly acquired forward Kris Humphries of the Hawks. We know that Humphries can be an ultra-reliable source of rebounds when given the opportunity.
Assists
Donald Sloan (PG/SG, BKN)
Owned in 16% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 4 @ Denver & Saturday, March 5 @ Minnesota
ANALYSIS: I never like recommending Sloan because I just don’t think he is very good. However, the assists category is a difficult and inconsistent one to project and there aren’t many decent options of the waiver-wire variety. Sloan is getting plenty of playing time (at least 30 minutes in four of his previous seven games) and has been relatively consistent in the assists category, averaging 5.5 apg in the last week. With no legitimate competition to threaten his time on the court, Sloan remains a steady, though unspectacular, option this weekend with back-to-back games against shaky defenses to kick off the weekend.
Other alternatives: Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder is a fantasy star waiting to happen, but remains the backup and his assists numbers remain inconsistent. Celtics swingman Evan Turner has put together a really nice season overall, and has become one of the C’s best playmakers (4.4 apg). Raymond Felton has shown flashes in Dallas that he is not done yet, and remains a true hit-or-miss option for assists in his lone weekend game Sunday.
Steals
Patrick Beverley (PG, HOU)
Owned in 48% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Saturday, March 5 @ Chicago & Sunday, March 6 @ Toronto
ANALYSIS: Beverley has the reputation of a strong on-ball defender, capable of racking up steals at any given time. Following the long awaited release of Ty Lawson this week, there is no question who the Rockets most important point guard is. Beverley has compiled five multiple steal games in his last seven, and has stated that his health is far improve after being able to rest over the All-Star break. Look for Beverley to be a strong source of thefts in a back-to-back to end the weekend.
Other alternatives: Grizzlies near 36-year-old swingman Matt Barnes continues to play hard and contribute, averaging 1.1 spg on the year, and has racked up at least 1 steal in seven of his last eight. The Nuggets Harris is not only a scoring threat, but is averaging 1.3 spg on the season. Suns swingman P.J. Tucker is getting a ton of usage lately, and is coming off a 2 steal game Tuesday.
Blocks
Jerami Grant (SF/PF, PHI)
Owned in 17% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 4 vs. Miami & Sunday, March 6 @ Miami
ANALYSIS: Grant is a favorite of mine in this category, as a cheap but incredibly reliable source of blocks on a weekly basis. In such a concentrated, and difficult to predict category, Grant’s 17% ownership level is astounding. He ranks in the top-10 in the NBA in the category (1.6 bpg) and continues to play a ton of minutes for a team that is completely void of talent. The 76ers face the Heat in a home-and-home over the weekend, and in Grant’s lone game against Miami this season, he managed 2 blocks in 30 minutes of play. Expect similar numbers in terms of blocks and minutes this weekend, especially if Jahlil Okafor remains banged up.
Other alternatives: Celtics forward Amir Johnson is playing somewhat limited minutes, but has still managed to accumulate 12 blocks in his previous nine games. The Blazers' Ed Davis is rebounding at an effective rate as discussed above, but has also been on quite a tear swatting opponents shots, totaling a whopping 10 in his last three contests. He is really playing some good basketball right now and could be a cheap and resourceful source in both categories.
Three Pointers
Terrence Ross (SG/SF, TOR)
Owned in 15% of Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues
Weekend Schedule: Friday, March 4 vs. Portland & Sunday, March 6 vs. Houston
ANALYSIS: As a former 8th overall pick, Ross’ career has been quite disappointing to this point. Ross has really grown into his role in the NBA, though, providing the Raptors with a much needed shooter to stretch the floor. This season, he has improved his 3PT% to 39.4% compared to last season’s 37.2%, while averaging 1.8 3PM per contest. Ross’ 14 three-pointers made in his previous four games is towards the top of the league in that stretch, and a two-game weekend from the barely owned shooting guard could propel to a win in the category.
Other alternatives: Suns forward Mirza Teletovic has been unconscious from downtown (13 longballs over his previous three games) despite being in a bench role. His ownership levels have surpassed 50%, but he is a no-brainer option for threes in shallower leagues where he's often available. Bayless converted on 5 three-pointers in his return to the Bucks lineup Monday night and has been a 44.5% shooter from downtown this season. Blazers big man Meyers Leonard is an intriguing option for threes out of the PF/C spot and is taking threes at a very high rate.
NBA & Fantasy Basketball Chat Room
[iflychat_embed id="c-11" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]
