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 12 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
Troy Daniels, PG/SG, MEM, Opponents: Friday @ HOU, Sunday vs. CHI (6% Owned)
At 40.8% on 5.8 attempts from distance, Troy Daniels has been a much-needed commodity for David Fizdale’s Grizzlies. In each of the last 11 games, he’s recorded at least one three-pointer. Of those, he’s hit multiple threes 10 times. The dude can sling it. If you need treys, Daniels is a good bet to provide a multi-three game and is available in most formats.
The Grizzlies will visit the Rockets at the Toyota Center, who will be ready to let it go from deep (39.8 3PA) at a torrid pace (100.93). The matchup is solid for Daniels, as he sits in front of Mike Conley for the team lead in threes made at 2.4. The addition of Daniels from Charlotte and the hiring of David Fizdale has moved Memphis from 28 to 17 in threes made. Give him a look.
A few other options include Darrell Arthur, who’s seen an increased bench role lately and could be even better if Jokic (illness) is still out. The usual suspects include Wayne Ellington, C.J. Miles and Mirza Teletovic. They all make for great options this week.
Other Options: Darrell Arthur, PF/C, DEN (1% Owned); Wayne Ellington, SG/SF, MIA (8% Owned); C.J. Miles, SG/SF, IND (21% Owned); Mirza Teletovic, SF/PF, MIL (8% Owned);
Points Streamer
Garrett Temple, PG/SG, SAC, Opponents: Friday vs. CLE, Sunday vs. OKC (7% Owned)
Garrett Temple has starts in the last two games next to Darren Collison, but has logged 25-plus minutes per game on the season. He’s got value whether he starts or not. His usage (13.4%) isn’t much, but Dave Joerger has trusted him with the second most shooting guard minutes on the team next to Arron Afflalo. The starting two guard spot in Sacramento remains a revolving door, which makes Temple an easy drop at the end of the week.
Over the last three games, Temple has been an efficient offensive option, posting 11.3 points and 1.0 threes on 51.8% from the field (14-of-27). If he is able to keep the starting job, then he’ll hold more value, but still makes a decent option regardless. He’s widely available and makes for a solid points streamer.
With Nicolas Batum out, Jeremy Lamb has been the temporary starter, so he’ll have offensive value until Batum’s return. Marreese Speights drops buckets in his sleep, so he’s usually an option for Doc Rivers. Austin Rivers has picked it up lately, but Chris Paul and J.J. Redick are back, so the minutes will be tempered off the bench. Hopefully, Justin Hamilton has the right eye prescription this week as he has also seen a rise in production and minutes.
Other Options: Marreese Speights, PF/C, LAC (20% Owned); Austin Rivers, PG/SG, LAC (14% Owned); Jeremy Lamb, SG/SF, CHA (6% Owned); Justin Hamilton, PF/C, BKN (6% Owned)
Assists Streamer
T.J. McConnell, PG, PHI, Opponents: Friday vs. CHA, Saturday @ WAS (24% Owned)
Brett Brown has two solid point guard options in front of him, T.J. McConnell and Sergio Rodriguez. Sergio’s been dealing with an ankle injury, so he was forced to miss three games last week. That allowed T.J. McConnell, as the lone point guard in the Sixer frontcourt, to log over 36 minutes per game last week.
In five starts this season, McConnell is averaging 9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.6 assists and 1.8 steals. Forget streaming option, if he can hold the starting job in Philly, he’ll be worth holding in all standard formats. Of course, that’s still to be determined since Sergio Rodriguez just came back from his injury on Sunday. Watch the situation close, but he’s worth an add if he’s still starting against New York tonight.
If McConnell is unavailable in your league, his counterpart Sergio Rodriguez also makes for a decent streaming option, assuming he’s available to play. Matthew Dellavedova and J.J. Barea have also returned from injury and should be productive enough as assists option. I probably say this every week, but Ty Lawson has seen an increase in minutes and doubles up as a points and assists option.
Other Options: J.J. Barea, PG/SG, DAL (25% Owned); Matthew Dellavedova, PG/SG, MIL (22% Owned); Ty Lawson, PG, SAC (21% Owned); Sergio Rodriguez, PG, PHI (20% 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.