Fantasy Basketball Update: Russell Westbrook, Tyrese Haliburton, Immanuel Quickley
Ishan gives an update on some of the most important fantasy basketball storylines of the past week.
Fantasy Basketball Update 11/17
Waiver Wire Tip: Streaming
Fantasy basketball owners are encountering injuries, late scratches, and players out with injury in the first few weeks. How do you bounce back? Simple answer: the waiver wire. “Streaming” is a fantasy basketball roster strategy that involves subbing in and out different players to your roster completely based on how they will perform that day for you. In a fluid NBA where players have to be safe and the next man up is a lot better than they used to be, tracking players who fill in spots for others is a huge key for injury management and the overall strategy of streaming.
For example, if R.J. Barrett (who is rostered in nearly every league) is hurt, you can pick up Josh Hart (rostered in just 38% of ESPN leagues), who will almost certainly have heightened production. R.J. Barrett will come back, but by then you will have dropped Hart for a player playing the next day, like Anthony Black. This isn't just a random example. With Barrett and Quentin Grimes sidelined on and off, keep Immanuel Quickley and Josh Hart on your streaming radar at all times.
Want to dominate your fantasy basketball league? Sync your league with the Fantasy Assistant to get rankings, waiver help, trade suggestions, optimal lineups, and more, and check out our NBA Trade Value Chart to make sure you win your trades!
Russell Westbrook Is A Sixth Man Again: Fantasy Outlook
Russell Westbrook is a sixth man once again, of his own accord according to Chris Haynes. This should provide a boost for James Harden and Westbrook owners. Their skill sets overlap too much to play well together, and Russ needs to be around 3&D guys at all times. That is a lot more possible off the bench, and with the arrival of Daniel Theis and now Dewayne Dedmon, Russ will receive plenty of opportunity to run pick and roll while it’s his five out there, using his drive and kick ability to set up Bones Hyland and Norman Powell. Expect Russ to rebound the ball a lot too, with not too many PFs left on the roster. Meanwhile, James Harden will finally get to run point guard with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, where he is way more comfortable than running SG. Driving and kicking to the open shooter, flowing in the offense, and operating with Ivica Zubac to develop chemistry will be key for Harden; with Harden and Westbrook sharing the court less, the spacing will be improved for Los Angeles across the board.
Tyrese Haliburton Fantasy Outlook
Tyrese Haliburton is on a tear we’ve almost never seen before. 32 assists in a row without a turnover and still hitting 3s at an efficient rate is insane. You really only do stuff like this in NBA 2K. If you were worried about Tyrese’s start, you aren’t anymore. The Pacers are a top five offense and a bottom-tier defense, a recipe for fantasy success. They play a fast-paced offense that’s highly efficient, spearheaded by Haliburton himself. Haliburton has players surrounding him who are elite cutters like Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin, and Ben Mathurin. These guys are players to watch if you’re looking for others to benefit from this offensive environment. Tyrese Haliburton is also a player who isn’t banged up often, worked on his body this offseason, and plans to fight for playoff positioning all year, so he should be a fantasy star every single week.
#fantasy-basketball #russell-westbrook #tyrese-haliburton #immanuel-quickley
