Wednesday's Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Isaiah Stewart, Quentin Grimes, and More
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday.
Even though basketball isn't as brutally physical as football, it's still a contact sport, and the long season causes injuries to add up; we were missing multiple superstars before the season even started.
When stars miss games (even just one), streaming potential is created because of the different landscape from the normal gameplan. Someone has to take the shots that get left behind.
Let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with great matchups on Wednesday, some of which are affected by injuries. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
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Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls
Two of our picks today were very easy because two teams stand out from the rest as our best target teams. The third target ends up being the Bulls, who play at the third-fastest pace and have the seventh-worst defensive rating.
The Pistons follow the theme of dealing with injuries, but they are sitting 3.5 games ahead of the field in the Eastern Conference, so they can take some time to get healthy.
Guard
LeVert and Cade Cunningham are listed as probable, as is Duncan Robinson (who we will get to in a moment). None of the three listed here have put up much for stats this season, but with LeVert out on Monday, Green had 17 points in 29 minutes and Ivey 16 in 22 minutes. While there's a low floor, there's a little intrigue, especially with Ivey, a former top-five pick.
Forward
- Duncan Robinson
- Ron Holland II
Robinson is expected to play, and he and Holland will both see a boost from Tobias Harris being out, opening more minutes at forward. Robinson could shift up to forward more often, and Holland will see more minutes. Robinson is an intriguing fantasy player, but Holland is a low-level statistical player who is off the fantasy radar.
Center
Jalen Duren is also out for this banged up Detroit team, so Stewart moves into prime fantasy position. Stewart averages 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, modest numbers, but he has a strong outlook in this one.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz
I said the other two targets were easy, and that's because the Jazz and Wizards are battling for top fantasy target team. Utah plays at the fourth-fastest pace and has the worst defensive rating by more than a full point per 100 possessions.
The Thunder have fallen off their record pace, most recently losing to the Hornets 124-97 on Monday. Injuries are again part of the issue, something we will talk about below.
Guard
Guard is where the team is healthiest, though Alex Caruso is out, and injuries in the frontcourt will force some guys to shift up a position. Mitchell is the best option here, and he's pushing toward 50% ownership in fantasy leagues, though he's not there yet. Mitchell is averaging around 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Wallace does a little low-level stat-stuffing of his own, far below the level of Mitchell overall (though his 2.1 steals are nice). Joe scores around 10 points per game but doesn't add much else.
Forward
While Dort gets on the court (27 minutes per game), he just doesn't put up many stats, keeping him off the fantasy radar. Wiggins is another guy who scores about 10 points per game but doesn't add much else in fantasy.
Center
Center (and power forward to a degree) are hit hardest right now, as Jaylin Williams has been out since mid-December, and Isaiah Hantenstein hasn't played since December 28; both guys will again miss this one. Carlson and Williams are still playing backup minutes, but they are getting a little bump, though neither has put up much for stats.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards
And that leaves us with Washington, which plays at the eighth-fastest pace and has the second-worst defensive rating. The Wizards had the worst defense most of the season, but Utah recently blew past them, leaving the Jazz as our new favorite target.
The 76ers are built around two guys who are major injury risks in Joel Embiid and Paul George; both players have missed close to half the games this season. Embiid is questionable for this one, though George is expected to play.
Guard
Grimes is the player of note here, averaging around 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game; he's an intriguing streamer today. McCain is lower in each area and only a deep-league option.
Forward
Kelly Oubre Jr. is also questionable for this one, and his absence would offer some opportunity for these guys. Even if the starter is out, though, neither Walker nor Barlow is likely to have a big statistical game. You can find a better forward elsewhere.
Center
Bona plays a backup role when Embiid is in the lineup, but he gets an extended run when the star big man is out. He will be a strong streamer if Embiid misses this game. Drummond would move into the backup role in that case, but he isn't much of a fantasy player either way.
