Fantasy Basketball Streaming Options: Jimmy Butler ACL Injury and Wednesday’s Top Pickups
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday.
Every sports season is an exercise in attrition. Injuries add up, and superstars and role players alike suffer season-ending injuries.
The latest star we lost was Golden State forward Jimmy Butler, who suffered a torn ACL on Monday. The Warriors probably weren't contending even with Butler, but this seems to be the last nail in their coffin of championship contention this season. They won't be the last team to suffer this fate.
Moving to fantasy basketball, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Wednesday. We'll focus on the guys who get on the court and are widely available in fantasy leagues. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's daily and weekly projections to find the guys expected to excel and help make your toughest lineup decisions!
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers play at the tenth-fastest pace and have the 12th-worst defensive rating, sitting right on the fringe of the target space in both metrics. They are only a few tenths of a point outside the bottom 10 in defense, so they fit nicely as a strong target team.
Boston has the second-best offensive rating, slightly behind the Nuggets; those two have a decent lead on everyone else. The Celtics are right in the middle in defensive rating, and if they can improve their defense just a bit, they will look like real contenders again, especially if Jayson Tatum makes it back for the playoffs.
Guard
There isn't much value at guard for Boston on the streaming market, as their guys who play the most are already owned in most fantasy leagues. Walsh and Scheierman are both reserve players, and though they can both slot in at guard and forward, they don't put up enough numbers to be anything more than deep-league options.
Forward
Jaylen Brown is probable for this game. If he were to miss, there would be more opportunity for these guys (and Walsh and Scheierman). I'm operating as if Brown will play, and that leaves both these two below a fantasy level in most leagues. Hauser averages 2.6 three-pointers per game and scored 16 points in their last game, but he's inconsistent statistically (though he had double digits in four of the past five).
Center
Queta is the starter and gets the most minutes, giving him fantasy value by default. He is owned in just under 40% of leagues, moving toward too much for the streaming list, but he still fits here and is a strong streamer today; he is averaging 10.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals over 10 January games. Garza is just a backup player who isn't on the fantasy radar.
Detroit Pistons @ New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans play at the ninth-fastest pace and have the third-worst defensive rating. I have a sick obsession with monitoring the bottom of the standings, so there has been plenty of focus on New Orleans, which is tied for the fewest wins in basketball (10).
The Pistons are on the other side, sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference, more than five games ahead of everyone else. Detroit is second in defensive rating and 11th in offensive rating, sitting in a great position to contend for the title, particularly if they can finish with home court through the Eastern playoffs.
Guard
The three guards are low-level fantasy guys. Ivey was a top-five pick and has the best ceiling, but he doesn't produce consistently, making him a risky fantasy player; LeVert has the same low floor but without the high ceiling. Green gets more time and can score the ball when there are injuries in front of him, but Detroit is healthy now, pushing him down the depth chart.
Forward
Harris is another guy whose minutes fluctuate, and his stats vary accordingly, making him a little inconsistent. He's still the best fantasy player from this group, a low-to-mid-level streamer. Robinson shoots and scores (12.1 points, 2.9 three-pointers per game), and he has reached double figures in five straight games, but he doesn't add much else, leaving him as a low-level fantasy guy.
Holland doesn't play enough to put up real fantasy numbers, especially when everyone is healthy.
Center
Stewart is a good lower-level streamer who puts up some big games, like when he scored 31 points against the Bulls on January 7, a game Jalen Duren missed. That's the only time Stewart gets big value, though, otherwise having a capped ceiling.
Toronto Raptors @ Sacramento Kings
I've talked recently about how the Kings have slowed down after playing at a top-10 pace early in the season, and they now sit right in the middle of the league. That hurts their spot as a streaming target a little, but Sacramento still has the fourth-worst defensive rating, so we can deal with their more middling pace on the right days.
The Raptors played at Golden State last night and won 145-127. Toronto is on a West Coast road trip, having already played the Lakers and Warriors and with their next games against the Kings and Blazers before a stop in OKC on the way home; they have started 1-1 and have easier games over the next two.
Guard
Toronto is dealing with injuries, and that has given more time to guys like Shead, who had 10 points and eight assists yesterday. Shead doesn't generally put up many stats, but he has some intrigue right now. Dick hasn't developed into a productive offensive player and isn't on the fantasy radar in most leagues.
Forward
Agbaji is another guy getting more minutes because of injuries, particularly to RJ Barrett. He's not much of statistical player, though, and is better left out of your lineup. Murray-Boyles missed yesterday's game but could play here, and if so, he is a decent streamer today who can slot in at both forward and center.
Center
Mamukelashvili has been getting more minutes with Jakob Poeltl out, scoring at least 10 points in seven of nine games in January with two double-doubles in that time. He will continue having fantasy value as long as the starter is out, especially when Murray-Boyles misses games.
