NBA Fantasy Basketball Streaming Targets: Best Saturday Waiver Wire Pickups
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Saturday.
After today, there is one week left in January. It was just Christmas and the New Year, and already we are looking at the end of the first month of 2026. Time really does fly.
Snowstorms are affecting much of the country (it's still 70 in Arizona), but we can see the outlines of the spring just a few months away. It's still the middle of a long winter, but at least we're on the downhill slope.
Let's look at streaming players on three NBA teams with good matchups on Saturday. 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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Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls
Chicago plays at the fourth-fastest pace and has the seventh-worst defensive rating. The Bulls have a .500 record after a three-game winning streak leading up to this one, putting them in a very familiar spot: in the play-in tournament.
The Celtics faced the Nets yesterday in Brooklyn, walking away with a 130-126 win in double overtime. That leaves them second in the East, three games in the loss column ahead of the Raptors but still 4.5 behind the Pistons at the top (and three teams in the West have better records).
Guard
Boston's main guards are heavily owned in fantasy leagues, not leaving a lot of value for streaming players. Both these guys are low-level statistical players who are below a fantasy level, even when they do get extended minutes from games that go into overtime.
Forward
It's much the same here as at guard, where the players listed mostly play reserve roles with lower production. Hauser is the best of the bunch, though he has a low ceiling and is only a low-level, deep-league streamer. Walsh doesn't get on the court enough to factor in here.
Center
Queta is the best streamer Boston has, though his fantasy ownership is growing, moving him toward shifting off the streaming list. Queta is a strong streamer in this one if you need help at center. Garza is another backup who doesn't do enough to be a fantasy player most days.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards
The Wizards play at the eighth-fastest pace and have the second-worst defensive rating. Washington is on an eight-game losing streak, but they have winnable games today against the Hornets and Tuesday at home against the Blazers.
Charlotte is improving. They have a 17-28 record, but after a seven-game losing streak that ran up to Thanksgiving, they are 13-14, and their full-season offensive rating is in the top 10. Throw in a defense creeping toward league average, and the Hornets are moving the right way, even if there's a long way to go to be a contender.
Guard
Sexton is the best streamer in Charlotte, averaging around 15 points and four assists per game. He doesn't add much else, so his fantasy value is a bit capped, but he has a good outlook today. James isn't much of a statistical player, staying off the fantasy radar in most cases.
Forward
Salaun is another guy who doesn't get on the court enough to put up real fantasy stats, leaving him as nothing more than a low-level, deep-league streamer. Williams didn't make his season debut until January 10 and has reached 20 minutes just once in five games. He might work his way into being a functional streamer, but Williams isn't yet at that level.
Center
Kalkbrenner missed a stretch of his own, about three weeks in late December and early January. He has played less than 20 minutes in three of seven games since returning; if his minutes go back up, he'll have intrigue, but right now, Kalkbrenner is a little below a fantasy level.
Diabate was a beneficiary when Kalkbrenner was out, getting more minutes and putting up stats accordingly. There is still a chance for him to get on the court, but he's a little inconsistent recently with a healthier team. There's a little intrigue, but Kalkbrenner might be the slightly better option right now.
Miami Heat @ Utah Jazz
Utah plays at the third-fastest pace and has the worst defensive rating in the league by a decent margin. The Jazz have lost five of their last six, six of the past eight, and 11 of 14 heading into this one; Utah owes a top-eight protected first-round pick to Oklahoma City, and they look intent on keeping that selection.
The Heat have played at the fastest pace all season, so matching up here against another blistering team means the points could add up in this one. Miami is another team slotted into the play-in right now with a record around .500, but there are plenty around the league expecting them to make noise at the trade deadline.
Guard
Mitchell missed Miami's most recent game on Thursday and is questionable for this one. He is a starter and gets on the court, but Mitchell is a lower-level fantasy player, averaging 9.0 points, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game; that makes him an OK streamer if active. If he's out, Larsson gets a bump, though he's not really on the fantasy radar, even with more minutes.
Forward
Jaquez is owned in over 40% of leagues, bordering on not being a streamer, but he still fits here now and is one of my favorite streamers. Jaquez is averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and nearly one steal per game. Fontecchio plays less and puts up fewer stats, mostly keeping him off our radar.
Center
Jovic is just a backup player. He'll get a few more minutes with Kel'el Ware out, but Jovic is still generally below the fantasy level most games.
