Monday’s Fantasy Basketball Streaming Guide: Win Big With These Free Agents
Streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Monday.
Much is made about March 14 as Pi Day, the date that covers the digits of pi to the hundredth (3.14), but I'm more partial to today: Austin 3.16 Day!
Pro wrestling fans from the late 90s are all too familiar with Stone Cold Steve Austin and his famous Austin 3:16 promo (riffing on the newly reformed Jake Roberts and his John 3:16 message); it became an instant hit and one of the best-selling t-shirts in wrestling history. Be safe on Austin 3.16 day, though: just because The Rattlesnake could chug two beers at a time doesn't mean you should try it.
Moving to fantasy basketball, let's look at streaming players from three NBA teams with good matchups on Monday. We'll focus on the guys who are widely available in fantasy leagues and have good matchups. Most stats are from NBA.com.
Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players who are being added to fantasy teams most often!
Golden State Warriors @ Washington Wizards
Washington plays at the sixth-fastest pace and has the second-worst defensive rating in the league. They are an even better target since the All-Star break, ranking second in pace while still harboring the second-worst defense. This is our prime target over the final month of the season.
The Warriors are in a swoon, losing five straight and seven of their past eight after blowing a 21-point lead against the Knicks yesterday. They are essentially locked into the play-in, and while Stephen Curry's assumed return will help, Golden State has been dealing with injuries all season and probably can't hang with the Thunder or Spurs even if they do advance through the play-in.
Guard
Podziemski is a strong fantasy player, averaging 18.8 points, 7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1 steals per game in March. With injuries around him, Podz has been a lead guard and taken advantage statistically.
Melton has missed a few games with injury recently, including yesterday. He adds scoring and shooting that make him valuable in fantasy, but he doesn't do much else.
Forward
Santos keeps producing, now having reached double figures in 18 of his past 20 games. He's also averaging more than six rebounds, four assists, and one steal per game in that time, adding plenty of value.
Payton has played more since the beginning of February, as the team has seen injuries pile up. He had 19 points, six rebounds, four assists, a block, and two steals yesterday while knocking down three 3-pointers; even a little regression would leave him as an OK streamer if you need a guard or forward (both of which he can slot into).
Center
With Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford all out yesterday, Post played 35 minutes and scored 22 points. Green is expected to play today and Porzingis is questionable, and even one of them playing would push Post to a reserve role and off the fantasy radar.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Chicago Bulls
We'll finish today with a game in which we can target both teams, even as the Bulls have gotten better on defense. Since the All-Star break, Chicago ranks fourth in pace and is just a little below average in defensive rating, but their D over the full season is eighth worst. We can still look to target the Bulls on the right days.
The Grizzlies fit our top/bottom 10 both over the full season and since the break, holding a top-10 pace and a bottom-10 defensive rating in both samples. Memphis had a chance to sneak into the play-in, but injuries and poor play have probably shattered those hopes unless they can win out (and even that might not be enough).
Chicago Bulls
There are a lot of guys out for Chicago, meaning those deeper on the bench are getting more minutes. That leaves a few intriguing streamers for us, starting right away with the guards.
Guard
Jones has been at his best scoring the ball in March, averaging 17.4 points in seven games and reaching 15 points in five of those contests. His assists and steals are down just a bit from his season numbers, but Jones has been a better fantasy player overall.
The eighth overall pick in 2024, Dillingham has intrigue but hasn't been putting up numbers yet, mostly a product of limited minutes. He combined for 24 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds over the past two games while playing at least 24 minutes in both, and he will likely see more time here again, but he is a low-level streamer, a step below Jones.
Forward
Miller has played somewhat sparsely since arriving in Chicago at the trade deadline, but his past three games have been his best, as he has averaged over 15 points and nine rebounds per game. With guys out in front of him, Miller should again get minutes and have a chance to put up some numbers.
Yabusele has played well since coming over at the deadline, averaging 10.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.1 3-pointers in 15 games. He's a reserve player but isn't a bad option in deeper leagues. Williams just hasn't developed the way anyone hoped when he was selected fourth overall in 2020, and he's not on the fantasy radar.
Center
Smith has been decent this season, averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He bested each of those numbers in both January and February, and his March numbers are just a hair below in each category. He's an OK lower-level streamer if you need help at center.
Richards was another deadline pickup, and his 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks with the team are decent reserve numbers. He has been better in seven March games, averaging 11 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, making him another low-level streaming possibility.
Memphis Grizzlies
Guard
No one on Memphis is owned in a high percentage of leagues, leaving us with plenty of streaming options. Jerome has been the best of this group; he didn't make his debut until January 31 and has played just 12 games, but he is averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.7 3-pointers, making him a good fantasy asset.
The rookie Coward missed a little time of his own but has been good when on the court, putting up 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.5 3s per game. Small is more of a reserve but has gotten opportunities with guys in front of him hurt. He is averaging more than 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, and one steal per game since the beginning of February.
Forward
Wells and Jackson are both questionable after missing Friday's game (which was the second night of a back-to-back). Wells scores the ball but doesn't add much else. He is averaging 12.8 points and 1.9 3s on the season and 17.1 and 3, respectively, in seven March games. He's a decent pickup if you need help in those areas.
Jackson is another guy doing his best work since the trade deadline. In February, he averaged 16.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.9 3-pointers, and in March, he is at 15.7 points, 6 boards, and 1.3 blocks. Spencer is a step lower as a fantasy player, but he has reached double figures in six of seven March games and made at least two 3-pointers in five of those contests.
Center
Santi Aldama would likely be playing the most center minutes, but he last played on February 4, leaving Prosper and Hendricks to handle a lot of big-man minutes.
Prosper averaged 13.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in February, and each of those numbers are just a hair lower in March, keeping him relevant on the fantasy fringe. Hendricks is at 12.8 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 1 steals this month, leaving him in the same range as a deep-league find or capable fill-in if you need center help.
