by Week 16 of the fantasy basketball season is upon us, and like every Monday, I’ll be analyzing several players enrolled in less than 50% of Yahoo’s fantasy basketball leagues.
But before we get to this week’s waivers, here are the games each team will play in Week 16.
Four games: 16 teams (76ers, Hawks, Hornets, Kings, Knicks, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, Pelicans, Pistons, Raptors, Suns, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Warriors and Wizards)
Three games: 12 teams (Bucks, Bulls, Cavs, Clippers, Grizzlies, Heat, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Rockets, Spurs and Thunder)
Two games: 2 teams (Celtics and Jazz)
Now that you know which teams to target for streaming, let’s move on to the pickups.
Priority Additions in Shallow Leagues (10 Teams or Fewer):
Immanuel Quickley – PG/SG, New York Knicks (44% enrolled)
If Quickley was abandoned in a hurry after a couple of nights off, it’s worth getting back. His minutes continue to hover in the low 20s to low 30s, as he is firmly entrenched as the Knicks’ sixth man.
He’s had at least 16 points and five rebounds in his last two outings and has rallied three straight games. Over the past month he’s been shooting an efficient 50% from the field with two 3-pointers a game and will help with assists as well. The Knicks have a four-game week ahead, so Quickley is worth adding.
Jeremy Sochan – PF, San Antonio Spurs (39% enrolled)
Get Sochan wherever it’s available.
He has reached the top 100 in the last two weeks (92nd) and is averaging 18.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 triples and 0.8 stock on 47/59/89 partial shooting . His offensive game continues to improve, and he shows it after dropping a career-high 30 points (with eight rebounds and five assists) in a losing effort against the Suns on Saturday night.
He’s playing nearly 30 minutes a night in January, a trend that should continue for the latter part of the season.
Dennis Schroder – PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (37% enrolled)
The Lakers will be down Anthony Davis And LeBron James to start a four-game week, so Schroder should see a significant spike in usage on Monday. He’s quieted down a bit in the last week, finishing 154th in value per game, but he’s worth grabbing if you need points, rebounds and steals from the guard position in Week 16.
Worst-case scenario, it will be a good streaming option for the Lakers B2B set on Monday and Tuesday.
Priority Additions in Deep Leagues (12+):
Dorian Finney-Smith – SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (32% enrolled)
The Mavs forward has been racking up heavy minutes since returning from injury on Jan. 18, which has paid off. He was 70th in per-game value over the past two weeks while still being a reliable source of threes, points, rebounds and steals.
He also filled the stat sheet in the final week, finishing 34th in per-game value with averages of 13.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.7 triples and 1.3 steals. The Jazz are said to be keenly interested in acquiring his services, but for now, fantasy managers should add him in 12+ team leagues for his recent production surge.
Intermediate tier additions:
Patrick Williams – SF/PF, Chicago Bulls (38% enrolled)
Williams is now 86th in total value this season, thanks to the last two productive weeks. He ranked 54th in value per game during that span after averaging 13.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 3-pointers, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks in the last five games.
He’s easily playing his best stretch of basketball right now and shooting 49% from the field, 43% from three and 86% from the line, with a true shooting percentage of 62% in January. He’s one of many Bulls players making the gossip in trade talks, but fictional managers should feel good about picking him up given his recent play.
Alec Burks – PG/SG/SF, Detroit Pistons (31% enrolled)
The NBA trade deadline is next Thursday, and Burks is one of the few veterans of a young Pistons team who could audition for a potential trade. He has been a snap forward for the Pistons all season, and is expected to continue into Week 16.
He put up consecutive 20-point performances hitting at least three 3-pointers in each game. Notably, he’s started in both games, so if he continues to run with starters, catch him in points and H2H championships.
Short term but worth a look:
Deni Avdija – SF/PF, Washington Wizards (31% enrolled)
Rui Hachimura being traded to the Lakers was the next best thing to Avdija’s fantastic vision, as he posted two double-doubles and is averaging 13.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals in his last three matches.
He’s coming off the bench, and even if he’s taken advantage of it Kristap Porzingis‘ absence in the last week, he is able to log at least 20-25 minutes a night playing both forward positions. The Wizards also play four games this week, so even with Porzingis on track to return on Monday, Avdija still has stream appeal going into Week 16.
Drew EubanksC, Portland Trail Blazers (13% enrolled)
Eubanks is still worth streaming in 12-team leagues due to his ability to block shots in minutes. Sure, he disappointed Saturday night, finishing with seven points and three rebounds, but he also dunked two shots.
Jusuf Nurkic (calf pain) is listed as questionable on Monday, so Eubanks may have another chance to start if Nurk isn’t ready to play. Either way, Eubanks has a block in 10 straight games and is posting 1.9 blocks per game over that span. Portland is also another team with four games in Week 16.
Others to consider according to my rankings:
Tari Eason – SF/PF, Houston Rockets (26%)
Donte DiVincenzo – PG/SG – Golden State Warriors (25%)
Hamidou Diallo – SG/SF, Detroit Pistons (10%)
Kenyon Martin Jr. – SF/PF, Houston Rockets (21%)
Patrick Beverley – PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (11%)
Royce O’Neale, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets (41%)
Daniel Gafford – C, Washington Wizards (46%)
