Using Fantasy Basketball Projections to Determine Streaming Options (Feb. 26-March 3): Caris LeVert, Chris Paul, Gordon Hayward and More

The NBA season continues on with another big week of play. The fantasy playoffs are just around the corner, so every win means a little bit extra right now.

In this article, I’ll use the FantasySP Projections to help identify some potential waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of play (Feb. 25-March 3).

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Recapping Last Week’s Choices

Last week, I highlighted Spencer Dinwiddie, Bojan Bogdanovic, Ivica Zubac, Wendell Carter Jr., and Caris LeVert.

Dinwiddie was a huge disappointment, averaging 2.7 points, 2 assists and 0.3 blocks and rebounds across 21.9 minutes in three games played. He only made three of his 17 shot attempts.

Bogdanovic turned in averages of 15 points, 1 rebound and 1.5 steals across 21 minutes in two games played. The points were great, but he left plenty to be desired with not many other numbers.

Zubac was fantastic for the Clippers, averaging 13 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.3 steals and blocks across 29.8 minutes over three games played. That’s good fantasy value for a waiver wire option.

Carter was also really good last week, averaging 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.3 blocks across 26.5 minutes in three games played. Again, that’s good fantasy value for a guy that was available in a decent amount of leagues.

LeVert had two rough shooting games, but still averaged 10 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1 block and 0.3 steals across 27 minutes played across three games. Those numbers aren’t too shabby, but had he not shot 29% for the week, it would have been a fantastic pickup.

Let's now turn our attention to the upcoming week of play, with some big names included, plus a repeat from last week.

Chris Paul Fantasy Outlook

Let’s kick things off with a big name. Paul is set to play his first game since Jan. 5. He missed nearly two months with a fractured right hand. His own percentage is at 81%.

Across his 32 games played this season, he’s averaging 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.1 blocks across 27.6 minutes. 

Many fantasy owners might be worried that it’ll take Paul some time to get back into the swing of things, but he hasn’t been much of a scorer this season anyway - his value really comes in assists, and rebounds to a degree. 

Paul has four games this week - Tuesday against the Washington Wizards, Thursday against the New York Knicks, Friday against the Toronto Raptors and Sunday against the Boston Celtics. The Wizards and Raptors are favorable matchups for guards, while the games against the Knicks and Celtics are bit tougher challenges. The nice thing about picking up Paul this week is not only that he has four games ahead, but that he’ll likely be playable the rest of the season.

Russell Westbrook Fantasy Outlook

We’ll stick with the big names and talk about Westbrook. He’s owned in 81% of leagues right now.

Westbrook averages 11.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.4 blocks across 56 games (10 starts) this season. He’s not what he used to be, but those are still pretty solid fantasy numbers for a guy averaging 22.9 minutes per game.

Westbrook has a game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, a clash with the Wizards on Friday and a battle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. You know the Wizards are a favorable matchup, and so are the Lakers, but the Timberwolves are the toughest matchup out there. Maybe you’ll want to use Westbrook for his first two games and then look elsewhere for production on Sunday.

Caris LeVert Fantasy Outlook

LeVert is one of the better waiver wire options out there again this week, and after a good showing in his last game, I think he deserves a mention again. He’s rostered in 57% of leagues.

For the season, Levert is averaging 14.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks across 27.4 minutes per game.

His schedule is really favorable this week too, with a game Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks, a contest against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, a date with the Detroit Pistons on Friday and a clash with the Knicks on Sunday. All four of those teams rank in the bottom 10 in slowing opposing forwards (the Knicks are the only team to be outside the bottom five).

Kelly Oubre Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Oubre is another forward with favorable matchups ahead this week. He’s currently rostered in 74% of leagues. 

Oubre is averaging 13.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.1 assists and 0.5 blocks across 29.1 minutes in his 45 games played (32 starts). Since Joel Embiid has been out, he’s averaging 15.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.2 assists and 0.6 blocks across 33.1 minutes. Extra playing time is going to help most players be better fantasy assets, and that’s proving to be true with Oubre.

He’s got games against the Celtics (Tuesday), Charlotte Hornets (Friday) and Mavericks (Sunday) this week. All three of those teams are in the bottom 10 when it comes to slowing opposing forwards.

Oubre is a waiver wire option I’ve highlighted several times in the daily takeaways stories, and I bet he makes the article a couple times this week with that favorable schedule ahead. Take advantage of it by adding him now!

Markelle Fultz Fantasy Outlook

Fultz is owned in just 33% of leagues, so he’s a streaming option in standard leagues and some deeper ones too.

Fultz is averaging 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks across 23.5 minutes this season. 

He’s appeared in just 22 games (15 starts) this season and just played for the first time in three games (he’s been out since Feb. 13). He played under 12 minutes, tallying three points, four rebounds and one assist and block.

Those numbers don’t necessarily stand out, but with some more playing time, you can expect some bigger things from him. The positive thing is that his three games this week are spread out, so barring a setback, he should have enough recovery time to appear in all three games, hopefully in expanded roles each time.

Fultz will face the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, Utah Jazz on Thursday and Pistons on Sunday. The Nets are one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to slowing guards, while the Pistons and Jazz aren’t much better.

Gordon Hayward Fantasy Outlook

The last player I want to highlight is Hayward, who also just returned to the court. The new Oklahoma City wing is owned in 50% of leagues.

Hayward has only averaged 13.5 minutes over his first three games with the team, but could see his minutes increase over time. He’s averaging 2.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1 assist per game so far with OKC.

OKC plays the Houston Rockets on Tuesday, San Antonio Spurs on Thursday and Phoenix Suns on Sunday. Those aren’t really favorable matchups, with the Spurs the only team that isn’t above-average against forwards, but I wanted to point out a bit more popular player in case he plays well and gets scooped up after a strong game.

Best of luck this week!