October 28 Fantasy Basketball Streamers: Bilal Coulibaly, Zaccharie Risacher, Wendell Carter Jr. and More
NBA players who have good matchups on Monday and are widely available in fantasy leagues.
With 11 games on the docket today, nearly 75% of the league is in action. That includes all six teams I’m targeting early in the season with opposing fantasy players: Atlanta, Detroit, Indiana, San Antonio, Utah, and Washington.
Those are the squads against whom I’m looking for streamers, targeting players who will get a lot of possessions against poor defensive teams (based mostly on last year’s numbers). We’re almost to the point of being able to re-evaluate those teams to target; once every team gets about five games, it will give us a chance to see who is vulnerable early this season.
Let’s look at the six teams on Monday who have good matchups and identify the players who are widely available in fantasy leagues. No one listed below will be a star, but they can slot in at the bottom of your lineup with a chance to produce.
Always check actives/inactives before game time so you don’t leave one of these guys in your lineup only to have him not play. Individual and team stats are from NBA.com.
Washington Wizards @ Atlanta Hawks
We have a double-whammy game here, as both the Wizards and Hawks are teams to target. Washington played at the fastest pace in the league last year and had the third-worst defensive rating. They can be targeted with every position.
Atlanta was sixth-fastest and had the fourth-worst defensive rating. Like Washington, the Hawks are susceptible to allowing points to every position. Yesterday against the Thunder, OKC spread their scoring among positions: guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 35, forward Jalen Williams had 20, and center Chet Holmgren had 25 points.
Wizards’ Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
- Bilal Coulibaly – Coulibaly leads the team in minutes per game and is in the top three in points, 3-pointers, rebounds, and assists. Keep an eye here on a possible bad-team/good-stats season for the second-year player; I smell a possible keeper.
- Corey Kispert
- Kyshawn George
Center
Hawks’ Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
- De'Andre Hunter – Hunter missed yesterday’s game and needs to be confirmed in the lineup before playing him.
- Zaccharie Risacher
- David Roddy
Center
- None
Orlando Magic vs. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers played at the second-fastest pace and had the seventh-worst defense last season. Indiana was most vulnerable to guards and forwards, though they were more successful against centers.
Guards have done damage against the Pacers all season, as Tyrese Maxey (45), Jalen Brunson (26), and Cade Cunningham (28) have been the leading scorers against Indiana in their three games.
Magic’s Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
Center
Miami Heat vs. Detroit Pistons
Detroit played at the ninth-fastest pace and had the sixth-worst defensive rating. They were able to be targeted with all positions last year, not standing out in any one area.
Heat’s Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
Center
Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio was the third-fastest team and had the 10th-worst defensive rating last season. They did better in the second half of the year on defense, but they have been vulnerable at times early this season. The Spurs gave up points to guards and centers at a higher rate than forwards.
These teams played on Saturday (a game San Antonio won 109-106). Guards Fred VanVleet (18) and Jalen Green (29) had the most points for Houston while PF/C-types Jabari Smith Jr.and Alperen Sengun struggled.
Rockets’ Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
Center
- Jock Landale - He scored 13 points Saturday; maybe there's something there.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz
Utah played at the 10th-fastest pace last season and had the worst defensive rating in the league. The Jazz were able to be targeted at every position, though they were at least average against point guards.
Utah has given up the most points to guards in their first two games, but that might be more a product of the teams they played: Memphis and Golden State.
Mavericks’ Streaming Players
Guard
Forward
Center
- Maxi Kleber – Kleber is listed as questionable, so double-check his status before grabbing him.
