The ESPN Forecaster helps you get an idea of the schedule for the upcoming week, so that you can plan ahead with solid streaming options in cases where the schedule dictates that you sit players whom you'd normally start. Thus, the second part of this article always offers up streaming candidates from among the teams with the best forecaster rating for the week.
However, each day I go through the previous night's games as part of my fantasy basketball Daily Notes, and I've noticed this week that there are just a lot of streamable players who are playing very well lately. As such, I'll lead with a group of players whom you might consider picking up for next week even though they don't come from teams who have the absolute most advantageous schedules.
Michael Beasley, New York Knicks (available in 72.5 percent of leagues): The Knicks play only three times during this period with a forecaster rating of '6,' but Beasley has been playing so well of late that he deserves a look. Beasley has averaged 19 points (55.6 FG%, 82.4 FT%), 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks and 0.5 3's in his past four games off the bench, even with Kristaps Porzingis healthy and starting.
Kelly Olynyk (73.5 percent) and Josh Richardson (53.6 percent), Miami Heat: The Heat play three times during the period with a forecaster rating of only '4,' but Olynyk has averaged 16 points (56.2 FG%, 76.5 FT%), 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 3-pointers, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks during his past seven games, while Richardson has averaged 20.1 points (54.3 FG%, 88.9 FT%), 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 3-pointers, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks in his past nine games.
Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets (63.9 percent): The Nets play four games during the period with a forecaster rating of '6,'. LeVert sat out Wednesday with a groin injury, but if he recovers quickly, you should take note of the 15.7 points (51.5 FG%, 69 FT%), 5.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.7 3-pointers and 1.2 steals that he has averaged over his past nine games.
Ersan Ilyasova, Atlanta Hawks (81 percent): The Hawks play three games during the period with a forecaster rating of '5.' Ilyasova has scored 20 or more points four times in his past six games, a stretch during which he has averaged 17.2 points (52.2 FG%, 77.3 FT%), 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 3-pointers, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game.
Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns: (70.9 percent): The Suns have only two games this week with a forecaster rating of '3,' so Chriss isn't a stream candidate at all. However, he could just be worthy of a roster spot with his recent averages of 13 points (57.4 FG%, atrocious 42.1 FT%), 8.6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.2 3-pointers, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks in his past five games. The free throws are hideous, but the rest of Chriss's game is intriguing and seemingly improving as the season progresses.
Matchup ratings are based upon a scale from 1 (poor matchup) to 10 (excellent matchup). These are calculated using a formula that evaluates the team's year-to-date and past 10 games' statistics, their opponents' numbers in those categories and their performance in home/road games depending on where the game is to be played. The column to the left lists the team's total number of games scheduled, as well as home games, and lists the overall rating from 1-10 for that team's weekly schedule.
The week ahead
This is a very odd week in the NBA, in that two teams (the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics) play only one game. That's a first for me in the time that I've been doing these rankings. In addition, there are 11 teams with four games, 14 teams with three games and three teams with two. In other words, outside of the two teams who play only once, the distribution of games is reasonably normal across the rest of the league.
So, right off the bat, all Celtics and 76ers should be faded in weekly transaction leagues. No matter how great a player, it is almost impossible to get reasonable starter value out of only a single game. And while both of these teams are at the bottom of the forecaster scale with a '1,' the three teams with only two games also turn in low scores of '3' each and should be faded outside of superstars. The Memphis Grizzlies, the Suns and the Utah Jazz are all on this list. While Devin Booker, Marc Gasol, Tyreke Evans and maybe Donovan Mitchell might earn starts anyway, most managers featuring players from any of these five teams will be looking for streaming candidates this week.
On the flip side, there are only two teams with a forecaster rating of '8' or higher, the Golden State Warriors (10) and the LA Clippers (8). But, there are seven teams with four games and a forecaster rating of '7,' and these are likely where you will have the most luck finding streaming candidates. The Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors are all on this list. Here are a few names to examine further:
Delon Wright, Toronto Raptors (available in 98 percent of leagues): Wright had a huge game in his last outing that caught some eyes, but he's been playing solid ball for a while now. In his past seven games, Wright has averaged 12.1 points (52.3 FG%, 88.9 FT%), 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.3 3-pointers per game.
Trey Lyles, Denver Nuggets (74.4 percent): Lyles has been playing very strong ball for a while now, and should probably be owned in more leagues. In his past 12 games, he has averaged 16.6 points (56.9 FG%, 70 FT%), 7.1 rebounds, 2.5 3-pointers, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks per game. He has double-doubles in two of his past three games, and seems to be getting better.
Kyle Anderson, San Antonio Spurs (90.6 percent): The Spurs' wings are pretty fragile right now. Rudy Gay is out with a heel injury, Danny Green is out with a groin injury, and both Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili have been regularly sitting out games as Leonard re-acclimates to being in the lineup and Ginobili deals with being old. This has left opportunity for Anderson to shine, and he's taken advantage by averaging 9.8 points (68.2 FG%, 90 FT%), 7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in his past four games.