NBA Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Streaming Strategy [Category & Points Leagues]
Unlocking Maximum Weekly Value with Smart Scheduling, Quality Game Focus, and Targeted Waiver Streams for NBA Fantasy Week 3
NBA Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Streaming Strategy
Week 3 of the NBA fantasy season brings a schedule that rewards active, thoughtful streaming. Odd light days, heavy midweek slates, and significant disparities in team game counts create both opportunity and danger for managers looking to maximize weekly output. Here is a comprehensive, research-based blueprint to help you navigate the week ahead with maximum efficiency, based on real-world data and expert schedule analysis.
Key Schedule Takeaways
17 teams play 4 games
12 teams play 3 games
Charlotte Hornets have only 2 games
Daily Game Load
Monday: 9 games
Tuesday: 6 games
Wednesday: 11 games
Thursday: 1 game (Suns vs. Clippers)
Friday: 11 games
Saturday: 8 games
Sunday: 7 games
Streaming days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (only 1 game), Saturday, Sunday
High-volume “non-streaming” days: Wednesday & Friday
Targeting Quality Games
Quality games are those scheduled on days with 10 or fewer NBA games, giving your waiver adds a legitimate chance to boost your fantasy roster.
Clippers and Suns are top stream options
Both teams play on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; each of these is a light schedule day.
The Clippers add a Monday game for a four-game, high-quality slate.
Use a waiver add-on a Clipper for Mon-Tue-Thu-Sat and maximize output from one slot. Replace your Hornets, Jazz, Cavs, or Spurs streamer with a Clipper to turn a 2-game or 3-game slot into four high-leverage games. Add one Sunday streamer for up to five games from that spot.
Suns offer streaming flexibility
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday games, all on quality days.
Waiver stream targets: Collin Gillespie (MY FAV), Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen.
Bucks provide early-week opportunity
Milwaukee plays Monday-Tuesday in a back-to-back.
Notable stream candidates for Monday-Tuesday: Gary Trent, A.J. Green, Ryan Rollins (A MUST ADD IF HE’S AVAILABLE).
Weekend pivots: Pacers and 76ers
After cycling through Suns or Clippers for light days, switch to Pacers or Sixers on the weekend for additional games from your streaming slot.
Schedule Quirks and Cautions
Jazz and Hornets do NOT play on the weekend.
Avoid stashing Utah and Charlotte depth players like Bailey, Sensabaugh, Filipowski, or Hendricks.
Charlotte has only two games; the only starter worth using is LaMelo Ball.
Cavs, Spurs, Jazz, Hornets: Only one quality game each all week.
Do not use your streaming moves on role players from these teams unless essential in deep or dynasty leagues.
Knicks: One game between Thursday and Saturday.
Streaming Execution: Maximize Your Weekly Moves
Four moves per week is standard on Yahoo and ESPN.
Use one move for a Clipper (Mon-Tue-Thu-Sat), a second for a Sun (Thu-Sat), and a third or fourth for the best Sunday option (as with Pacers/Sixers). This converts one roster slot into five useful games—your absolute streaming ceiling for the week.
When not to stream: Avoid burning moves on marginal upgrades for Wednesday and Friday unless replacing a player with a notably bad schedule.
Priority Players to Add or Stream
The strongest schedule-based streaming value comes from these highlighted names:
Clippers
Roster moves should be made for opportunity, but available Clippers are not standout adds this week. Brooke Lopez, Derek Jones, Khris Dunn are considered underwhelming options in this period. Target only if you are schedule-desperate.
Suns
Full of streaming value.
Collin Gillespie: especially useful in deep formats.
Royce O’Neale: proven multi-cat contributor.
Grayson Allen: widely available, provides instant short-term value.
Bucks
Early week cycle (Mon-Tue):
Gary Trent
A.J. Green
Ryan Rollins
Pacers/Sixers (Sunday best available):
Quentin Grimes, Adem Bona, and other Pacers/76ers streaming options.
Pro Tips for Execution
Max out streaming moves to increase both games played and quality days rather than simply running after total game count.
Evaluate real execution games: a team may have five total games, but if only two are streamable due to schedule congestion, those two are all that matter.
Focus less on brand names or full-season averages, more on team scheduling and real short-term opportunity.
Drop Hornets, Jazz, Cavs, or Spurs streamers (beyond LaMelo Ball) for more productive slots. Knicks role players are also prime drop candidates due to their schedule this week.
Longer-Term Streamers and Weekly Format Value
Available in over 65% of Yahoo leagues with solid schedules:
Quentin Grimes
Jarace Walker (solid run while starting)
Josh Minott (especially for category leagues, delivers boards, blocks, threes, steals, with some assists)
Jock Landale (for Memphis, boosted by games played this week, especially as injury fill-in)
Important Weekly League Notes
For leagues where lineups are locked at the start of the week, focus on adding the above names for pure games-played advantage; quality game targeting is far less critical.
Final Word
Use your four moves with intention. Stack light day schedules, pivot where a given team loads up on quality days, and avoid getting stuck with players from squads like the Hornets or Jazz that offer little to no help this week. The Suns (Gillespie, O’Neale, Allen) are versatile streamers, the Bucks provide a strong early back-to-back, and the Pacers/Sixers cover your Sunday. This is the week to turn dead weight into actionable, schedule-leveraged value. Good luck.
👉LEAVE US A REVIEW ON APPLE PODCASTS
👉SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Robbin Marx
NBA Fantasy Analyst
Experience: NBC Sports - Rotoworld, HashTag Basketball, Bleav Network