Welcome to the 2023 Week 1 Fantasy Basketball Streamers article! After waiting over 130 days, the NBA season is finally back, and with that, the WILD world of fantasy basketball. Week 1 streamers are like those one-hit-wonder pop stars: they shine briefly, then vanish into obscurity (I’m looking at you, James Blunt).
Your goal this week? Find those hidden gems buried deeper than the Mariana Trench. You’re about to make waiver wire moves so daring, you’ll rival The Joker. Whether it’s a rookie making a splash or a veteran hitting a hot streak, the magic of fantasy basketball awaits. So, lace up your virtual sneakers and get ready to outsmart the competition.
The following players are rostered in < 30% of BOTH Fantrax and Yahoo leagues. WARNING! Most of the players listed below were covered in my Top 10 Deep League Targets article.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
Top Fantasy Basketball Streamers for Week 1
Jonathan Isaac (20% on Fantrax, 10% on Yahoo)
Isaac is mostly a forgotten fantasy asset. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy since going down in 2019. But before his injury, the 26-year-old was a top-25 fantasy stud, averaging 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.6 steals, 1.4 assists, and 0.9 three-pointers. Savvy fantasy managers should stash him to see if he plays significant minutes for the rebuilding Orlando Magic.
Rui Hachimura (18% on Fantrax, 28% on Yahoo)
Hachimura provided a much-needed scoring spark for the Los Angeles Lakers after being traded from the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline last season. He’s looking at another sizable role off the bench as a scorer and rebounder for LA to start the year. If you need points, rebounds, and field-goal percentage with low-end assists, give the 25-year-old a long look.
Kyle Lowry (22% on Fantrax, 29% on Yahoo)
It’s not known whether Lowry will start or not, but either way, he should see 25-plus minutes a game. Even though he’s slowing down at age 37, the Villanova product should provide decent points, assists, rebounds, and steals for your fantasy squad.
Luguentz Dort (26% on Fantrax, 20% on Yahoo)
Even with Oklahoma City boasting a bunch of young studs, Dort should get plenty of minutes with his elite on-ball defense. He should stick close to last season’s averages of 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals, which is extremely valuable in deeper nine-category leagues.
Gabe Vincent (13% on Fantrax, 13% on Yahoo)
Vincent burst onto the scenes during the 2023 NBA playoffs, where he posted 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 three-pointers across 22 games. The 27-year-old should have a significant role off the bench after signing a 3-year/$33 million with the Los Angeles Lakers over the offseason. Fire him up if you need low-end points, assists, rebounds, assists, and steals.
Terance Mann (13% on Fantrax, 13% on Yahoo)
Mann has been named the starter for the Los Angeles Clippers, which automatically gives him somewhat of a safe floor. The 27-year-old averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 three-pointers, and 0.8 “stocks” across 81 games last season, which should be the case again this season.
Bilal Coulibaly (15% on Fantrax, 16% on Yahoo)
Coulibaly enjoyed a nice preseason, averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 assists across four games. The rookie’s scoring and across-the-board stats will fluctuate, but you can count on elite steals along with low-end points, rebounds, and assists as long as he stays in the starting lineup for the Washington Wizards.
Dereck Lively II (30% on Fantrax, 27% on Yahoo)
Lively II was a lottery pick drafted to protect the rim for Dallas. He should do the same for your fantasy team. Over four preseason games, the rookie out of Duke averaged 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 assists. These are not eye-opening stats, but I believe the rebounds and blocks are real. With blocks being a difficult stat to stream, the 19-year-old should be a consistent swatting force for your fantasy squad.
Grayson Allen (3% on Fantrax, 7% on Yahoo)
Allen averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 three-pointers, and 0.9 steals for the Bucks last season, and I expect similar-to-better numbers in Phoenix this season. I believe the 28-year-old will be a valuable 3-and-D asset for your fantasy team.
Christian Braun (8% on Fantrax, 7% on Yahoo)
With Bruce Brown leaving for the Indiana Pacers, Braun should be thrusted into heavy minutes off the bench this season. The 22-year-old has potential 3-and-D potential with solid points and field-goal percentage.
As we wrap up this Week 1 Fantasy Basketball Streamers article, remember that in the wild world of fantasy basketball, you’re not just managing a team; you’re practically running a circus. These streamers are like acrobats, jumping into the spotlight, doing their flips, and then disappearing (looking at you again, James Blunt).
So, get ready to juggle waiver wire decisions, make slam-dunk moves, and dodge fantasy curveballs. Whether you’re pulling a rookie out of your fantasy hat or riding a hot streak of a veteran, this season promises to be a sidesplitting roller coaster. Lace up your virtual shoes and let the games begin.
As for this article? “You can put this one in the refrigerator. The door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O is jiggling.”
Good luck in Week 1!