The NBA trade deadline takes place in the middle of Week 17. Thursday, Feb. 7 is the day and that could mean chaos for fantasy basketball managers. The deadline can shake up the fantasy landscape or come and go with little noise. Fantasy managers need to be on their toes for changes in value but don’t overreact either. Dropping a surefire starter for an upside flier is a way to fall down your standings instead of move up.

Today, our focus is on the Week 17 schedule and how managers can that to their advantage in head-to-head leagues. Be sure to check out the Advanced Schedule Grid at Hashtag Basketball to crush any desires you have about any week’s schedule.

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: There is plenty less volume on the schedule this week. Only nine teams play four games in Week 17. That means fewer choices on the waiver wire, but the more impact they could have on your lineup.

The Utah Jazz have the worst slate by playing only games. The remaining 20 teams play three times this week.

Maximizing games played and minutes is often a winning fantasy basketball strategy so here is a look at some possible streaming targets playing four times in Week 17. (All roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues and under 50 percent was the cutoff line for available on the waiver wire)

1. Kevin Huerter- Atlanta Hawks (27%)- For the month of January, Huerter averaged 34.1 minutes per game and produced 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.2 3-pointers made and 1.3 steals per game.
2. Josh Jackson- Phoenix Suns (34%)- Jackson is on a tear over his last five games. He averaged 15.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.0 3-pointer made per game in 31.4 minutes.
3. D.J. Augustin- Orlando Magic (42%)- Augustin is averaging 4.7 assists, 1.7 3-pointers made, and 11.8 points per game for the year.
4. Mikal Bridges- Phoenix Suns (27%)- Bridges averaged 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game over the month of January making him a viable add in any league.
5. Thomas Bryant- Washington Wizards (42%)- Bryant averaged 11.4 points and 7.5 rebounds on strong percentages in 23.6 minutes for the month of January.
6. Richaun Holmes- Phoenix Suns (16%)- Holmes has averaged 10.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game over the month of January.
7. Bryn Forbes- San Antonio Spurs (23%)- Forbes averages 12.1 points and 2.2 3-pointers made per game on the year on strong percentages.
8. Marco Belinelli- San Antonio Spurs (20%)- Belinelli averages 11.0 points and 2.0 3-pointers made per game for the year.
9. Alex Len- Atlanta Hawks (18%)- Double-digit points with five-plus rebounds and a block per game for Len on the year.
10. Frank Jackson- New Orleans Pelicans (1%)- Injuries are opening up an increased opportunity and Jackson is exploiting it with strong points, rebounds, and steals.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: The maximum games played in a single day this week is nine. That puts it on the borderline of streaming, so we will put it both ways in the look at the back-to-backs

Note: The Sacramento Kings have the week’s top slate. They play four home games and zero on back-to-back sets.

Back-to-backs

Monday-Tuesday

Detroit Pistons

Reggie Bullock (15%)- Points and threes add.

Stanley Johnson (2%)- Deeper league steals target.

Indiana Pacers

Tyreke Evans (45%)- Immense potential, but the minutes and opportunity have been lacking all season.

Cory Joseph (10%)-Deeper league assists streamer.

Tuesday-Wednesday

Charlotte Hornets

Bismack Biyombo (5%)- Biyombo is a rebounds and blocks target when playing over 20 minutes per game.

Wednesday-Thursday

San Antonio Spurs

Bryn Forbes (23%)- Points and three add.

Marco Belinelli (20%)- Points and 3-pointers made streamer.

Thursday- Friday

Minnesota Timberwolves

No recommended streamers.

Friday-Saturday

Chicago Bulls

Bobby Portis (48%)- Points and rebound target when playing over 20 minutes per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Collin Sexton (39%)- Sexton averages 14.3 points per game on the year with little contributions in other categories.

Rodney Hood (11%)- Deeper league points target.

New York Knicks

Kevin Knox (46%)- Underrated points streamer who chips in nearly five rebounds and two threes.

Noah Vonleh (45%)- Top rebounds streamer on the wire.

Milwaukee Bucks

No recommended streamers.

New Orleans Pelicans

Frank Jackson (1%)- Taking advantage of plenty of injuries in New Orleans, Jackson is points, rebounds, and steals target with playing over 25 minutes per game.

Washington Wizards

Thomas Bryant (42%)- Points and rebounds target.

Saturday-Sunday

Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Huerter (27%)- Huerter is a must add for the remainder of the year as a steady across the board contributor.

Alex Len (18%)- Len averages double-digit points with 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 block in under 20 minutes per game.

Jeremy Lin (10%)- Deeper league assists streamer.

DeAndre’ Bembry (9%)- Steals target.

Orlando Magic

D.J. Augustin (42%)- Assists, threes, and points add.

Looking ahead to Week 18

Here is a peek at how to maximize your games in both Week’s 17 and 18, but adding a player now and getting an extra game for the following matchup.

Sunday- Monday of Week 18

Dallas Mavericks

Maxi Kleber (8%)- Should see near starters minutes after the Porzingis trade. Kleber should average over 1.5 blocks with five rebounds, nearing one steal and over a 3-pointer made each night.

Miami Heat

Dwayne Wade (29%)- Points and assists streamer.

Bam Adebayo (31%)- Rebounds target.

Portland Trail Blazers

Evan Turner (5%)- Turner averages 4.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on the year.

Final thoughts

The path to a fantasy title lies in maximizing your games in head-to-head leagues, so keep an eye out of future articles. If you are looking for additional advice, be sure to check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast. It will keep you up on all the latest fantasy basketball news. We analyze everything you need to know to dominate your league, so do not miss it.