The NBA is back, and so too is fantasy basketball. The season begins on Oct.22 with two exciting games.

It is important to play the waiver wire early in the season. Look for breakout players that are getting more minutes or opportunities than expected.

Today, we will look at the weekly schedule to help owners in head-to-head leagues maximize their games played. That is a fantastic way to win weeks and eventually bring home a fantasy title.

Weekly lock leagues

Tips for the week: The games do not start until Tuesday meaning no teams play four times in the opening week. 20 teams play three times, though. The remaining ten have two games apiece.

In a standard league, I would not start any player ranked outside the top 50 playing only two games. Adding in that extra contest is a chance for stats. Think of it this way, a player playing three games that averages ten points and five assists would get 30 and 15. A two-game option would need to average 15 and 7.5. Always take the additional game.

Here are the top ten streaming options that are playing three games that are rostered in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo Leagues.

1. Taurean Prince- SF- Brooklyn Nets (49% rostered)- Prince averaged 13.5 points, 2.2 3-pointers made and 1.0 steal in 28.2 minutes per game for the Hawks last season. He should see a similar role in Brooklyn and ranks as 117th best player for the season in our fantasy basketball projections.
2. Jarrett Culver- SG/SF- Minnesota Timberwolves (32%)- The rookie should be in for a fine season. He is going to handle the ball some and projects to be a strong rebounder and source of steals. The percentages could be less than desirable, but he’s a fine addition in head-to-head leagues.
3. P.J. Washington- SF/PF- Charlotte Hornets (12%)- Washington had a strong preseason and looks penciled in as the starter on opening night. He averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 0.5 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game this preseason. Take a flyer on the 21-year-old.
4. Kent Bazemore- SG/SF- Portland Trail Blazers (35%)- Bazemore does not need many minutes to be fantasy relevant. He is a source of steals and blocks from a wing with across the board contributions in all six counting stats. He is ranked 129th in our season-long projections, but lacks the upside of Culver and Washington.
5. Dennis Schroder- PG- Oklahoma City Thunder (34%)- The hate has gone too far on Schroder. When factoring out his poor field goal percentage, he was a top 100 player last season. Expect points and assists. The Thunder are going to play him big minutes. They have no guards to speak of behind Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
6. Reggie Jackson- PG/SG- Detroit Pistons (33%)- Jackson and D-Rose figure to split the minutes at point guard this season. Expect 15 points and two 3-pointers made per game from Jackson even in 26 minutes. He checks in at 142 in our season-long projections.
7. Maxi Kleber- PF- Dallas Mavericks (36%)- Projected starting center Dwight Powell missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury. Coach Carlisle mentioned that Monday would be an important day for him. Kleber should be in for a larger role regardless. He produced 1.1 blocks and 1.1 3-pointers made in 21.2 minutes per game last season. He could be a nice boost in both categories plus six rebounds a night.
8. Dennis Smith Jr- PG- New York Knicks (27%)- DSJ will hurt your percentages, but his assists and steals will help. He should score 13-plus per game as well.
9. Kyle Anderson- SG/SF/PF- Memphis Grizzlies (33%)- Anderson is the type of guy that can average 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game in 27 minutes per game. He may a bit less than that to start the season but could be a sneaky fantasy option.
10. Tyus Jones- PG- Memphis Grizzlies (7%)- Jones is the backup point guard, but he and Ja Morant have shared the court some this preseason. He is projected to average 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game which could help you win both categories.

Daily roster changes

First, a word on the schedule itself: Streaming is a bit unfriendly in week 1. Wednesday has 11 games and Saturday features ten. It will be difficult to stream on both days because your active slots should be filled. We will eliminate those two days when looking at back-to-backs.

Friday has nine games making it dicey as far as streaming is concerned.

Best schedule of the week: LA Clippers. They play on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. That gives them two games on light schedule days.

Back-to-backs

Tuesday-Thursday pseudo

LA Clippers

Landry Shamet- PG (36% rostered)- Shamet is strictly a streamer for 3-pointers made. He is expected to start and could push towards three per game this season.

Ivica Zubac- C (30%)- Rebounds and blocks add.

JaMychal Green- PF (6%)- Add him for his six-plus rebounds per game.

Maurice Harkless- SF (4%)- Harkless can average one block and one steal per game in 23 minutes. He should see a larger role with Paul George sidelined to start the season.

Thursday-Friday

No teams scheduled.

Friday-Sunday pseudo

Brooklyn Nets

Tauren Prince- SF (49%)- Add Prince for a boost in points, 3-pointers made, and steals.

Charlotte Hornets

Marvin Williams- SF/PF (24%)- Williams is a steady contributor across the board. He ranks 160th in our season-long projections, so a streamer in standard leagues.

Dwayne Bacon- SG (18%)- Bacon is a volume scorer that goes not produce much else for fantasy. He looks primed to start and could average 15 points per game.

P.J. Washington- SF/PF (12%)- Washington should produce points, rebounds, threes, and steals. He should be the go-to add for overall production on the Hornets.

Malik Monk- SG (9%)- Add Monk for a boost in points and threes.

Dallas Mavericks

Maxi Kleber- PF (36%)- Kleber is a blocks streamer that should also help in rebounds and 3-pointers made. Could be starting and playing a bigger role, if Powell remains sidelined.

Tim Hardaway Jr- SG/SF (30%)- THJ is a points and 3-pointers made streamer.

Seth Curry- SG (15%)- Curry is one of the NBA’s best shooters. Expect plenty of threes with points and a steal per game.

Jalen Brunson- PG (1%)- A sneaky assists and rebounds streamer that will shoot solid percentages.

Los Angeles Lakers

No recommended streamers.

Memphis Grizzlies

Kyle Anderson- SG/SF/PF (33%)- Anderson is a sneaky add for rebounds, steals, and blocks.

Jae Crowder- SF/PF (14%)- Add Crowder for a boost in points, rebounds, and threes.

Tyus Jones- PG (7%)- One of the best assists and steals streamers on the wire.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Jarrett Culver- SG/SF (32%)- Add Culver for the rebounds and steals, but the points, threes, and assists numbers should help as well.

Josh Okogie- SG (4%)- Averaged 1.2 steals per game in 23.6 minutes last season.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Dennis Schroder-PG (34%)- Points, assists, and rebounds for guard are all steady.

Nerlens Noel- C (27%)- Add Noel for steals and blocks. He will produce both even in limited minutes.

Portland Trail Blazers

Kent Bazemore- SG/SF (35%)- One of the better streamers on the board. Bazemore produces well in the defensive stats and only hurts your percentages, but on limited volume.

Anfernee Simons- SG (6%)- The Blazers are set to give Simons a larger role. He could be the second unit playmaker. Portland has excelled at developing guards. Consider him a deeper league add with upside.

Final thoughts

That wraps up the first schedule preview for the 2019-2020 season. We will be back every week to help you set your lineups.

Looking for more info? Check out the Watching the Boxes Podcast for all the tips you need to dominate your league this season.