Steals streamers can be hard to manage on a week-to-week basis. League leaders in steals can often go a game or two without a steal. When that happens, it can leave streamers and long-term holders befuddled and disappointed.
Luckily, there are ways we can predict steal rates if we use one advanced stat and zoom out a little bit. According to Basketball Reference, STL% is “an estimate of the percentage of opponent possessions that end with a steal by the player while they were on the floor.”
This stat helps us because we can discover players that might be better defensive players than their minutes played might suggest. In this article, I break down three players with the potential for more steals and minutes come fantasy playoff time.
2022-23 Fantasy Basketball: Using STL% to Find Steals Streamers
Steals Streamers
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets, SF, 4.7% Rostered
Eason is No. 4 in the NBA with a 2.8 STL%. While it took him a little while to warm up to regular season play, the rookie has been consistently getting 19-20 minutes per game.
The Rockets are one of the league’s worst teams this year. Therefore, they will be resting their starters heavily down the stretch, which will open up more minutes for Eason.
Jevon Carter, Milwaukee Bucks, PG, 2.1% Rostered
Carter ranks No. 12 in the NBA with a STL% of 2.3. With so many injuries plaguing the Bucks this season, Carter has often been the one to step up and handle more responsibility at both ends of the floor.
While the Milwaukee lineup is healthy for the time being, they’re a lock for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They will be giving their stars plenty of rest in the final weeks of the season, which will boost Carter’s playing time.
Jalen McDaniels, Charlotte Hornets, SF/PF, 10.8% Rostered
McDaniels has the most all-around appeal of these three players. He’s ranked No. 111 in 9-category leagues on a per-game basis. He has supplied low-end steals, blocks, FT%, and turnover efficiency all season long.
Still, he’s only rostered in 10.8% of ESPN leagues. Whether or not he gets traded, McDaniels is a lock for 28+ minutes a night. Further, his steals per game average is up to 1.3 in the last month. The Hornets have several four-game weeks in March and April, so keep an eye on McDaniels.
Finally, here are some tips when considering steals streamers come playoff time:
- Try to add your steals streamers when they have back-to-backs or three games in four days. Hoping for a steal or two from a one-day stream is a recipe for disaster.
- Understand who your streamers are going up against. Look for teams leading the league in turnovers and pace of play
Check out the 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Rest of Season Rankings to see where Fantasy Six Pack has all your favorite players ranked!
