Fantasy Basketball: Week 22 weekend playoff strategy, teams to fade, waiver wire streaming options

As we head into the fantasy basketball playoffs semifinal weekend, the goal is to maximize every transaction. Friday has 10 games on the slate, which is exactly why you should avoid selecting players who play that day. Instead, utilize the schedule to your advantage by targeting players who will play on Thursday, Saturday or Sunday.

Below is a more in-depth look at how I’m planning out the rest of Week 22. Week 22 Strategy Target the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings — they each play three games (Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday), giving you a crucial edge over teams that either play two or fewer games this weekend or play on Friday’s 10-game slate. The Detroit Pistons are also a solid option, with two games on Thursday and Saturday.

Prioritizing these teams maximizes your streaming potential for the weekend. The Magic and Knicks play on Thursday and Sunday, but they don’t tend to have many streaming options (more on them later). Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season Plan out the rest of the week to avoid using roster spots for players who play on Friday’s big slate.

There’s nothing worse than picking up a player you can’t fit into your lineup. Instead, pick up a player from the Hornets, Pelicans or Kings on Thursday to get three games out of one add, giving you more value than single-game streamers. The goal is to get the most out of your transactions.