Fantasy Basketball: Under the radar waiver wire pick-ups
By now, we are seeing players settle into their roles and performances start to stabilise, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t value on fantasy basketball waiver wires.
Players get injured, teams struggle, trades occur, and it’s essential to stay on top of players who may be able to help your team.
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So, I’m here to look over the waiver wire for players who may be able to help you.
Under 70% Rostered (10 Team League Targets)
Immanuel Quickley
Is this bold? Probably, but the minutes are trending, and Elfrid Payton is trending down.
IQ is averaging 34 fantasy points in his last three games, playing 28 minutes a night.
I find it hard to see how any logical coach could play him under 20 minutes moving forward although logic and Tom Thibodeau don’t always mesh.
Quickley is still around in fantasy leagues, rostered in 57% of leagues, so I would add him, ride the bumps, and see what happens.
White is back from his second toe injury of the season, and he isn’t rostered in 70% of leagues yet.
I guess a lot of people are sleeping on a guy that I consider to be the Spurs’ best player.
It may be rough at first, as he works his way back and gets his rhythm and minutes right, but I am not leaving him on the wire in any league.
The Pistons are bad. It feels inevitable that the Pistons will want to play more rookies.
But, Dwane Casey doesn’t believe in the future apparently, so Mason Plumlee is getting big minutes, and producing in those minutes, as the team’s starting centre.
Plumlee is rostered in under 60% of leagues and is averaging almost 27 points per game this season. He shouldn’t be on the wire.
Under 50% Rostered (12 Team League Targets)
Cody Zeller
Since Zeller has returned to the starting five, he has played at least 30 minutes in his three of the four games.
People haven’t really caught on, but he is averaging 36 fantasy points in those four games.
He shouldn’t be on the wire in 10 team leagues, let alone 12 team leagues.
Cole Anthony
Anthony looks better every game and no-one is coming for his starting role.
How is he still rostered in under 50% of leagues. He has legitimate top 100 upside and is averaging 26 fantasy points in the last two weeks.
Now Aaron Gordon is out, so the ball will be in Anthony’s hands more. This is a no-brainer add.
I know Bazley has disappointed. But, I am still keeping the faith.
His role is secure, and he can only get better from where he has been this season, as the shot starts to fall.
Under 30% Rostered (14 Team League Targets)
Josh Jackson
It appears Casey is favouring Jackson over Ellington again, and Josh’s recent games have been very encouraging.
I would even consider him a 12 team add, but in a 14 team league, it’s a no brainer to get a guy who can score like Jackson on a team as bad as Detroit.
Finney-Smith is a low upside type of player, but he is still being undervalued in a 14 team setting.
He is only averaging 20 fantasy points per game, but I think it can push to 23-24 per game, which is plenty for deeper leagues.
Alexander-Walker is more of a stash in hopes of a Lonzo Ball or Eric Bledsoe trade, but he is already a member of the rotation and is not afraid to let it fly when the ball gets into his hands.
Short Term Adds
Thad Young
With Wendell Carter Jr. out, Young is the Bulls player who is stepping up.
Young is averaging 40 fantasy points in his last two games.
He may not reach these heights each game, but he is too valuable to leave on the wire while Carter is out.
Jeremy Lamb
Lamb has a crucial role with TJ Warren and Caris LeVert out and is producing at a high level, averaging 26 fantasy points per game.
It may not last, but he is someone to have to see where it goes.
Gary Trent Jr
Trent is filling in for CJ McCollum, and while he is hot and cold, he is red hot at the moment, playing big minutes and hitting a ton of shots.
He is averaging 30 points in his last four games, and while he can easily throw up a 10 point stinker, he is worth holding.
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