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Fantasy basketball: Priority waiver wire pick-ups for Week 6

DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick White and Jeremy Lamb, pictured here in the NBA.

It’s essential to make sure you are on top of the news to see where some unexpected opportunities could arise for fantasy basketball.

Like this week, the Wizards are starting Anthony Gill and Jerome Robinson in games.

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In this article, I’m going to give you some names who could be on your waiver wire in Yahoo default points fantasy leagues, who really shouldn’t be, for the long term and the short term.

Under 70% Rostered (10 Team League Targets)

DeMarcus Cousins

Cousins has played over 30 minutes in the last three games without Christian Wood and excelled in two.

He looked close enough to the Boogie of old that I am interested to see what he can do moving forward.

The concern is when Wood returns, how does Cousins play enough to matter?

He has played just two minutes next to Wood all season, and it went poorly, but Stephen Silas did say he wants to try and get Cousins more minutes.

It may not, and likely won’t, work, but I will be adding Cousins and seeing where it goes, even though Wood will return Friday.

Derrick White

White has barely played this season, with two separate injuries to the same toe, but we could be getting close to Maximum Derrick getting back on the court.

With a return soon, leaving a top 100 player on the wire is not a wise move, so I would be adding White to my roster in preparation for his return.

Mason Plumlee

Sure, the Pistons are going nowhere. But, I don’t think Dwane Casey is going to bench Plumlee and start Isaiah Stewart at any point soon.

So, that’s why it baffles me to see Plumlee available in so many leagues when he is a top 100 player so far this season.

Maybe he is benched, but who cares? Add him, use him and make adjustments later.

Under 50% Rostered (12 Team League Targets)

Cole Anthony

Every game he started, he has looked better and better, and I could easily be convinced to add him in 10 team leagues.

No-one is coming for his minutes, and as he settles in, he will get more ball handling chances, and the shot will fall more.

Darius Bazley

It’s been a rough start for Bazley and fantasy managers have responded swiftly by dropping Bazley.

But, if they drop, I will add. He has looked better in the last two games, and like with Anthony; he is getting used to a new role.

As he gets more comfortable, the production will rise, and I wouldn’t leave him on the wire.

Jeremy Lamb

He has recovered from his catastrophic knee injury at an unbelievable level.

With TJ Warren and Caris LeVert out long term, Lamb has a real opportunity to get some good minutes for the next two months or so.

I expect his shooting numbers to fall somewhat, but the chances are there for him to be an excellent option.

Darius Bazley, pictured here in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA.
Darius Bazley in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

Under 30% Rostered (14 Team League Targets)

Cody Zeller

Zeller has moved back into the starting lineup for Thursday’s game, and he is available pretty much everywhere.

He isn’t a high upside player, but in a deep league, Zeller can produce consistent numbers which can be useful.

Thaddeus Young

With Wendell Carter Jr out for at least a month and Daniel Gafford performing terribly, Young should see his minutes increase over the next few weeks.

I would even consider him in 12 team leagues, but he is a clear add in 14 teamers with this extra opportunity afforded to him.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker

NAW has a substantial role right now, playing ahead of JJ Redick most nights and getting around 20 minutes a night.

The Pelicans want to clear more minutes for him, and they have been rumoured to be dealing Lonzo Ball and Redick, with Eric Bledsoe also another name who could be on the move.

NAW has value now, but he could be an elite stash option.

Short Term Adds

Reggie Jackson

With no Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Patrick Beverley, Reggie Jackson is going to play a lot of minutes and take a lot of shots.

He will barely play when they all return, but for now, add him and squeeze every drop out of him.

Terance Mann

Like Jackson, Mann has a shot at getting a few starts under his belt with the Clippers’ trio all sidelined.

He had four steals in his first start, and he is a good rebounder and passer.

He isn’t as much of a priority as Jackson, but he still can be worth adding.

Jarred Vanderbilt

I like Vanderbilt quite a bit. He is the best power forward on the Wolves’ roster.

For now, he is starting with Juancho Hernangómez and Karl-Anthony Towns out, and I think there is a chance he keeps starting even when Juancho is back.

Add him for now, and he may be someone to keep holding.

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