Fantasy waiver: Maximising your score with crucial pick-ups

5 May 2021 at 9:00 pm·3-min read

Alex Caruso and Mo Bamba are available in most Yahoo leagues, and could be crucial pickups in your grand final matchups. Pictures: Getty Images

This is it. The home stretch. We have four days to go in the fantasy season for default Yahoo leagues, so who are the players and teams we have to target to maximise our games and fantasy points to get to glory.

The Hornets, Mavericks, Thunder, Bulls, Pistons, and Lakers all play three games between Friday and Monday, so targeting players from those teams is a great idea.

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At the same time, the Bucks and Hawks have just one game in the last four days of the week, so as tough as it may be, players like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, John Collins, Clint Capela might have to be dropped.

All players listed are available in over 50% of Yahoo leagues.

Jalen McDaniels - The Hornets are without Miles Bridges and Gordon Hayward for probably the rest of the season, and now Cody Martin is also hurt, which likely thrusts McDaniels back into a 30 minute a night role for the rest of this week, at least. And as mentioned above, the Hornets have a robust schedule with three games in four nights to end the week.

Isaiah Roby - the Thunder rotation can be tough to predict, but with three games and Aleksej Pokuševski banged up, Roby has a substantial role for the rest of the week.

Killian Hayes - Hayes is now cleared for back to backs, and I would be stunned if Cory Joseph, Jerami Grant, Wayne Ellington, and Mason Plumlee play again this season. Hayes should start three games this week and play 30 minutes a night at least.

Malik Monk - Like McDaniels, Monk’s value is due to three games and Devonte’ Graham’s troublesome knee. Monk was dreadful last game, but don’t hold that against him.

Frank Jackson - Jackson is a scorer. Nothing else. But for Yahoo leagues, that is great. And now, along with the resting veterans, Josh Jackson is sidelined, and Hamidou Diallo is at least ruled out for Thursday, so I would expect huge minutes and usage for Jackson as we move forward this week.

Frank Jackson could be a useful scoring option as his minutes increase for the Detroit Pistons in the latter stages of the season. (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) (NBAE via Getty Images)

Alex Caruso - Dennis Schröder could be done for the regular season, and LeBron is missing at least Thursday’s game, so Caruso will have the ball in his hands a lot more and see his minutes rise as the starter. Three games helps as well.

Daniel Theis - We don’t know if Nikola Vučević will play all three games for Chicago, so Theis could see an increase in minutes. He will start regardless, but as the starting centre, his value rises.

Mo Bamba - Bamba is getting minutes over Wendell Carter anyway, and now Carter is dealing with an eye issue, so Bamba should be scooped in all formats for the rest of the season.

Josh Richardson - Richardson was benched in the second half for Josh Green last game for Dallas, and Rick Carlisle did intimate they may be changes, but I’m not so sure. Regardless, the three games makes him a semi appealing option to end your week.

Good luck in your matchups.

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