The NBA is officially moving on from “small sample size theater” after roughly 10 games of play for each team. Going forward this is where fantasy contenders are separated from fantasy pretenders.
Nailing the waiver wire each week is one of the keys to becoming one of those contenders.
The waiver wire is one way a Fantasy Manager can avoid finishing a week losing by just one steal, one three-pointer or by percentage points from the field or the free-throw line. Avoid being that person in your league this week and this season.
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Each week I try to help by taking a look at the best available waiver wire additions. These are all players that are rostered on less than 50% of Yahoo! Fantasy leagues. This week these are the three guards, forwards, centers and specialists that can help you win your week.
Guards
Keyonte George (20% Rostered)
Three Games: Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns (twice)
Over his last two games, George has totaled 14 points, 20 assists and five rebounds in 61 minutes. He is getting more and more trust in the offense, which has opened up his opportunities to make plays.
The give and take is George’s shooting (5-20) which has dipped some.
Alec Burks (19% Rostered)
Three Games: Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors
Burks came back with a very strong game of 16 points, four assists and three rebounds with two made three-pointers and going 8/9 from the free-throw line.
Before going out with injury Burks had totaled 60 points with 14 made three-pointers and going 12/15 from the free-throw line in four games.
Reggie Jackson (17% Rostered)
Three Games: Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers
In three games as a starter replacing Jamal Murray this season, Jackson has totaled 41 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and six three-pointers.
He had one down shooting game, but has rebounded nicely going 14/29 from the field overall in his last two games.
Forwards
Bilal Coulibaly (25% Rostered)
Three Games: Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks
The rookie quietly totaled 46 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals last week in four games. Coulibaly did that by making nine three-pointers, going 7/7 from the free-throw line and shooting 57.7% from the field.
Haywood Highsmith (10% Rostered)
Three Games: Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls
Over his last three games, Highsmith has played the most minutes of the season, filling up the stat sheet with 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and seven STOCKS.
Highsmith has also shown the potential to contribute from three this season making eight over a four-game stretch.
Keita Bates-Diop (2% Rostered)
Three Games: Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz (twice)
It is hard to project the Phoenix role player that will have the best week around the three star scorers, but last week that was Bates-Diop.
He finished the week filling up the stat sheet with 24 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and six STOCKS. Bates-Diop will also get a lot of open shots, making three three-pointers last week.
Centers
Moritz Wagner (31% Rostered)
Three Games: Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls (twice)
This season Wagner might be the best-kept secret in fantasy hoops. The big man has scored in double-figures in six straight games with 26 rebounds, seven STOCKS and six made three-pointers.
With Wendell Carter Jr. out with injury, Wagner is getting more opportunities to play bigger minutes, which is maximizing.
Dario Saric (17% Rostered)
Three Games: Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder (twice)
This season Saric has been a steady rebounder off the bench. He is coming off his first double-double of the season and four or more rebounds in every game. Saric has also been efficient as a scorer all year. He is not a big time scorer, but has at least one made three-pointer in eight games and has shot 40% or better in four straight.
Andre Drummond (12% Rostered)
Four Games: Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic (twice) and Miami Heat
During the pre-season, Drummond dominated and looked like a player to consider for fantasy hoops. Last week in three games Drummond finished with 25 points, 23 rebounds, three assists and five STOCKS with one double-double.
Drummond did that in just 41 minutes giving Chicago a ton of energy and effort off the bench.
Specialists
Three-Pointers: Doug McDermott (1% Rostered)
Three Games: Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies
This season McDermott has made at least one three in all but one game and two three-pointers in five games.
Last week McDermott finished the week with 10 made three-pointers in four games, 39 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds giving even more value from the deep bench slot.
Assists: Kyle Lowry (48% Rostered)
Three Games: Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls
Over his last three games Lowry has started to look like his old self with 18 assists. If your team needs assists and Lowry is available he is a no-brainer.
During this stretch, Lowry also has 39 points, 17 rebounds, nine made three-pointers and a double-double. He can win a Fantasy Manager a week with that level of play.
STOCKS: Charles Bassey (1% Rostered)
Three Games: Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies
This is a deep, deep bench option as a center. Last week in four games Bassey totaled 21 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and nine STOCKS.
Bassey could help a Fantasy Manager win a week in STOCKS, while providing solid coverage in rebounding and field goal percentage.
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