RADIO
Hello and welcome to yet another week of yet another set of slept-on forwards who can take your roster to the next level. Today we will be taking a look at three players players who have been on top of their game who are available in anywhere between 60%-82% of Yahoo leagues, and one super deep mega ultra sleeper of whom all Fantasy Basketball Managers should keep their eyes on. With that, let us proceed.
Be sure to check out RotoBaller's other Week 8 NBA coverage, including our Week 8 Waiver Wire Guards and Week 8 Waiver Wire Centers.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Forwards: Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups & Sleepers
Luis Scola (PF/C, TOR) - Owned in 19% of Yahoo! leagues
Let's first talk about something incredibly noteworthy from Luis Scola: After just ten made three pointers in 60 career attempts since 2007, Luis Scola has made 16 three pointers this season in 38 attempts for a great percentage of 42.1%. So right of the bat, Scola is offering you something huge that he hasn't offered in the past, and that most other PF/C combos don't offer at all. Currently; Scola is averaging 0.7 steals, 10.5 points, and 5.8 rebounds per game in 23.7 minutes played on average. Per 36 minutes Scola would be averaging 1.0 steal, 15.9 points, and 8.9 rebounds. Scola has never averaged lower than 7.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and that was the season in which he played just 17.1 minutes per game. Scola has always been a great option for points and rebounds, and an off and on choice for some sneaky steals at PF. Now that he is receiving adequate playing time and is sinking 0.6 three pointers a game at 42.1%, Scola should be working his way on to far more rosters here soon.
Tony Allen (SG/SF, MEM) - Owned in 36% of Yahoo! leagues
There is a pretty clear reason I'm about to recommend Tony Allen to Fantasy Basketball Managers, and it isn't his eight points per game or 27% 3PT% for his career. Tony Allen has never averaged less than 0.8 steals per game for a season and has averaged as many as 2.0 steals per game last season. He has a career average of 1.4 steals per game and has 957 career steals including 129 in 2011 and 2015. Allen would also be lethal if any injuries occurred to the Memphis starting lineup. Allen is averaging just 21.3 minutes per game, but he would be averaging 2.5 steals per game if he received 36 minutes per game. With a steal% of 3.5% currently and a league leading percentage of 4.1% last season, Fantasy Basketball Managers should add Allen due to his continued prowess in steals.
Kosta Koufos (PF/C, SAC) - Owned in 39% of Yahoo! leagues
Kosta Koufos is a career role player as a backup center. However, if he has proved anything in his career since 2008, it is that he performs when he receives adequate opportunity. Koufos has averaged as few as 4.6 minutes per game and has a career average of 15.7 minutes per game. He is currently averaging a career high of 22.8 minutes per game. Three times in his career Koufos has averaged between 16.5 and 16.9 minutes per game. In those three time periods Koufos averaged 0.8 and 0.9 blocks per contest. Koufos has also averaged above 20 minutes per game at 22.4 and 22.8 minutes per game and in that period of time he averaged 1.3 blocks and 1.1 blocks per game. This year with his increased PT; Koufos is averaging 8.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Per 36 minutes he would be averaging 13.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks. With a block% of 4% and a career average of 4.2%, Kosta Koufos has proven that he is worth grabbing as long as he receives about 20 minutes per game, even with a career starting percentage of just 33%.
MEGA SLEEPER:
Joffrey Lauvergne (PF/C, DEN) - Owned in 9% of Yahoo! leagues
Joffrey Lauvergne is a 6-11 PF/C combo who was drafted out of France in 2013. Since that transition from Europe to the U.S., he has played in just 33 games (starting seven) and received 421 total minutes of play for an average of 12.8 minutes per game over his career. However, in nine games for the Denver Nuggets this year, Lauvergne has started six and is currently averaging a solid 17 minutes per game. First and foremost, he is a cliche "Euro-Bigman" with his stroke. He has a 92.3% FT% this season and has drained four three pointers in 8 attempts in just the nine games played. Lauvergne is averaging 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest this season, which equates to a heavily impressive 17.4 points and 11.5 rebounds per 36 minutes played. With 0.2 steals and 0.3 blocks per game, he has yet to show a heavy defensive prowess, but that doesn't mean that he isn't capable. Last season in 24 games for Denver in which he averaged just 11.2 minutes per game, Lauvergne averaged 0.3 steals and 0.4 blocks per game which extrapolates to a solid 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Lauvergne is the ultimate deep sleeper with just 8% ownership, but he offers statistical expertise in categories other 6-11 players could only dream of, and every figure of his box score states that he would be lethal in lineups with increased playing time. If you are feeling lucky today, tomorrow, or somewhere down the road, add Lauvergne and hope the French product gets the chance to turn heads.
