RADIO
Hello again! It's the final few days of NBA action before the All-Star Break. It's time to take a look at a group of forwards who are opening doors of opportunity to opportunistic Fantasy Basketball Managers. These three forwards, available in the majority of fantasy leagues, have really stood out in the last two weeks in one or several statistical categories.
Be sure to check out our other Week 16 Waiver Wire coverage, including our Waiver Wire Guards.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Forwards: Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups & Sleepers
Matt Barnes (SG/SF, MEM) - 37% Owned
Matt Barnes can typically be counted on for long range shooting and solid defense. However, in his last five games he has also averaged a solid 1.2 blocks in 24 minutes to go with his usual workman-like totals of 8.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 three pointers a game. Barnes is shooting 34.5% from beyond the arc for the season and is averaging 0.8 blocks and 1.1 steals. That efficiency combined with hustle stats aren't usually put up by someone throwing up a high volume of 3PA and also averaging 5.2 rebounds per game. Barnes's level of versatility is worth more than his ownership figures. 63% of Fantasy Basketball Managers could benefit from Barnes's five category ability with a simple add right now.
Dion Waiters (SG/SF, OKC) - 13% Owned
Dion Waiters is an interesting pickup. He has only started eight of the Thunders' 52 games, yet he has averaged 28 minutes per game. In that time he has averaged 9.9 points, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 three pointers per game at 36.4% from beyond the arc. In his last six games he has averaged 36 minutes, 11 points, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 three pointers. On a roster as stacked as OKC's, it may be hard to count on Waiters gaining much more usage than that, barring an injury to one of their stars. However, he scores well, and when he scores he does so from long range. His three pointers, in addition to the nice average of a steal per game, make him a solid value in deeper leagues.
Miles Plumlee (PF/C, MIL) - 1% Owned
As a Kentucky fan, it may pain me to write about the well doings of a Plumlee, but older brother Miles has been producing at a pretty efficient rate in Milwaukee. In his last five games, with an opportunity to prove himself in the absence of John Henson, Plumlee has averaged 5.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and an impressive 1.8 blocks in just 15.5 minutes per game. That level of defensive quantity in such little time is actually the norm for Plumlee over his career. Over his career he has averaged 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 17.6 minutes per game. That is equivalent to 10.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes. Plumlee certainly doesn't jump off of the screen, but for being available in 99% of leagues, his shot blocking and rebounding ability makes him quite desirable in deeper leagues while Henson remains out. He could find himself in a better opportunity after the trade deadline, as well.
