RADIO
It's another week of questions at the forward position--and hopefully another week of three more potential answers on the waiver wire. This week, I bring to the forefront three sleepers on the power end of the forward position who have brought their respective games to a level high enough in the past couple of weeks that they are becoming harder to ignore. If their play keeps up, you have a potentially valuable puzzle piece to your playoff run sitting on the waiver wire in 61%-96% of leagues.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Forwards: Week 17 Waiver Wire Pickups & Sleepers
Josh McRoberts (PF/C, MIA) - 4% Owned
With career averages of 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game; it shouldn't be a surprise that this Duke product doesn't jump off of the page. When taking a closer look, it is important to note that McRoberts has averaged just 19.6 minutes per game over his career; he would be averaging 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and an impressive (for a power forward) 3.9 assists per 36 minutes. McRoberts doesn't give up much in the efficiency department with a career .475 FG% and .705 FT%, though he does leave something to be desired in rebounding and blocks compared to the average power forward. He makes up for that a bit by passing much better than the average big man.
In the last three games for the shorthanded Heat, McRoberts has been averaging 23.5 minutes, 10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and a fantastic 5.3 assists per game. That assist figure puts him 9th among NBA forwards in the last three games. While most of that came in a massive game against the Hawks in which Hassan Whiteside was suspended and McRoberts played 29 minutes with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists, it's clear McRoberts will continue to play a big role for the Heat with Chris Bosh likely out for the season. McRoberts is a deep sleeper, but if you need to help specifically in the assist category, there are few forwards available who can do that like he can. He makes a particularly excellent play if you are punting one or more big man stats such as blocks or rebounds, and looking to better convert your PF or C position into stats elsewhere.
Willie Cauley-Stein (PF/C, SAC) - 19% Owned
With all of the drama in Sacramento, would you believe that people exist in the Kings' organization outside of George Karl, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rajon Rondo? This year, Willie Cauley-Stein hasn't exactly gotten to spread his wings with an average of just 20.3 minutes per game in his 40 games played. In that time he has averaged 6.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. This is equivalent to 11.2 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per 36 minutes.
In Willie's last 17 games since January 13th, he has accumulated 25 total blocks for a per game average of 1.47. He has been playing spectacular defense without a significant increase in playing time. The Sacramento roster is about as flexible as a roster gets, so with this level of play, Fantasy Basketball Managers can count on Cauley-Stein's playing time only increasing.
Alex Len (PF/C, PHO) - 39% Owned
Despite averaging 6.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in just 22 minutes per game last year, it is odd to think that Alex Len's playing time actually decreased to 19.8 minutes per game. That's what happens when you are the type of front office that would sign an over-the-hill Tyson Chandler to block playing time for your young star. This year Len is averaging 7.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks which is equivalent to an impressive 13.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes.
In Len's last 14 games he has had 11 games with seven rebounds or more and has scored in the double digits in seven of those 14 games as well. He has had two games of two blocks and one game of three, as well as a high of 18 rebounds on February 4th and 23 points on February 21st. Len may not be the most consistent of options, but he is a high volume producer in points, rebounds, and blocks. His path to playing time is little less murky now that Markieff Morris is a Wizard -- the Suns have rarely played him alongside Chandler except for a short experiment, but at this point it seems worth trying to get Len on the court more often. In the very short term his role is extremely clear, though, with Tyson Chandler currently out of action due to a shoulder injury.
