RADIO
Jonas Valanciunas is a fantasy basketball draft sleeper for the 2021 NBA season. Target him as a value pick in this season's drafts.
BALLER MOVE: Target Around 54 Overall
CURRENT ADP: 69
ANALYSIS: After playing just 49 games in 2019, Jonas Valanciunas was on the court 70 times last year as a full-time Grizzlie for the first time since Toronto traded him two years ago. And oh boy, did he delivered. JoVa, while averaging a lo 26.4 mpg for the Grizz in 2020, still racked up 35 FPPG and averaged a monster-efficient 1.33 FP/min that ranked 16th among all players in the NBA with 1,000+ minutes of playing time.
While it is true that Valanciunas finished the season as the 11th-best (in total fantasy points) center-eligible player (that includes the likes of Giannis and Siakam, though...) it must be taken into account how he did so while playing the fewest minutes among the top-28 players in that group. JoVa's production and efficiency were insane, no questions asked. Even the smallest of upticks in Valanciunas playing time should give his numbers a boost--and his main competition at the position, Jaren Jackson Jr., is expected to be out until the end of January at least.
Only Valanciunas, Joel Embiid, and Hassan Whiteside averaged a 14-11 line in 2020 while playing less than 30 mpg. Oh, and Valanciunas is the first player ever to average a 14-11 in fewer than 28 minutes per game. And if that isn't impressive enough to convince you of drafting Jonas earlier, he put the cherry on top by averaging 1.9 apg and 1.1 bpg while turning the ball over just 1.1 times per game. Take that for data.
More Fantasy Basketball Values and Sleepers
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 15 (2024-25): February 3 - February 9
If you're like me, you woke up to one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history (Luka for AD) and are still trying to make sense of it. It will likely be the biggest trade of the week, but it won't be the only deal made this week as Thursday's NBA trade deadline looms. […]
League Winners: Second-Half Trade Targets and Stashes - 2025 Fantasy Basketball
Things have not gone as planned for fantasy basketball managers who drafted players like Joel Embiid or Jimmy Butler. But there's plenty of basketball left to be played and it's time to reassess how we view players going forward. If you want to win that fantasy basketball league championship, worry less about where your players […]
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14 (2024-25): January 27 - February 2
We flip the calendar to February this week and edge closer to both the All-Star break and the NBA trade deadline. Some of the moves you can make in the next few weeks could greatly impact your team's ability to compete for a fantasy championship in March or April! Most leagues have a weekly moves […]
League Winners: Players To Stash For the Stretch Run - 2024 Fantasy Basketball
The All-Star Break is upon us and while it's nice to have some time off from setting lineups, making DFS lineups, and placing bets. It's also a nice time to look ahead and what moves you can make to put your team in the best position possible to win a fantasy basketball title. Remember, the […]
Trendon Watford (PF, POR) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (reporting on Sunday morning), the Portland Trail Blazers are leaning toward shutting down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season. The Blazers, mind you, have been without Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Lillard, and Jusuf […]
Check Out Our Draft Guide
Like what you see? Win big with our fantasy basketball preseason Draft Kit which includes more draft sleepers, premium rankings, punting guides, rookie outlooks and much more!
By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.
