Fantasy Basketball 9-Cat Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 7

January 31, 2021

Week 7 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups, adds, and sleepers for the 2020-2021 NBA season. Justin Carter recommends guards, forwards and centers to target through waivers or free agency in fantasy leagues.

We're now six weeks into this NBA season and some things are starting to shake out in expected ways, like the top-five in the Eastern Conference. Other things -- the Hawks, Cavaliers, and Hornets being the current six, seven, and eight seeds --are not going as expected. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz somehow have the league's best record and the Dallas Mavericks are 8-12. #ChaosSZN

Anyway, let's help you figure out some waiver wire additions who can boost your squad in a 9-cat league!

Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out! Now, let's get prepared for Week 6. All players in this article are rostered at around 50 percent or less.

Standard 9-Category Leagues - Waiver Wire Adds

Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:

Wayne Ellington, SG/SF - Detroit Pistons

46% rostered - So, Saturday night soured me a little on this addition as Ellington was 0-for-6 from the floor, but Ellington has been on a really good scoring run before that, including making at least four three-pointers in seven consecutive games. Ellington had turned into the best perimeter scoring threat in Detroit, and while we were reminded that his fantasy value when the points aren't there is basically nothing, I think we should keep trusting that the points and threes will be there. If you need those things and he's still on the wire, go grab Ellington.

Joe Ingles, SG/SF - Utah Jazz

39% rostered - After missing three games earlier in the month, Ingles has stormed back with a vengeance, averaging 3.3 three-pointers per game over the past six games. While he hasn't attempted a single free throw over that span due to his catch-and-shoot role, he has averaged 12.3 points per game. Lots of guys can give you three-pointers. What has Ingles standing out right now is that he's also averaged 5.2 assists over this span. His lack of rebounding might be a little frustrating for a forward, but he makes up for it by being an incredibly efficient scorer.

Immanuel Quickley, PG - New York Knicks

33% rostered - I've become a broken record on this website when it comes to Immanuel Quickley, but as long as he's still out there on a bunch of waiver wires, I'll keep talking about him. He's seen an uptick in minutes over the last three games and had a 25 and a 31-point game in that span. Sandwiched in-between was a stinker where he had just six points, but he did take 11 shots in that one, so volume wasn't the issue. As long as he's coming off the bench, his ceiling is capped, but also he's a guy who can give you 25 points with five three-pointers in 25 minutes of action!

Gary Trent Jr., SG/SF - Portland Trail Blazers

31% rostered - With C.J. McCollum (foot) out for a few more weeks, Gary Trent Jr. is going to continue to see heavy, heavy minutes. Over the last three games, he's played at least 37 minutes each night, and in those minutes has averaged 21 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game, plus five three-pointers per contest. His rebounding and assist numbers aren't going to help fantasy managers out, but he's a cheap source of points, steals, and threes who is on the wire in around 70 percent of leagues. Pick him up.

Reggie Jackson, PG/SG - Los Angeles Clippers

26% rostered - Jackson's a tough one to judge. He had two really good games while Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were out due to health and safety protocols, but he took a hit with those two back in the lineup on Friday. In that one, Jackson scored 10 points on 4-for-7 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He also made a couple threes. There's no timetable for Patrick Beverley's (knee) return, so as long as Jackson is still getting Bev's playing time, he has appeal as playable streamer at the position. Whenever Beverley returns, you'll likely want to move Jackson off your roster.

Cody Zeller, C - Charlotte Hornets

26% rostered - While Zeller didn't play a ton in his first few games back, he's gotten some nice run over the past three games, as he's regained his starting role and is playing 29.9 minutes per game. He's averaged 9.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game in that span. I'm especially interested in Zeller in leagues where I could use a nice little assist boost, especially because getting assists from players with center-eligibility is a really nice bonus.

Jarred Vanderbilt, SF/PF - Minnesota Timberwolves

23% rostered - This might be bad timing as Vanderbilt was just taken back out of the starting lineup, but he still played about the same amount of minutes in a reserve role. Over the last five games, he's shooting 64.1 percent from the field and averaging 10.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Anyone in need of steals, blocks, and field goal percentage should have Vanderbilt on their radar right now.

Thaddeus Young, PF - Chicago Bulls

21% rostered - With Wendell Carter Jr. (quad) expected to miss the next month of the season, there's going to be room for Thaddeus Young to make a big impact. Over the past couple of games, Young has upped his assist numbers, and he's taken double-digit shot attempts in both games. While his rebounding isn't super consistent, it's been up with Carter out of the lineup. Young's biggest issue is that he's really taken the three-pointer out of his repertoire this year, not taking more than two of them in any game. But we know he can hit shots from deep, and increased minutes should offer chances for that. Young's well-rounded production makes him a must-add player.

JaMychal Green, PF/C - Denver Nuggets

16% rostered - Honestly, I have an irrational attachment to JaMychal Green and I have no idea why. His lack of blocks and the fact that his rebounding numbers seem to really ebb and flow are both troubling things for potential fantasy managers, but he's capable of scoring in the mid-teens each game while making multiple threes each time out. Multiple three-pointers from a center is always a thing to keep an eye on.

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