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Week 3 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups, adds, and sleepers in points leagues for the 2020-2021 NBA season. Carson Reinhart recommends guards, forwards and centers to target through waivers or free agency in fantasy leagues.
One thing we've been missing at RotoBaller has been a focus on points leagues. We know many of you play in them, though, so we'll be presenting you all with a weekly points league waiver column, to help you find players who can get you to the top in that format.
So, heading into Week 3 of NBA action, which players should you be targeting on the wire?
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 2. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.
Week 3 Points League Waiver Wire Pickups
Columns are written based on H2H Points Standard Size Leagues:
Josh Jackson - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (45% Rostered)
Josh Jackson is back on the menu for this week's waiver wire adds as he continues to draw starts and logs minutes for the Detroit Pistons. Jackson will be an inconsistent shooter throughout the season, and even when he isn't scoring the ball well he can give you fantasy points from other areas of his game.
Currently, he has made the 10-man rotation coach Dwayne Casey is using five games into the season. This last game was without Blake Griffin, who is notorious for missing games, which helps Jackson get playing time.
Jordan Clarkson - SG - Utah Jazz (44% Rostered)
Jordan Clarkson has made a name for himself as a high-volume bench scorer who can be an energizer as soon as he steps on the floor. Clarkson has an important role for the Utah Jazz, being the 6th man of the team, and should have a similar year to his stint last year with the Jazz after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the 42 games Clarkson played for the Jazz last year, he averaged 15.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Clarkson's game is perfect for a points league where his lack of stats aside from points doesn't hurt his value. Clarkson is providing an average of 24.86 fantasy points and is still available in over 50% of leagues.
De'Andre Hunter - SF/PF - Atlanta Hawks (40% Rostered)
The Atlanta Hawks loaded up on players this offseason adding five players alone during free agency, but the young De'Andre Hunter has begun the season establishing a role for himself in the rotation. Hunter has found himself getting 30+ minutes in the last four games and should continue to see big minutes as the season continues.
In the five games that Atlanta has played so far, Hunter is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
Bobby Portis - PF/C - Milwaukee Bucks (20% Rostered)
Bobby Portis has bounced around the league joining the Milwaukee Bucks this season as his 3rd team in the last three years. Portis is the backup center and power forward and has gotten a decent role with the Bucks so far earning himself just shy of 23 minutes a night. After a horrible opening night, only scoring 3 points and grabbing 4 rebounds, Portis has given fantasy managers three 30+ fantasy point outings.
Portis has been feasting on playing in garbage time of multiple blowout games that the Bucks have had in their first six games. The Bucks play Detroit twice, Utah, Cleveland, and then Orlando in their next five games which Portis can get a boost of short-term value.
Tyus Jones - PG - Memphis Grizzlies (14% Rostered)
Since taking over the starting job for an injured Ja Morant, Tyus Jones has averaged 25.2 fantasy points and will continue to have impressive games with the extended minutes. Jones isn't a high scorer, but provides value from his high assist and steal rate.
Until Morant comes back from his Grade-2 left ankle sprain, Jones should have the reigns of the offense and should get a chance to facilitate the Memphis Grizzlies' offense. Morant is expected to miss 3-5 weeks.
Bismack Biyombo - C - Charlotte Hornets (13% Rostered)
After Cody Zeller broke his hand, Bismack Biyombo jumped the depth chart and became the starting center. With this bad news to the Charlotte Hornets, Biyombo has earned himself more minutes while the Hornets, who are lacking at the center position.
Biyombo is averaging 28 minutes per night so far this season and will give you good production in points leagues until Zeller comes back. Zeller will still have 4-5 weeks of recovery after his surgery, which makes Biyombo a nice short term addition to your roster.
Doug McDermott - SG/SF - Indiana Pacers (8% Rostered)
With the news of T.J. Warren deciding to undergo surgery to fix a stress fracture in his left foot, the Indiana Pacers will need to find scoring in his absence. Doug McDermott makes the most sense in taking some of Warren's minutes and becoming a solid scoring option for the Pacers.
McDermott will still be coming off the bench but will have more opportunities to shoot and should have the green light to score as many points as possible in his limited bench minutes. In the 5 games, this season McDermott is averaging 20.4 fantasy points.
Kelly Olynyk - PF/C - Miami Heat (3% Rostered)
The Miami Heat are still experimenting with lineups in the early season, but it seems like Kelly Olynyk might be gifted the back-up power forward or center minutes. After playing only 16 minutes in their first game then going to the second game where he doesn't get any minutes, Olynk is averaging around 27 minutes over the last three Heat games.
While the minutes might not stay, Olynyk is a valuable spacer when he does play. Through his four games this season Olynyk is averaging 24.45 fantasy points.
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