RADIO
Looking ahead into Week 6, owners should have a slight idea of what their team's strengths and weaknesses are. It's never too early to explore trades to boost your team's chances, especially in head-to-head leagues. With that said, we're here to bless you all with everything you guys need to stay ahead of your opponents in all your fantasy leagues. Below are our recommended waiver wire pickups for Week 6 of the fantasy basketball season, for those looking to beef up their teams. We wish everyone the best of luck in your leagues and may the odds forever be in your favor!
Also, on behalf of the entire RotoBaller staff, we wish everyone an enjoyable Thanksgiving!
As a reminder for most leagues, it's crucial to plan ahead. Waiver wire adds, scheduling and player injuries are all things to consider. Drop the dead weight, make an effort to improve your team by maximizing your weekly adds and utilizing streamer spots via the waiver wire. Don't be attached to short-term pickups when there is a hot player on the horizon, especially if a hot player can stick with significant minutes the rest of the season. Be wary of weekly streaming options and stay ahead of your opponents. 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.
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Week 6 Schedule
4 Games - Hawks, Jazz, Raptors, Spurs, Kings, Trail Blazers, Suns, Sixers, Thunder, Knicks, Pelicans, Bucks, Grizzlies, Clippers, Pistons, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Hornets, Nets, Celtics
3 Games - Mavericks, Bulls, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Heat, Timberwolves, Magic, Wizards
Week 6 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
I write my columns based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:
Monte Morris - PG, NUGGETS (16% Ownership)
Morris has emerged as a legit back up to Jamal Murray, and has been averaging just over 28 minutes per game in the last five games. He's averaged 12.0 points and 5.0 assists in that span, connecting on 1.2 3-pointers and hitting 59 percent of his attempts. Needless to say, if he's going to be playing 26-28 + minutes, he would need to be on rosters in most leagues. The 3-pointers and assists upside isn't easy to find anywhere on the waiver wire and his role on the team with Jamal Murray shifting to the shooting guard spot for certain lineups is a great sign for his overall value for the rest of the season.
Kevon Looney & Jonas Jerebko - PC/C, WARRIORS (5 & 8% Ownership)
Draymond Green (toe) and Alfonzo McKinnie foot) are both out with injuries, so both Looney and Jerebko will see more action to help fantasy owners. I'm a bit higher on Looney than Jerebko, given that Looney is a better rebounder and will occasionally rack up blocks and steals. However, Jerebko does have a soft touch from the 3-point line, so he won't be shy launching them if he's open. Give them a look this week ahead of the Friday-Saturday back-to-back set.
Quinn Cook - PG, WARRIORS (38% Ownership)
Stephen Curry (groin) will be out for another week or so, giving Cook another week of value. You can bet the Warriors will be wise to let Curry heal 100% until he's ready, despite the Warriors recent struggles. Cook won't light up any box scores, but with Green (toe) out as well, someone will have to pick it up other than Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Cook scored 16 points with 10 boards on Sunday.
Juan Hernangomez - SF/PF, NUGGETS (31% Ownership)
Hernangomez has played extremely well in the past two games, with 25 and 20 points respectively. He loves to shoot from deep and the Nuggets will continue to play him if he's hitting them. Pick him up in the hopes he can stay hot from downtown. The Nuggets play four times this week.
James Ennis - SG/SF, ROCKETS (18% Ownership)
The departure of Trevor Ariza and now Carmelo Anthony has opened up a ton of minutes for the Rockets wing rotation. He'll be asked to play nearly 30 minutes a night and he'll have plenty of wide-open looks with James Harden and Chris Paul as the primary ball handlers. He can be a strong contributor in 3-pointers and give you close to a steal every game without hurting you anywhere.
Justin Holiday SG/SF - Bulls (61% Ownership)
Holiday is continuing his trend from last season, and he continues to play heavy minutes despite the fact that Jabari Parker is healthy. At this point, he's been flirting with early-round value all season long, ranked #36 among nine-category leagues. He's been ignored for too long now and still logging in heavy minutes. Holiday is playing 34.9 minutes per night with averages of 11.9 points, 2.9 3-pointers, and 1.6 steals. Make sure he's not available in your league.
Tyreke Evans - PG/SG, PACERS (58% Ownership)
Victor Oladipo (knee) exited Saturday's game in the first quarter and did not return. He was already battling knee soreness so the Pacers might be inclined to keep him out for a couple of games. Evans had his finest game in a Pacer uniform on Friday with 23 points and 10 boards, so he could be ready to get hot. Even though he's been absolutely terrible this season, you can do a lot worse with the last roster spot on your team.
Mitchell Robinson - C, KNICKS (28% Ownership)
Robinson has been very inconsistent this season, and it's expected given he's a rookie. With the constant jerking from the Knicks coaching staff and the different rotations, it's hard to play at a consistent level. However, he's still among some of the league's best shot-blockers, despite having played only 18.9 minutes per game. There will be plenty of growing pains throughout the season but patience may eventually pay off. Hopefully, the Knicks will learn that their team just isn't very good and it would be in their best interest to let the young guns play more.
Week 6 Deeper Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups
Jeremy Lin - PG/SG, HAWKS (13% Ownership)
Lin has picked things up lately, hitting double-digit scoring in six of the past nine games. Given how well he's played, and his upside in getting assists - he's worth a long look. John Collins (ankle) returning will also mean there's another big man to throw passes to, so he's worth at least a streamer spot this upcoming week.
Jordan Clarkson PG/SG - Cavaliers (36% Ownership)
Clarkson will get a chance to average double-figures on a team that desperately needs offense. He's an undersized shoot-first shooting guard, which is why his upside is capped because of his inability to play on the other end of the ball. Still, he's still averaging 27.8 minutes and is averaging 14.6 points in the past five games. He might be for you if you're in dire need of some extra points and a couple of assists. Clarkson is more suited for deeper leagues.
Kevin Knox - SF/PF, KNICKS (34% Ownership)
Knox's hype coming into the season has quickly diminished. He has struggled with his shot and shot selection, where his inability to make it up for other parts of his game makes him an unappealing fantasy asset. He should get better as the season goes on, because the Knicks will soon realize their rookies are the only thing that can boost the moral of this quick and tanking franchise. Knox will need to get better with taking better shots, while contributing in assists, steals, and blocks before we consider him as a standard league option.
Garrett Temple - PG/SG, GRIZZLIES (23% Ownership)
The Grizzlies find themselves with a surprising 10-5 record, and that usually means their lineups has worked thus far. Temple has been a solid starter for the Grizzlies so far this season, averaging 32.1 minutes and 12.3 points per game. He'll continue to be a borderline standard league play as long as the Grizzlies stay competitive. Temple is currently sitting at a ninth-round value in nine-category leagues.
Ryan Arcidiacono - PG, BULLS (8% Ownership)
The Bulls are a complete mess and Cameron Payne is not even in the rotation. Kris Dunn (knee) is still a month away from returning and the Bulls has turned to Arcidicono to start, where he has been decent, averaging just under seven points and 3.3 assists per game in the month of November. He's also connecting 1.7 3-pointers in that span as well, so he's worth a look in 14 + team leagues.
D.J. Augustin - PG, MAGIC (48% Ownership)
Augustin absolutely torched the Lakers on Saturday night, dropping 22 points and seven dimes on 7 of 9 shooting. He won't offer much upside, but he's still the best pure point guard on the team that needs some additional play-making. The Magic looks to be content with rolling with him out there, so give him a look if he was dropped in your league.
Dorian Finney-Smith - SF/PF, MAVERICKS (4% Ownership)
DFS has quietly sustained value this season, thanks to a consistent source of 3-pointers and steals. With injuries to Dirk Nowitzki (ankle) and Wesley Matthews (hamstring), the Mavericks will continue to give him minutes at the forwards position. He's a versatile wing who can defend and hit 3-pointers, giving him an appeal in deeper leagues.
More Fantasy Basketball Analysis
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.
