Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 16

January 29, 2019

Week 16 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups, adds and sleepers for the 2018-2019 NBA season. Dicky Fung recommends guards, forwards and centers to target through waivers or free agency in fantasy leagues.

It's about to enter the last stretch of the season where owners should be looking at every realm of possibility to improve their team's chances of locking in a playoff berth. We are just a little over a month before we head into the fantasy playoffs in most formats. It's time to drop the dead weight and scout for the waiver wire for any production that would be helpful for your team. Looking into Week 16, there are a couple of must-add players that you shouldn't leave behind on your waiver wire.

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 16 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!

It's the best time to start exploring trades, and get out ahead before it's too late! Sell high, buy low - trying to look for ways to improve your team despite where you are in the standings will go a long way for you in case injuries and cold streaks happen. As a reminder for most leagues, it's crucial to plan. 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 16.

Week 16 Schedule

4 Games - Knicks, Grizzlies, Clippers, Pacers, Nuggets, Hawks, Celtics, Nets, Hornets

3 Games - Jazz, Wizards, Bulls, Mavericks, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, Lakers, Heat, Bucks, Pelicans, Thunder, Magic, Sixers, Spurs

2 Games - Timberwolves, Raptors, Kings, Suns, Cavaliers

1 Game - Trail Blazers

Week 16 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

I write my columns based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:

Jahlil Okafor - C, PELICANS (47% Ownership)

Anthony Davis (finger) is due to miss at least a couple more games. Good news is that he avoided a long-term injury and he could be back by this week. Julius Randle (ankle) was unable to go the last two games and is listed day-to-day. Nikola Mirotic (calf) is looking to miss week 16 and he should be held until we hear more. With that said, Okafor is doing all he can and he's putting together one of the best stretches of his career by 19.8 points and 10.8 boards per game over the last four games. He's also shot over 70 percent in these contests with 2.8 swats as well. Needless to say, he's going to continue to put together elite value until Davis comes back and should remain owned until he completely falls off the map.

Tyler Johnson - PG/SG, HEAT (25% Ownership)

Johnson has been inserted into the starting lineup for the Heat with Goran Dragic (knee) still out for the next month or so, and he's been putting in just enough to warrant more standard league consideration, especially given that he's averaged over 31 minutes played over the last five. During that span, he's put together solid averages of 12.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, and 2.2 3PM. He's not a bad good to have at the end of your bench if he's available in your league.

Allonzo Trier - PG/SG, KNICKS (27% Ownership)

The Knicks lineup changes are difficult to predict, but Trier should see his minutes increase as the Knicks turn to their young guys as they will look to tank for the remainder of the season. Trier scored 13 points with one rebound, two assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in 24 minutes against the Nets on Friday, including a career-high 31 points with 10 rebounds on Wednesday. Emmanuel Mudiay (shoulder) is going to be out for the next two weeks, so Trier should see an uptick in production.

Mitchell Robinson - C, KNICKS (18% Ownership)

Enes Kanter (DNP-CD) is in the doghouse in New York and Luke Kornet (ankle) is out for two weeks as well, meaning Robinson and Noah Vonleh will be the main beneficiaries of this news. Robinson still has difficulties with fouls, so it continues to limit his upside. However, he should still be able to carve out decent value with his high field-goal percentages and his elite shot blocking rate. He has nine blocks in the past three games, all while just playing 16.3 minutes per game in that span. He can be viewed as a stash, where he can truly put a team over the top after the trading deadline.

Cedi Osman - SF/PF, CAVALIERS (40% Ownership)

Osman fell out of flavor from owners after a hyped summer and preseason, struggling with his shot in the beginning of the season. He's found his rhythm lately, putting together a career-high 29 points against the Heat on Friday. The Cavaliers are in a similar boat as the Knicks, so Osman should continue to see heavy minutes down the stretch.

Kenneth Faried - PF/C, ROCKETS (55% Ownership)

Faried showed his value with the Rockets this week, with three double-digit scoring, including a double-double on Friday where he ended up with 21 points, 14 boards, and two swats in 38 minutes. The Rockets are razor thin up front with Clint Capella (thumb surgery) out at least for another month or so, so not only Faried has a great chance to start with this Rockets team, he's looking at major minutes given that Coach Mike D'Antoni has never been shy to keep his rotations short. Faried is one of those must-add, think later waiver wire adds and he can boost a team's field-goal percentage and provide close to a double-double on a nightly basis.

Larry Nance Jr. - C/PF, CAVALIERS (69% Ownership)

Tristan Thompson (foot) is going to be out for the next two weeks, so Nance will probably be back in the starting lineup in no time. He was eased back into action on Friday with six points, six rebounds, one steal and one block in 21 minutes. He was terrific before his injury, producing top-50 value. So in the event he is still on the waiver wire in your league, it's not a bad idea to pick him back up and see where it goes. The Cavaliers have their sights on tanking their entire season to secure a high lottery pick this post season, so developing Nance should be one of the priorities the rest of the way.

Ivica Zubac - C, LAKERS (35% Ownership)

Zubac has cooled off this week but he's still doing enough to be added in standard leagues. Although he's logged just under 20 minutes per game over the last five, but the return of Rajon Rondo and eventually LeBron James will help his value as they'd be able to get him easy looks around the basketball. The low block rate (0.4 blocks per game over last five) is a bit concerning, but the upside to put up a double-double and play in garbage time makes him a hold for now.

Rajon Rondo - PG, LAKERS (67% Ownership)

The Lakers will be without Lonzo Ball (Grade-3 ankle sprain) for at least 4-6 weeks, so Rondo's return will likely insert him into the starting line up until Ball is healthy again. He was terrific in his return on Thursday, dishing out a season-high 13 assists with 15 points, six rebounds, one steal, two blocks and three 3-pointers in 37 minutes.  He'll give owners a major boost in assists, which is one of the hardest categories to find on the wire. With LeBron James (groin) uncertain for a return date, Rondo is a must-own, must-start player even after James returns.

Shabazz Napier - PG/SG, NETS (10% Ownership)

Another case of injuries creating opportunities, Napier will now get a great opportunity with Spencer Dinwiddie (hand surgery) out for the next 3-6 weeks. Napier scored 18 points on Friday, including 11-of-12 from the line. He'll look at a sizable role with minutes in the upper 20s going forward until the Nets have some of their guys back from injuries.

Bobby Portis - C, BULLS (51% Ownership)

Wendell Carter Jr. (thumb surgery) will knock him out for nearly 2-3 months, which means he's a clear drop in almost all fantasy leagues, excluding dynasty settings. Bobby Portis figures to be the main beneficiary with this news and this just solidifies his role with the Bulls for the remainder of the season. Portis will not be shy hoisting shots out there , and with 28 + minutes going forward he's a must-roster player.

Kevin Huerter - SG/SF, HAWKS (31% Ownership)

Huerter was out for two games this past week with a neck injury, and struggled in his return on Saturday with a dude. However, he was putting up top-50 value in nine category leagues before that. He should be picked back up if he was dropped in your league, where he figures to have a major role down the stretch for the Hawks the rest of the way.  The Hawks are looking to be sellers for assets this trading deadline, so Huerter shouldn't be on any waiver wires given his upside to contribute in multiple categories.

Week 16 Deeper Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

Jerryd Bayless - PG/SG, TIMBERWOLVES (9% Ownership)

Derrick Rose (ankle), Tyus Jones (ankle) and Jeff Teague (foot) continues to be hobbled with foot and ankle injuries, leaving only Bayless to be the only healthy point guard in the rotation. He's done a good job thus far filling in, having scored three straight double-digit scoring games. The most noticeable thing is his shot attempts, where he's attempted just over 15 shots per game over the last three. That should tell you that he's due for a big game if Rose and Teague continues to miss time. He's worth a short-term look at the moment.

Dragan Bender - PF/C, SUNS (8% Ownership)

Bender has been back in the rotation with Deandre Ayton (ankle) and Richaun Holmes (foot) out. He's also played well in the last four games, putting in double-digit scoring in all four contests, all while contributing across the board with steals, 3-pointers and decent percentages. He could have gotten himself back in the rotation with his recent outburst, so he's worth an add in most 14+ leagues.

Landry Shamet - PG/SG, SIXERS (2% Ownership)

This impressive rookie has been knocking down critical shots for the Sixers all season, and although he's benefited from some of the Sixers injuries, he's still doing enough to warrant more attention in deeper leagues. He's very similar to Bryn Forbes, where he is mainly a 3-points specialist who occasionally will get you some assists and steals, and not much else. Still, the 3-pointers are consistent and he can certainly help a team in need of that category.

Marco Belinelli - SG/SF, SPURS (28% Ownership)

Similar to Shamet and Korver, Belinelli is a 3-point specialist that can get you over the edge in a head-to-head match-up. He's putting together top-100 value over the last two weeks and can benefit a bit if DeMar DeRozan (knee, ankle) or Rudy Gay (ankle) misses some time.

Justin Holiday - SG/SF, GRIZZLIES (39% Ownership)

Kyle Anderson (ankle) is still likely out another couple of games, so Justin Holiday will continue to log heavy minutes with Garret Temple (shoulder) out as well. Holiday has played a lot better lately, putting up 16 points with one rebound, four assists, one steal and one 3-pointer in 39 minutes on Saturday. He's at least worth a consideration as a streamer spot.

Mikal Bridges - SG/SF, SUNS (23% Ownership)

Oddly, Bridges minutes goes down without Devin Booker but goes up with Booker in the lineup. He's still contributing in the defensive stats to be added in deeper settings.  At this point, he's worth a look in all 14+ team leagues given his defensive contributions and 3-pointers (1.8 steals, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 3-pointers over the last five) Keep your eyes on him and the tanking Phoenix Suns.

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