Killian Hayes (PG, DET) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 21

March 13, 2023

Killian Hayes is worth considering as a fantasy basketball waiver wire pickup heading into Week 21 of the 2022-23 NBA season.

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 13% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Even though the ceiling seems to be lower than the one we expected after a scorching hot start to the season, the truth is that Killian Hayes has kept on going and improving his season-long results as the campaign has advanced and he's kept getting reps in the Pistons' backcourt.

Hayes' average production went down a notch after his 40th game (more or less) this season, but that drop also coincided with the end of a staggering run between Christmas and late January in which the Frenchman averaged 31+ FPPG.

After getting injured and coming from the bench in six games after January 19, Hayes has now started 10 of the last 11 matchups, all of them from February 8 onwards. Since the start of that run of games, Hayes has played 29 MPG, producing 8-3-7 per-game stat lines to go with 1.5 SPG and 0.5 BPG.

The numbers aren't gaudy but it's hard to find players so unrostered putting up such a solid, all-across-the-board type of contribution nightly. In fact, when looking at season-long stats, there are only 13 players (all of them legitimate superstars) keeping up an 8-3-7 per-game line.

Even dropping that to a more manageable 8-3-5, only 43 guys are doing it this season and just 28 are adding 1+ SPG to that. Not saying Hayes is a bonafide performer on those levels every day, but he's closer than not to averaging those numbers this season than he was ever before.

More Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

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. […]

Dan Palyo February 2, 2025

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 […]

Dan Palyo January 30, 2025

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 […]

Dan Palyo January 26, 2025

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 […]

Dan Palyo February 19, 2024

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 […]

Antonio Losada March 27, 2023