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Max Kulish looks at some mid-week waiver wire options for fantasy basketball leagues. These players may be free agents to target on waivers in Week 11.
If you're one of those fantasy basketball players that sets a lineup at the beginning of the week, checks out, and then comes back seven days later to see how things shook out, this post is not for you.
This is for those who are grinding through each day and keeping track of categories as the days tick off. Maybe you need a handful of assists to get you over and win the week, or maybe a key injury is forcing you to rethink a category you previously considered stable. The goal is here to is target specific players who are rostered in less than half of Yahoo! leagues who will help you get you into the winner's circle. Mostly we're looking at players who might be available in 12-team leagues, but there will be some deeper options too when available.
As is always the case when streaming, it's possible that some of these recommended options are worthy of a longer-term add. But in order to hold long term, you first have to make the pickup. Regardless of where you're deficient, here are some names to consider to help you make up ground in the short term. Be sure to check out my Twitter (@Maxadelphia) for my nightly NBA plays, as well. Let's get into it!
Points - Streaming Options
Cam Reddish - SG/SF - Atlanta Hawks (43% rostered)
Let's just establish this ground rule right now: I will (probably) be mentioning Covid-based opportunity in every stat category tonight, the league is currently shattering prior Covid numbers and every team is affected by this. With that said, let's jump right into it with Reddish. The Hawks did see Trae Young return from the Covid list in time for their loss to Chicago last night, today brought them one more addition to the Covid list; Bogdan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic, along with Reddish and Young, were the only truly NBA-caliber players that suited up for Atlanta last night, and now without Bogdanovic Reddish should see even more usage after a pair of 30+ points performances in his last four games.
Other streamers:
- Max Struss - SG/SF - Miami Heat (45% rostered)
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (41% rostered)
- Marcus Morris Sr. - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (43% rostered)
- Payton Pritchard - PG - Boston Celtics (12% rostered)
Assists - Streaming Options
Gabe Vincent - PG/SG - Miami Heat (28% rostered)
Vincent had already been in the starting lineup for Miami as their Shooting Guard, but with Kyle Lowry going into health protocols the Heat shifted Vincent to point guard and the results were promising to say the least. Sure, it was only against the Magic, but Vincent played 30+ minutes for the 8th straight game and dished out 8 assists in what was a low-scoring game. With big shoes to fill, Vincent figures to be the answer at PG for the Heat until their new point guard is cleared.
- Payton Pritchard - PG - Boston Celtics (12% rostered)
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (41% rostered)
- Kylian Hayes - PG/SG - Detroit Pistons (10% rostered)
- Joe Ingles - SG/SF/PF - Utah Jazz (47% rostered)
Rebounds - Streaming Options
Omer Yurtseven - C - Miami Heat (44% rostered)
Sticking with the Heat here, and showing some love to a guy who is making the most of his opportunity. Bam Adebayo hasn't played in over a month and his replacement, Dewayne Dedmon, is going to miss 1-2 weeks with an Achilles injury. Yurtseven has been a per-minute machine, and rebounds are his specialty. He's grabbed 12+ boards in five straight games, in the first four games he was on the bench, but against the Magic, he posted a career game with 16 points and 15 rebounds. The undrafted rookie from Georgetown has seen his rostered percentage increase by 26% in the last 24 hours, so if he's still available in your league, grab him ASAP.
Other streamers:
- Guillermo Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (16% rostered)
- Chimezie Metu - PF - Sacramento Kings (32% rostered)
- Nassir Little - SF - Portland Trailblazers (21% rostered)
- Dwight Howard - C - Los Angeles Lakers (11% rostered)
Blocks - Streaming Options
Nassir Little - SF - Portland Trailblazers (21% rostered)
Little made a splash in his return from a non-Covid illness absence, putting up 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Little seems to have carved out a solid role in Portland's rotation, averaging the most minutes in his career (24:03 per game) by more than 10 minutes over last year (13:11 per game). Little has recorded a block in 7 straight games, and given Portland's roster construction it appears that Little will be asked to continue developing as a potentially elite wing defender.
Other streamers:
- Kevon Looney - PF/C - Golden State Warriors (9% rostered)
- Omer Yurtseven - C - Miami Heat (44% rostered)
- Dwight Howard - C - Los Angeles Lakers (11% rostered)
Steals - Streaming Options
Bruce Brown - SG/SF - Brooklyn Nets (12% rostered)
The Nets rely on Brown to do a lot of dirty work both offensively and defensively. Don't look now but; the Nets are starting to get healthy after re-activating 3 starters in Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kyrie Irving. When the Nets' big 3 is fully healthy, like they were in last year's playoffs, Brown was part of the rotation that closed games out. Brown plays tough defense and typically contributes across all stat categories, which makes him an appealing option for those looking for defensive-based reinforcements.
Other streamers:
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (17% rostered)
- Matisse Thybulle - SG/SF - Philadelphia 76ers (37% rostered)
- Herbert Jones - SF - New Orleans Pelicans (19% rostered)
- Payton Pritchard - PG - Boston Celtics (12% rostered)
Threes - Streaming Options
Payton Pritchard - PG - Boston Celtics (12% rostered)
Pritchard has knocked down 9 triples in the last two games playing a total of 75 minutes in those two contests. The C's have lost superstar Jayson Tatum, as well as Dennis Schroder and Marcus Smart, for the time being, so the former Oregon Duck should continue to see extended minutes in Boston's backcourt.
Other streamers:
- Max Struss - SG/SF - Miami Heat (45% rostered)
- Marcus Morris Sr. - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (43% rostered)
- Eric Gordon - SG/SF - Houston Rockets (41% rostered)
Field Goal Percentage - Streaming Options
Guillermo Hernangomez - C - New Orleans Pelicans (16% rostered)
The Hernangomez brother formerly known as Willy has been extremely efficient in the 9 games he's played this year, with his season FG% sitting at a very impressive 69.6% overall. In the 5 full workload games he's played since returning from an injury; Hernangomez hasn't taken less than six shots or shot below 50% in a single contest. The Pelicans have shown signs of life recently, and Hernangomez has absolutely been a contributing factor in that. If you have the space/need there is a legitimate possibility Hernangomez becomes a consistent fantasy asset.
You might want to get used to seeing Hernangomez in this section because at the rate he's playing against the rate he's being added to rosters, he's going to be the best sub-50% rostered option for quite some time. The Spaniard is shooting a blistering 62.7% from the field so far this year and is coming off back-to-back double-double games. I'm not sure you should necessarily expect double-doubles regularly, but Hernangomez has been a beast on the offensive boards and that's the simplest formula for a high FG%.
Week 3: I've decided I'm just going to continue adding to the previous week's Hernangomez write-up for as long as I consider him the top option for this stat. Hernangomez has a clear bench role, allotting him around 20 minutes per game, and he continues to shoot efficiently inside. It's nothing sexy, but the numbers are there.
Week 4: The volume has died down a little bit (which is to be expected), but in terms of sheer numbers Hernangomez has actually raised his FG% for the year to 63.2%. At this rate, Hernangomez's time in the weekly waivers article may be limited, but due to such a limited field of players, he barely edges out Chimezie Metu this week.
Week 5: I'll figure out someone else for the new year, but all the other viable candidates here are unproven young guys, and I just don't feel comfortable saying those options are a "better" add. Some of them provide higher upside, but a much lower floor. If that's more your speed, check out the Timberwolves and/or Hornets.
Other streamers:
- Thad Young - PF/C - San Antonio Spurs (15% rostered)
- Gary Payton II - PG/SG - Golden State Warriors (9% rostered)
- Chimezie Metu - PF - Sacramento Kings (19% rostered)
Free Throw Percentage - Streaming Options
Marcus Morris Sr. - SF/PF - Los Angeles Clippers (43% rostered)
With Paul George scheduled to miss 3-4 weeks, Morris seemed to fill his role as the primary scoring option. Morris scored 24 in his return, including going 8-8 from the FT line. Morris will see heavy usage without Paul George active, so he projects to be a top 25-30 fantasy option in the upcoming weeks with so many key players missing time around the league.
Other streamers:
- Shake Milton - PG/SG - Philadelphia 76ers (13% rostered)
- Hamidou Diallo - SG/SF - Detorit Pistons (5% rostered)
- Gabe Vincent - PG/SG - Miami Heat (28% rostered)
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