January 22, 2018

Dicky Fung reviews Week 14 breakouts, and looks ahead to Week 15 for fantasy basketball waiver wire adds/pickups, buy lows, sell highs, and more lineups advice.

Week 14 has officially wrapped up as we continue to itch closer to fantasy playoffs. As a reminder for most leagues, fantasy playoffs will begin on Week 21 which begins March 12th.

Drop the dead weight, make an effort to improve your team via trades / waiver wire. Don't be attached to short-term pick ups when there is a hot player with a better outlook. Be wary of weekly streaming options and stay ahead of your opponents. Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, be sure to check them out!

Now let's look back on Week 14 and get prepared for Week 15.

Week 15 Schedule

4 Games – Spurs, Kings, Phoenix, Sixers, Thunder, Pelicans, T'Wolves, Clippers, Rockets, Mavericks, Bulls, Hornets, Hawks

3 Games – Celtics, Nets, Cavaliers, Nuggets, Warriors, Pacers, Lakers, Grizzlies, Heat, Bucks, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Raptors, Jazz, Wizards

2 Games – Magic

Week 14 Breakout Performers

Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

Week 14 averages: 29.3 PPG 5.0 RPG 8.0 APG 0.3 SPG 0.3 BPG 4.3 3PM 52% FG 100% FT 2.7 TO

Lillard has been his usual self, ever since coming back from his latest calf injury. Dame Dolla has averaged 26.4 points and 8.0 dimes per game over his last five, and he's a reliable top-10 play whenever he's on the floor. The Blazers go as far as Lillard and McCollum take them, so it certainly bodes well for their fantasy outlook the rest of the way.

Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, Okaholma City Thunder

Week 14 averages: 25.3 PPG 7.3 RPG 2.0 APG 0.7 SPG 0.7 BPG 3.7 3PM 52% FG 100% FT 0.3 TO

It was a bit of a bounce back week for Carmelo, as he was a first-round play (ranked No.8) this week with stellar numbers. Melo has accepted a lesser role with the Thunder, where he's playing off the ball a lot more. This would actually help his fantasy value because he can focus on catching and shooting the ball. The main question is if he's able to hit shots consistently. Melo is shooting just 42 percent from the field this season, which is why he's just hovering around late-round value. The red-hot shooting this week is a good indication of what Melo's upside is if everything clicks, as we can only hope he can gain some momentum the rest of the way.

Jrue Holiday, PG,SG, New Orleans Pelicans

Week 14 averages: 24.0 PPG 4.3 RPG 6.3 APG 1.3 SPG 1.0 BPG 2.0 3PM 54% FG 77% FT 1.3 TO

Holiday was overlooked by most in fantasy because of the two big man he plays in New Orleans. However, his size, together with the ability to shoot and dish translate very well for fantasy. He's currently flirting with top-30 numbers on the year and we expect that trend to continue. The Pelicans will need Holiday's outside shooting to compliment Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, one of the reasons why Holiday is shooting a career-high 50 percent from the field this season. He's in the midst of his prime and he's been one of the biggest steals in fantasy this season.

Dwight Howard, C, Charlotte Hornets

Week 14 averages: 17.7 PPG 15.7 RPG 1.0 APG 1.3 SPG 3.0 BPG 0.0 3PM 66% FG 56% FT 1.7 TO

Dwight Howard may be a lot of things, but he's quietly having one of the better seasons in recent memory. Howard is averaging 15.5 points and 12.5 boards per game on the year. He's still blocking shots (1.5 per game), and if you throw away his awful free-throw shooting (53%), he's a top-20 guy when you punt that category.

Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

Week 14 averages: 11.0 PPG 8.3 RPG 1.5 APG 2.3 SPG 1.8 BPG 0.0 3PM 68% FG 60% FT 1.0 TO

Nance has become a must-start player this week, and has leapfrogged Brook Lopez as the center to own on the Lakers. He's a sneaky efficient center who can rack up steals and blocks, all while being a field-goal anchor and never turning the ball over. He's a guy who fills it up across the board and he should be picked up all in standard leagues until he falls off. If Julius Randle gets traded, Nance's value increases even more.

Dennis Smith JR., PG, Dallas Mavericks

Week 14 averages: 23.0 PPG 4.0 RPG 5,5 APG 2.0 SPG 0.0 BPG 0.5 3PM 57% FG 87% FT 3.5 TO

The rookie has gotten off to a slow start earlier in the year, but he's starting to look like the point guard of the future for the Mavericks, averaging 20.8 points per game over his last five. His ability to contribute in points, assists, 3-pointers, and steals makes him an exciting fantasy asset for the second-half of the season. DSJ was a third-round play this past week, and he's looking like he's going to make a lot of teams sorry for passing up on him on draft day.

Week 15 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

Skal Labissiere, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (13% Ownership)

In case you didn't know, the Kings are in tanking mode, and they will be resting two veterans every game. This will allow Labissiere to slide into the starting lineup to play a minimum of 25 + minutes per game. He has some upside, given that his long, slender frame will allow him to rack up steals and blocks in a hurry. He's not going to be a league-winner, but he's worth an add to be a guy who is on the end of your bench. Labissiere's ability to get boards, steals, and blocks will have him flirting with top-100 value.

Kyle Anderson, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs (27% Ownership)

Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely, and Anderson remains a safe option since he's one of the few Spurs who isn't in jeopardy of being rested. Anderson was flirting with mid-round value earlier in the year, as he's able to contribute across the board stats without hurting you in anywhere. Anderson was on full display Sunday with 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, five steals, three blocks, and two 3-pointers. Pick him up to see if he can build on this momentum, as the Spurs play four games this week.

Larry Nance Jr., PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers (43% Ownership)

See Breakout column. Nance has been a second-round value over the past week and a top-55 player over the last month. He's must-own, must-start player until further notice.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Charlotte Hornets (32% Ownership)

MKG has played well over the last well lately, having hit double-figures in scoring the last seven out of eight games. The arrival of Dwight Howard has really hurt his rebounding (4.7 per game this season compared to 7.0 last season), but he's still one of the better defenders in the league who will warrant minutes. Kidd-Gilchrist will never be the guy who will average 15 points per game, but there's not many players who can average a steal and a block from a small forward position. The Hornets play four times this week, so owners should give him a look.

Jonathan Simmons, SG/SF, Orlando Magic (33% Ownership)

Chances are Simmons was probably dropped in your league following his back injury. Since his return, Simmons is still averaging 29.4 minutes per game, in which he's likely to stick in the starting lineup. There are rumors surrounding the Magic involving a handful of players like Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, and Nikola Vucevic. As long as Simmons remains in the starting lineup, he's still worth starting given that he can provide low-end scoring with some occasional steals.

T.J. McConnell, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (28% Ownership)

The injury to J.J Reddick (leg) has opened up minutes for McConnell, as he's averaging 14.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game in his last four games. His window will shut once Reddick returns, but he's a great option until Reddick is cleared. He's not going to score a lot of points, but the assists potential from a waiver wire option is elite.

Wesley Johnson, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers (7% Ownership)

Johnson has been hot lately, averaging 13.8 points,6.8 rebounds and 2.6 3-pointers over the last five. What makes Johnson intriguing and special is that he has a knack of blocking blocks (1.0 per game) and his contribution in steals (1.1 per game) as well. Not many players are able to sustain a level of consistently when it comes to averaging a 3-pointer, block, and a steal per game. Johnson is one of them, and as long as Danilo Gallinari is out, Johnson remains a nice option.

Delon Wright, PG/SG, Toronto Raptors (16% Ownership)

The return of Kyle Lowry has helped Wright, as he's versatile enough to play with both DeMar DeRozan and Lowry at the same time. He's obviously not going to get much shots up with those two on the team, but his contributions across the board warrants him a spot in most leagues. Wright is averaging 1.1 steals in just 21.7 minutes of action, and he's coming off a 12-point, six-board,six-assist game in which he played 29 minutes on Saturday. He's got top-75 upside and you can't say that for many others on the waiver wire.

Week 15 Deep Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

Alex Len, PF/C, Phoenix Suns (20% Ownership)

Len isn't going to be the most reliable options on many nights, given that the Suns front court rotation is a disaster. Len just needs about 20 minutes to carve out value, so he should be able to provide low-end numbers if he's able to hit the floor. Tyson Chandler is still a candidate to get traded, so Len's outlook would eclipse to must-own status if that happens. The Suns could learn a thing or two from the Kings, as they at least have a plan in place to give their young talent more burn. Just keep an eye on Len for now.

Jerian Grant, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls (6% Ownership)

Kris Dunn (concussion) is still feeling dizziness and headaches, as he's highly unlikely to play on Monday. That would mean Grant is a good bet to slide into the starting line up, where he's played well there earlier in the season. Don't expect much, as Zach LaVine's return makes things even more murky. Grant did play well on Saturday, posting eight boards with six boards and six assists in a 113-97 win over the Hawks.

Marcus Morris, SF/PF, Boston Celtics (38% Ownership)

Morris is reportedly healthy from knee soreness, and he looks like he's ready to jump back into the starting line up for the Celtics. Although Aron Baynes (illness) was out, Morris finished with 12 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal and one turnover through 27 minutes as a starter on Sunday. He can very well close games with the Celtics, given his versatility to play multiple positions. He has borderline standard league potential and should be picked up in most deep settings.

Dillion Brooks, SF, Memphis Grizzlies (16% Ownership)

Brooks scored 10 points with five rebounds, three assists, one steal, two 3-pointers on Saturday, fresh off 22 points the previous night. He's scored in double-figures in four straight contests and deserves a look in deeper leagues because he's been logging consistent minutes (30.4 per game) over the last five games. He's been hot behind the arc, burying eight treys in the past four games. While he doesn't do much outside of 3-pointers and steals, he's a nice option in 14+ team leagues.

Buy Low

Myles Turner, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

Turner is currently sidelined with a sore elbow, and he's currently listed as "questionable" heading into Wednesday's contest against the Suns. They will re-evaluate him when the Pacers are back in Indiana on Monday. This is a great time to send an offer to see how patient his owner is, as Turner's not blocking as many shots (just 1.3 over the past two weeks.) The minutes has been low due to some foul trouble and missed defensive assignments, but don't forget he's one of the league's best shot-blockers (2.2 per game) and he's certainly due for a bounce-back sooner rather than later.

D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets

In the two games since his knee surgery, Russell has averaged 2.0 points on 1 of 10 shooting combined. It's safe to say the rust is real and the Nets will be bringing back slowly. This is a great chance to buy low, even if the owner is unlikely to accept anything other than reasonable. After all, Russell was out for 11 weeks. Russell was averaging 20.4 points per game prior to his injury, so the upside is obvious. If you're looking to get Russell, now is the time.

Sell High

Lou Williams, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers

Williams has seen his usage spike with all the injuries, and he will continue to put up video game-like numbers now that Blake Griffin (concussion) is expected to miss time. There's a very good chance that Williams continue to put up monster numbers, but he's also a key candidate to be traded should the Clippers decide it blow it all up before the trading deadline. If you're able to package him with another player for players like Nikola Jokic, Hassan Whiteside, or Myles Turner, it makes a lot of sense.

Dario Saric, SF/PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers

With Markelle Fultz (shoulder) closer to a return, I would bet Saric is a candidate to head to a bench role. Saric has been outstanding lately, as he's been flirting with top-35 value the past month. I just don't see him averaging more than 30 minutes per game when the team is fully healthy, so I would sell everywhere I had the chance.

Tyreke Evans, PG/SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies

The rumors are getting stronger by the day, and the a lot of teams will be calling Memphis in the upcoming weeks for the veteran Evans, as he's been absolutely crushing it this season. Evans has been a steady early-round player for the season and a trade to a contender will probably bump him down a few rounds. I'd look to sell now before he's traded to a team like Cleveland.

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