RADIO
Hello and welcome to another week of scorching waiver wire prospects available in 80-91% of Fantasy Basketball leagues. This four players listed today have either started playing hot of late, or in the case of the last two players listed, have been having great seasons but have been slept on by a majority of Fantasy Basketball Managers for one reason or another. These four players are must have assets if their high level of play continues.
Be sure to check out RotoBaller's other Week 13 NBA coverage, including our Week 13 Waiver Wire Guards.
Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List
NBA Forwards: Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups & Sleepers
Jared Dudley (SG/SF, WAS) - 9% Owned
Since he entered the league in 2007, Jared Dudley has played for five NBA teams. In that time he has also remained remarkably consistent statistically. He has averaged 1.0 three pointer per game with a shooting percentage at 40.1% from behind the arc, 8.5 points, 0.9 steals, 1.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game in about 24.3 minutes.
This year in Washington, Dudley's playing time has climbed to 28.7 minutes per game. This has allowed him the time to produce 1.5 three pointers per contest at a percentage of 46.4%. In that last two weeks (seven games) Dudley has averaged 33.5 minutes, 2.1 three pointers, 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 3.0 assists per game. In his heavily increased playing time, Dudley has been able to produce heartily in five different statistical categories, which is especially impressive for a SG/SF combo like Dudley, when most are only able to produce assists or rebounds, but certainly not both. While stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry may be able to contribute across the board, players like that certainly aren't available in 91% of leagues.
Darrell Arthur (PF/C, DEN) - 12% Owned
Darrell Arthur is also a criminally slept-on producer. The Kansas product has played for the Grizzlies and the Nuggets since 2008. In that time, he has averaged just 18.1 minutes per contest and in those minutes he has averaged 6.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. In 36 minutes however, Arthur would be lighting up box scores with averages of 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks.
This season Arthur is averaging a career high of 20.5 minutes per game in Denver. He is averaging 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks. In the last two weeks (six games), however, Arthur has taken advantage of injuries elsewhere in the front court to average 27 minutes per game. In that time he has averaged 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 0.5 3PTFG, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.7 blocks per game. For a guy nearly averaging a double-double in the last two weeks, it is even more impressive that he is playing solid defense while dishing out assists and finding his stroke from long range as a 6-9, 235 pound PF/C combo. Kenneth Faried isn't the only Denver PF worth owning these days.
ONE LAST TIME, PLEASE ADD THESE PLAYERS:
John Henson (PF/C, MIL) - 17% Owned
John Henson may be the most slept on volume producer in all of the NBA. In his career with Milwaukee he has averaged just 19.1 minutes per contest. In that time he has averaged 7.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks. Per 36 minutes, Henson would have career averages of 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks. Henson's blocks per 36 minutes have gone up every season in the league from 1.8, 2.3, 4.0, and 4.3 this season.
In the last two weeks (eight games), Henson is second among all forwards (to Nerlens Noel) in blocks per game with 2.5 along with 7.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in just 18 minutes per contest. In his last week (4 games) Henson leads all forwards in the league in total blocks with 15. Who will be the first to utilize Henson's extreme talent and production more widely? The Milwaukee Bucks or fantasy basketball managers?
Evan Turner (SG/SF, BOS) - 20% Owned
Evan Turner is the ultimate economy combo forward. With career averages of 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists with seasonal totals as high as 1.0 steal per game and 36.5% from beyond the arc, Evan Turner has proven himself as the quintessential idea of what a well-rounded player in the NBA looks like. So why is he available in 80% of leagues? Maybe it's because he is aesthetically underwhelming? Maybe it is because he goes through occasional shooting slumps? Either way, Evan Turner deserves greater league wide ownership than 20% in Yahoo leagues.
In the last two weeks (eight games), Turner is averaging 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game along with 0.8 steals. His passing is his most alluring statistical category, but his solid defense and rebounding ability make him even more appealing. Evan Turner may not ever average 15 points per game, but he will most likely always average around ten points, five rebounds, and four assists per game. He has done approximately that with three different teams since 2010, and last season he averaged 9.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. Believe in Evan Turner's skill and all around ability--he has continuously rewarded those who have.
