🖥 CYBER WEEK - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE CYBER
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

NBA Waiver Wire Bigs (PF, C, PF/C) for Week 20

By Noahallo8 via Wikicommons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bismack-biyombo-tor.jpg)

Milos Zvekic recommends NBA forwards and centers (PF, C, PF/C) as waiver wire pickups for fantasy basketball in Week 20. These centers and forwards can be fantasy sleepers.

Fantasy playoffs are drawing near. I sincerely hope that the main guys on your roster avoided the injury bug and that you were able to construct your team by your preferences. But just in case you did get hit by an injury late in the season, or if you just haven't found that missing link just yet and are still searching for a big to round off your squad, below are our Week 20 waiver wire pickups for power forwards and centers here at RotoBaller.

All three guys we'll be talking about today can be considered risky plays, however. But how many players that are owned in less than half the leagues so long into the season can't? Hopefully, one of these guys is still available in your league and the winds of change blow his way for the next couple of weeks. Our featured players certainly have potential, so if a center is just what you're looking for keep on reading.

 

Cyber Week Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code CYBER. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice for NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL from proven winners! Dan Palyo leads the team with exclusive picks for DFS picks, Props, betting. Enhance your game with industry-leading tools like our Lineup Optimizers, Team Sync Platform, DFS Cheat Sheets and more. GAIN ACCESS

Standard League Waiver Wire Big Adds

Bismack Biyombo, PF/C, ORL (43% Owned)

There was a surplus of bigs in Orlando this season. Nikola Vucevic, Serge Ibaka, Aaron Gordon, Bismack Biyombo.. That was just too much for any of them to steadily produce stats that are up to their fantasy standards. But then Ibaka got traded before the deadline and that cleared some room in the frontcourt situation.

Still, Biyombo didn't produce the stats we believe he's capable of. He didn't even get an increase in playing time. He saw it drop from 23 minutes before the trade to 17 minutes per game in four games after Ibaka's departure. Granted, Vooch was playing excellent, but you would still expect Bismack to get minutes at least in the mid- to high 20s. It wasn't looking good for him.

Then Vucevic felt his Achilles flare up and was forced to sit out Orlando's last game against the Wizards on March 5. Biyombo god the nod and took full advantage of the given chance. He went 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-7 from the line for 14 points, 15 boards, one assist, two steals and 2 turnovers in 34 minutes. If he keeps this up, and you don't mind the poor free throw shooting, he might just prove to be your guy.

His value the rest of the way will depend heavily on whether Vooch is playing or not, but with Orlando sitting at 14th in the East, there's no real incentive for them to play him unless he's at 100 percent. That's the window of opportunity for Bismack to earn himself a spot for next season, and prove himself fantasy worthy to his owners. Keep in mind though, Orlando only has 3-3-4 games during Weeks 20-22 in which the default fantasy playoffs take place.

 

Cody Zeller, PF/C, CHA  (44% Owned)

Ahhh, finally Cody Zeller is back. He's been on and off the injured list from the beginning of 2017 and his starting gig was starting to look less and less secure with Frank Kaminsky playing some really good ball. But now Zeller's back and Kaminsky replaced him on the shelf with a shoulder injury which is expected keep the second year youngster out for around 10-14 days.

He's been eased back into the rotation, but has played 26 minutes in his last game, which is on par with his season average. In those 26 minutes during this season, Cody has averaged 10.6 PTS on 57.9 FG% and 66.4 FT%, 6.5 REB, 1.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 1.0 BLK and 1.2 TO. His rebounding, field goal percentage and defensive stats are what will draw owners to Zeller. Furthermore, with Kaminsky out, he could see even more minutes, and every time Cody's in the game for around 30 minutes or more, he is a double double threat. And as long as Charlotte, who is currently 3 games behind the eight spot in the East, has a chance to secure playoff berth, they will keep putting their best guys in the game. And Cody is by far their best +/- player with a +4.3. Next in line is their star PG Kemba Walker with just +2.2.

Now his FG and FT percentages do deviate this season from his career averages of 49.5 FG% and 73.5 FT%, so he isn't usually this good from the field, but neither is he that bad from the charity stripe, so keep that in mind. Charlotte's fantasy playoff schedule isn't too good with one of their games being played on a day with 7 games and the other 10 of their 11 games being played on days with 8 or more games, so before adding Zeller, I would advise you to check how well he fits in your fantasy teams playoff schedule.

Standard League Honorable Mentions: Willie Cauley-Stein (48% owned), Jon Leuer (40% owned)

 

Deep League Waiver Wire Big Adds

Richaun Holmes, PF/C, PHI (35% Owned)

Richaun Holmes has really stepped up with Joel Embiid suffering a season ending injury. He started the season off behind Embiid, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor in the 76ers' rotation. Even Dario Saric and at one point Ersan Ilyasova playing minutes at the PF spot stood between Holmes and some more court time. But now with Embiid done for the season and Noel taking his chances in Dallas, Holmes has finally been given some more opportunities.

In his six games since the All-Star break (and the Noel trade) he has averaged 12.2 PTS with 0.5 3PM on 64.6 FG% and 80.0 FT%, 4.8 REB, 0.7 AST, 1.2 STL, 2.0 BLK and just 0.3 TO in 24 minutes per contest. That gives him value of around top-20 for that period. Now none of those stats, apart from the rebounding perhaps, should be expected to stay on such a high level going forward. But they don't need to be that high, especially from a guy who can be had from the wire in every two out of three fantasy leagues. Furthermore, Philly is in talent-developing mode once again, so it makes sense for them to give 23-year-old Holmes some extra minutes to see what he can do.

So if you're in need of a big who likes to pile up those defensive stats, and you're in a deep enough league that you don't have to cut anyone too important, take a good look at Richuan. Again, Philly's fantasy schedule isn't great, but they do play 11 games, and they do have a matchup on a five-game night on March 14, so at least that's something.

Deep League Honorable Mentions: Bobby Portis (25% owned), Channing Frye (20% owned)


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.



POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Viktor Arvidsson

Activated From Injured Reserve
Warren Foegele

Remains Out Tuesday
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Probable for Wednesday
Valeri Nichushkin

Available After Eight-Game Absence
Gabriel Landeskog

Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog Cleared for Tuesday
Jamal Murray

Questionable for Wednesday
Tyson Foerster

to Miss 2-3 Months
CFB

D.J. Durkin Staying at Auburn Under Alex Golesh
Alexandre Sarr

Out of Action Again on Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Sidelined at Least Three Weeks
CFB

Charlie Weis Jr. Permitted to Coach Ole Miss Offense in College Football Playoff
Khris Middleton

Will Not Play Tuesday
Kyshawn George

Is Questionable Against the 76ers
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Says he's Fine After Suffering Hip Contusion
Trey Murphy III

Will Return Tuesday Night
Omarion Hampton

Likely to Return in Week 14
Yves Missi

Uncertain to Play Tuesday Against the Timberwolves
Zion Williamson

Questionable Against Minnesota
Neemias Queta

Set to Return on Tuesday
Derrick White

Will Play Tuesday Against New York
Quentin Grimes

Downgraded to Questionable on Tuesday
CFB

Five-Star Quarterback Jared Curtis Flips Commitment From Georgia to Vanderbilt
CFB

Florida Hiring Brad White as Defensive Coordinator
Kyle Schwarber

Giants Have Checked in on Kyle Schwarber
Willson Contreras

Willing to Waive his Full No-Trade Clause?
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers "Hopeful" Brandon Aiyuk Will Play in 2025
Brayden Point

Without Timetable for Return
Jake Walman

Still Out Tuesday
Mason Appleton

Misses Tuesday's Contest
Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Good to Go Tuesday
Conor Garland

Out on Tuesday
Petr Mrazek

Considered Day-to-Day
Tyson Foerster

Hurt in Monday's Loss
Trey Murphy III

May Skip Another Game Tuesday
Zion Williamson

Back in Pelicans Lineup Tuesday
Draymond Green

Probable for Tuesday Night
Jimmy Butler III

Questionable to Play Tuesday
Derrick White

Likely Available Tuesday
Paul George

Listed as Questionable for Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Won't Play Against Wizards
Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Carted Off With Hip Injury on Monday Night
Edwin Díaz

Mets Still Interested in Re-Signing Edwin Diaz
Devin Williams

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Mets
Cole Ragans

Red Sox Targeting Cole Ragans in a Trade?
CFB

Kentucky Hires Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein As Head Coach
Davante Adams

Not Dealing With a Serious Injury
Brandon Miller

Unavailable on Monday
Kyler Murray

Surgery Not on the Table for Kyler Murray
Duncan Robinson

Absent Against Atlanta
Marvin Harrison Jr.

in Danger of Missing Week 14?
Danila Yurov

Won't Play on Tuesday
David Pastrnak

to Remain Out Tuesday
Adam Gaudette

Iffy for Monday
CFB

Kalani Sitake the Top Target for Penn State Coaching Job
Logan Cooley

a Game-Time Decision Monday
Josh Norris

Available Monday
Neal Pionk

Remains Out Monday
Jimmy Snuggerud

to Miss Six Weeks After Wrist Surgery
Justin Herbert

Having Hand Surgery on Monday
Kyler Murray

Cardinals Won't Open Kyler Murray's Practice Window This Week
Sauce Gardner

Not a Candidate to Go on Injured Reserve
Jayden Daniels

Not Cleared for Contact, Decision on Week 14 Status Delayed
CFB

Josh Heupel Says He's Not a Candidate for Penn State Head Coach Job
Trey Hendrickson

Doubtful to Return in Week 14
Tee Higgins

Still in the Concussion Protocol
Drake London

"has a Chance" to Play in Week 14
J.J. McCarthy

in Line to Start in Week 14?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Not Dealing With Serious Shoulder Injury, Likely Day-to-Day
Sam Darnold

Dealing With Ankle Injury, "Should be Good" for Week 14
CFB

Will Stein, Brian Hartline the Top Candidates for Kentucky Job?
CFB

Nebraska Fires Defensive Coordinator John Butler After One Season
CFB

UCLA Expected to Hire Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach
Sauce Gardner

Officially Week-to-Week with Strained Calf
CFB

Lane Kiffin to Make $13 Million Salary, Ties Kirby Smart
CFB

Buster Faulkner, Joey Halzle Candidates for Florida Offensive Coordinator Job?
CFB

Kentucky Officially Fires Mark Stoops
Justin Herbert

Has Metacarpal Fracture in Left Hand
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Week 14 Availability Up in the Air
VEG

Carter Hart Expected to Make Golden Knights Debut Tuesday
Pyotr Kochetkov

Remains Without Timeline For Return
Zach Ertz

Leads Washington in Receiving in Overtime Loss
CFB

Lane Kiffin to be Introduced as LSU's Next Head Coach on Monday
CFB

Florida Poised to Land Jon Sumrall as Next Head Coach
CFB

Alex Golesh Taking Over Auburn Head-Coaching Job
CFB

Arkansas Expected to Hire Ryan Silverfield as Next Head Coach
Zack Wheeler

Likely to Return in May
Ryan Helsley

Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Orioles
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal