🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
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.

 

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! 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

Caris LeVert

Upgraded to Available Tuesday
Ron Holland II

Remains Out Against Kings
Robert Williams III

Sits Out Tuesday's Game
Jonathan Isaac

Active Tuesday Night
Javon Small

Returns to Grizzlies Lineup Tuesday
Tristan da Silva

Remains Sidelined Against Portland
Goga Bitadze

Out Against Portland
Vince Williams Jr.

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Cedric Coward

Unavailable on Tuesday Night
Aaron Wiggins

Will Play Against Spurs
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Grayson Allen

Absent for Third Consecutive Game
Zach LaVine

to Miss at Least One More Week
Victor Wembanyama

Ready to Take on Thunder
Dwight Powell

Misses Tuesday's Game Due to Illness
Jaden Hardy

Starting on Tuesday Night
DK Metcalf

has Two-Game Suspension Upheld
Klay Thompson

Sits Out Tuesday's Action
Philip Rivers

to Remain the Starter in Week 17
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Active Against Mavericks
Peyton Watson

Ready to Face Mavericks
Jaden McDaniels

Out on Tuesday Evening
Jordan Poole

Herbert Jones Out Tuesday
Max Christie

Still Out on Tuesday Night
George Kittle

Dealing With Mid-to-Low Ankle Sprain
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
Deshaun Watson

Will Not be Activated Off PUP List, 2025 Season is Over
J.J. McCarthy

Ruled Out for Week 17
Rome Odunze

Expected to Return This Season
Christian McCaffrey

Another Monster Game for Christian McCaffrey in Week 16
Brock Purdy

Throws for Five Touchdowns in Week 16
TreVeyon Henderson

in Concussion Protocol, Week 17 Status Unclear
George Kittle

Week 17 Availability in Question?
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Rashee Rice

Still in Concussion Protocol, Estimated as Non-Participant on Monday
J.J. McCarthy

Listed as DNP on Monday Ahead of Week 17
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
Christian Dvorak

Returns to Flyers Lineup
Elias Pettersson

Still Out Monday
Brandon Montour

to Miss Four Weeks After Hand Surgery
Miles Wood

Available Against Kings
Zach Werenski

Ruled Out Monday
Leo Carlsson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
TreVeyon Henderson

Exits Week 16 Victory with Head Injury
Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal