X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

NBA Waiver Wire: Four-Game Fantasy Basketball Sleepers (12/8 – 12/14)

By bwjcaptures (Flickr: bobnets (36 of 58)) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
What Appears In This Article? hide

By bwjcaptures (Flickr: bobnets (36 of 58)) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsThis weekly column is geared toward anyone playing in a head-to-head format, and especially those of you in weekly lineup leagues. It is a great idea to keep up with which players are scheduled to play four games during the upcoming week, as fantasy basketball managers can use this information to gain an advantage in games played over an opponent. Simply put, the more games played, the more potential there is for production.

Based on their respective four-game schedules, the following four players should be viewed as “sleepers” for next week. Advising fantasy owners to play the likes of LeBron James or Anthony Davis is a waste of time and effort; hopefully it is common knowledge that studs of that nature should be in lineups regardless of how many games they are slated to play.

Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based On Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

 

Top Four-Game Sleepers (12/8 - 12/14)

Greivis Vasquez (TOR, PG/SG) - 36% Owned

The injury suffered by DeMar DeRozan has shaken up the Toronto rotation. DeRozan leaves a ton of minutes behind to be picked up by other guys. Vasquez has been the biggest beneficiary.

The Raptors inserted Vasquez into the starting lineup at shooting guard in place of DeRozan. Since then, Vasquez is averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 threes per game. He probably will not help much in other categories, but can do enough in these three to be worth owning.

Vasquez has been a starter before, so the increased workload is nothing new for him. His minutes have jumped to over 30 a game, so he should be able to sustain solid numbers as long as the minutes are there. DeRozan is not expected back for about a month, so Vasquez should have a nice run in the short term.

His upcoming schedule also gives reason for optimism. Next week he faces Denver, at Cleveland, Indiana, and at New York. None of theseteams are great on defensive end, so get Vasquez active this week.

 

Mirza Teletovic (BKN, SF/PF) - 41% Owned

"Broke" Lopez is injured again. No, I did not misspell his first name. That is what I like to call him because it is not a question of if he will get hurt, but rather when. This time around it is a back injury, and Lopez is expected to be out for at least a week.

Mason Plumlee is likely going to start in place of Lopez while he is out, and is probably worth a speculative add. However, I believe that Teletovic is going to benefit the most from Lopez’s absence. Last week Plumlee was called out by coach Lionel Hollins, and for good reason. He has been mostly dreadful so far this season, and has not received much playing time as a result.

From a fantasy perspective, Plumlee is more likely to hurt you than he is to help you. He is an awful free throw shooter, and will hurt you in that category. He frequently finds himself in so much foul trouble that you would think he has two fouls before the game even starts. These two glaring holes in his game keep his minutes down. Expect him to get more playing time, but it will probably be in the 20-25 minute range.

Teletovic, on the other hand, will probably see closer to 25-30 minutes a game. He has made a few spot starts this season when Kevin Garnett needs rest, and has shown that he is more than capable when given the minutes. In his last start on December 3rd, he exploded for 26 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and five three-pointers in 43 minutes. While this monster line should not be expected, he should still be able to put up solid numbers in several categories despite coming off the bench.

Brooklyn’s schedule next week includes Cleveland, at Chicago, Philadelphia, and at Charlotte. Owners in need of points, rebounds, and threes from the forward position should take a chance on Teletovic this week.

 

Rasual Butler (WAS, SG/SF) - 12% Owned

Butler is white hot right now, and should not be ignored any longer. He is averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and a ridiculous 3.3 three-pointers on 54.3 percent shooting over his last four games. His strong play has earned him some additional court time.

Butler has been around for a long time, as this is his 13th year in the league. He shows up with strong performances occasionally, but they are mostly blips on the radar. Martell Webster will probably return soon and spoil the party, but owners would be wise to ride Butler while he is hot. His schedule next week has matchups with Boston, at Orlando, LA Clippers, and Utah. Check your waiver wire, chances are that Butler is available.

 

Zach LaVine (MIN, PG) - 10% Owned

LaVine has received a second chance as a starter out of necessity, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. He torched the Spurs for 22 points, three rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and two three-pointers in his last game. The rookie appears to be getting more comfortable playing at the NBA level.

The status of Mo Williams is up in the air, as he is currently dealing with a back injury. When he makes his return, LaVine’s value will take a hit. However, there is no one to challenge LaVine for minutes right now, so he has an excellent shot at short term value. His schedule this week is extremely favorable with all four games coming at home. He will play against Golden State, Portland, Oklahoma City, and the LA Lakers. Pick him up and enjoy the ride while Williams is out.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Taj Gibson8 mins ago

Out Friday Against Wizards
Anthony Davis16 mins ago

Questionable Versus Indiana
Randal Grichuk35 mins ago

Begins Season On Injured List
Eduardo Rodriguez40 mins ago

Could Throw Off Mound In 5-7 Days
Max Kepler47 mins ago

Leaves On Opening Day With Injury
Nick Senzel56 mins ago

Suffers Broken Thumb
Jason Foley1 hour ago

Earns The Save For Tigers
Dejounte Murray1 hour ago

Available Versus Boston
Xavier Tillman1 hour ago

Sr. Cleared For Thursday Night
Al Horford1 hour ago

Won't Face The Hawks
Jrue Holiday1 hour ago

Available On Thursday
Tarik Skubal2 hours ago

Tosses Six Scoreless Innings On Opening Day
Corbin Burnes2 hours ago

Pitches A Gem On Opening Day
Royce Lewis2 hours ago

Exits With Quad Injury
Taijuan Walker3 hours ago

Opening On Injured List
Max Scherzer4 hours ago

Throws Bullpen Session
Blake Treinen4 hours ago

Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen "A Ways Away" From Returning
Clayton Kershaw4 hours ago

"Ahead Of Things" Timetable-Wise
Walker Buehler4 hours ago

Ahead Of Schedule
Corey Seager4 hours ago

Active On Opening Day
Nick Senzel4 hours ago

Scratched On Opening Day
Oneil Cruz4 hours ago

Batting Sixth On Opening Day
Alex Caruso4 hours ago

Ayo Dosunmu Probable Friday
Darius Garland5 hours ago

Probable Against 76ers
Donovan Mitchell5 hours ago

Upgraded To Questionable
Victor Scott II5 hours ago

Batting Eighth In Opening Day Lineup
Alex Bregman6 hours ago

Batting Cleanup Against The New York Yankees
Maikel Garcia6 hours ago

Leading Off For Kansas City
Mike Ford6 hours ago

Signs Deal With Reds
Edouard Julien6 hours ago

Riding Pine On Opening Day
Duncan Robinson6 hours ago

Heat Rule Out Duncan Robinson Friday
Jimmy Butler6 hours ago

Probable Against Portland
Onyeka Okongwu7 hours ago

Remains Out Thursday
Dejounte Murray7 hours ago

Questionable With Back Soreness
Aaron Ekblad9 hours ago

Returning To Panthers Lineup Thursday
Nikita Kucherov9 hours ago

Establishes New Career High With 42nd Goal
Shane Pinto9 hours ago

Collects Career-High Four Points
Valeri Nichushkin9 hours ago

Nursing A Lower-Body Injury
Samuel Girard9 hours ago

Battling An Illness
J.K. Dobbins9 hours ago

Visiting With Chargers On Thursday
Oskar Sundqvist9 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season With Torn ACL
Ethan Bear10 hours ago

Enters Player Assistance Program
Keita Bates-Diop10 hours ago

To Miss Rest Of Season
Dyson Daniels10 hours ago

Remains Out On Thursday But Nearing Return
LaMelo Ball10 hours ago

Ruled Out For Rest Of 2023-24
Jose Alvarado10 hours ago

Questionable To Face Milwaukee
Jaden Springer10 hours ago

Considered Questionable
Xavier Tillman10 hours ago

Sr. Questionable Thursday
Gabe Vincent10 hours ago

Expected To Return To Action On Sunday
Al Horford22 hours ago

Back On The Injury Report
Mark Hubbard1 day ago

Coming Off A Career Performance
Davis Thompson1 day ago

Looking To Pay Off A Stellar Run Of Ball-Striking
Akshay Bhatia1 day ago

Coming Into Houston With Confidence
Thorbjorn Olesen1 day ago

Still Trying To Find Footing On U.S. Soil
Patrick Rodgers1 day ago

Fighting Inconsistencies Heading Into Houston
Malik Nabers1 day ago

Shines At Pro Day
Carolina Panthers1 day ago

Jadeveon Clowney Signing Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Battling Back Injury Ahead of Houston Open
San Francisco 49ers1 day ago

Talanoa Hufanga Expected To Return At Training Camp
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Raiders To Meet With Jayden Daniels
Tank Bigsby1 day ago

Jaguars Want Tank Bigsby More Involved
Josh Reynolds1 day ago

Signs Two-Year Deal With Broncos
Doug Ghim1 day ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Houston Open
PGA1 day ago

Cameron Davis Seeking Consistency Ahead Of Houston Open
Thomas Detry1 day ago

A Gamble At Houston Open
Ryan Fox1 day ago

Lacks Upside Heading Into Houston Open
Andrew Novak1 day ago

Will Be Chalk At Houston Open
Josh Doan1 day ago

Scores Twice In His NHL Debut
Filip Forsberg1 day ago

Makes History In Big Comeback Win
Jamie Benn1 day ago

Scores In Fifth Consecutive Game
Sidney Crosby1 day ago

Collects Three Points Versus Carolina
Artemi Panarin1 day ago

Continues Scoring Tear With Three Assists
Joey Daccord1 day ago

Shuts Out Ducks
Sahith Theegala1 day ago

Showing Consistency This Season
Wyndham Clark1 day ago

Working Toward Star Status
Scottie Scheffler1 day ago

Heads To Houston At His Best
Sam Ryder1 day ago

Putting The Lights Out Of Late
Joel Dahmen1 day ago

All Systems Go For Joel Dahmen In Houston
Kurt Kitayama1 day ago

Ready For Houston Debut
Ben Griffin1 day ago

Finding Form Heading To Houston
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Continues Made-Cut Streak Heading To Houston
Adam Svensson2 days ago

Hoping For Consistency In Houston
Taylor Montgomery2 days ago

Looks To Bounce Back In Houston
Amon-Ra St. Brown2 days ago

Discussing Extension With Lions
Jared Goff2 days ago

Lions Discussing New Deal
J.K. Dobbins2 days ago

Cleared For Football Activities
Los Angeles Rams2 days ago

Tre'Davious White To Join Rams
PIT2 days ago

Sam Poulin Recalled From AHL
Jack Quinn2 days ago

Could Return Wednesday
Scott Mayfield2 days ago

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
TOR2 days ago

Mitch Marner Skates On His Own Tuesday
Trevor Zegras2 days ago

To Return Tuesday
Justus Annunen2 days ago

Inks Two-Year Extension
Nick Chubb2 days ago

Expected To Start Load Running Next Month
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Bears View D'Andre Swift As Receiving Weapon
Cordarrelle Patterson2 days ago

Signing With Steelers
Sam Howell2 days ago

Seahawks Believe Sam Howell Can Be A Full-Time Starter
Tennessee Titans2 days ago

L'Jarius Sneed Agrees On Four-Year Contract With Titans
Dak Prescott2 days ago

No Indication A Deal Is Coming For Dak Prescott
Calvin Ridley2 days ago

To Have Big Role In Tennessee
Josh Jacobs2 days ago

To Be Used More In Passing Game
Brandon Saad2 days ago

Gets Another Goal In Monday's Loss
Logan Thompson2 days ago

Stretches Winning Streak To Three Games
Pittsburgh Steelers3 days ago

Cameron Heyward Expected To Be Healthy For Training Camp
Zach Wilson3 days ago

Jets Could End Up Keeping Zach Wilson
Amanda Ribas3 days ago

Takes Decision Loss
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

Snaps Losing Streak
Edmen Shahbazyan3 days ago

Scores Vicious Comeback Knockout
AJ Dobson3 days ago

Knocked Out In The First Round At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla3 days ago

Gets Back On Track With Submission Win
Luis Pajuelo3 days ago

Submitted In UFC Debut
William Byron3 days ago

Dominates For Victory At COTA
Ty Gibbs3 days ago

Grabs Another Solid Finish At COTA
Chris Buescher3 days ago

Texas Native Chris Buescher Finishes Eighth At COTA
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Kyle Busch Confronts Christopher Bell Following A Top-10 Finish At COTA
Justin Haley4 days ago

Disqualified After Strong COTA Run
Martin Truex Jr4 days ago

. Rounds Out Top Ten At COTA
NASCAR4 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Worms Way Up To Sixth At COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Comes Down to Earth After Mediocre COTA Run
Ross Chastain4 days ago

Ran Well at COTA as Usual Despite Late-Race Fade
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Furious Charge Falls Just Short at COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Scores Strong Finish of Fifth at COTA
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Finishes 16th at COTA After Lackluster Performance
Billy Quarantillo4 days ago

Suffers Submission Loss At UFC Vegas 89
Youssef Zalal4 days ago

Gets Submission Win In Return To The UFC
Cameron Saaiman4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 89
Payton Talbott4 days ago

Scores KO Win At UFC Vegas 89
Justin Tafa4 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Karl Williams4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Is One Of The Optimal DFS Options For COTA
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Should Denny Hamlin Be Rostered For DFS Lineups At COTA?
Kaz Grala4 days ago

Is A Serviceable DFS Play For COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Will Start 12th In First COTA Cup Start
Todd Gilliland4 days ago

Is A Sneaky DFS Play With Upside For COTA
William Byron4 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At COTA
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Is A Comfortable DFS Play For COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

the Favorite to Win at COTA
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Looking for First Career Win at COTA