Robert Williams (PF/C, BOS) - Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add In 12-Team Leagues

OWNED IN: 21% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Unfortunately for Brad Stevens' Boston Celtics squad, Aron Baynes will be out for four to six weeks (retroactive to December 21st) due to having surgery on his hand. On the bright side, this has presented an opportunity to 6-10 rookie Robert Williams to put his defensive skills on full display. So far through 15 games in his rookie campaign, Williams has put up just 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in an insignificant 8.7 minutes per contest. Over the last six games, due to the Celtics banged-up frontcourt, Williams' on-court role has been far more prominent. In 98 combined minutes over that span, he has managed to average 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, but he has especially shined as an intimidating rim protector. Since December 10th in Boston's match-up with the Pelicans, the Texas A&M alum has averaged three blocks per outing. Not only that, but even though Williams is just twelfth on the Celtics in total MP (131) he is second on the team in total blocks with 24 behind only high-minutes earner Al Horford.

His efficiency when presented with playing time stands out as well. His 11.5 rebounds per 36 minutes of floor-time ranks second on the Celtics behind P.J. Dozier (who has played in just two games), while his eye-popping 6.6 blocks per 36 minutes on the court is best on the team by an impressive 4.5 margin. His fantastic efficiency is further supported by his rebounding percentage of 17% (which also ranks second on the team behind Dozier) and his team-leading block percentage of 16.4% (better than Horford by 11.5%). While he doesn't produce great volume in scoring, Robert Williams is a very competent rebounder with formidable size, and his shot-blocking ability has been downright dangerous as evidenced by the fact that if he qualified he would be leading the NBA in block percentage (the current leader Myles Turner sports a figure of 9.3%). While Boston deals with frontcourt injuries, the former Aggie has a great chance to showcase his skills and earn further minutes down the road.