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Fantasy Basketball Points League Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 2

Week 2 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups, adds, and sleepers in points leagues for the 2020-2021 NBA season. Carson Reinhart recommends guards, forwards and centers to target through waivers or free agency in fantasy leagues.

One thing we've been missing at RotoBaller has been a focus on points leagues. We know many of you play in them, though, so we'll be presenting you all with a weekly points league waiver column, to help you find players who can get you to the top in that format.

So, heading into Week 2 of NBA action, which players should you be targeting on the wire?

Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out! Now, let's get prepared for Week 2. All players in this article are rostered at 50 percent or less.

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Week 2 Points League Waiver Wire Pickups

Columns are written based on H2H Points Standard Size Leagues:

Harrison Barnes - SF/PF - Sacramento Kings (45% Rostered)

In his 10th year, Barnes won't show us anything new, but does he need to? Averaging 14.4 points per game the last two seasons with the Kings, he is a proven scorer and decent rebound grabbing 5.2 rebounds per game. On these stats alone, he should be a rostered player in 12 teams and larger leagues.

What intrigues me about Barnes this season was coach Luke Walton's decision to give Harrison more playing time at PF. Barnes' more natural position is the 4 and gave him opportunities opening night to grab 9 rebounds while keeping up his scoring with 21 points.

Malik Beasley - PG/SG - Minnesota Timberwolves (43% Rostered)

After signing a long term deal to stay in Minnesota, Beasley showed why he is worth the money on opening night. When Beasley got traded to the Timberwolves midseason last year, he got 15 more minutes tonight and used that to improve his previous 7.9 points per game to 20.7 points per game. He should have a role as a starter or the top scorer off the bench.

Keldon Johnson - SF - San Antonio Spurs (32% Rostered)*

Keldon Johnson is a 2nd-year player who might have gone under the radar a little too much this year for fantasy. During the NBA Bubble is where Johnson shined and showed his fantasy potential for the Spurs. Eight of his 17 played games came in Orlando, where he averaged 14.4 points from his previous 5.3 in the other nine games.

Gregg Popovich's lineup changes during the end of last season gave younger players like Johnson and his teammate listed below Lonnie Walker more chances to show why they deserve rotation minutes. Keldon got the go-ahead in the starting five opening night and put up 33.5 fantasy points.

Shake Milton - PG/SG - Philadelphia 76ers (28% Rostered)

Last year when Ben Simmons got injured, Shake Milton was thrown into the starter role to fill the hole that Simmons' absence left. In the 16 games without Ben Simmons, Milton averaged 13.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. After a strong first game, Milton is solidifying himself as the spark plug off the bench.

Mason Plumlee - PF/C - Detroit Pistons (26% Rostered)

After an odd offseason for the Detroit Pistons, drafting a center with the 16th pick then signing multiple big men to the roster, Mason Plumlee has secured the starting spot. While he isn't a big name player, Plumlee should get 30+ minutes a night and provide good value for your team. An added plus for Plumlee is that he has great court vision for a center, and has shown he can get assists adding on to his fantasy points.

Patrick Williams - SF - Chicago Bulls (24% Rostered)

Williams has stolen the starting job from Otto Porter Jr. and has gotten some extended runs when the Bulls get blown out by the opposing team. The opening game was especially rough for the Chicago Bulls, being down 20+ at the half and the team, under newly acquired head coach Billy Donovan, looked lost for the whole game.

Williams will get minutes as a promising rookie for the Bulls and will be asked to be molded into a key player for the Bulls as they push for the play-in tournament.

Alec Burks - SG/SF - New York Knicks (20% Rostered)

The Knicks guard rotation is a mess, but Alec Burks has shown that he will get minutes as a starter or off the bench. Having a career year in scoring last year, he found a role to be a floor spacer in the starting rotation or a solid 6th man for any team. Burks had a strong opening game and has proven that he can provide NBA level minutes for the Knicks compared to some of the other guards on the roster.

Josh Jackson - SG/SF - Detroit Pistons (12% Rostered)

Josh Jackson hasn't lived up to his status of the former 4th overall pick in the 2017 draft but may have found a spot in the rotation for the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons team is a bit of a mess, but Jackson found 29 minutes in the opening game and produced one of his best games in the NBA.

Jackson had 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal as the 6th man creating 30.2 fantasy points. While he shouldn't average 19 points this season, Jackson and Derrick Rose will be valuable pieces for the Pistons running the second unit.

Lonnie Walker IV - SG/SF - San Antonio Spurs (11% Rostered)*

Walker didn't get many opportunities his rookie season playing 6.9 minutes per game in 17 games. His second year was disappointing, but he got more playing time, increasing his minutes to 16.2 in 61 appearances. The bubble gave another young Spurs player a chance to break through the cracks as Lonnie averaged 11.3 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, which were all above his season average for his 2019-2020 campaign. Walker came out to play opening night, scoring 16 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. Lonnie had 31.2 fantasy points and will likely produce similar numbers when given the minutes.

*Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker are getting some extended minutes while Derrick White is healing from left toe surgery and won't be back until some time in January. With their impressive performances so far they should maintain a role in the rotation but might lose minutes when White returns.

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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cody Martin

to Enter Free Agency
Los Angeles Clippers

Nicolas Batum Staying with Clippers
Jurickson Profar

to Return on Wednesday
Jordan Clarkson

Jazz Finalize Contract Buyout for Jordan Clarkson
Aldrich Potgieter

Wins Rocket Mortgage Classic
Thorbjorn Olesen

Finishes Tied for 41st at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Denny McCarthy

Finishes Tied For 12th at Travelers Championship
Chris Kirk

Finishes Tied For Second at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Michael Kim

Finishes Tied for 26th at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Max Homa

Misses Cut at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Lucas Glover

Finishes Tied For Ninth at Travelers Championship
PGA

Nico Echavarria Finishes Tied For Sixth at Rocket Mortgage Classic
Brooklyn Nets

Day'Ron Sharpe Staying with Nets
Colby Thomas

Called Up From Triple-A
Shea Langeliers

A's Reinstate Shea Langeliers From Injured List
Pittsburgh Steelers

Rumors Still Swirling Around Potential T.J. Watt Trade
Jalen Williams

will Undergo Surgery on Right Wrist
Bryce Harper

Activated and Starting on Monday
Deandre Ayton

Finalizing Contract Buyout with Portland
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
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Knocked Out At UFC 317
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Lands on Injured List With Fractured Ribs
Kai Kara-France

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Submitted At UFC 317
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Bounces Back
Minkah Fitzpatrick

Heading Back to Miami
Jonnu Smith

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Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
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Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Jalen Ramsey

Steelers Acquiring Jalen Ramsey
Kerry Carpenter

Leaves Game with Apparent Hamstring Injury
Brooklyn Nets

Day'Ron Sharpe Heads to Free Agency
Santi Aldama

Receives Qualifying Offer
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner has Team Option Declined
Jabari Smith Jr.

Signs Massive Extension
Jusuf Nurkić

Hornets Trading Jusuf Nurkic to Utah
Collin Sexton

Heading to Charlotte
Cam Thomas

Set for Restricted Free Agency
Milwaukee Bucks

Bobby Portis Staying in Milwaukee
Jonas Brodin

Expected to Miss Start of Next Season
TB

Conor Sheary Placed on Waivers for Contract Termination
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James Harden, Clippers Agree on a New Contract
Dante Fabbro

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Joel Hofer

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Signs Long-Term Extension with Flames
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Smacks Two Homers
Jordan Spence

Traded to Ottawa
Petr Mrazek

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Red Wings Acquire John Gibson
Matthew Knies

Inks Six-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Aaron Judge

Blasts Two Homers, Dealing With Back Issue
Claude Giroux

Signs One-Year Deal with Senators
Yordan Alvarez

has Chance to Return Next Weekend
Minnesota Timberwolves

Julius Randle Signs Three-Year Extension
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Opts into Player Option
Luis Robert Jr.

Heads to Injured List
Gabriel Arias

Carted Off on Sunday
Bryce Harper

Faces Live Pitching
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Remains Out on Sunday
Utah Jazz

Bojan Bogdanovic Retiring From Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers

Dorian Finney-Smith Declines Player Option
Jaylin Williams

Signing Three-Year Extension
LeBron James

Accepts Player Option
Chase Elliott

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NFL Won't Hold Supplemental Draft This Year
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Deommodore Lenoir

Arrested for Obstruction of Justice
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Eyeing Return Before All-Star Break
Carson Hocevar

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Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
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Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Quinn Priester

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Spencer Schwellenbach

Dominant in Victory
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Make Second-Year Jump
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Out of Lineup Saturday
Jalin Hyatt

Looking to Flip the Script in 2025
Garrett Mitchell

to Undergo Shoulder Surgery
José Ramírez

Jose Ramirez in Guardians Lineup on Saturday
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
Ty Dillon

Could Benefit from Kaulig Speed
Chase Burns

Slated to Make Next Start on Monday
Dylan Sampson

Being Used as a Receiver
Carson Schwesinger

Figures to be in Full-Time Role in 2025
Cedric Tillman

Should Have Full-Time Role
Bryce Young

Looking More Comfortable, Showing More Intensity
Charlie Coyle

Blue Jackets Acquire Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood From Colorado
Jack Quinn

Signs Up for Two More Years with Sabres
Brandon Saad

Stays in Vegas on One-Year Deal
Trent Frederic

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Josh Naylor

Exits Friday's Contest Early with Neck Stiffness
Emil Heineman

Shipped to the Islanders
Noah Dobson

Traded to Montreal
John Tavares

Agrees to Four-Year Extension with Maple Leafs
Sam Bennett

Signs Eight-Year Extension with Panthers
NYI

Islanders Select Matthew Schaefer With No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft
Aaron Rodgers

Roman Wilson Could Fit Nicely With Aaron Rodgers
Josh Simmons

on Schedule to Open the Year as a Starter
Micah Parsons

Contract Length an Issue for Cowboys, Micah Parsons
Denver Broncos

Broncos Unsure How Their Running Back Room Will Look
Russell Wilson

Not the Only Leader in Giants Clubhouse
Charles Oliveira

Can Become A Two-Time Lightweight Champion
Ilia Topuria

A Favorite At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Alexandre Pantoja

Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Renato Moicano

Returns At UFC 317
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC 317
Payton Talbott

Looks To Bounce Back
Felipe Lima

Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Daniil Tarasov

Panthers Bring in Daniil Tarasov
Frederick Gaudreau

Kraken Pick Up Frederick Gaudreau From Wild
Michael Thorbjornsen

Returns in Detroit at Rocket Classic
Adam Hadwin

Could Struggle Over the Weekend in Detroit
Cam Davis

Hopes Detroit Magic Can Spark Turnaround
Matt Wallace

a Boom-or-Bust Option at Rocket Classic
Joel Dahmen

Not Cutting it Lately
Michael Kim

Searching for Spark at Rocket Classic
Rasmus Hojgaard

a High-Ceiling Play in Rocket Classic
Matt McCarty

a Wild Card Heading into Detroit
Emiliano Grillo

Rolling into the Summer Season
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Looking for More Magic at Rocket Classic
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Could Make Noise at Rocket Classic
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a Strong Value Play at Rocket Classic
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