Week 7 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: NBA Deep Sleepers

December 11, 2014

In his Week 7 NBA Waiver Wire column, David Sass focuses on some deep-league sleepers for your fantasy basketball purposes

With the 2014-15 NBA season well into its second month, the waiver wire has taken its typical place in the weekly/daily routine of fantasy basketball managers. The following group of players are not of the typical standard-league variety, but rather options for those participating in deeper formats.

Unless you have the roster space to stash one of these fringe contributors as a sleeper, there is currently little reason to own any of them outside of leagues with 12 or more teams.

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

Deep League Waiver Wire Options

Jodie Meeks (DET, SG) - 13% Owned

Meeks is yet to suit up this season, but just started practicing and is eyeing a return right around Christmas Day. If you have room on the roster, then stashing Meeks now could turn out to be a great move.

Last season, while shooting an impressive 46.3 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from beyond the arc, Meeks averaged 15.7 points and 2.1 treys per game for the Lakers. In addition, he made good on 85.7 percent of his free-throw attempts and contributed on the defensive end with 1.4 steals per contest.

It may take a little time for Meeks to get his rhythm back, but when that happens, he is a deadly shooter that will have a guaranteed spot in the Pistons' rotation.

Luke Babbitt (NO, SF) - 0% Owned

No, you did not misread that, I am suggesting that you may want to pick up a player that is owned in less than one percent of Yahoo! leagues. With Eric Gordon injured, Babbitt has been starting and playing well enough to keep the role, at least in the short term.

Starting all six games for the Pelicans this month, Babbitt has averaged 6.7 points, 2.7 boards and 2.0 three-pointers in 19 minutes per game. Obviously his overall value is extremely limited, but the fifth-year pro is a true category specialist that can provide an immediate boost in three-point shooting without inflicting too much damage in turnovers or percentages.

Kris Humphries (WAS, PF/C) - 19% Owned

With Nene Hilario constantly bouncing in and out of the lineup and having injury issues throughout his career, Humphries is getting plenty of minutes for the Wizards.

In the previous four games leading into Wednesday night's contest (11 points, three boards, two steals in 28 minutes), Humphries averaged 12.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block while shooting 50.0 percent from the field. All of that was accomplished while seeing nearly 33 minutes per game.

I think it is officially time that Humphries becomes more known for his ferocious rebounding and inside scoring rather than being Kim Kardashian's ex. If he continues to produce at this level, Humphries should receive significant playing time regardless of Nene's health.

Keeper League Pickup of the Week

Nik Stauskas (SAC, SG) - 5% Owned

The eighth overall pick from Michigan just received high praise from his coach, Kevin Malone. After the Kings' victory on Monday night, Malone said that Stauskas earned his playing time through defense. Scoring a career-high 15 points to go with eight rebounds in 30 minutes certainly helped his case as well.

As long as his minutes stay up, Stauskas should get plenty of open shots around a talented group of teammates in Sacramento. The potential is there for the rookie out of Michigan to help any fantasy team with threes, free-throw shooting and possibly some rebounding out of the two-guard spot.