We’re two weeks into the Fantasy Basketball season and some teams are already reaping the benefits of a strong draft.
Those who ignored the injury concerns of players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Davis landed two of the top players in fantasy hoops through this small sample size of games. Others who took a big swing on players in new places like Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray are also seeing their stars outperform their average draft position early on.
And then there are the teams who are trying to recover from early season injuries to stars like Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Deandre Ayton, and that’s where the waiver wire becomes the most vital part of bridging the gap until those players return to full strength.
The Sporting News is here to provide you with a group of names who are still widely available in fantasy leagues but can make an immediate impact on your team.
Below you can find a list of players to scoop on waivers, followed by another group of diamonds in the rough who are owned in less than 50 percent of leagues.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire pickups
All positions and roster percentages are based on Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball.
Before we get into the list, if hot commodities like Josh Hart (79% owned) and Bojan Bogdanovic (84% owned) are somehow still available in your league, pick them up immediately.
Isaiah Stewart, C, Pistons
Percentage rostered: 73%
Stewart has solidified his place as the starting center in Detroit, yet he’s still available in over 25 percent of Yahoo leagues. Averaging a double-double of 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, he should be rostered everywhere. As an added bonus, Stewart has developed a 3-point jumper (knocking down 1.1 3s per game), which is rare from the center position.
Caris LeVert, G, Cavaliers
Percentage rostered: 69%
If you’re OK with taking a hit to your field goal percentage, LeVert’s counting stats production has been great so far. He’s shooting 33.3 percent from the field but performances like a 41-point explosion against the Celtics make him worth rostering (even if he followed that by scoring one single point the next game).
LeVert has also been a reliable source of assists — averaging 6.7 per game — but expect that number to decrease once Darius Garland returns from his eye injury.
Bol Bol, F/C, Magic
Percentage rostered: 68%
The time has come for Bol. A fan favorite, Bol’s production through the first two weeks of the season is worthy of a roster spot. He’s only playing 20 minutes per game, yet he’s still averaging 10.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
If those numbers don’t help get the Bol hype train to leave the station, his per 36 averages of 19.3 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 blocks are comical. Carve out a roster spot for Bol, because he’s the type of exciting player that fantasy basketball is all about.
Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Jazz
Percentage rostered: 67%
Olynyk has proved to be a fantasy gem in the past and he’s already doing a little bit of everything for the Jazz this season. In terms of opportunity, Olynyk has started all seven games for Utah while playing 28.1 minutes per game. He’s averaged a balanced stat line of 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 3-pointers per game, making him a jack-of-all-trades who can contribute to any fantasy team.
Trey Murphy III, F, Pelicans
Percentage rostered: 65%
Murphy was a trending name on the fantasy waiver wire after he went for 22 points on 8-for-8 shooting on national TV in his first start of the season last week. The 3-point marksman has knocked down a blistering 54.3 percent of his attempts, solidifying a spot in the Pelicans’ rotation in the process. It’s shocking he’s still available in 35 percent of leagues on Yahoo and you should add him before it’s too late, because Murphy is looking like much more than just a streaming option.
Dennis Smith Jr., G, Hornets
Percentage rostered: 62%
Smith’s resurgence has been one of the feel-good stories of the season so far. The 24-year-old was a top-10 pick in 2017 but struggled to find his footing in the NBA. He’s been extremely productive for the Hornets in LaMelo Ball’s absence, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 47.6 percent from the field. His role will diminish once Ball returns, but he’s worth an add until LaMelo gets healthy.
Kevin Huerter, G/F, Kings
Percentage rostered: 61%
Huerter has had his ups and downs already this season, but the Kings wing appears to be ready to make an impact in the fantasy sphere. Huerter has started all five games for Sacramento, averaging 30 minutes per game. With an uptick in playing time, the Maryland product is averaging 16.8 points, 4.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 4.0 (!) 3-pointers per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 54.1 percent from 3.
In his new role, those are roster-worthy numbers.
Under 50 percent rostered
Norman Powell, G/F, Clippers (50%): Powell has gotten out to a slow start this season but the prolific scorer is due to come around soon. With Kawhi Leonard still nursing a knee injury, Powell will have plenty of opportunities to get back on track.
Jalen Williams, G/F, Thunder (40%): Williams was one of my favorite fantasy sleepers coming into this season but an eye injury forced him to miss four of his first six games in the NBA. Williams returned to the court over the weekend and flashed his potential with 13 points, four steals, three assists and three boards. He’s worth a stash in deeper leagues.
Marcus Morris Sr., F/C, Clippers (35%): Morris will be another beneficiary of Leonard’s absence. At this point in his career, you already know what Morris brings as a scorer and shooter, but he’s worth a roster spot because of Kawhi’s inconsistent availability.
Jeremy Sochan, F, Spurs (15%): Sochan is more of a “watch list” player than an immediate add, but the Spurs rookie is starting to carve out a role in the rotation. He’s more of a specialist for defensive counting stats, but he’s someone to keep an eye on in the near future in case his production increases with his playing time.
Jock Landale, C, Suns (14%): With Ayton out for at least a week due to an ankle injury, Landale should see the bulk of those minutes available. He was already averaging 10.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in a limited role behind Ayton, so he’s worth a look until the No. 1 pick returns to action.
