Every week presents different challenges when it comes to playing fantasy basketball and while the majority of lineups are all but set right now, a combination of injuries and terrible schedules could influence managers to make at least one move. Meyers Leonard, Will Barton and Jae Crowder are all quality waiver wire options at the forward position if they are still available but they are already owned in most fantasy basketball leagues. That means we’ll have to dig a little deeper as we look at the top forwards potentially still available on the waiver wire for this week in fantasy basketball leagues.
Jerami Grant
Philadelphia 76ers
Even without Jahlil Okafor in the lineup, Grant has not missed a beat as he has averaged 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 steals per game over the past week of action. There’s no reason to expect his production to dip as he’s playing 25 minutes a game this month. Grant has already been scooped up in a number of leagues but if he is still available make sure you grab him now if you need help at the forward position. The 76ers play four games this week and Grant’s ability to contribute across the board makes him a solid potential pickup. You have to love the 1.8 blocks per game on the season as those can be hard to find.
Allen Crabbe
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are a team in transition and that could make them a quality source when it comes to finding decent waiver wire pickups that have the potential to contribute in spurts. Crabbe has been exactly that of late as he has come out of nowhere to average 13.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.3 three-point shots per game over the last week of action. He has now scored in double figures in four straight games while averaging 26.8 minutes of action. It might be hard to trust his long-term ability but he is hot right now and Portland has four games on the schedule for this week, so don’t be afraid to take a chance on him if you need help at the forward position.
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Cody Zeller
Charlotte Hornets
Al Jefferson is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks because of a calf injury and that makes Zeller an attractive waiver wire option as a big man that should see an increase in opportunity while he is sidelined. Zeller has averaged 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 assists in the month of December (three games) but you can see the trajectory. He’s on the rise. He had 20 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks in his latest outing against Detroit and had 17 points and eight rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes in Saturday’s win over the Chicago Bulls last Saturday. That could be a sign of things to come with a bigger role for Charlotte heading in to a week where they will play four games.
Andrew Nicholson
Orlando Magic
Orlando doesn’t play four games this week but that doesn’t mean Nicholson isn’t worth picking up in fantasy basketball leagues. The Magic have three games and Nicholson has played his best basketball of the season of late with averages of 11.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 three-point shots per game over the last week. Nicholson’s ability to contribute in the three-point category as a forward makes him that much more intriguing of a weapon and the potential for the former first-round is fairly high. What’s crucial to remember here is that Scott Skiles is inconsistent with how he dishes out minutes. Nicholson was averaging just 16.8 in November but he’s up at 26 minutes per game in December. He’s played at least 24 minutes in seven of his last eight games. If he’s going to see that kind of action, he’s worth taking a chance on as a waiver wire option in the majority of deeper fantasy basketball leagues.
