The Super Bowl marks an important point in time on the fantasy basketball schedule as a transition in to the final stretch of the season. While it’s the star players that will lead the way on any playoff team the true championship contenders are those that are able to scour the waiver wire and add to their statistics with sneaky good additions. We broke down this week’s options based on talent, opportunity and schedule to come up with the following list. Here is a look at the top NBA fantasy waiver wire pickups for this week.
PG: Yogi Ferrell, Dallas Mavericks
It’s absolutely incredible what a change of scenery and a better opportunity can do for a young, talented player like Ferrell. Signed to a 10-day contract after an injury to Deron Williams, Ferrell delivered an absolutely dominant performance in a 108-104 win over the Portland Trail Blazers as he scored 32 points including nine three-point shots with five assists and two rebounds. Ferrell isn’t going to put up those numbers every game but he has averaged over 36.0 minutes since joining Dallas while producing 17.8 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. The Mavericks are 4-0 since adding Ferrell to their lineup so there is every reason to think they will continue to lean heavily on him with four games on the schedule this week.
SG: Seth Curry, Dallas Mavericks
Speaking of underrated waiver wire options for the Mavericks, Curry has really come around as well as he averaged 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.6 three-point shots over a five-game span. Dallas needs Curry to produce at a high level and he has delivered with double figures in 10 straight games including hitting at least one three-point shot in 13 straight contests. When you combine Curry’s recent production, opportunity and the fact that the Mavericks play four games this week it is clear that he should be owned across fantasy basketball leagues this week.
SF: James Johnson, Miami Heat
Johnson scored 17 points with five rebounds, five assists, three blocks, two steals an two three-point shots in a 104-96 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night and then pretty much doubled down with a nearly identical stat line in a 116-93 win over the Atlanta Hawks two nights later. Johnson has averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 blocks per game over his last five and with Miami set to play four games this week he should be owned at the small forward position.
PF: Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns
Chriss is another player coming off an impressive performance last week as he scored a career-high 27 points with six rebounds, three three-point shots and two blocks in a 137-112 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Chriss certainly needs to improve his consistency but the Suns could be close to turning him loose and with four games on the schedule this week now is the time to grab him. Chriss has averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 combined blocks and steals per game over his last five outing and could be a sneaky good waiver wire option at the power forward position this week.
C: John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks
The final spot on this list goes to another sneaky good option in Henson, who was recently moved in to the starting lineup by the Bucks. Henson has averaged 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.0 steal per game over his last two games since moving in to the starting rotation and while he isn’t going to produce at an elite level his consistency as a starter should make him worth streaming as a waiver wire option at the center position this week.
Note: Philadelphia 76ers
Keep an eye on the Philadelphia 76ers this week as there are trade rumors involving Jahlil Okafor. If he’s to get traded to New Orleans, as the reports suggest, that would give his NBA fantasy value a boost because he’ll be playing regular minutes once again. As for the Philadelphia setup, if they get only draft picks back, that means someone like Nerlens Noel could get into the mix and have some NBA fantasy value. If they get a player back like Alexis Ajinca, then Noel’s NBA fantasy value won’t change very much.
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