With the fantasy basketball league playoffs right around the corner, now is the time to hit the waiver wire and find the underrated sleeper picks that will put your team over the top. Whether it’s the strong plays that will help you win this week or the underrated options that could help you in both the short and long term there are still likely some strong options you could find available in your league. Here is a look at the top NBA waiver wire pickups that could be available in your fantasy basketball leagues this week.
PG: Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee plays four games this week and that makes Brogdon even more attractive as a potential fantasy waiver wire pickup. Brogdon has averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 three-point shots in 32.8 minutes per game over his last five outings. The rookie point guard is getting his opportunity to shine and he should be worth grabbing in fantasy basketball leagues this week.
PG: Tyler Ulis, Phoenix Suns
If you were slow on the trigger on this one, he might already be gone. This week, the Phoenix Suns decided to shut down star Eric Bledsoe for the season. Although Bledsoe wasn’t a fan of that, the reality is that the Suns are going nowhere, would like to tank games and have no need to risk their star. That opened an opportunity for Ulis but then the bigger news broke on Friday when the Suns decided to also shut down Brandon Knight for the season. That immediately put Ulis into the starting lineup. Now the Suns are working with a starting five that includes Ulis, T.J. Warren, Devin Booker, Marquese Chriss and Alan Williams. Alex Len could also mix in from time to time. At any rate, Ulis will get all of the minutes he can handle. He’s averaged 11 points per game along with 7.2 assists and 0.8 steals over his last five. The upside could be even higher, though, as he has averaged 16 and 10.5 in his last two games. This is a player who could win you the league down the stretch of the NBA season, so run and pick him up if he’s still on the waiver wire.
SG: Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets
LeVert has struggled in each of his last two outings but he flashed his scoring ability in the three games before that and he definitely has the potential to be a decent fantasy option. Even with the two weak performances, LeVert has averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 three-point shots over his last five games. With the Nets playing four games this week it makes sense to take a chance on him if you need help at shooting guard.
SF: Shabazz Muhammad, Minnesota Timberwolves
Nemanja Bjelica’s injury opened the door for Muhammad to play more minutes. The young forward has benefited by averaging 18.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 29.5 minutes per game over his last three contests. Bjelica and Zach LaVine will miss the remainder of the season, so Muhammad should be a strong sleeper pick at the small forward position. He’s done well when he’s had a clear path to minutes.
PF: Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns
Chriss has registered double-digit point totals in each of his last three games. The rookie forward has averaged 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game over that span while playing at least 26 monutes in all three games. Phoenix is one of the most fantasy-friendly teams in the NBA right now and Chriss is definitely worth adding if you need help at power forward. The Suns play four games this week so now is the time to grab him.
C: Willie Cauley-Stein, Sacramento Kings
The trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans has opened the door for Cauley-Stein to put up a lot better numbers in Sacramento over the past few weeks. Cauley-Stein has averaged 12.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals over his last 10 games. Cauley-Stein is in the perfect position to continue to put up good numbers for the Kings so he might be worth adding if you need help at the center position in your fantasy basketball league.
Bet on all of the big NBA games this week at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest NBA betting lines right here.
