We are already two months in to the NBA season and it has become that much more difficult to find quality fantasy basketball free agents with so many hidden gems and sleeper plays already picked up. However, injuries and rotation changes have provided at least a couple of players worth taking a chance on this week. Here is a look at the best waiver wire options for this week in fantasy basketball.
Jeremy Lin, Charlotte Hornets
Point Guard, Shooting Guard
Linsanity might be a distant memory for basketball fans by now, but after struggling over the past couple of seasons Lin has settled in with the Hornets and shown flashes of his ability to put up decent fantasy numbers. Lin has averaged 19.3 points, 5.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 three-point shots per game over the past week of action and his dual-eligibility as a point guard and shooting guard makes him worth taking a chance on if you need help at either position in your fantasy basketball league this week.
Clint Capela, Houston Rockets
Center, Power Forward
The Rockets have been an absolute mess out of the gates this season, but they have played better of late and their constant changes in the front court seemed to have slowed down a little bit with Capela benefiting from increased playing time with an average of 20.7 minutes per game over the last week. Capela has averaged 7.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game over the last week of action and his ability to consistently contribute in those latter three categories is what makes him such a unique option on the waiver wire. Capela might not work as a longterm asset but he has capitalized on the opportunity given to him with strong play of late and is worth taking a chance on this week if you need help at the center or power forward position.
Raymond Felton, Dallas Mavericks
Point Guard
Felton has secured a spot next to Deron Williams in the Mavericks’ starting lineup, which is a bizarre sight to many. However, his numbers have really improved of late including 13.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 threes per game over the last seven days. Chandler Parsons won’t come off the bench forever in Dallas but it is working right now for the Mavericks and that makes Felton worth taking a chance on at the point guard position. The Mavericks often trot out weird lineups but head coach Rick Carlisle knows how to get the most out of their roster. Don’t scoff at Felton as long as he’s getting the minutes.
Matt Barnes, Memphis Grizzlies
Small Forward
Memphis is another team that was forced to shake things up following a tough stretch and the biggest beneficiary of their current identity crisis has been Barnes. He has been given a starting role in an effort to spark the Grizzlies at the offensive end of the floor – if you can believe that. What’s interesting (or perplexing) is that it’s actually worked. Barnes has averaged 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 assists per game over the last week of action and as long as he continues to play upwards of 30 minutes per game for Memphis, he should be a strong waiver wire option that can help your team at the small forward position. Many people laughed off this move in the offseason when Barnes was being traded around and had some off-court beef with New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher. However, Barnes has proved to be a key link for the Grizzlies of late. We’re not sure if this is a temporary thing or if Barnes will keep this up, but for now, he’s definitely worth owning.
