The Utah Jazz will lead the way with five games this week while the Phoenix Suns will play only two so there should be no doubt those two numbers will be important as we evaluate the best waiver wire options that could still be available in your fantasy basketball leagues for this week. Injuries can also play a major role when it comes to players benefitting from increased opportunity and that will certainly be the case with a couple of players on this list. Here is a look at the best waiver wire pickup options for Week 11 of the fantasy basketball season.
Trey Burke, Utah Jazz
Guard
Utah’s schedule for this week is absolutely loaded and that means fantasy basketball GM’s should jump all over the opportunity to pick up Burke – if he is still available on the waiver wire. Burke has stepped up since Alec Burks went down with an injury, averaging 18.3 points, 2.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 three-point shots, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per game over the last seven days of action. Burke will continue to play big minutes as an even more important option for the Jazz with Burks sidelined and remember, the team is also missing Dante Exum for the remainder of the season. If Burke is still available in your league, it only makes sense to grab him right now before somebody else does. He should be an integral part of everything the Jazz are doing going forward.
Ish Smith, Philadelphia 76ers
Guard
The 76ers are one of several teams that play four games this week and Smith should be a lock for some strong production numbers. He has been Philadelphia’s best guard since being acquired by from the New Orleans Hornets. Entering Monday, Smith had averaged 13.3 points, 8.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game over the previous week of action. However, he had a fantastic performance on Monday with 21 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and three steals. He’s the only 76ers’ guard that has averaged over 28.0 minutes per game. As long as he’s getting that type of action, he’s going to be fantasy relevant. He is an excellent option at the point guard position for this week and while many people might laugh at or not even recognize the name, he’s been a very good asset off the waiver wire or in daily fantasy leagues. While the 76ers are an absolute dumpster fire of an NBA team, they’re quite a valuable resource for fantasy basketball purposes, so don’t sleep on them.
Jerryd Bayless, Milwaukee Bucks
Guard
Phoenix guard Devin Booker has been hot of late but the Suns are playing just two games this week, so we’re going to leave Booker and recommend a different target. It makes more sense to look at another guard option that can give you more production for the next few days instead. Bayless fits the criteria as the Bucks have continued to give him significant minutes since his return back from injury and he has averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 three-point shots per game over the last week of action. Bayless should continue to produce with Milwaukee set to play four games this week and that makes him an excellent guard option on the waiver wire.
Jameer Nelson, Denver Nuggets
Guard
The Nuggets play only three games this week but that is still enough to make Nelson worth picking up. He has been absolutely on fire over the past couple of weeks since rookie Emmanuel Mudiay went down. Nelson has taken over as Denver’s starting point guard and while he stumbled a bit last week he still finished strong with 18.5 points, 7.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds over his last two games. Nelson should continue to put up strong numbers at the point guard position this week and three games is more than enough to make him worth plugging in for as long as he continues to produce at such a high level as the starter for the Nuggets.
