This article is part of our Category Strategy series.
Happy holidays! Hopefully the season is bringing you great cheer and fantasy success. Every couple of weeks, I like to devote an article to players available in deeper leagues, and this is one of those articles. Several of these players are worth considering in shallow leagues, too, despite their minimal ownership. Additionally, while all of the players I focused on are almost universally available, several of the "other suggestions" are higher-caliber players who are only available in shallower leagues. So come one, come all, there is something for everyone here. May all our cups runneth over with waiver wire production.
Two notable players appear to be nearing their return this week and are worth picking up if they were dropped in your league. Victor Oladipo was held almost everywhere, but he was dropped frequently enough to warrant double-checking. It is more likely that George Hill is available, and his return date is still uncertain, but he is a must-own player when healthy. Also, Gary Harris is still available in more than 60% of ESPN leagues, which is an odd phenomenon that is unlikely to last much longer.
The Warriors are the only team to play two games this week. While this diminishes the value of all of their players, it only impacts waivers in very deep leagues – in most leagues, all of the Warriors are either clearly worth owning and keeping, or effectively off the waiver radar. The rest of the league is evenly split: 14 teams play three
Happy holidays! Hopefully the season is bringing you great cheer and fantasy success. Every couple of weeks, I like to devote an article to players available in deeper leagues, and this is one of those articles. Several of these players are worth considering in shallow leagues, too, despite their minimal ownership. Additionally, while all of the players I focused on are almost universally available, several of the "other suggestions" are higher-caliber players who are only available in shallower leagues. So come one, come all, there is something for everyone here. May all our cups runneth over with waiver wire production.
Two notable players appear to be nearing their return this week and are worth picking up if they were dropped in your league. Victor Oladipo was held almost everywhere, but he was dropped frequently enough to warrant double-checking. It is more likely that George Hill is available, and his return date is still uncertain, but he is a must-own player when healthy. Also, Gary Harris is still available in more than 60% of ESPN leagues, which is an odd phenomenon that is unlikely to last much longer.
The Warriors are the only team to play two games this week. While this diminishes the value of all of their players, it only impacts waivers in very deep leagues – in most leagues, all of the Warriors are either clearly worth owning and keeping, or effectively off the waiver radar. The rest of the league is evenly split: 14 teams play three games, 15 teams play four, which is a fairly standard breakout.
Points
Trey Lyles, Jazz
(Ownership: ESPN – 4%; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
Lyles' inconsistency has been maddening, but he is a good player who is getting better. The last 11 times he played at least 18 minutes, he scored at least nine points. During those games, he averaged 12.7 points in 23.3 minutes – that is a 19.6 points per 36 minutes pace. Unfortunately, his workload remains inconsistent, as he remains stuck behind Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and Boris Diaw in the Jazz's rotation. As long as he struggles for minutes, he is only an option in deep leagues or highly competitive 12-team leagues. However, he is worth watch-listing in all leagues, as only a minor change in the distribution of minutes would make Lyles a hot commodity.
Ty Lawson, listed below, is another good option to consider. He's on a nice run lately, and Darren Collison has been – how do we put this politely -- underwhelming? Bad? Fantasy-team-destroying-depending-on-how-high-you-drafted-him? There is opportunity for Lawson to earn a larger role on a more consistent basis here.
Other suggestions: Justice Winslow, Heat; Jamal Crawford, Clippers; Ty Lawson, Kings
Three-Pointers
Anthony Tolliver, Kings
(Ownership: ESPN – 0%; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
Tolliver has seen a huge jump in usage over his past six games. During this span, he is averaging 30.5 minutes per game – before, he was averaging only 11.9 minutes and logged 13 DNPs. A big part of his extended usage has been an improvement in his efficiency from behind the arc. In his last six games, he is averaging 43.3 percent from three point range, up from only 23.8 percent. Throughout his career his long-range numbers have been up and down, twice shooting below 25 percent for a season, and twice shooting above 40 percent. As long as he can keep his minutes elevated, he should attempt enough threes to contribute, even if his current pace slows down slightly.
Other suggestions: James Johnson, Heat; Seth curry, Mavericks; Joe Ingles, Jazz; Trey Lyles, Jazz
Rebounds
Thomas Robinson, Lakers
(Ownership: ESPN – 1%; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
When playing well, Robinson works as a poor man's Tyson Chandler. He rebounds a lot (15.4 per 36 minutes this season), scores very little, shoots very efficiently, and chips in occasional blocks and assists. The fifth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Robinson has never delivered on his optimistic early career projections, but he has performed decently for the Lakers this season. Robinson has stepped into Larry Nance's reserve role following the latter's knee injury last week. In the three games Nance has missed, Robinson is averaging 17.7 minutes, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks and is shooting 66.7 percent from the field. Nance is expected to miss about a month, so a Robinson add could have decent shelf-life. Robinson is worth adding in deep leagues, as well as in standard head-to-head leagues for managers with bench space and a need for rebounds. And of course, don't add the mini-Tyson Chandler if the real thing is available.
Other suggestions: James Johnson, Heat; Kyle O'Quinn, Knicks; Patrick Beverley, Rockets
Assists
Malcolm Brogdon
(Ownership: ESPN – 6%; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
A major frustration for deep leaguers is that so many options are often inconsistent. Brogdon, unfortunately, is no exception. But though he is inconsistent, he gets bonus credit for his efficient shooting. Over the last nine games, he is shooting 54.1 percent from the field, almost unheard of for a guard. And that includes – evidence of his inconsistency – a 1-of-6 showing in Toronto. He's averaging 4.2 assists during that stretch. And remember, Brogdon is a rookie, who is already showing noteworthy signs of growth. He has already shown significant improvement during this season in points, assists, steals, and field goal percentage.
I thought I was done thinking about Sergio Rodriguez after his late-November swoon. His play has improved, however, and with Jerry Bayless (wrist) out for the season, the only pending threat to his fantasy value is the eventual debut of Ben Simmons (foot). Since Bayless' injury, Rodriguez has averaged 27.8 minutes and 5.8 assists. He's not the most exciting fantasy player, but the reliable assists are worth owning.
Other suggestions: Sergio Rodriguez, 76ers; Joe Ingles, Jazz; Tyreke Evans, Pelicans
Steals
Joe Ingles, Jazz
(Ownership: ESPN – %; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
We are a little late to the Ingles party, but the guy whose place it is will let us stay as long as we want. Rodney Hood missed one game and played limited minutes in two more, and during that stretch Ingles averaged 31.7 minutes, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 steals. The bad news is that Hood is healthy again, and seems ready for a return to his full workload. The good news, on the other hand, is two-fold. First, Hood has struggled to stay healthy this season, missing five games, and playing fewer than 15 minutes in three more. Second, Ingles frequently plays more than 20 minutes even when Hood is healthy, and often plays more than 30 minutes when Hood is out.
P.J. Tucker also warrants mention after racking up 14 steals in five games. I'm not a huge advocate of Tucker, as I see him as an inferior option to T.J. Warren and fellow Boston College alumnus Jared Dudley, though homerism might be influencing my opinion of one of those two. Either way, Tucker is getting more minutes than Dudley right now, and steals are one of Tucker's skills, though don't expect him to keep up this insane 3.3 per game pace.
Other suggestions: Justice Winslow, Heat; P.J. Tucker, Suns; Thabo Sefolosha, Hawks; Cody Zeller, Hornets
Blocks
Jerami Grant, Thunder
(Ownership: ESPN – %; Yahoo – %; CBS – %)
Being "noticeable" isn't a fantasy category. That said, when talking about a young fringe waiver prospect, "noticeable-ness" can have some relevancy. When watching Thunder games, Grant is noticeable, which speaks to his ability to maintain a significant role in the rotation. As long as he continues getting minutes, Grant provides out-of-position blocks, in addition to some threes, steals, and rebounds. And based on my highly scientific "noticeable-ness meter", I think he will continue to average significant minutes. He is averaging 26.5 minutes and 1.5 blocks over his last four games.
Other suggestions: Lucas Nogueira, Raptors; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hornets
