First off, I apologize for being absent last week. Long story short, I underwent a major medical procedure. I planned to take a bit longer before returning but let’s be honest, I’m bored out of my mind. With that being said, I don’t have any Week 4 results to highlight. Instead, we’ll leap right into the Week 5 waiver wire options!
Each week, I will suggest my favorite fantasy basketball waiver wire targets that are owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo leagues. To be honest, I don’t play on ESPN so I can’t access their ownership numbers. I will also suggest a player that is eligible in each of the five positions (PG, SG, SF, PF and C.) Additionally, at least one suggestion will be owned in less than 10-percent of Yahoo leagues.
Week 5 Suggestions
Jared McCain, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers (Owned in 39% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @MIA, @MEM, vs. BKN & vs. LAC
I know I’m late to the party when it comes to McCain, but better late than never. Let’s face it, the 76ers have been awful to start the season. Joel Embiid has hardly been available and the rest of the team has been non-existent. However, McCain has been a fun constant for this squad as of late. Since cracking the starting lineup over the Sixers’ last five games, McCain has averaged 26.2 points while making 4.4 three-pointers on 32:2 minutes-per-game. Heck, he even had a ten assist game against the Cavaliers.
Donovan Clingan, C, Portland Trail Blazers (Owned in 28% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @OKC, @HOU & @HOU
With Deandre Ayton sidelined with a finger injury, we were able to see Clingan get starter minutes. In doing so against the Timberwolves, Clingan scored 17 points while grabbing 12 rebounds. The most impressive thing? He had eight blocks in that game as well. Clingan is still just getting used to the NBA level. If that matchup with the Timberwolves has anything to offer, Clingan is a must add.
Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (Owned in 27% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: vs. DEN, vs. PHI & @CHI
Smart’s biggest problem to start the season is his inability to stay on the floor. After returning from a six game absence, he played two games just to miss the Grizzlies’ Week 4 cap against the Nuggets. The later miss was due to illness so we can expect him to return to the court Tuesday against the Nuggets. Ja Morant is expected to be sidelined for a few weeks here, which will see Smart slide into the starting point guard role for the interim. In his latest two games he averaged 12 points, 3.5 rebounds and six assists in 21:30 minutes.
DeAndre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks (Owned in 31% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @SAC, @GSW & @CHI
Much like my breakdown of Smart, Hunter simply can’t stay on the floor. He missed ten consecutive games to return against the Wizards on Friday. He only played 21 minutes in that game but went for 22 points. He then missed the Hawks’ Sunday clash with the Trail Blazers due to ‘rest.’ Either way, the Hawks are a better team when Hunter is on the court and if he is to give you a run of consistency, this could be one of those waiver wire additions that could change your team for the better!
Shaedon Sharpe, SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers (Owned in 33% of Yahoo leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @OKC, @HOU & @HOU
Sharpe has exploded offensively as of late for the Trail Blazers, going for 17 and 33 points respectively in his last two outings against the Timberwolves. Sharpe also averaged 34:30 minutes played in those two outings as well. He also had a three steal game against the T-Wolves as of late. He has the ability to pour it in while moving the ball and be a sneaky steals guy. I don’t see him qualifying for this series by this time next week.
Goga Bitadze, C, Orlando Magic (Owned in 27% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @PHX, @LAC, @LAL & vs. DET
Wendell Carter Jr. has now missed seven consecutive games with plantar fasciitis which at this point, we know is an injury that doesn’t just go away. It will linger. Due to this, Bitadze has been the biggest benefactor and will continue to be. We don’t know when Carter will return. It could be soon or it could be weeks from now. But, what we do know is that Bitadze excels when given the chance. He has averaged 9.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in his seven starts.
Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves (Owned in 22% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: vs. TOR & @BOS
If you’re looking for a guy who is going to offer a bit of everything when it comes to fantasy basketball, especially categories, McDaniels is your guy. McDaniels has been able to stay on the floor for the Timberwolves, staying out of foul trouble. In doing so, he’s recorded at least two steals in five of his last six games. He’s also grabbed at least six rebounds in four of his last five games. He’s also doing this while contributing on the offensive end. He’s averaged 11.6 points across his last five games as well. He does only get two games this week which isn’t ideal but if you’re looking for the long term, McDaniels could be a good fit.
Patrick Williams, PF, Chicago Bills (Owned in 27% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: @DET, @MIL, vs. ATL & vs. MEM
I’ve been a Patrick Williams fan for a very long time and it seems like he might have finally found his footing. I know the sample size isn’t large but eight games so far in November, Williams has posted a 45.7-percent field goal rate. That’s much improved to the near 29.5-percent he started the season. As long as he continues to score in an efficient manner, he’ll remain on the court and be a sneaky pick-up in deeper fantasy leagues.
Vince Williams Jr., PG/SG/SF, Memphis Grizzlies (Owned in 11% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: vs. DEN, vs. PHI & @CHI
In his first action since returning from a major injury, Williams played 24 minutes for the Grizzlies. He scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists. He added two blocks as well. I love when I can find a three-position eligible player who can contribute, especially in those deeper leagues. We’ll see what the full plan for Williams is moving forward, but I like what I’ve seen enough to give him an add.
Kris Dunn, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers (Owned in 10% of Yahoo Leagues)
Week 5 Matchups: vs. GSW, vs. ORL, vs. SAC & @PHI
Dunn has now seen two consecutive starts for the Clippers. In his first start against the Rockets he went for 11 points, eight assists and two steals. It seems that the Clippers could flip from Terance Mann to Dunn and if that is to be the long term case, now’s the time to act. For now, Dunn could be an assist/steals specialist but we’ve seen this story before, Dunn could be a must add in a few weeks time.
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