Weeks 17 and 18 were not ideal for us in terms of waiver wire play. To our defense, it’s hard to project what will happen over two weeks of the season with the All-Star Weekend slapped into the middle. What we thought was a lock in Ky Bowman for fantasy relevance did not pan out. Josh Hart continues to contribute at all aspects for the Pelicans. De’Anthony Melton is filling in nicely in his new role without Jae Crowder in Memphis. Mortiz Wagner has turned into a disappointment as of late as he’s becoming lost in the mix of the Wizards’ frontcourt. Glenn Robinsons III’s role in Philadelphia has also not been what we had once projected.
Week 17-18 Results (Last 14 Day Average)
Ky Bowman (Golden State Warriors) - 4.3 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.5 RPG & 0.5 SPG in 19 MPG
Josh Hart (New Orleans Pelicans) - 11.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.3 APG & 0.3 SPG in 27:45 MPG
De’Anthony Melton (Memphis Grizzlies) - 11.5 PPG, 3 APG, 3 RPG & 0.5 SPG in 23:3 MPG
Mortiz Wagner (Washington Wizards) - 10.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.3 APG & 0.5 BPG in 21 MPG
Glen Robinson III (Philadelphia 76ers) - 6.7 PPG, 0.3 APG, 1.3 RPG & 0.3 SPG in 12:4 MPG
Week 19 Suggestions
Daniel Theis, PF/C, Boston Celtics - Owned in 42% of Yahoo and 37.2% of ESPN leagues
Theis is fresh off of a career game, going for 25 points and 16 rebounds on Friday. The all-star break may have been exactly what he needed to get back to 100-percent and get over that nagging ankle injury he was going through. There isn’t much more that needs to be said. He scores, he gets rebounds and he adds a block here-or-there. He’s a must own in nearly every league.
Week 19 Schedule: @POR, @UTA and vs. HOU
Naz Reid, C, Minnesota Timberwolves - Owned in 23% of Yahoo and 16.7% of ESPN leagues
The Timberwolves were the team that changed their roster the most at the trade deadline. During the process, they moved Gorgui Dieng, moving Reid into the backup center role behind Karl-Anthony Towns. Towns has since fractured his wrist, freeing up a ton of minutes and work for Reid. In his first NBA start on Friday, Reid went for 19 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes. KAT will miss at least two weeks, which allows you to benefit from Reid’s increase of court time for at least that long. Remember, the playoffs are only three weeks away. Reid could be that difference maker of putting you in or keeping you out.
Week 19 Schedule: @DAL, @MIA, @ORL and vs. DAL
Malik Monk, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets - Owned in 36% of Yahoo and 40.1% of ESPN leagues
Monk was featured a few weeks back in our waiver wire article, as a possible trade anticipation pickup. Since, he’s really taking over his sixth man role with the Hornets, becoming a legit threat off of the bench. Over the past two weeks he’s playing nearly 30 minutes-per-game and scoring 21.5 points-per-game. He’s doing all of this while the Hornets are in contention for the eight seed in the Eastern Conference. In a week where front court options are plentiful and backcourt options not so much, Monk could be the gem of the bunch.
Week 19 Schedule: @IND, vs. NYK, @TOR and vs. MIL
Alec Burks, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers - Owned in 29% of Yahoo and 40.5% of ESPN leagues
Burks has played 14 and 30 minutes in the two games he’s played as a member of the 76ers. While playing 30 minutes, he dropped 19 points off the bench, benefiting from Ben Simmons missing time with a back injury. During Saturday’s game, Simmons left early after re-aggravating that same back injury during a layup. The 76ers could and should play it safe and keep Simmons out for a few games, opening up some work for Burks, as he still continues to work to become accustomed to his new team. I’ve said it in the past, but the 76ers were lacking outside offense, and that’s what Burks brings them. He’ll see more and more minutes as the season goes on, with or without Simmons.
Week 19 Schedule: vs. ATL, @CLE, vs. NYK and @LAC
Juancho Hernangomez, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves - Owned in 24% of Yahoo and 17.5% of ESPN leagues
Did I want to feature two Timerwolves in this week's article? No. But when you’re the league’s most changed team at the trade deadline, I have to. Since joining the T-Wolves, Hernangomez has started three games, averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 threes in 30.3 minutes-per-game. If you play in a categories league and are struggling with field goal percentage, Hernangomez is not your guy. However, if you’re strong in that category or playing a head-to-head points league, he’s your guy.
Week 19 Schedule: @DAL, @MIA, @ORL and vs. DAL
Anfernee Simons, PG/SG, Portland Trailblazers - Owned in 6% of Yahoo and 2.5% of ESPN leagues
This is simply a short term addition, but that’s part of why the waiver wire is there. Damian Lillard said he thinks he’ll miss at least three-to-four games with a groin injury. That opens up a weeks worth of starter minutes for Simons. As Lillard is out, so is one of the league’s leaders in minutes, points and field goal attempts. That’s 37 minutes, 29.5 points, 7.9 assists and 20.4 field goal-attempts-per-game left on the table for someone, or a group of people, to take on. Simons will do his best to fill as much of that as he can. If you need a player to make a push for a week, Simons is your guy.
Week 19 Schedule: vs. BOS, @IND & @ATL
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