We’re already a week deep of the NBA season, which also means that we are a week deep of the fantasy basketball season. With that, comes the first waiver period of the season. In this waiver period, we get our chance to recover from the draft that we initially told ourselves was great, but when it came down to it, we started the season 0-1. We also get the chance to jump on the players that came out of nowhere to begin the season.
This will be a weekly series, dropping every Sunday night here at www.weknowfantasy.com. Be sure to check back to see how we did in previous weeks as well to see who we suggest to add. We like to stay under the 40% mark when it comes to suggesting players to add across both Yahoo and ESPN formats. We’ll also include players that are owned minimally, to make sure we cater to as many leagues as we can. There will be no set number of players listed per week, but there will be at least five every week.
Frank Kaminsky, PF/C, Phoenix Suns - Owned in 28% of Yahoo and 0.9% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: UTA, @GS and @MEM
This is a streaming pick-up, only for the short term. DeAndre Ayton is out after violating the leagues’ drug policy. During his absence, Kaminsky has stepped in to play very well. He has about 23 more games to play before Ayton comes back. In an 82 game season, 23 games is over a quarter of the games, which is plenty of time to use Kaminsky in your team. So far, he’s averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 threes in 31 minutes without Ayton. Don’t let his short term value scare you away. Chances are you’ll be dropping whomever you look to add via the waiver wire due to poor play or injuries down the road. I’m all over Kaminsky.
Kendrick Nunn, PG, Miami Heat - Owned in 45% of Yahoo and 5.3% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: ATL, @ATL & HOU
Nunn pretty much came out of nowhere after receiving the start on opening night with Jimmy Butler’s absence for the birth of his child. He went on to drop 24 points in his debut, earning himself a spot in the starting lineup. In three games, he’s averaged 21 fantasy points-per-game. He’s scored 18+ points in each of the three games as well. He’s an explosive playmaker playing on a somewhat talented team. This is one of those high-upside adds that you make right now that pays off for you for weeks to come.
Rodney Hood, SG,/SF, Portland Trailblazers - Owned in 10% of Yahoo and 6.8% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: @SA, @OKC & PHI
When I look to the waiver wire to bolster my fantasy team at this point of the season, I like to go for players who are getting the minutes, not the surprise volume. There are many times that we fall in love with someone who we’ve never heard of who comes off the bench and dropped 28 for their respective team. For players like Hood, they’re minimally owned but are starting and playing 30+ minutes per game. No, he’s not producing at this point, but with time comes opportunities. He did have the best game of the season thus far on Sunday against the Mavericks where he went for 20 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Bryn Forbes, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs - Owned in 14% of Yahoo and 2.4% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: POR, @LAC, @GS & LAL
The Spurs are a team that have played just two games through the first week of the season, making it hard to predict what the future holds. However, when it comes to Greg Popovich, we can catch on to some trends. Forbes has played 33 and 32 minutes respectively over the first two games. This is no coincidence. Pop wants to include this guy game-in-and-game out. Anyone getting 30+ minutes on the Spurs is a guy I want on my fantasy team.
Luke Kennard, SG, Detroit Pistons - Owned in 32% of Yahoo and 11% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: IND, @TOR, @CHI & BKN
Luke Kennard is benefiting from the absence of Blake Griffin, who is expected to remain out through the end of October and into early November. Kennard exploded onto the scene with a career-high 30-point performance on the Pistons’ opening night. He’s since cooled off, but continues to post fantasy-friendly stat lines, posting an average of 17 fantasy points per game. He shoots the ball at a high percentage and as long as Griffin is not playing, Kennard will see the minutes to produce for your fantasy team.
Jalen Brunson, PG, Dallas Mavericks - Owned in 5% of Yahoo and 1.5% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: @DEN, LAL & @CLE
Brunson is benefiting from the lack of point guard depth that the Dallas Mavericks have. He’ll be competing with Delon Wright for the starting job. With the lack of depth, he is guaranteed minutes, at least at this point. Through the first three games of the season, he’s played an average of 26.5 minutes-per-game. This is pretty good for the point guard of a team with names such as Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis on the same team.
Nemanja Bjelica, PF, Sacramento Kings - Owned in 8% of Yahoo and 24.1% of ESPN leagues
Next week schedule: DEN, CHA & UTA
Bjelica is another player benefiting from an early season injury suffered to a big name player. Marvin Bagley suffered a fractured thumb, clearing the way for Bjelica to get more minutes on the court. He’s struggled a big early on, averaging just 10 fantasy points per game. We should see these numbers beginning to rise with Bagley out for what will be four-to-six weeks. He also gets three home games this week, which is always a plus.
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