Man, I don’t want to be the one to toot my own horn, but boy did I hit it out of the park last week with my waiver wire suggestions for Week 20. Shake Milton and Norman Powell, our top two suggestions, were absolute monsters across the last week. Milton posted 23.7 points-per-game across 32 minutes-per-game as Powell poured in 29 points-per-game in 38:40 minutes-per-game over the last seven days. Dario Saric, seeing an increase in minutes due to the season ending injury to Kelly Oubre, is averaging 17 points-per-game while grabbing nearly seven rebounds-per-game. Harry Giles III too had a decent week averaging 11.7 points-per-game and five rebounds-per-game. Gorgui Dieng is averaging just seven points-per-game but hauled in nine rebounds-per-game and added a block. Brandon Knight too is coming on strong averaging 17 points-per-game and seven assists-per-game over the last week. Let’s see if I can’t have a repeat week here as the playoffs begin for the majority of leagues in the next two weeks.
Week 20 Results (Last 7 Day Average)
Shake Milton, PG/SG, Philadelphia 76ers - 23.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.3 RPG & 2 SPG in 32 MPG
Norman Powell, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors - 29 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2 APG, 1.7 SPG in 38:4 MPG
Dario Saric, PF/C, Phoenix Suns - 17 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.7 APG & 1 SPG in 29:4 MPG
Harry Giles III, PF/C, Sacramento Kings - 11.7 PPG, 5 RPG, 0.7 APG & 1.3 SPG in 20:4 MPG
Gorgui Dieng, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies - 7 PPG, 9 RPG, 0.5 SPG & 1.3 BPG in 21 MPG
Brandon Knight, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons - 17 PPG, 7 APG, 2.5 RPG & 1 SPG in 31:3 MPG
Week 21 Suggestions
PJ Washington, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets - Owned in 47% of Yahoo and 39.1% of ESPN leagues
I know this one breaks my rules of featuring players owned in less than 40-percent of leagues, but to be fair, PJ Washington is still owned in less than 40-percent of ESPN leagues. This is one of those adds that either gets you into the playoffs or wins you a championship. He’s a rookie that’s getting better and better as the season progresses. Since returning from injury in early February, he’s averaging 32.3 minutes-per-game over the last 11 games. He’s averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assist since the All-Star break. Something in me tells me that he’s going to have a strong finish to the season on a Hornets team that is nearly impossible to watch. He’s also one of a few players who gets a four game slate for the upcoming week. Get him while you can.
Week 21 Schedule: @ATL, @MIA, vs. CLE & @ORL
Seth Curry, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks - Owned in 45% of Yahoo and 21.9% of ESPN leagues
Since the All-Star break, the younger Curry brother has been averaging 19.9 points-per-game, making him one of the hottest players in the entire league. That’s not even the impressive part. If we look at his percentages, he’s shooting 57-percent from the field and 55-percent from three during that time as well. Of course, his court time has been increased due a series of back-court injuries for the Mavericks, but with his recent play, there’s no way the Mavericks don’t play him. Curry suffered an ankle injury on Friday and will miss Sunday’s game to recover. The injury isn’t serious so we can hope that he’s back for the team’s back-to-back games starting Tuesday.
Week 21 Schedule: @SA, vs. DEN & vs. PHO
Cam Reddish, PG/SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks - Owned in 32% of Yahoo and 19.6% of ESPN leagues
Cam Reddish was our must add waiver wire player of the week a few weeks back and he’s only played better since. The young Hawks are leaning on their youthful core to lead things at this point. Reddish has topped 20 points in three of his last eight games, going for a career high 28 points against the Wizards on Friday. He’s playing 29-plus minutes-per-game over the last 14 days. He does this while putting in 17.7 points-per-game along with a few rebounds, assists and steals. He’s playing his best basketball of the season as we prepare to enter the fantasy playoffs.
Week 21 Schedule: vs. CHA, vs. NY & vs. CLE
Naz Reid, C, Minnesota Timberwolves - Owned in 37% of Yahoo and 15.2% of ESPN leagues
Karl-Anthony Towns Has missed the last nine games. He’s having his wrist re-evaluated soon, which will give us a clearer idea, but let’s not get our hopes up for KAT playing much more this season. Due to KAT’s absence, Naz Reid is getting starter minutes, as he’s topped 26 minutes-per-game over the last seven days. Reid has averaged 12.7 points and 12.3 rebounds-per-game over his last three games. Anyone averaging 12.3 rebounds-per-game at this point of the season that is on the waiver wire needs to be added ASAP. Ride the Reid train until, or if, KAT comes back this season.
Week 21 Schedule: @HOU, @OKC & @SA
Aron Baynes, C, Phoenix Suns - Owned in 19% of Yahoo and 20.4% of ESPN leagues
Remember Aaron Baynes? He was a player we were high on earlier this season when DeAndre Ayton missed some time. Now, Ayton has suffered yet another ankle injury and has now missed two games because of that. We don’t know how much time Ayton will miss, but the Suns are attempting to teach him to land differently and like I previously mentioned, he has suffered multiple ankle injuries thus far in his young career. Due to this, he could miss some time. On top of that, Baynes went off for a career high 37 points and 16 rebounds against the Trailblazers while filling in for Ayton. It’s the perfect formula for Ayton to miss some time and Baynes, along with fantasy owners, to benefit.
Week 21 Schedule: @POR & @DAL
Damion Lee, SG, Golden State Warriors - Owned in 30% of Yahoo and 28.7% of ESPN leagues
At this point of the season, minutes are everything. If a player on the waiver wire is spending a lot of time on the hardwood, he is definitely worth an add. That’s where Damion Lee falls into things. He’s played 35 minutes-per-game over the last seven days and poured in 14.3 points-per-game while doing so. We’ve also featured Lee in a previous article but with Steph Curry’s return, his value goes up. Anytime a future Hall-of-Fame player returns to the lineup, the players around him definitely get a boost. Lee is worth an add in nearly every league.
Week 21 Schedule: vs. LAC, vs. BKN & @ MIL
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