Week 3 was not as successful as Week 2 was for us on the Waiver Wire Wishlist. It was a mixture of success and modesty for us. Lu Dort’s hot start to the season slowed down but the likes of Bobby Portis and Cameron Johnson are getting even better. COVID is starting to affect the league, so the waiver wire is going to be more important than ever, as the first game of the season (Celtics vs. Heat) was postponed.
Each week, Nate with We Know Fantasy will present his must target waiver waiver suggestions. There will be at least five players listed each week with an attempt to cover all eligible positions. The rule of thumb is for players suggested to be owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues - give or take. One player will also be owned in less than 10-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues to cater to all types of leagues. Additionally, Nate will reference both points and category strengths of all suggestions.
Like I previously mentioned, Portis and Johnson had great weeks. Portis is nearly averaging a double-double over the last seven days and Cameron Johnson is averaging just shy of a 13 points-per-game in the same time span. Payton Prichard is doing well with his increased minutes due to injuries and COVID hitting Boston. Dort and Deni Avdija were letdowns last week. Naz Reid is making the most out of his 16 minutes-per-game with 11 points and four boards. Let’s get onto those Week 4 suggestions!
Week 3 Results
Luguentz Dort, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder - 28 MPG, 8.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG & 1.3 APG
Naz Reid, C, Minnesota Timberwolves - 16:15 MPG, 11 PPG, 4 RPG & 1.3 BPG
Bobby Portis, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks - 26 MPG, 11.3 MPG, 9.3 RPG & 1.5 SPG
Cameron Johnson, SF, Phoenix Suns - 25:15 MPG, 12.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG & 0.8 BPG
Deni Avdija, SF, Washington Wizards - 19:30 MPG, 6 PPG, 2 RPG & 1.8 APG
Payton Prichard, PG, Boston Celtics - 25:45 MPG, 11.3 PPG, 4.5 APG & 0.8 SPG
Week 4 Suggestions
Cole Anthony, PG, Orlando Magic - Owned in 43% of Yahoo and 20.9% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: vs. MIL, @BOS, @BOS & @BKN
Markelle Fultz is done for the year with a torn ACL. In his absence, rookie Cole Anthony will serve as the playoff hopefull’s starting point guard. I always talk about finding players on the waiver wire who average a large amount of minutes-per-game. Now as the starter, Anthony should see upwards of 30-per-game. Getting a point guard who is going to average that many minutes is a win in my books.
Tyrese Maxey, SG, Philadelphia 76ers - Owned in 23% of Yahoo and 11.4% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: @ATL, vs. MIA, vs. MIA, @MEM & @OKC
A five-game week? Yes please. In Tyrese Maxey’s last outing, with the 76ers only having 11-men and missing names such as Ben Simmons and Joel Emibidd, he dropped 39 points in 44 minutes. As the 76ers enter this brutal stretch of five games in seven days, and their roster still being affected by the safety protocols, Maxey could be in line for big minutes and big stat lines. I don’t see him as a long term answer, but for this week, he’s a must add.
JaMychal Green, PF/C, Denver Nuggets - Owned in 17% of Yahoo and 6.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: @BKN, vs. GS & vs. UTA
Michael Porter Jr. is set to miss the Nuggets’ next four outings due to COVID-19 protocols. Green will get starter type minutes with the absence of Porter in this very talented Nuggets’ squad. This season, finding long term options on the waiver wire will be harder to come by, but snagging week-to-week type of value will be readily available due to the climate we are currently in. Before getting starting minutes, Green has seen at least 20 minutes in four of the Nuggets’ last five games. He’s also gone over 10 points in each of those five games.
Justin Holiday, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers - Owned in 31% of Yahoo and 15.1% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: @SAC, @GS, @POR, @PHO & @LAC
Another five game week, another must target option. This is really rough for Holiday and the Pacers as they play five games in seven days, all in four different cities. Holiday has been a crucial part of the Pacers’ rotation as of late. He put up a line of 20 points, five boards, a steal and three triples in 32 minutes off the bench against the Rockets last week. Heck, the man played 40-plus minutes in an overtime win over the Pelicans last week. Holiday also does it all, getting his hand in every category. If you’re in a categories league, he’s a must add.
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, Miami Heat - Owned in 33% of Yahoo and 19% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: @PHI, @PHI & vs. DET
Kelly Olynyk has cracked the Miami Heat’s starting lineup and has been doing just fine in that role. It’s his ability to stretch the floor and shoot the three ball that really boosts his value. If you play in a standard scoring fantasy league, Olynyk has averaged 25.58 fantasy points-per-game over his last seven games. I’m not sure much more needs to be said.
De’Anthony Melton, PG, Memphis Grizzlies - Owned in 7% of Yahoo and 1.7% of ESPN leagues
Week 4 Matchups: @CLE, @MIN, @MIN vs. PHI
As Ja Morant continues to recover from a grade 2 ankle sprain, Melton is another player getting into the mix. He just recently made his season debut for the Grizzlies on Jan. 5 but was quick to make an impact. Listen to this for a player owned in less than 10-percent of leagues, he’s averaged 23.1 fantasy points over his first three games. As long as Morant is sidelined, Melton holds fantasy value.