Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 10: P.J. Tucker Headlines Top Available Pickups
The waiver wire market is very sporadic right now, largely because of the outbreak of COVID-19 that has plagued rosters around the Association over the last few weeks. The teams the most impacted by the virus at the moment are the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, who have lost more than half of their active rosters due to COVID-19 over the last two weeks. Giannis Antetokoumpo, Zach LaVine, and James Harden are just some of the latest NBA stars who will be inactive over the next few weeks after testing positive earlier this week. Let's take a look at the top waiver wire targets heading into Week 10 of the fantasy basketball season.
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Week 10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Guards
PG/SG David Duke Jr., Brooklyn Nets (22% Owned)
The Brooklyn Nets have joined the Chicago Bulls as the two teams in the NBA who have been the most devastated by the virus over the last few weeks. In addition to Kyrie Irving’s absence this season because the superstar guard refuses to get vaccinated, his teammates at his position are all getting sick even though they are vaccinated. That includes James Harden, Bruce Brown, and Jevon Carter, who have all tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week. This means that after Patty Mills, David Duke Jr. is the best available guard for the Nets. Naturally, he’s played 38 and 32 minutes respectively over the last two games. Even if his efficiency from the field isn’t good (and it isn’t, Duke Jr. is shooting 31.3% from the field this season), Duke Jr.’s role in the Nets rotation over the next two weeks will be pivotal. Brooklyn needs to pray that their two remaining guards test negative for the virus while fantasy owners scramble to add Duke Jr. to their rosters.
PG/SG Frank Jackson, Detroit Pistons (25% Owned)
Frank Jackson is shooting 49.1% from the field this season and is averaging 10.59 points in 21.6 minutes played per contest. In three of his last four games, Jackson scored at least 18 points. After Cade Cunningham, Jackson is Detroit’s most efficient guard on offense. He is averaging approximately 18 FPTS per contest this season despite his limited playing time. He is a much more efficient player than Killian Hayes, who is playing more minutes per game but producing much less on all fronts. Since he is available in approximately 75% of fantasy basketball leagues at the moment, he is one of the most widely acquirable guards heading into Week 10.
Wings
SF P.J. Tucker, Miami Heat (57% Owned)
P.J. Tucker has seen an uptick in minutes because Caleb Martin has tested positive for COVID-19. With Jimmy Butler already sidelined due to a lower-back injury, Martin’s positive test means that Tucker is one of the team’s best available forwards until Martin and Butler return. Tucker has played at least 32 minutes over the last four games and should continue to play extended minutes in Week 10 of the fantasy basketball season. In three of his last four games, Tucker produced at least 33 FPTS. Available in more than 40% of fantasy basketball leagues, he is a noteworthy waiver wire target heading into Week 10.
SF/PF Cody Martin, Charlotte Hornets (63% Owned)
Over the last six games, Cody Martin has played a minimum of 30 minutes. In four of those games, Martin went ahead and played at least 40 minutes. Finally, in five of those six games, Martin scored in double figures, shooting for at least 50% from the field and grabbed six rebounds. He's on fire right now. His efficiency from the field for the Hornets over the last two weeks has been indispensable as the team had also suffered a COVID-19 outbreak. While those players are still coming back from Health & Safety Protocols, it is very likely that Martin continues to produce at this high level. Since he is still available in approximately 40% of fantasy basketball leagues, he is a worthy free agent to scoop off of waivers.
Bigs
PF Nicolas Claxton, Brooklyn Nets (43% Owned)
With Paul Millsap, James Johnson, and LaMarcus Aldridge all out until at least Dec. 23 due to positive test results, Nicolas Claxton becomes the most valuable big for the Nets in Week 10. Nonetheless, he is available in more than 55% of fantasy basketball leagues right now. In the last two games, he has shot at least 80% from the field and scored 16 and 17 points respectively in those two contests. Since Millsap, Johnson, and Aldridge tested positive, it is very likely that Claxton plays at least 30 MPG or more in Week 10. If Claxton maintains his efficiency and sees an uptick in minutes (which he likely will), he will be an invaluable big to fantasy basketball owners in Week 10.
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PF/C Hassan Whiteside, Utah Jazz (65% Owned)
Although Rudy Gobert is the go-to big man in Utah and by far the most dominant defensive player in the NBA, Hassan Whiteside has been quietly impressive as of late. Although Whiteside is only averaging 15.1 MPG this season, he has recorded three consecutive double-doubles in less than twenty minutes played in Utah’s last three games. Whether Whiteside earns more minutes in the rotation is yet to be seen, but like JaVale McGee on the Phoenix Suns, Whiteside is playing incredibly efficient basketball in the paint despite his limited playing time.
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