March 11 Fantasy Basketball Takeaways: Top Rookies and Waiver Wire Options | Kelly Olynyk, Sam Hauser, Caris LeVert, Bruce Brown, Scoot Henderson and More

Taking a look at some of the top performances from waiver wire options across NBA games played March 11.

There were only six NBA games played on Monday, March 11, but there are still plenty of big individual performances to discuss. Let’s take a look at the best outings from waiver wire players and rookies.

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Waiver Wire Options

We’ll open today’s conversation by talking about Toronto Raptors’ Kelly Olynyk, who is owned in 79% of fantasy leagues. He tallied 24 points, six rebounds and one assist across 29 minutes in the team’s loss to the Denver Nuggets. He was 9-of-13 from the floor.

Olynyk has been starting lately with a couple teammates inactive. He’s scored in double figures in three of his four starts, also averaging 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1 block across that stretch. Until he loses the starting role, Olynyk is a solid streaming option in all formats.

Boston Celtics’ Sam Hauser, rostered in just 4% of leagues, recorded 22 points, two rebounds and steals and one block across 32 minutes off the bench in the team’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

A lopsided score allowed Hauser to get some extra minutes, and he took advantage, making six 3-pointers and scoring his most points in a game this season. Even despite the big showing, I’d leave Hauser on the waiver wire - he doesn’t play enough minutes to make a big fantasy difference most nights. He’d be a streaming option in deeper leagues when the team is missing a few regulars.

Charlotte Hornets’ Grant Williams, owned in 34% of leagues, recorded 22 points, four rebounds and two assists and steals across 32 minutes in the team’s loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Williams has started four of the past five games, averaging 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.4 blocks across 36.1 minutes. When the team’s at full health, his averages and playing time would all likely drop a touch, but for the time being, you could start Williams in deeper leagues.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Caris LeVert, rostered in 82% of leagues, tallied 17 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and one steal across 33 minutes in the team’s loss to the Phoenix Suns.

LeVert got a start with the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Max Strus and Dean Wade out. LeVert already gets enough minutes most nights to be a solid option in all formats, but when that many players are out, he needs to be streamed in all leagues.

Detroit’s Simone Fontecchio, owned in 55% of leagues, finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block across 37 minutes.

Fontecchio got a start and delivered another big all-around performance. He’s already been scooped up in most deep leagues, and now he should be getting heavy consideration in standard leagues - I’m all for adding him in standard leagues, at least until he cools off a bit.

Charlotte’s Nick Richards totaled 10 points, 13 rebounds and two assists across 36 minutes in the team’s loss. He’s owned in 71% of leagues.

It marked Richards’ third straight double-double. Because he can fill the stat sheet in two areas consistently, that makes Richards a pretty solid fantasy option, even if he isn’t scoring a lot. He’s a streaming option in all formats until the double-doubles dry up.

Toronto’s Bruce Brown, rostered in 32% of leagues, went for 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists across 38 minutes in the team’s loss.

Brown got a start after missing the team’s past four games. He might not get this many minutes each night going forward, but until the team is healthier, Brown could be streamed in all formats. He should be owned in all deep leagues otherwise.

San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins, owned in 54% of leagues, had 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and blocks and one steal across 17 minutes off the bench in the team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Collins lost his starting role with Victor Wembanyama back in the lineup, but still delivered a double-double. It’s risky playing Collins if he’s going to play under 20 minutes, but in the right matchups, he could still be a decent fantasy asset in deeper leagues.

Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro, owned in 59% of leagues, finished the night with 13 points, four rebounds and steals and three assists across 39 minutes in the team’s loss.

Okoro has played well recently, which partly has come with several teammates being out. He’s scored in double figures in seven of the past eight contests, and needs to at least be streamed in deeper leagues (and several standard leagues) until all his teammates come back.

Top Rookies

Several rookies stood out on Monday night.

Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II, rostered in 45% of leagues, had 22 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals and blocks across 20 minutes off the bench in the team’s win over the Chicago Bulls. Lively was 11-of-12 from the floor.

Lively appears to be transitioning to a role off the bench, playing around 20-24 minutes per game. That’s enough time to make a difference from a fantasy perspective, but his ceiling will be capped. If he shoots this efficiently, he can be an asset in all leagues, but that seems highly unlikely, so I’d just focus on him as an option in deeper leagues/dynasties.

Toronto’s Gradey Dick, owned in 16% of leagues, accumulated 17 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals on Monday.

Dick started for a second straight game and really filled the stat sheet up well. His role will decrease when the team’s at full health, but until that point, he can be streamed in deeper leagues/dynasties.

Chicago’s Onuralp Bitim, owned in just a couple leagues, had 17 points, five rebounds and one assist across 25 minutes off the bench.

Bitim has carved out a role with the Bulls of late, although usually he’s been playing between 10-16 minutes. Maybe Monday’s showing will get him some more minutes going forward, but I wouldn’t add him in any leagues until I see it at least once more.

Golden State’s Brandin Podziemski, owned in 50% of leagues, finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal and block across 35 minutes off the bench.

Podz didn’t start for the first time in 10 games, but delivered one of his better showings over that span. Podziemski has thrived off the bench this season, and that might be his role going forward. He still plays plenty of minutes and can stuff the stat sheet, so he’s still worth playing in deeper leagues and dynasties. His own percentage will rise if he can deliver more showings like Monday on a regular basis.

Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, owned in 30% of leagues, recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists across 26 minutes off the bench.

Jackson-Davis has been good for the Warriors over the past couple weeks, and is getting more playing time as a result. He’s worth streaming in deeper leagues/dynasties until his role or production drops off.

Cleveland’s Craig Porter Jr., rostered in 3% of leagues, ended the night with 13 points, six rebounds and one assist across 22 minutes.

Porter has taken advantage of his teammates being out and has scored 13 points in three of the past five games - the only problem is that he hasn’t scored in the other two games. He’s a streaming option in deeper leagues/dynasties until the team is at full health, but I also believe that there’s better options out there for you to take advantage of.

Portland’s Scoot Henderson, owned in 71% of leagues, totaled 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds across 33 minutes on Monday.

Henderson extended his streak of scoring in double digits to eight games, although he’s also missed 10 games during that span. He’s a decent option in all league formats until his minutes fall off, because he normally stuffs the stat sheet pretty well.

Charlotte’s Vasilije Micic, owned in 49% of leagues, tallied 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one steal across 33 minutes.

Micic has scored in double figures in six straight games, also averaging 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals over that span. That’s enough production to own/play him in deeper leagues, but at just 13.8 points, there’s probably better options out there in standard leagues.

Chicago’s Julian Phillips, rostered in barely any leagues, had 11 points, three rebounds and two steals across 28 minutes off the bench on Monday.

His playing time has been spotty of late, but maybe Monday’s game is a sign of things to come - the team also got blown out, so keep that in mind. I’d keep an eye on Phillips over the next few games before seriously considering adding him.

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