Thursday's Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets: Anthony Black, Peyton Watson, Keegan Murray and More

Let's go over another round of fantasy basketball waiver wire options in the fifth week of the NBA regular season.

Here are the waiver stories from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Check out fantasy basketball waiver wire options on FantasySP all season long!

Should You Add Anthony Black?

Black has been added in 6.75% of fantasy basketball leagues, bringing his overall mark up to 27.54%.

He has been playing a bit more over the team's past two games, and production has followed, so he's on the rise. Black has 39 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block over 68 minutes played.

Black has started three of the 15 games he's appeared in so far this season. Overall, he's averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks over 26.8 minutes. He is shooting 47.8% overall and just 28.8% from 3-point land.

He's had some solid fantasy performances over the course of the season, but he's been up and down as a fantasy asset. Right now, he's only worthy of deep-league fantasy ownership, but he's also maybe worth some standard league streams after what he's done the past two contests.

With Paolo Banchero and Moritz Wagner out, there's more minutes and fantasy production available for Black, and he's taking advantage of things. Utilize Black in deeper leagues (and maybe as a standard league streamer) until his minutes and usage back off. 

He'll mostly be a deep-league asset otherwise, but he's not someone to even own in all deeper leagues, so keep an eye on his numbers and move off him when it makes sense to.

Should You Add Wendell Carter Jr.?

Carter is up 6.12% and now sits at 32.85% overall.

Another Magic player for you here. He's been a much more consistent fantasy asset, but is coming off a big 17-point, 12-rebound effort, so it's easy to see why he's on the rise.

The absence of Banchero and Wagner are directly helping Carter do more. He's been at 31 or more minutes in four straight games, and he has double-digit point totals in three of those games. He's scored in double figures in 11 of his 15 games so far, so he's produced even with Orlando at full health.

He's averaging 30.3 minutes per game for the season now, but will likely be under 30 minutes a contest when Banchero and Wagner are back. Carter is also averaging 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals, while shooting 53.8% overall and 44.2% from deep.

There's a lot to like in those numbers, and they make him another good deep-league option now, with standard league streaming upside as well, especially because he's a big man.

He's a double-double threat, and has three on the year. He chips in enough else to be a solid fantasy asset, especially while he's playing so many minutes.

I like the idea of adding and utilizing him now in all deeper leagues, and think he will stick at that level of fantasy asset all year. He's also worth streaming in standard leagues, and possibly keeping if you have a need for a post, or like Carter in his matchups for a little stretch.

Should You Add Peyton Watson?

Watson is rostered in 20.29% of leagues after a 3.95% increase.

Watson has started three straight games for Denver, and logged 34 minutes in each contest. He had so-so results in the first two games, but erupted for 32 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and a steal in his last contest, so he's being added in a bunch of leagues.

Denver is down a couple players, most notably Christian Braun, which is opening playing time for Watson. He's unlikely to produce like he did in his last game often, but with that kind of upside, he's worth adding in more deeper leagues.

He's averaging 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks and steals over 23.9 minutes a game for the season. Watson is shooting 49.4% overall and he's 35.7% from deep.

He's at least worth streaming in deeper leagues in case his recent game is the start of a breakout. I'd hold off on streaming him in standard leagues until he delivered at least one more notable fantasy showing.

Watson's role will likely change as the season progresses, so keep an eye on him and his role/usage and add/drop him as it makes sense.

Should You Add Bobby Portis?

Portis is up 2.67% and now sits at 43.96% overall.

It's been a pretty slow start to the season for Portis, but the injury for Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to give Portis more minutes for a little bit, and maybe that will help him get in a groove.

He's averaging 20.9 minutes per game over his first 15 contests this season - that's the lowest amount of playing time he's had since his first year in Milwaukee (2020-21). Portis is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.1 blocks, while shooting 46.8% overall and 42.6% from deep.

With more playing time over the next couple weeks, Portis should be able to up his averages a bit, which will give him deep-league fantasy value, at least. He's worth watching in case he gets in a groove, at which point he could be added or streamed in standard leagues for a bit.

His role will decrease when Giannis returns, but maybe Portis could still remain a deep-league asset in a notable bench role. We'll see if he can take advantage of the opportunity.

Should You Add Keegan Murray?

Murray has been added in 2.58% of leagues and is now rostered in 63.77% of leagues overall. He is expected to make his season debut on Thursday, so that explains why he's been on the rise the past few days.

In 76 games last season, he averaged 12.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals over 34.3 minutes a contest. Murray shot 44.4% overall and was 34.3% from deep.

With Domantas Sabonis also banged up, there's a chance Murray returns and can immediately be an impact fantasy player for the Kings. At his averages last season, he was a good deep-league asset, and standard league streamer or short-term option.

I'm for adding Murray in deeper leagues today, but would maybe wait until we see his role and usage before adding him in too many standard leagues. If you have an open roster spot, I also get stashing him so you don't miss out on him.

Deciding whether or not to add Murray today comes down to your fantasy roster, so react accordingly to your needs.

Should You Add Keldon Johnson?

Johnson is owned in 42.51% of leagues after a 1.42% increase today.

He's yet another Spur who will help replace the injured Victor Wembanyama. Johnson played a season-high 30 minutes in the team's last game, and he responded with 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists and steals. 

Over 14 games and 23.6 minutes a contest, Johnson is averaging 11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.1 blocks. He's shooting 55.5% overall and just 24.2% from deep.

With Wemby out, Johnson has a chance at an expanded role, and thus his fantasy value is up. He's worth deep-league adds or streams until Wembanyama is back in action.

If he delivers a time or two again, then Johnson could be a standard league streaming asset to some. It's a bit risky with him coming off the bench, but if he's playing and producing enough, it'll be worth the gamble.