Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Watch: Time to Add Tatum, Plus Three More Options

It's time for our second look at fantasy basketball waiver wire options for the week!

Here is the first story we did - we won't discuss anyone we covered in that article. Let's dive right in!

Waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Jayson Tatum: Nearing Return?

Tatum is up 21.82% today, and is now owned in 70.07% of fantasy leagues.

Tatum has yet to play this season because of an Achilles tear he suffered last season. He is getting closer to returning after being assigned to the G League.

Playing against G League players is a way to ramp up his rehab. He'll need to be practicing against his NBA teammates before he's cleared to play in NBA games though.

There was talks that he could miss this entire season, so the fact that he's being sent to the G League already is pretty wild. A return after the All-Star break seems very possible, and it'd be more surprising if he didn't return now.

Tatum is a star when on the court. He's averaged over 25 points per game in four straight years. Last year in 72 games and over 36.4 minutes a game, Tatum averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks.

He's unowned in a lot of leagues because he hasn't played all year and wasn't expected to play. Tatum should be the biggest fantasy waiver wire add for the next couple days, and he'll get to 100% in a hurry, so scoop him up while you can.

It might still be a bit until he's back, but he's more than worth waiting for. Tatum might not immediately star, and could see lower averages as the team eases him back, but he still could be a top-end fantasy talent in a lesser role.

Add him and stash him until he's back on the court, which doesn't seem so far away now.

Pat Spencer: Consistently Delivering

Spencer has been added in 12.65% of leagues, bringing his overall mark to 28.70%.

He had his contract converted to a full NBA contract the other day. Spencer ran out of time on his two-way deal, so he wouldn't have been able to play more NBA games without a full NBA deal.

On the season, he is averaging 6.3 points, 3.1 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.1 blocks over 15.2 minutes a night in his 38 games (seven starts). Spencer is shooting 44% overall and he's 41.3% from deep.

He's scored in double figures in four straight games for the Warriors, who are dealing with some injuries before the All-Star break. Spencer is averaging 16 points, 5.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals over 29.5 minutes a game in four contests this month.

Spencer's role will likely decrease with the return of Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis, but for now, Spencer is worth owning and utilizing in a lot of fantasy leagues.

Spencer is a good add in a lot of deeper leagues, and I'd be fine streaming him in standard leagues for a bit as well. Definitely give him some consideration. 

Marcus Smart: Taking On More

Smart is owned in 21.99% of leagues after an 8.24% increase so far today.

Speaking of players taking on more with teammates out with injuries, we have Smart, who is picking up some of the slack with Luka Doncic nursing a hamstring injury.

Smart has been starting games regardless if Donic is out there or not, but he's picked up his production without the star guard around. Smart has scored 34 points over the past two games combined. He's tacked on a few rebounds, assists, steals and blocks to provide good fantasy value.

Over 43 games (36 starts) overall this season, Smart is averaging 9.9 points, 3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks over 28.5 minutes a night. He's shooting 40.7% overall and 33.8% from deep.

As long as Doncic is out, Smart's fantasy value is up significantly. He's worth more deep-league ownership for sure, and in a pinch, could be worth some standard league streams too.

Smart is going to be just a deep-league fantasy asset while Doncic is healthy though, so most standard league owners are going to avoid adding/streaming him right now.

Max Christie: Excelling Game After Game

Christie is up 7.54%, which brings his overall mark to 46.7%.

Christie is in another good groove, something that's happened several times this season. He's scored in double figures in five straight games, and has tallied nine points the two times he missed scoring in double figures over the past 19 contests.

Christie is averaging 16.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks over 31.9 minutes a game over that 19-game stretch. He's shooting 46% overall and he's 40.2% from 3-point land.

On the season, Christie is averaging 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks over 29.6 minutes a contest. He's shooting 46.8% overall and 42.9% overall.

Dallas is still without Kyrie Irving, and there's still no timetable for his return. Klay Thompson has also missed some time of late. Khris Middleton also has not played since being traded to Dallas.

Including all three of those guys in the rotation could knock Christie down a peg, but with the team building for the future, I don't see Christie being benched completely ever. I expect him to remain a good fantasy asset the rest of the season.

He should be rostered in all deeper leagues right now, so add/stream him until his hot streak wraps up. Christie is even a standard league streamer right now, so take advantage of things while he's excelling on the court.