Fantasy Basketball Projections: Five Waiver Wire Options for the Rest of the Week

The NBA returns on Thursday, so let's look over some projections for what's left of the week and discuss some streaming/waiver wire options.

I'll discuss five players who stand out to me, picking out one at each position.

Waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Wendell Carter Jr. - Orlando Magic

Carter is an option at center, and is owned in about 62% of fantasy leagues right now. He is projected for 26.9 fantasy points over three games the rest of the week.

Carter has started all 51 games he's played in for Orlando this season. He's averaging 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 assists and 0.7 blocks over 29.5 minutes a contest, while shooting 49.2% overall and 33.1% from 3-point land.

He hasn't scored in double figures in any of the team's six February games so far, but with six or more rebounds in all but one of those games, Carter still delivers pretty good fantasy marks.

Orlando isn't dealing with any major injuries at this time, so I more like Carter because of what he's done overall this season. If you are in need of some fantasy center help, give Carter some consideration.

Jeremiah Fears - New Orleans Pelicans

Fears is projected for 26.2 fantasy points over two contests. He is owned in about 42% of leagues and is a point guard.

Fears is a player I talked about at length in a waiver wire story on Tuesday. He's been on the rise for the past several games.

He's started 44 of the 56 games he's played in overall. Fears is averaging 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks over 25.6 minutes, while shooting 42.9% overall and 32.4% from deep.

Fears hasn't started any of the Pelicans' past 10 games, but he's played 27+ minutes in three straight. He's scored in double figures in four of the past six and three of the past four contests. In the past two games, Fears has combined for 33 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, four steals and two blocks.

New Orleans is playing without a few players, including Yves Missi, Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray. A fully healthy Pelicans' team would likely mean a bit less production for Fears, but on a rebuilding team, I still think Fears should get enough playing time the rest of the season to remain a fantasy asset.

I like him as a long-term add, but if you aren't sold on Fears yet, why not give him a shot for the rest of this week. 

Tobias Harris - Detroit Pistons

Harris is sitting around 65% owned right now. He's projected for 25.6 fantasy points over two games the rest of this week. Harris is a small forward.

In 37 games (all starts) this season, Harris is averaging 13.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks over 27.9 minutes a night. He is shooting 45.5% overall and he's 35.4% from deep.

Harris has scored in double figures in nine straight games. He's averaging 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 0.2 blocks over 29.4 minutes a night in that stretch, while shooting 45.7% overall and 44.1% from deep.

Even a slight bump in production is enough reason to add Harris in some leagues. He's a good deep-league fantasy asset, and can be utilized in some standard leagues when he's producing more.

We'll see how Harris fares after the All-Star break, but I think he's worth adding/utilizing in some standard leagues for the rest of this week, especially if you need a small forward.

Detroit is pretty healthy at this point, but with suspensions for Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart, Harris can produce a little more than usual.

Brandin Podziemski - Golden State Warriors

Podziemski is rostered in about 62% of fantasy leagues right now. The shooting guard is set for 23 fantasy points over two games the rest of the week.

Podz is averaging 12 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.2 blocks over 26.9 minutes a game in his 55 games (19 starts) this season. He is shooting 44.8% overall and he's 37% from 3-point land.

With Stephen Curry among the Warriors out of late, Podziemski has helped fill in the voids. Podz has scored at least 14 points in each of the past three contests. He has combined for 15 rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in those games as well. 

Curry and others could return to the mix after the All-Star break, but that doesn't mean Podziemski's role and production are suddenly going to disappear. Sure, his fantasy outlook will be a bit lowered, but he still has some upside in various leagues.

Podziemski is a player who needs to be rostered in all deeper leagues at this point. If Curry is out for more games, then Podz could be worth adding/streaming in standard leagues until the star guard returns.

Kyle Kuzma - Milwaukee Bucks

Kuzma has two games as well and is projected for 23.2 fantasy points in those contests. He's an option at power forward and sits at about 58% rostered right now. 

He's taking on more with Giannis Antetokounmpo out with an injury. Kuzma tallied 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the two games before the break.

Kuzma is averaging 12.9 points, 5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks over 26.8 minutes a game. He's played 50 games (starting 26) and is shooting 48.1% overall and is 32.2% from deep.

This one is pretty simple with Kuzma. Until Antetokounmpo is back, Kuzma is worth more fantasy ownership/utilization. I like him most in deeper leagues, but he's a standard league option if you need some PF help.