Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Rising Rookies and Deep-League Gems

Let's go over our second round of fantasy basketball waiver wire options for the week!

Here's our story from Monday - we won't include anyone who appeared in that article. Also be sure to check out Tuesday's streaming article.

Waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!

Nique Clifford: Rookie Taking Off

Clifford is the most-added player to kick off Tuesday. He's up 12.45% and sits at 64.74% overall now.

In his rookie season, Clifford is averaging 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks over 22.5 minutes across 58 games played (12 starts). 

He's started the past two games, logging 39 and 42 minutes. Clifford has combined for 39 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks in those contests. He's scored in double figures in four straight overall.

The rookie is clearly on the rise, and there's a chance he sticks as a good fantasy asset as the season winds down. Sacramento is without De'Andre Hunter, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine for the season, and Dylan Cardwell and Keegan Murray are also out for the time being.

Clifford could see his fantasy outlook drop when Cardwell or Murray return, but there's also a chance that Clifford keeps playing enough down the stretch to keep delivering for fantasy owners.

He's a good deep-league add, and should at least be streamed in those leagues for now. I also like him as a standard league streamer, and would keep rostering/utilizing him until his production drops off.

Jordan Miller: Steadily Contributing

Miller is up 10.26% and is now owned in 22.8% of leagues.

The third-year player is enjoying the best playing days of his career. Over 39 games (all off the bench), Miller is averaging 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks over 20.4 minutes a contest.

Miller has scored in double figures in five straight, averaging 13 points a night in that stretch. He's also averaging 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks per game over those contests, while playing 25.8 minutes.

Bradley Beal and John Collins are two Clippers who are out of the picture with injuries. Beal is out for the season, but Collins could return at any point. It was great to see Miller deliver 12 points, six boards and a block on Monday, because LA got Darius Garland back.

There's a chance Miller sticks as a decent fantasy asset down the stretch. Being mostly a fantasy asset on his scoring, I only like adding Miller in deeper leagues. He'd really have to up his scoring or additional stats to ever get into standard leagues for a long stretch. 

Justin Champagnie: Delivering Daily, but Dropoff Coming?

Champagnie is owned in 28.27% of leagues after a 10.23% increase today.

He's scored 12 or 14 points in four straight games for the Wizards, while playing 15-27 minutes a night. His minutes have gone up in four straight.

Washington is missing several players, but is expected to get Trae Young back later this week, which will alter the rotation. That puts a damper on what Champagnie has done of late, and should keep him as just a deep-league asset.

At 8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks over 19.3 minutes a game on the season, Champagnie has deep-league value though, even if his scoring drops off as the Wizards get healthier.

While I don't mind adding Champagnie today, the impending return of Young makes me more likely to skip Champagnie. Check into several waiver wire assets and see who makes the most sense to add.

Danny Wolf: Another Rising Rookie 

Wolf has been added in 6.02% of leagues, bringing his overall mark to 15.5%.

Wolf has averaged 20.5 minutes per game on the season, and has played 22 or more minutes in three straight. The rookie has 14, 16 and 23 points in that three-game stretch, while averaging 8.9 points per game on the season.

Over the past three contests, Wolf has combined for 16 rebounds, eight assists and three steals. He's averaging 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks on the season.

Nicolas Claxton and Egor Demin are a couple Nets who have missed games of late. Their absences help others deliver more, and Wolf is one of the players taking advantage.

I like the idea of adding Wolf, as he's mostly an unknown rookie. He appeals to me more over a guy like Champagnie, and his potential is probably higher than Miller.

Right now, Wolf is just a deep-league asset, but more strong play could get him into standard leagues in time. He'll need to keep logging heavy minutes and keep delivering to get there though. Keep an eye on Wolf if you aren't a deep-league manager adding him today.