Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: 5 Players to Add Before the Weekend
These five players are seeing their roster percentages climb and could provide a boost to your fantasy basketball team.
Let's check out some more fantasy basketball waiver wire options before we hit the weekend!
We have covered some waiver options in stories from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, plus went over teams to stream against and avoid. Check back for more fantasy basketball coverage all season!
Fantasy basketball waiver wire options can be found all season on FantasySP!
De'Anthony Melton - Golden State Warriors
Melton is up to 41% rostered right now. That's not his highest mark of the season, but he's rising after it was announced that Stephen Curry was going to miss several weeks of action with a right oblique tear.
He has started two of the 12 games he's appeared in so far this season, averaging 22.4 minutes a night. He could start, or at least play more consistent minutes, now that Curry is out.
Melton is averaging 10.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocks per game so far, which shows why he's owned in as many leagues as he is already. His averages should improve with a little more playing time, and that could make him a pretty good fantasy asset.
He's one to own in all deeper leagues while Curry is out. If Melton can deliver better production while on the court, then he could be tried in standard leagues until Curry is back. Don't wait to make the move.
Jaylen Wells - Memphis Grizzlies
Wells is sitting at 31% rostered at the moment. Again, that's not his highest mark of the season, but he's up about 8% over the past three days.
Connect your league to uncover strengths & weaknesses, waiver assistance, trade scenarios, and get instant start/sit clarity.
He's starting for Memphis, averaging 27.3 minutes over his 11 games played thus far. Wells is averaging 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks per game.
His scoring is solid, but he's not doing too much else, which holds his fantasy value back. Wells is probably going to be a better deep-league option this season as a result.
He's capable of some bigger performances though, so he could be a standard league streaming option in a pinch. I just don't see him as someone to be holding in standard leagues.
Meleek Thomas - Cleveland Cavaliers
Thomas is owned in roughly 32% of leagues right now. That's his highest mark of the season so far, and up about 18% since November 9.
He's put together some solid numbers early in his NBA career. Over nine games (two starts), Thomas has averaged 13.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and steals and 0.3 blocks in 23 minutes.
He's carved out a notable role on a good team and is producing at a decent clip. There's some deep-league appeal in those averages, but he falls short of being a standard league option.
He could work into those leagues later this season if his production goes up, or if he gets inserted into the starting lineup, so he's one to track. I definitely like his long-term appeal, so he's one to be excited about in dynasty/keeper leagues.
Jalen Smith - Chicago Bulls
Smith is rostered in 77% of leagues, which is his highest mark of the season. He was at 44% on November 7, so it's been a quick and steady climb over the past week for him.
He continues to start and produce pretty well for the Bulls. With Caleb Wilson now out for several weeks with an injury, Smith's fantasy value should extend for at least that long.
Over 10 games (all starts), Smith is averaging 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.3 steals over 24 minutes a night. He has two double-doubles on the year.
Smith is not a big man to own in all leagues, but he should be rostered in all deeper leagues and a bunch of standard leagues. He's a pretty solid standard league streaming option, so be looking to take advantage of that at times this season.
Sidy Cissoko - Portland Trail Blazers
Cissoko is rostered in about 8% of fantasy leagues at the moment. He was below 2% three days ago and is nearing his season-high own mark.
He's started the past two games for Portland and delivered 36 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal across those games combined. Cissoko is averaging 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks over 23.1 minutes on the season, which has spanned 11 games.
He's on the rise after showing better production in a starting role. I still like him best in deeper leagues only, although more solid results could eventually make him a standard league streaming option.
Take advantage of his recent uptick in production in deeper leagues for sure, riding the wave until his production or role fades. After that, he'll likely be droppable in all leagues, so keep close tabs on him.
