The key to winning your fantasy basketball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent could replace those late-round selections that aren’t having the best season. Here at NFS, we provide the best picks for players you should grab off waivers now before it is too late. As always, both opportunity and performance are taken into consideration for these players, and also all players listed are rostered below 40 percent on ESPN. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA New Age Rankings for every player’s year-to-date performance valuation.
Guards
PJ Dozier, PG, Denver Nuggets
With Will Barton expected to be out indefinitely with a knee injury, it is PJ Dozier who is expected to be the next man up. He has already started two games and has been productive in both, including a 23-point outing against the Houston Rockets. In his last five games, Dozier has averaged 12 points, four rebounds, five assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His shooting percentages have struggled through those five games. But with plenty of starting opportunities in the future, it is not worth worrying over. Dozier is a solid pickup in all league formats for the fantasy playoffs.
Raul Neto, PG, Washington Wizards
Since being moved into the starting lineup, Raul Neto has been very efficient playing alongside Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook. His production has also helped the Wizards go 8-2 in their last 10 games. In his last five games, Neto has averaged 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and 1.6 steals per game. What’s most impressive are his shooting percentages, hitting a clip of 55 percent from the field and 47 percent from beyond the arc. As long as Scott Brooks continues to move forward with this small-ball lineup, Neto should be a solid addition off the waiver wire.
Facundo Campazzo, PG, Denver Nuggets
After Jamaal Murray suffered torn ACL, Facundo Campazzo has been inserted into the starting lineup to help Denver stay afloat in the playoff picture. In his last five games, Campazzo has averaged seven points, seven assists, 1.6 steals, and less than a turnover per game. His shooting percentages have also struggled through these games. However, his assist to turnover percentage is a huge competitive edge in fantasy. These factors, on top of likely being in the starting lineup for the rest of the year, make him a quality fantasy pickup in deeper formatted leagues.
Forwards
Oshae Brissett, PF, Indiana Pacers
With Domantas Sabonis dealing with a back injury, Oshae Brissett has been given the opportunity to absolutely torch teams over the past few games. IN the last five games, Brissett has averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, a steal, and 1.8 blocks per game. He has also shot 45 percent from beyond the arc in those same games. Brissett has already earned himself a multi-year standard contract. As long as Sabonis continues to miss games, Brissett is a must-add waiver wire pickup for the playoffs with the kind of production he continues to put up, game in and game out.
Jeff Green, PF, Brooklyn Nets
After LaMarcus Aldridge was forced to retire due to a heart condition, it has been Jeff Green earning his minutes as the Nets continue to steamroll through the regular season. In his last five games, Green has averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. His shooting percentages haven’t been the strongest but as long as he continues to get starting minutes, he should be putting up productive numbers. Green is also worth adding in all league formats while he continues to have great games for his 10th NBA team.
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks
Since joining the Mavericks in 2016, Dorian Finney-Smith has worked his way up the rotation to now becoming a key member in the starting lineup for a Mavericks team continuing to improve season by season. In his last five games, Finney-Smith has averaged 13 points, six rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. But what’s been most impressive over these five games are his shooting percentages. He’s averaged 61 percent from the field and 51 percent from three. Finney-Smith’s play will be key if the Mavericks want to maintain the sixth seed in the West. For now, Finney-Smith is a quality add in most league formats.
Centers
Khem Birch, C, Toronto Raptors
After being bought out by the Orlando Magic, Khem Birch chose to sign with the Toronto Raptors who have a pretty open center position with Chris Boucher dealing with a MCL sprain. In his last five games, Birch has averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 57 percent from the field. Toronto is currently trying to catch up to the play-in tournament. Birch’s play will be key if the Raptors would like to keep their season alive. His most recent game where he finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds is a good start.
Daniel Theis, C, Chicago Bulls
Daniel Theis was moved from Boston to Chicago on the trade deadline to fill the backup center role behind Nikola Vicevic. However, he’s actually been playing a lot of power forward over Lauri Markkanen. Over Theis’s last five games, he has averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, and a block per game. He also shot an efficient 54 percent from the field in those same games. Chicago currently holds the 11th seed and they’ll need as much production they can get if they want to keep their season alive in the play-in tournament. Theis is a quality add in deeper league formats for fantasy implications.
Ethan Hartley 