Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: End of Season Awards

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

Darius Garland, PG/SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
After a subpar rookie season, Darius Garland was a low flyer in the drafts coming into this season. However, he quickly earned himself as an early priority pickup and hasn’t fallen throughout the season. He did suffer a writs injury where he missed multiple weeks but it didn’t miss a step once he returned. Garland finished his sophomore season averaging 18 points, six assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot a solid 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from the beyond the arc. Garland improved in every statistical category except for turnovers. Garland is in a prime position for another breakout season and could be a potential all-star with where he is heading right now. 

Kevin Porter Jr, SG/PG, Houston Rockets
While Kevin Porter only appeared in 26 games this season, his peak was phenomenal. In his short time of consistent play, he played a level to become a key future player for the Rockets. He even dropped 50 points and 11 assists on over 60 percent shooting against the Milwaukee Bucks. Porter finished the season averaging 17 points and six assists per game. His only struggle this season was his shooting percentages. Not only were they inefficient, but they were also lower than last season with Cleveland. With a proper offseason, Kevin Porter can be a terrific player for the Rockets and whoever Houston selects with their top pick. 

T.J. McConnell. PG, Indiana Pacers
T.J. McConnell has been one of the best backup point guards in the entire league, playing being Malcolm Brogdon. He was able to achieve a triple-double with steals in March which put him in a category with only six other NBA players. Since that triple-double, he didn’t slow his production, finishing the season averaging 10 points, six assists, and two steals a game. He also shot an incredible 60 percent from the field in those same games. McConnell will be an unrestricted free agent this summer but is in line for a big payday after an impressive second season with the Pacers. 

Forwards

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
After dealing with a leg injury that forced him to miss most of the first half of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic came back and had an impressive second half. I would personally say that Bogdanovic was one of the best fantasy pickups this season. Since being lifted from his minute restriction, Bogdanovic has been averaged 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also shot nearly 50 percent from both the field and from beyond the arc. Bogdanovic’s incredible play was critical in helping the Hawks secure their first playoff spot since 2017. 

Robert Williams III, PF/C, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams III showed some good flashes depose dealing with some inconsistent minutes and a crowded center position for the Boston Celtics. The former first-round pick brought the block party to every game. Since the All-Star break, when Williams’s minutes started to pick up, he averaged nine points, eight rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. He also an insane 72 percent from the field since the break. If Williams can have a productive offseason and elevate his game, he has the potential to become the franchise center for the Celtics. He could be a quality sleeper pick next season. 

Darius Bazley, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
After the Thunder decided to go fully into tank mode, Darius Bazley was able to capitalize on his opportunity to get some good playing time with a thin frontcourt. In his sophomore season, Bazley averaged 14 points and seven rebounds a game. He really struggled on trying to stay efficient, only shooting about 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from beyond the arc. Nonetheless, Bazley will very likely become a key player for the Thunder in the future as he still only 20 years old. A productive offseason could see him as a quality late-round pick next year. 

Centers

Kelly Olynyk, C/PF, Houston Rockets
After the Victor Oladipo trade, most thought the Rockets got absolutely scammed when they only got Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk in return. However, Olynyk reached a whole different level once he arrived in Houston. Since being traded, he averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also drastically improved his shooting percentages, hitting 56 percent from the field and 38 from beyond the arc. Both are much better than his splits in Miami this season. Olynyk is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason but it would likely b in his best interest to stay with the Rockets, as he has by far played his best basketball for the organization.

Isaiah Stewart, C/PF, Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Stewart is one of the most underrated rookies we saw this season. Despite playing in a very crowded backcourt, he worked his way up to have a very productive second half of the season. Since the All-Star break, Stewart averaged 10 points, eight rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He also shot an efficient 55 percent from the field and was even a half-decent shooter for his position, hitting 34 percent from three. Stewart’s late breakout may even be enough for the front office to trade veterans in front of him.

Eastern Conference Fantasy Notes: Best of

The NBA is a fast-paced league where trends can switch as quickly as a lightbulb. Keeping up to date with these trends is vital to your success in fantasy basketball. We’ll be looking at the expected top performers, sneaky options, injury updates, rookie trends, individual team schedules, and some other points for the Eastern Conference. The key to winning this week? Look no further than this article. We here at Nerd Fantasy Sports got you covered. Check both our Consistency Rankings and New Age Rankings to get a data-driven take on fantasy basketball!

Sleepers to Wake Up

Terry Rozier, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets
Not only did Terry Rozier have one of the best seasons in his career, but Rozier had one of the most underrated seasons amongst all players in the league. His season was overshadowed by the excellence of LaMelo Ball. But Rozier averaged 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s also dramatically improved from beyond the arc since coming into the league, shooting 40 percent. He also stayed generally healthy, only missing three games so far. With Rozier being commonly drafted around the 100s, he could be a quality sleeper next season with not much attention on him this season. 

Chris Boucher, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
The writing was on the wall for Chris Boucher to be the next man up after Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka left in free agency. Boucher brought the block party to his breakout season, earning four games with five or more blocks. But Boucher’s most improving stat was his shooting beyond the arc. Boucher last season shot 32 percent from three. That number jumped to 39 percent. Boucher has even achieved games where he’s had five or more threes four times this season. Boucher can do it all and another successful offseason will be key for the Raptors if they could like to return to playoff contention after a disappointing year for the team.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
After missing the first half of the season due to a leg injury, Bogdan Bogdanovic came back and torched the second half of the season. After being let off his minute restriction, Bogdanovic averaged 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He also shot 48 percent from beyond the arc, his most impressive stat this season. Bogdanovic could be in line for a break-out season next year if he can stay healthy. His playoff performance this season will be key if the Hawks could like to advance past the first against a likely matchup with the New York Knicks. 

Rookies Doing Work

LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets
Since high school, LaMelo Ball has been in the spotlight and that continued to follow him into the NBA from his stellar play and flashy highlights. His rookie season was cut short due to a broken wrist but when he came back last week, he did not miss a beat. Ball will finish his rookie year averaging 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, and 1.6 steals per game. The only aspect that Ball struggled with was his outside shooting. Ball only shot 36 percent from beyond the arc, which is considered below average. Once Ball develops an outside shot, we could be looking at an all-NBA player in the future. He will lead the Hornets to their first playoff series since 2016. 

Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
Despite an injury-riddled season to Killian Hayes, the Detroit Pistons did an excellent job in draft two quality mid-first-round picks who showed a lot of promise. Saddiq Bey from Villanova and Isaiah Stewart from Washington will both be key players in the future after surpassing expectations. Bey averaged 12 points and four rebounds while shooting 38 percent from three. While Stewart averaged eight points, six rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Detroit is in line to have another top pick in this year’s draft. If this upcoming selection turns positive, the Pistons could see the light at the end of the tunnel with the young core they are developing. 

Question of the Week?

Who is your pick to win the NBA Finals?
I am sure that most people believe the Brooklyn Nets will likely win the finals with their insane trio of James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant. However, I do not think seven games is enough for this trio to figure it out. And even if seven games was enough for the trio alone, it is absolutely not enough for he rest of the support cast to figure it out in the middle of the playoffs when James Harden will likely return from injury. Because of that key factor, I think the Philadelphia 76ers have the best shot to win the NBA Finals. While a lot of the pressure falls on Ben Simmons and whether he can step and be aggressive, I sill think this team is matched to compete with any team in the Western Conference. This could easily be a biased take considering I am a 76ers fan myself, but as an avid fan of the NBA itself, this is what I see and what I believe. I am excited to watch the 76ers during this playoff run. 

Other Notes

Every week I will share an opinion of mine about something going on in the Eastern Conference. This week’s take is: 
This is the most competitive playoffs we will have in a very long time. After the dominance of the Golden State Warriors, the Miami Heat, and the LA Teams last season, we finally enter the playoffs where it is almost impossible to determine the winners. There are about six legitimate contenders in the Western Conference and a three headed monster in the Eastern Conference. We also have plenty of new teams with unknown potential and questions whether they can keep up with the more veteran playoff teams of recent years. Regardless of what happens, we are witnessing something with postseason basketball this year and everyone should be excited.

What’s Wrong with the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Lakers dropped a game to the Portland Trailblazers on May 7th that will now have them playing in the play-in tournament if all seeding stays the same. With that, they’ll likely face a combination of either the Warriors, Spurs, and/or the Grizzlies. And while six months ago, these would have been easy games, the bar continues to be set lower and lower for the Lakers.

Injuries have plagued this team for months now. Lebron is still dealing with an ankle injury that has already forced him to miss 21 games. Anthony Davis has also missed 31 games this year and even suffered a new injury the other night against the Trailblazers.

We are seeing a bit of the Los Angeles Clippers last year in the Lakers this year. While it is slightly different with injuries because it is not public on how much players’ rehabilitation is slowed down for rest when they get hurt, it makes sense for the Lakers to do this. They have the best basketball player on the planet with one of the best big men in the entire league partnered alongside him. They also improved their roster over the offseason by adding Dennis Schroder and Montrezl Harrell. It makes sense for this front office to believe that they don’t need to rush their players back onto the court to maintain playoff success; they won in the Finals last year in the bubble. 

But the rules changed when the play-in tournament was introduced. Teams are forced to rest their stars fewer games to maintain a guaranteed playoff spot. 

In all honesty, the formula of resting players as much as possible has never worked. The Clippers last season were the team that everyone thought had a guaranteed conference finals spot. However, they were a second round exit after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Denver Nuggets. They also ended up firing Doc Rivers due to his treatment and favoring of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. 

The supporting cast of this team has also contributed to their struggles when James and Davis missed games. This team lacks a legitimate third star compared to teams like the 76ers, Nets, and Bucks in the Eastern Conference. Kyle Kuzma has struggled to stay consistent ever since Lebron came to the west coast. Those inconsistencies were shown even more when he became the number one option in March and April. In the games without Lebron or Davis, Kuzma only shot 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc. Montrezl Harrell is also not the player he once was when he played for the Clippers. Marc Gasol has also regressed, now only getting about 19 minutes of nightly action. The only player who has stayed consistent is Dennis Schroder but he’s had contract extension issues all season. Schroder’s shooting percentages without Lebron and AD were much better. He shot 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from three, while averaging an efficient 17 points per game. Which is higher than his season average at 15 points per game. 

Finally, coaching has been subpar during the stretch of games without Lebron and Davis as well. Last season, the major success of Lebron and Davis shadowed the flaws of Frank Vogel. Now when the responsibility falls on him more to keep this team afloat, he has not lived up to  expectations. 

With the Lakers having five games left in the regular season, they’ll need to make some major adjustments if they would like to avoid the play-in tournament. But their next two games are against the Suns and the Knicks. After that, their schedule eases with games against the Rockets, Pacers, and Pelicans. It’ll be very interesting how the Lakers will end their season if they can squeeze into the sixth seed. Their playoff success will also open a lot of eyes for how teams should structure and manage their players in the future, especially when dealing with injuries to multiple key players. 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 6

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, 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!

Hitters

Miguel Rojas, SS, Miami Marlins
After great production in the shortened season, Miguel Rojas has become a key player with the Miami Marlins. The Marlins have been trying to advance their status after years of selling and rebuilding. In his last 10 games, Rojas has hit .308 with two homers and six RBIs. In recent games, he has been shitting as high as .500. If Rojas can stay consistent, he has plenty of time to elevate his game to become an above-average shortstop. Rojas is worth picking up in all league formats while he continues his hot hitting. 

Brandon Crawford, SS, San Francisco Giants
With the Giants performance coming as a surprise to most, Brandon Crawford has played a key role in the Giants’s successful start. In his last 10 games, Crawford has been hitting .348 with four homers and eight RBIs. In those same stretch of games, he has also pulled off more walks than strikeouts. He has also been recently hitting around the .500 mark as well. The former all-star is in a contract year and this season will have big implications on his next contract. Crawford is worth adding in most league formats for the time being. 

Robbie Grossman, OF, Detroit Tigers
Robbie Grossman was an offseason signing by the Detroit Tigers to bring a veteran presence to a raising Detroit franchise. He has recently been on a solid stretch of games where he’s recently hit .368 and on OBP of .538. He’s also hit a homer and four RBIs in those same stretch of games. His consistency will be key on whether the Tigers are a team ready to advance after years of rebuilding. Robbie Grossman is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues but could be a must-add if he’s able to keep his production consistent. 

Matt Beaty, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
With Cody Bellinger on the injured list with a leg injury, it has been Matt Beaty who has replaced him in the lineup. The 28-year-old has been struggling to stay in the majors since 2019 but this recent stretch of games could be a good building block to keep his career in the majors consistent. In his last five games, Beaty has hit .333 with a homer and 11 RBIs. This includes a seven RBI game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Beaty is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues until he proves he can stay consistent in the majors. 

Pitchers

Wade Miley, SP, Cincinnati Reds
Now playing for his seventh MLB franchise, Wade Miley is having by far the best start to his career at the age of 34. Not only has he thrown a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians, but he has also maintained Cy Young quality numbers. Through six starts, Miley is 4-2 with 2.00 ERA and 27 strikeouts to only eight walked batters. Miley should be the first player added when looking on the waiver wire. It will be very intriguing if he is able to keep this consistency to be an above-average starting pitcher for the rest of the season. 

Garrett Richards, SP, Boston Red Sox
After a solid season with the Padres last year, Garrett Richards cashed in this offseason to play for the Boston Red Sox for the next two years. His start to the season was shaky, but he quickly smoothed out and has been pitching some solid outings. In his last three starts, Richards has managed a 2.84 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 19 innings of work. He’s also done a great job at maintaining a .286 OBP during those same starts. Richards is a quality pick-up on the waiver wire. His consistency will be key going forward. 

Robbie Ray, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Since being an all-star in 2017, Robbie Ray has struggled to stay in that same form. But after being traded to the Blue Jays, he is starting to show signs of life as a quality starting pitcher again. In his last four starts, Ray has maintained a 3.04 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 23.1 innings of work. Ray is a quality pick-up in most league formats. He will play a key role in a Blue Jays team trying to make a deep postseason run after making the postseason last year for the first time since 2016. 

Vince Velasquez, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Throughout his career, Vince Velasquez has struggled to become an above average pitcher because of failing to stay consistent after some legitimately productive starts. In 2021, he’s put together three solid starts in hopes to fill out the back end rotation of a Philles team who has struggled to build a complete rotation. In his last three starts, Velasquez has managed 2.87 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 15.2 innings of baseball. Velasquez is worth keeping on the radar in deep formatted leagues until he can prove that he’s moved past his issues of consistency.

Eastern Conference Fantasy Notes: Week 20

The NBA is a fast-paced league where trends can switch as quickly as a lightbulb. Keeping up to date with these trends is vital to your success in fantasy basketball. We’ll be looking at the expected top performers, sneaky options, injury updates, rookie trends, individual team schedules, and some other points for the Eastern Conference. The key to winning this week? Look no further than this article. We here at Nerd Fantasy Sports got you covered. Check both our Consistency Rankings and New Age Rankings to get a data-driven take on fantasy basketball!

Sleepers to Wake Up

Derrick Rose, PG, New York Knicks
Since returning to New York, Derrick Rose has been a tremendous contributor for them off the bench. In his last five games, Derrick Rose has averaged 19 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a steal per game. He has also been extremely efficient, shooting 56 percent from the field from beyond the arc. Rose’s contribution has helped the Knicks go 9-1 in their last ten games and currently maintain the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. If there is any chance Rose is available in your waiver wire, add him immediately. 

Oshae Brissett, PF, Indiana Pacers
Oshae Brissett has been one of the biggest late-season surprises this year. He was originally signed to a 10-day contract that eventually transitioned into a multi-year contract with the Pacers. In his last five games, Brissett has averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Not to mention he also shooting 47 percent from deep. This guy can do it all and he’s still only 22 years old. It will be interesting to see what his role will be once Myles Turner returns from injury. For now, if he is still available, adding to your team is a must. 

Khem Birch, C, Toronto Raptors
After being buyout by the Orlando Magic, Khem Birch chose to stay in the same state and play for the Toronto Raptors. While his chances for the playoffs haven’t been exactly the brightest, he has been playing much more productive basketball since joining the team. In his last five games, Birch has averaged 14 points, nine rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He has also shot an effective 61 percent from the field. Birch will likely cash in big this offseason or maybe chose to stay in Toronto to fill a role that they need. Birch is a solid pickup if he is still available. 

Rookies Doing Work

LaMelo Ball, PG, Charlotte Hornets
After having wrist surgery, LaMelo Ball returned for the Hornets the other night for the first time since Match 20th. IN the two games he has played, Ball has averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game. He still needs to work on his three-point shooting but that comes with conditioning and experience. It is still good for him to return ahead of the playoffs for a Hornets that have not made the playoffs since 2016. He will likely be very saught player in drafts next season. 

Aaron Nesmith, SF, Boston Celtics
Aaron Nesmith hasn’t been on this column before mainly due to little playing time behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But due to some injuries, he’s been able to have three productive games. In those three games, Nesmith has averaged 16 points, six rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. What’s most impressive are his shooting percentages, where he hits 68 percent from the field and 67 percent from deep. Depending on the offseason, Nesmith may be a sleeper pick in next season’s drafts. But it is good he is showing signs of life after being a mid-first-round selection. 

Question of the Week?

How far can the New York Knicks go in the playoffs?
I think the New York Knicks are in an interesting scenario in the Eastern Conference. Assuming all seeds stay the same, the Knicks would face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. This would be one of the more competitive four and five seed matchups we’ve seen in a while in the Eastern Conference. It could be anyone’s series, but I think the Knicks do have a slight competitive edge and will be the winners in this series. After that, it is an uphill battle. They would either face the 76ersor the Nets next, both are loaded teams. I think it would take a lot for the Knicks to win that series. Realistically, I only see them winning their first series. But with the acquisition of another superstar in the offseason, I think the Knicks could go much further in 2022. 

Other Notes

Every week I will share an opinion of mine about something going on in the Eastern Conference. This week’s take is:
The Celtics should consider trading Kemba Walker. After being an all-star starter in 2019, Kemba Walker has essentially fallen off. He still averages 18 points and five assists a game. But it isn’t enough for the Celtics to excel to the next level and that has been shown simply from their record. Not to mention Walker gets paid $34 million dollars and that will only go up the next few seasons. The only issue is who his replacement will be but Boston has never struggled to bring in talented free agents in the past so that should not be an issue today for the Celtics. 

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 19

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.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 5

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, 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!

Hitters 

Tyler O’Neill, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Tyler O’Neill is a young player part of a Cardinals organization that consistently develops some of the best prospects in the entire league. After a poor season in 2020, O’Neill has turned it around completely. He already has five homers after only hitting seven last season. In his last five games, O’Neill has hit .429 with two home runs and five RBIs. O’Neill is shaping up to be an everyday left fielder for the Cardinals. On top of still being 25 years old, these factors make O’Neill a priority pickup on the waiver wire. 

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 3B/SS, Texas Rangers
Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a golden glover in 2020 and looked to 2021 to continue to build up his young career. His impressive spring training carried into the new season where he’s already surpassed his homers and RBIs from last year. In his last five games, Kiner-Falefa hit .316 with three home runs, four RBIs, and a stolen base. He also leads the league in games played so his reliability is already extremely high. Kiner-Falefa is also a priority pickup on the waiver wire. He is flying off the shelves fast so pick him up now!

Nico Hoerner, 2B/SS, Chicago Cubs
Nico Hoerner was the top prospect for the Cubs back in 2019. His start through the majors has been a bit slow but 2021 may be looking the start for a breakout year for Hoerner. Through 32 plate appearances, Hoerner is hitting .375 with a .487 OBP. He’s also already hit six RBIs and has more walks than strikeouts. Hoerner is still 23 years old with plenty of upside to be a valuable young player in this league. Hoerner is worth keeping on the radar in most league formats but it also isn’t a bad idea to stash him in deeper formatted leagues in the meantime. 

Alex Kirilloff, OF, Minnesota Twins
Alex Kirilloff is playing his first season in the majors and his start was very shaky, he didn’t actually earn a hit until his sixth game. But that quickly changed when he hit two homers in the first game against Kansas City. He has now followed up with homers in each of his last three games. He has the opportunity to become an everyday left fielder with the position wide open. He is the number two prospect in the Twins system so he also has great potential. For now, it is worth adding and stashing Kirilloff in deeper league formats. 

Pitchers

Dylan Cease, SP, Chicago White Sox
Dylan Cease has been one of the most underrated pitchers this season. He has maintained a sub-three ERA throughout the season and even pitched a complete game shutout against the Tigers with nine strikeouts. Still only 25, Cease has the real potential to round out a legitimate trio with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn. It is also a good sign that Tony La Russa is finally starting to let him pitch past the fifth inning. Cease should be a pickup in all league formats. 

Madison Bumgarner, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
After an extremely rough start to the 2021 season, Madison Bumgarner has locked in and produced some legitimate starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his last three starts, Bumgarner has allowed only a 1.06 ERA with a .107 hitting percentage in 17 innings of work. He also produced an 18:2 strikeout to walk ratio. Bumgarner has been in the Cy Young Award before when he was in his prime. While it’s unlikely that he returns to that form again, as long as he can keep it consistently good, Bumgarner will be a very productive pitcher for anyone who adds him. 

Domingo German, SP, New York Yankees
Coming off of a suspension for a domestic abuse case, Domingo German was looking to turn it around in 2021. Unfortunately, that did not come in his first two starts. But after spending some time at the alternative site, German has turned it around. In his last two starts, German has maintained a 2-0 record and a 1.38 ERA over 13 total innings. German’s production will be critical for a Yankees team that is trying to rebound after a very poor start to the season. German is worth picking up in all league formats. 

Adbert Alzolay, SP, Chicago Cubs
Adbert Alzolay is a former top prospect within the Cubs organization but has also had a bit of a slow start in the majors. He had an excellent 2020 in his four starts, maintaining a sub-three ERA. But in 2021, his start has been slow, up until his last two starts where he’s turned on the jets. In his last two starts, Alzobey has managed a 3.38 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 10 innings of work. He’s also only 26, so he will have the rest of this season to help the Cubs replace as much of Yu Darvish’s production as they can. Alzobey is worth keeping on radars in deeper leagues if he can show consistency in his next few starts.

My Thoughts After UFC 261

What an honor it was to be able to watch UFC 261, a fight card that will go down in history. Not for being the first UFC card with a full stadium of fans in over a year, but also the events we saw pan out as the card progressed, including introducing a new pound-for-pound king. 

We first saw two unfortunate events happen to Jimmy Crute and Chris Weidman, who both suffered leg injuries that made their respective fights get cut short. Starting with Jimmy Crute, he likely suffered a nerve injury that made him lose control of his foot. He was constantly twisting his ankle and eventually had his fight called against Anthony Smith. I still think Jimmy Crute is one of the best prospects in all of MMA, and this would have been a huge win for him against the number six contender. But the stoppage was right and with some time to recover, Crute will be back to taking heads and ascending to the top of the light heavyweight division. 

I got all the feels after what happened to Chris Weidman. As a sports fan, I’ve seen plenty of compound fractures. Paul George, Anderson Silva, Kevin Ware, the list could easily continue. Chris Weidman was no different. Not to mention the position he is in as a fighter. Weidman is 36 years old and has lost six of his last eight fights since losing the belt. It would be awful for Weidman to end his career like this but it wasn’t hard to imagine that this was his last chase for gold. I hope Chris has a speedy recovery and can make a return to the Octagon at some point. 

Breaking down the title fights, starting with Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Andrade. I don’t think anyone will be beating Valentina at 125 any time soon. Her performance against Andrade was dominant from the start. Her new tools in wrestling were all she needed to get the job done. She is on a completely different level compared to the rest of the division. Not to mention that it’s already hard to tell who her next opponent will be considering she’s already cleaned out the division. Katlyn Chookagian is scheduled to fight Viviane Araujo on May 15th, which could determine Valentina’s next opponent. But Andrade already defeated Chookagian with a first-round knockout not too long ago, so the interest might not be there even if Chookagian wins. A stretch would be a trilogy with Amanda Nunes, which would be extremely exciting. But that won’t come until the fall with Nunes being scheduled in September to fight Julianna Pena.

Rose Namajunas’s performance was quick but fantastic. Weili Zheng is as tough as they come, her win streak before this loss says it all, 21 straight. The head kick was a work of art and it was all that Thug Rose needed. Not to mention that Rose now becomes the first fighter to lose, then, win the belt again in the same weight class. The emotion that Rose showed was heartwarming as well, all props to her. A rematch could be on the horizon for Rose and Zheng. But the winner between Yan Xiaonon and Carla Esparza on May 22nd could also become the number one contender, depending on what the UFC would like to do. Joanna Jedrzejczyk also fits into the mix of the strawweight title picture as well. 

Finally, the main event, where I think because of this fight, this sport and promotion now enter a new level with the rest of the athletic atmosphere. The setup for this event was perfect. Jacksonville Florida,  the home state of Jorge Masvidal, with a stadium filled to the capacity of 15,000 fans, something the promotion hasn’t been able to do in over a year, featuring one of the biggest fights that they could put together at the moment. The rematch between Jorge Masvidal vs. Kamaru Usman was something that needed to happen and Dana White was able to make the stars align and have it premiere on the biggest stage possible. The build-up only continued when both were chirping at each other at the press conference and weigh-ins. The result of the fight could not have been more dramatic. Usman smashing the face of Masvidal to make his head turn almost 180 degrees and spit fly everywhere as his head turns, unbelievable. Usman achieved what no one else has been able to in 50 pro fights and hundreds of street fights, knockout Masvidal.

I think this fight now makes Usman the number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Jon Jones continues to try to pull strings with the UFC in order to get paid before he fights Francis Ngannou. He also barely escaped his last win over Dominick Reyes back in February of 2020, which was the last time Jones fought. Bones might have the accolades to put himself over Usman, but Usman has been by far the more active fighter and doesn’t back down to any opponent who thinks they can challenge him. I think there is little to say that Usman shouldn’t be the king as of today. 

I also think this sport is evolving to become on the same level as other top leagues in the United States and the world. This card was revolutionary and I think things will only go up from here for the UFC. Dana White has refused to let COVID-19 hold him back and I think this window where UFC is the only sport to have full stadiums makes this sport grow at an exponential rate. I think if you aren’t a serious fan of UFC and MMA, I think now is a perfect time. We as fans are in for a very exciting future. The next champion at lightweight between Charles Oliveria and Michael Chandler, and the return of Nate Diaz in May, Israel Adesanya returning to 185 in June, the trilogy between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in July, and so much. It’s an extremely exciting time for the sport and I cannot wait to see how the future pans out. 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 4

The key to winning your fantasy baseball league is not how well you draft, but the players you add off waivers. This is extremely important because securing hidden talent and call-ups could replace those late-round selections, even mid-rounders, 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!

Hitters

Carson Kelly, C, Arizona Diamondbacks
For the last six years, Carson Kelly has been seen as a decent at best catcher in the MLB. His start to the 2021 season could be the season where he could be considered a top 15 or even top 10 if he keeps this start consistently as the season progresses. Through 58 plate appearances, Kelly has hit .341 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. What might be most impressive for this start is that Kelly has more walks than strikeouts so far, 13 to 10. Kelly still isn’t an everyday catcher yet but his hitting can only earn him more appearances as a DH or PH. Kelly is worth adding in all league formats. 

Adolis Garcia, OF, Texas Rangers
After discussing Dane Dunning being an early front runner for AL rookie of the year on last week’s article, it is looking like his own teammate will challenge him for that award. Adolis Garcia has also been picking up the production for the Texas Rangers. In his last five games, Garcia has been hitting .350 with four home runs and eight RBIs. The upside is a bit hard to see for Garcia since he’s 28 years old but he’s been showing significant improvement regardless. Garcia is also worth adding in all league formats. 

Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Miami Marlins
Jesus Aguilar hasn’t been the same hitter since his 35 homers season for the Milwaukee Brewers back in 2018. However, he has made some progress season by season to return to that form. Recently he’s been picking it up. He has homers in his last three games, totaling his RBI total to 15. On top of that, he is hitting .281 and also has more walks than strikeouts. Aguilar is a quality pickup in deeper formatted leagues. His consistency throughout the rest of the season will be key for his outlook and if he is a legitimate hitter. 

Sam Haggerty, OF, Seattle Mariners
Sam Haggerty is definitely a sleeper pick for waiver wire selections but his recent stretch of games makes him a great pickup as long as he can keep it consistent. In his last five games, Haggerty has hit .556 with one home run, three RBIs, and three stolen bases. Haggerty has helped the Mariners become a surprise contender in the AL West. He also is a solid frontrunner for AL rookie of the year. The biggest question is if he can keep his numbers above average for the remainder of the season. Haggerty is worth keeping on the radar in deeper formatted leagues. 

Pitchers

Ryan Weathers, SP, San Diego Padres
How deep is the Padres rotation? Well, it just got deeper, as Ryan Weathers is looking like a solid quality pitcher after his last two starts. The top 10 selection in 2018 has thrown 9.1 innings and has only allowed two hits and no earned runs. Not to mention that he has held hitters to a .067 batting average. But what might be most impressive is that both of these starts have come against the Los Angeles Dodgers, one of the best lineups in the entire league. Weathers is worth adding in all league formats. His next start against the Diamondbacks will be key for his outlook the rest of the season. 

Alex Wood, RP, San Fransisco Giants
Since being an all-star back in 2016, Alex Wood has fallen off, to say it nicely. Before coming into this season, he had a 4.23 ERA since 2017, including a 6.39 ERA in the shortened season. Now with the San Fransisco Giants, Wood is looking to turn back time. In two starts, he looks like he is on the right track, not allowing a run with 11 strikeouts and only allowing four hits. Wood still qualifies as a relief pitcher so he’s a great pickup with more teams starting to have closers by committee. Wood is a great addition in deeper formatted leagues for the time being. 

Brady Singer, SP, Kansas City Royals
Brady Singer had a shaky 2020 shortened season after coming into the season as a talented young prospect. But in 2021, he is looking to improve his consistency to help the Royals return to the postseason for the first time since 2015 when they won the World Series. After also having a shaky 2021 start, Singer in his last two starts has maintained a 0.69 ERA including 13 strikeouts to only five hits. Singer is worth adding in deeper formatted leagues. Consistency will be key whether he is worth adding in all formats. 

Ryan Yarbrough, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
Ryan Yarbrough has been a solid backend rotation pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in seasons prior. But now with Blake Snell and Charlie Morton playing for other franchises, Yarbrough’s play is more impactful this season if the Rays would like to make a postseason run again. He also had a shaky start to the 2021 season but in his last two starts, Yarbrough has held a 0.84 ERA with 10 strikeouts to only five hits. Yarbrough is worth adding now in almost all leagues due to league experience and already shown previous signs to be a consistent pitcher. 

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 18

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

Grayson Allen, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
After unable to gain any footing in Utah, Grayson Allen was moved to Memphis in the Mike Conley trade and finally, in his second season, Allen is finally living up to some of his potential. In his last five games, Allen has averaged 19 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.4 steals per game. What’s most impressive are his shooting percentages, where he’s hit 49 percent from both the field and from beyond the arc. The former Duke star is forming himself to become a key player for the Grizzlies in the future. But for now, Allen is a great waiver wire addition for the fantasy playoffs. 

Landry Shamet, SG, Brooklyn Nets
While Landry Shamet is already on his third team in three years, he still continues to elevate his game. With James Harden also being out with a hamstring injury has allowed Shamet to play more minutes. In his last five games, Shamet has averaged 20 points and four assists per game. He has also shot the rock at 50 percent from beyond on the arc on more than eight attempts in those same games. Shamet is also a quality addition because Harden was recently ruled out indefinitely (essentially the playoffs) because of his hamstring injury. 

Reggie Jackson, PG, Los Angeles Clippers
Since coming to the Clippers last season, Reggie Jackson has been a solid point guard for the roster. Even after they also acquired Rajon Rando from the Atlanta Hawks, Jackson is still getting some quality minutes. In his last five games, Jackson has averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, and four assists per game. He has also shot 52 percent from three in those same games, which is also very effective. With Patrick Beverly not expected to return during the regular season, Jackson is a solid waiver wire addition in deeper formatted leagues since his role is expected to stay about the same through fantasy playoffs. 

Forwards

Darius Bazley, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Darius Bayley has returned to the active roster and has played like he hasn’t missed a beat. In his last five games, Bazley has averaged 18 points and six rebounds a game. Where he struggles are his shooting percentages, which are 41 percent from the field and 20 percent from three. These are clearly volume numbers, which can be a red flag for pickups. However, because he plays for the Thunder, where there is not much competition, these numbers are bound to improve. This still makes him a solid candidate in all league formats. 

Naji Marshall, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
Naji Marshall was an undrafted free agent out of Xavier University where he played for three years. However, it hasn’t been until now where he started to get minutes where he can actually create productive outings. These games included a double-double against the Wizards. In his last five games, Marshall has averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. His percentages are average but nothing worth making concern over. Marshall’s ceiling is unknown but as long as he continues to have productive games, his rest of the season outlook should be very positive. 

Trevor Ariza, SF, Miami Heat
After being sat most of the season, Trevor Ariza was finally given an opportunity in Miami to play basketball as another three and d player for their roster. In his last five games, Ariza has averaged 13 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with decent defensive stats. What’s been most effective is his three-point shooting, which has been 56 percent over those same five games. Ariza’s role will very likely stay the same especially going into the playoffs, especially now that he seems to be in shape again. Ariza is a solid addition in deeper formatted leagues. 

Centers

Isaiah Stewart, C/PF, Detroit Pistons
Isaiah Stewart is looking like a major steal in this past draft. Despite being at the bottom of the depth chart to start the season, tanking and season play have allowed Stewart to play as many as 26 minutes per game over his last five games. In those five games, Stewart has averaged 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. This includes a 21 rebound game he had against the Thunder. Not to mention he also shot 69 percent in those same five games. Stewart should be a number one priority waiver wire pick-up for the fantasy playoffs. 

Daniel Gafford, C/PF, Washington Wizards
After being an early-round selection for the Chicago Bulls only two years ago, Daniel Gafford was traded to the Washington Wizards where he had a better opportunity to earn some meaningful minutes. Still only playing 18 minutes a game, Gafford has however been much more productive in those limited minutes. In his last five games, Gafford has averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks per game. He has also shot an efficient 64 percent from the field in those same games. Gafford is a solid pickup in deeper formatted leagues. Keep an eye out for his nightly minute count.