Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 2

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 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

Andrelton Simmons, SS, Minnesota Twins
Andrelton Simmons came to Minnesota as a free agent after spending the last five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He is best known for his defense but is a very underrated hitter as well. His start to the new season has been fantastic. In 30 plate appearances, Simmons has hit .435 with three RBIs and six runs scored. His on-base percentage is also very efficient, sitting at .565. As the new everyday shortstop, it will be worth keeping an eye on for how long he keeps the hot streak going. For now, he is a must-add player in all leagues. 

Omar Narvaez, C, Milwaukee Brewers
After struggling a ton last year, Omar Narvaez has been on a tear to start the season in hopes to turn around his career as an underrated catcher in the league. Whether it was the shortened season or a new team, that all seems to be behind Narvaez now. Through 25 plate appearances, Narvaez has hit .455 with two homers, five RBIs, and three runs scored. His on-base percentage has also been staggering, sitting at .520. Narvaez’s production will be key if the Brewers would like to reenter themselves into being a top team like they once were in 2018 when they made an NCLS appearance. For now, Narvaez is worth adding in all leagues, especially if you are still looking for a productive catcher. 

Luis Arraez, 2B, Minnesota Twins
After being a top prospect in the minor league, Luis Arraez has had a lackluster start through his career in the majors. While he hits at a great rate, .330 for his career, that hasn’t turn into a lot of scoring to his name. Nonetheless, he is having another productive start in his third year in the majors. Through 30 plate appearances, Arreaz has hit .320 with a home run and five RBIs, and four runs scored. His services are being used more in the outfield but he should be an everyday starter. PLus with his upside, this makes Arreaz adding to rosters in deeper leagues but also worth keeping on the radar for all leagues. 

Yadier Molina, C, St. Louis Cardinals
The legend Yadier Molina refuses to let father time walk through the door as he continues to be a productive cacher despite being 38 years old. Through 31 plate appearances, Molina has hit .370 with a home run, seven RBIs, and six runs scored. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer will very likely be the everyday catcher for the Cardinals, bearing any injury. Similar to Narvaez, if you are in the need of a catcher, Molina is a great option off the waiver wire to fill that position. 

Pitchers

Yusei Kikuchi, SP, Seattle Mariners
Yusei Kikuchi has been a gradually improved pitcher since coming to the MLB after nine dominant seasons in Japan. In his two starts this season, Kikuchi has maintained a 3.75 ERA while striking out 16 batters through 12 innings pitched. Kikuchi’s productive start against the Twins is a good sign that he could be in for an improving season. For now, Kikuchi is worth adding in most league formats. His next start against Houston will be a big test to what we might see from Kikuchi for the remainder of the season. 

Jon Gray, SP, Colorado Rockies
Jon Gray has been very inconsistent throughout his entire career with the Rockies. Not to mention that Gray is coming off of a 2-4 record in 2020 that also featured a poor 6.69 ERA. However, with his first two starts to the year, we may be seeing a more improved season from Gray. In his first two starts, Gray is 1-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 12 total strikeouts through 11.2 innings pitched. It is hard to predict what Gray’s rest of the season may look like. But with the start he is having now, that’s enough to make him a solid candidate to add off the waiver wire in deeper format leagues. 

Bruce Zimmerman, SP, Baltimore Orioles
After struggling in the shortened 2020, Bruce Zimmerman put in the offseason and spring training work to earn himself the final start rotation pitcher for the Orioles. Not only that, but he has been very solid through his first two starts of the season. Through those two starts, he is 1-0 and has maintained a 4.50 ERA which striking out a total of nine batters through a total of 12 innings. While both of those starts have come against the Red Sox, who are an above-average hitting team this season, it will be interesting to see what happens in his next start against the Mariners. For now, Zimmerman is worth adding in 12+ team leagues while monitoring in all other league formats. 

Emmanuel Clase, RP, Cleveland Indians
Emmanuel Clase was one of two prospects part of the trade that sent Corey Kluber to the Rangers. Clase’s 2020 season however was out of the question after he was suspended 80 games for PED. His 2021 outlook is interesting as he was named to be part of a closing committee that included James Karinchak and Nick Wittgren. Clase does have the highest upside of them and still has the potential to become a starting pitcher for the Indians. For now, Clase has earned a win and a save in three innings pitched and hasn’t allowed any hits. His upside is worth keeping watch in all league formats but especially in deeper leagues. 

Eastern Conference Fantasy Notes: Week 16

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

Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
Bogdan Bogdanovic has finally his rhythm after missing the first half of the season due to knee surgery. Even when he came back, he struggled to find consistency with his new team. However, since mid-march, he has played some of his best basketball across his entire career. In his last five games, Bogdanovic has averaged 19 points, four rebounds, five assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He has shot above 50 from the field and a sizzling 54 percent from beyond the arc in those same games. Bogdanovic may still be available on some waiver wires but grab him fast. His role will likely stay the same the entire season, making him a perfect player to carry into the playoffs with. 

Gary Trent Jr, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors
After being moved to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline, Gary Trent Jr has the perfect opportunity to earn an extension with the Raptors and become a part of their mostly young core. he has had a good start with Kyle Lowry missing the past couple of games. Trent Jr in his last five games has averaged 17 points, three rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. His three point shooting as been impressive as well, hovering around 43 percent in those same games. Trent Jr’s role will likely take a step back once Lowry returns from injury.but in the meantime, he is a solid pickup on the waiver wire. 

Hamidou Diallo, SG, Detroit Pistons
Hamidou Diallo was traded to the Detroit Pistons during the trade deadline but has been in and out of the lineup due to injury and COVID Protocols. However, in the four games he has played for the Detroits, he has shown great promise to be a key member of the Pistons’s young core for the future. In those four games, Diallo has averaged 14 points, five rebounds, and two assist per game. His shooting numbers have also been impressive as well, shooting 59 percent from the field and 55 percent from three. Diallo is worth keeping on the radar of deeper leagues. but once when his play gets more consistent, he will be a solid addition off of the waiver wire. 

Rookies Doing Work

Patrick Williams, SF, Chicago Bulls
Patrick Williams has continued to impress the league after being a questionable selection at fourth overall. Recently he has been an increase in production now that Otto Porter has been traded to the magic, paving more minutes for Williams. In his last five games, Williams has averaged 11 points, 3.6 rebounds, and two assists per game. His shooting percents have been his best improvement recently. He shot 58 from the field and 37 percent form three in those same games. This season, Williams may only be worth keeping on there radar in deeper fantasy leagues, but if he continues to make more improvements, he could be a quality sleeper pick for next season. 

Malachi Flynn, PG, Toronto Raptors
Not much has been mentioned of Malachi Flynn after being selected in the first round of this past draft. He was already coming into an extremely coward backcourt so it seemed that the plan was for him to a project player for at least his rookie season. But after the Raptors were blowing out the Warriors and eventually won by 53, Malachi Flynn was able to get some solid playing time. He was able to play 30 minutes where he finished with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. He shot 7/12 from the field but did struggle from three, only shooting 1/4. Flynn likely won’t have any legitimate fantasy implications for the rest of the season but his game against the Warriors shows that he is slowly making progress. 

Question of the Week

Will the Charlotte Hornets be able to stay above water without LaMelo Ball?
With the Hornets being 5-5 in their last 10 games, I think that they have the players to fill what they will miss from Ball now that he is expected to be out for the rest of the regular season. The only team that everyone is waiting to turn around is the Boston Celtics and the clock is ticking for them. For Charlotte, Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham have done a great job in the absence of Ball. The only question for this team is health. They will miss Gordon Hayward for the next four weeks and Malik Monk is expected to miss a few games as well. Miles Bridges will now also have to step up to keep Charlotte in the playoffs. The next few games for the Hornets will be worth watching. 

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 Raptors need to pick a side. It is very hard for teams to stay in the middle and expect that with the players they have, they can make a championship run. We recently saw this with the Magic, who after about three years of trying to build a championship roster, finally gave up and traded away their main player in exchange for picks and younger prospects. While trading Norman Powell on a contract year wasn’t a bad move, and Gary Trent has out quite solid to start, they should have moved Kyle Lowry as well if they felt that this isn’t their year. However, I do not think a full rebuild is necessary. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, and now Gary Trent Jr is a great core to have. But choosing to hold onto players that aren’t necessarily needed anymore, like Kyle Lowry, has only shown to hurt teams in the future. Toronto’s best bet is that Lowry comes back on a budget deal, which is too hard to predict at the moment. 

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 1

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 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

Nate Lowe, 1B, Texas Rangers
Nate Lowe was mentioned on the Preseason Waiver Wire as a young prospect who finally got his opportunity in Texas to be a full-time starting first basemen. His start to the season has been too good to leave off this list even after being mentioned previously. In 10 plate appearances, he already has six runs batted in and has hit .300. While the hot start might not continue throughout the entire season, his upside will only continue to rise for the rest of the season. Lowe is the perfect early waiver wire add for the early season. 

Manuel Margot, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
Manuel Margot was also mentioned on the Preseason Waiver Wire as he was looking to continue his strong play after a great postseason outing. He has also gotten off to a hot start for the new season. In 10 plate appearances, Margot has hit .400 including a home run, two RBIs, and a triple. This is the kind of start Margott will need to continue if he wants to earn the everyday starting centerfielder. For now, he is worth adding in 10+ team leagues and worth keeping on the radar in leagues with a lesser amount of teams. 

Joey Wendle, 3B/2B/SS, Tampa Bay Rays
Joey Wendle was key for the Rays last season by being able to play multiple positions. However, when it came to the postseason, he struggled greatly and was a key reason why the Rays couldn’t overtop the Dodgers. But one offseason later, he is off to a hot start for his sixth season in the majors. in eight plate appearances, Wendle has hit .375 including a home run and four RBIs. Wendle is a great utility option for deeper leagues with his flexibility at eligible positions, especially with how he is hitting to start the season. 

Kyle Isbel, OF, Kansas City Royals
Kyle Isbel was not a major front-runner for AL rookie of the year in the slightest. However, he has now put his name on the longshot radar with the hot start he has had to his rookie season in the majors. In nine at-bats, Isbel has hit .556 including three runs scored, a triple, and three RBIs. Isbel’s upside for the rest of the season will only continue to rise now that he is getting his name out there. Isbel is worth keeping on the radar is very deep leagues to see how his rookie season progresses. 

Pitchers

Trevor Rogers, SP, Miami Marlins
Trevor rogers struggled in his seven appearances he made in the shortened 2020 season. He finished with 1-2 record and a 6.11 ERA. However his spring training was enough for Don Mattingly to name him the fifth starter to start the season. He finished spring training with 3-0 record and 2.84 ERA. His first start won’t come until Monday. But the upside for Rogers is great as he is only 23 years old and being a first round selection in 2017. Rogers is worth keeping on the radar in deeper leagues until his first start of the new season on Monday against the Cardinals. 

Hector Neris, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
Hector Neris was in battle with newcomer Archie Bradley for the closer position after having a rough 2020 where he finished with 4.57 ERA compared to his 2.93 ERA he finished with in 2019. His spring training outings were enough to convince Joe Giradi to name him the closer to start the season. He hasn’t converted on any of his three save opportunities but he hasn’t allowed any hits in those appearances either. Neris is worth adding now in leagues and his role will be key as the Phillies look to improve their bullpen after having one of the worst in history last year. 

Caser Valdez, RP, Baltimore Orioles
The 36-year-old, Cesar Valdez had a great shortened 2020 and spring training that he was named the closer for the Orioles to start the season. He finished with a 1.26 ERA over 14 innings in 2020 and improved that into spring training, finishing with a 1.29 ERA. He converted on both of his save opportunities to start 2021. He should be kept on radars for deeper leagues but could quickly move up as long as he continues to finish games. 

Jake Arrieta, SP, Chicago Cubs
This offseason, Jake Arrieta chose to return to Chicago where he won a Cy Young Award and threw a no-hitter. His three years in Philadelphia were definitely tough, but after his first start back in Chicago, things could definitely turn out brighter for the 11-year veteran. At his first start of the new season, he allowed only one run and six hits in six innings while striking out five batters. It is very likely that Arrieta will not return to his season form in 2015. However, any good production you can get from Arrieta is key for the Cubs who are trying to fill out the absence of Yu Darvish the best they can. 

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 15

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 

Malik Monk, SG, Charlotte Hornets
Malik Monk was mentioned on the Eastern Conference Notes last week as a sleeper but now holds a much more important role on the Hornets with LaMelo Ball likely out for the rest of the season. Since the injury, Monk has averaged 20 points and 1.3 steals while shooting about 42 percent from beyond the arc. He hasn’t played the last two games but his injury isn’t expected to be anything long-term. Monk is a must-add candidate to 10+ team leagues in fantasy, especially with his role likely to stay the same the rest of the season. 

Derrick White, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs
After missing most of the first half of the season with an injury, Derrick White has finally seemed to find some consistency in his recent games. In his last five games, White has averaged 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. He has also shot 42 percent from three, a big improvement compared to his previous season averages. Playing alongside Dejounte Murray will likely be his role for the rest of the season, a big advantage when considering players to select off of the waiver wire. Derrick White is a player that should be number one when looking for waiver wire replacements. 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, New Orleans Pelicans
Since being moved to the starting lineup, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been a solid performer for the Pelicans, even if they are far from the playoff picture. In his last five games, Alexander-Walker has averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and a block per game. His shooting numbers have been solid as well, shooting over 40 percent from three on almost 10 attempts per game. The only concern for Alexander-Walker is that his role will likely diminish when Lonzo Ball is healthy again. But it is still unknown when that might happen. For now, he is a solid waiver wire pick-up for deeper leagues. 

Forwards

Chuma Okeke, PF, Orlando Magic
After the Magic traded Aaron Gordon two the Denver Nuggets, Chuma Okeke will likely be the future starting power forward for the Magic. He has already filled out the role quite nicely in recent games. Since the move, Okeke has averaged 17 points, five rebounds, and 1.3 steals. His shooting numbers have been incredible, 62 percent from the field and 63 percent from beyond the arc. Okeke is the number one player I would recommend adding immediately to your roster. His role will very likely stay the same the rest of the season, especially with his hot start since the role change. 

Jae’Sean Tate, SF, Houston Rockets
Jae’Sean Tate has been mentioned on this waiver wire multiple times but now after the trade deadline might be the best time to add him. He now becomes the third player to round out a solid trio of John Wall, Christian Wood, and now Tate, instead of Victor Oladipo, who was traded to Miami. In his last five games, Tate has averaged 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal and a block per game. He has shot 55 percent from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, only hitting at a 35 percent clip. His role will likely stay consistent as Houston continues to tank. 

Jaden McDaniels, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Jaden McDaniels was a late first-round selection in the 2020 draft but hasn’t gotten a ton of playing time up until now. He has started four of the last five games and has averaged 12 points, 4.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game. He has also shot 58 percent from the field and 57 percent from three. McDaniels’s role hasn’t stayed consistent the entire season. So unless there is some injury to a starter in his position, it is unpredictable what his role will be. Nonetheless, his production still makes him worthy enough to add to rosters in 12+ leagues. 

Centers

Nerlens Noel, C, New York Knicks
Well what do you know, Mitchell Robinson got hurt again after just coming back from a broken hand. He will now likely miss the rest of the season with a broken foot, making Nerlens Noel the starting center for the time being. In his last four games, Noel has averaged eight points, nine rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game. he has also shot a very efficient 62 percent from the field in those same games. Noel is a perfect addition for ESPN standard scoring leagues where defensive stats are awarded more points. He is also worth keeping on the radar for all other leagues as well. 

Jakob Poeltl, C, San Antonio Spurs
Jakob Poeltl has also been mentioned on this column multiple times but still flies below the 40 percent mark for qualification. Nonetheless, he is a perfect addition to rosters. His role is going to stay consistent for the remainder of the season and his production has been great. In his last five games, Poeltl has averaged 12 points, nine rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. This includes an extremely efficient 71 percent from the field. His only concern is his free throw percentage, which was 42 percent in those same games. Poeltl is the perfect addition for all leagues regardless of size. 

My Thoughts After UFC 260

We are now living in a new era in the UFC Heavyweight division. The Francis Ngannou era. The era of the Predator.

What we saw on Saturday was a drastically new and improved Francis Ngannou. One who learned from his mistakes in the first fight and made major changes to his game plan to get the job done. Those mistakes were well-known to any serious UFC fan. He was too anxious and rushed him, he couldn’t defend the takedowns, etc. Francis adjusted fantastically to make sure none of those things were problems the second time around. After Francis stuffed the first takedown and even transitioned into his offensive wrestling game, it was immediately clear that everyone was in for something special. 

Now let’s not take away any credit from his opponent. Stipe Miocic is the greatest UFC Heavyweight champion to ever be apart of this organization. He deserves a trilogy with Francis Ngannou even after getting knocked out and making the mental mistake to put himself in a position to get knocked out after he chose to rush him after getting stunned. Conor McGregor will likely get his in July against Dustin Poirier. However, the situation gets much more complicated when you factor in Jon Jones and Derrick Lewis.

Ngannou fighting Jon Jones is the biggest fight the UFC can make at this very moment. Jon Jones hasn’t fought since February 2020 and has since vacated his belt to move up a weight class. And since that fight, Jones has been very adamant that he wants his money. Whether Dana chooses to cater to his request is unknown, but that can only delay the works of his fight since the UFC failed to get this done before 260 when they had already said that Jones will face the winner. And with Miocic already announcing he would like to spend time with his family before making a return, it may very likely be Derrick Lewis fighting in the first title defense for Ngannou.

Lewis is coming off of a brutal knockout win against Curtis Blaydes back in February that asserted himself into the title picture. But with Jon Jones assumed to be the first challenger after the winner of 260, Lewis was put into a bad spot of “what’s next?” Well with this Jones drama and neither Lewis nor Ngannou wanting to wait, the UFC might as well move forward with Jones until they can resolve their issues. 

Breaking down the rest of the card, it is unfortunate that we likely saw the last of former UFC Welterweight champion, Tyron Woodley, after losing his fourth straight fight to Vincente Luque. Luque is now a top Welterweight contender and should fight either Stephen Thompson or Michael Chiesa. Both of those matchups would be perfect for all parties involved. Suga Sean O’Malley made his return after a seven-month layoff in dramatic fashion. He laid an absolutely devastating right hand against Thomas Almedia, who had his back on the canvas. Almeida may be on the chopping block after also losing his fourth straight fight. Maybe Mark Smith should have ended the fight before allowing O’Malley to land that punch? That’s just me. Nonetheless, a fight between O’Malley and Dominick Cruz would be incredible and both parties seem very interested in making that happening. Possibly as the co-main for Poirier vs. McGregor III?

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Preseason

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 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

Nate Lowe, 1B, Texas Rangers
After failing to separate himself from an extremely stacked Tampa Bay Rays young core, Nate Lowe was shipped off to the Texas Rangers for three minor leaguers. In Texas, he is expected to be the everyday first baseman for the crew. His hitting numbers have still yet to reach the league average, hitting for a poor .224 average in 2020. However, now with a franchise not actively competing to win the division, Lowe should have every opportunity to make improvements and become a key young player for the slowly rising Texas Rangers. 

Nick Senzel, OF, Cincinnati Reds
After being a former top prospect, Nick Senzel had a horrendous 2020 season that was highlighted by his poor .186 batting average. But only being 25 years old, Senzel has plenty of room to grow now that he is expected to be the everyday center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds. His production this season will be extremely important for whether Cincinnati can make a push for the postseason or having another lost season. 

Manuel Margot, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
After posting some strong outings in the playoffs against the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Manuel Margot has boosted himself to becoming an everyday player in the Rays lineup. His postseason also included three home runs in the series against the Houston Astros. Still, at 26 years old, Margot has great upside and could even force a Kevin Kiermaier trade if his 2021 season is off to a great start. He will be a key contributor to help the Rays get back to the postseason. 

Jeimer Candelario, 1B/3B, Detroit Tigers
Jeimer Candelario had a breakout year in last year’s shortened season and is now expected to be batting second in Detroit. He had a career year in batting average and achieved a .503 slugging percentage. His spring training numbers have been great, batting .336 in 17 games. He will be a primary player as Detroit continues to build a roster that can compete for postseason hopes, something they haven’t seen since 2014. 

Pitchers

Nate Pearson, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Nate Pearson was a former top prospect last year for the Toronto Blue Jays and had a great debut, which included a two-hit gem against the Washington Nationals. However, he dealt with injury and his numbers tanked to a six ERA to the point where he was pitching out of relief toward the end of the season. His second season should be much better with time off. But it is worth noting he has dealt with spring training injuries and has only appeared in one game. 

Elieser Hernandez, SP, Miami Marlins
Elieser Hernandez played a key role in the Marlins’ push for the playoffs and will attempt to ride that momentum into this season. He achieved a 3.16 ERA and a 1.013 WHIP. Hernandez is also only 25 years old and that could be key for an improving season. While Miami plays in one of the hardest divisions in the entire MLB, his backend rotation impact will be important for another playoff appearance. 

Griffin Canning, SP, Los Angeles Angels
Griffin Canning has held the backend rotation for the Angels pretty decently for only being 25 years old and entering his third season. He cracked just below a four ERA in the shortened season last year. His spring training numbers have struggled, where he’s averaged a seven ERA and a 1.816 WHIP. However, his regular-season upside still makes him worthy enough on the waiver wire radar. 

Michael Kopech, SP, Chicago White Sox
Michael Kopech hasn’t played in a major league game since 2018 after Tommy John Surgery and opting out of the 2020 season. But he is still a top prospect for the rising Chicago White Sox and has the opportunity to be a huge x-factor. His 2018 numbers were below average for a top prospect with a 5.02 ERA. However, at 24 years old, he still has time to make improvements and show that the Tommy John Surgery is behind him.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Best Pickups

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 rough rookie season, many questioned what kind of impact Darius Garland would have after being a top-five selection less than two years ago. However, Garland has made some solid improvements to his game to put himself back on track to be a solid prospect for the Cavaliers. While Cleveland has seemed to fall off the playoff trail, Garland has still done a good job at consistent production, even after a hand injury that kept him out multiple weeks. In the first half of this season, Garland has averaged 16 points, two rebounds, six assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Garland still has a solid output for the rest of the season as a young prospect with little competition in Cleveland. He is expected to be the starting point guard for the rest of this season and beyond. 

Kendrick Nunn, SG, Miami Heat
COVID-19 issues gave Nunn a tough start to the season, but around mid-January, Nunn finally started to get his season on a roll. This start made him a solid fantasy pickup around the end of January. Since then he has been a consistent scorer for a Miami team that is trying to regather themselves after a slow start. In the first half of the season, Nunn has averaged 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His biggest improvement has been his shooting percentages. Both from the field and three he has seen small increases compared to his rookie season. Nunn will have a key role for the Heat that will try to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and guarantee themselves a playoff spot. 

Norman Powell, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors
Similar to the Miami Heat, the Toronto Raptors have had a slow start after being forced to play all of their home games in Florida and the lack of a real big man. Nonetheless, Norman Powell has been one of the few players on the team who has elevated his game to keep this team still in the playoff hunt. In the first half of the season, Powell has averaged 18 points, three rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He has also significantly improved his three-point shooting, jumping from 39 percent to 43 percent. Powell’s production in the second half of the season will be key if Toronto wants to punch their ticket to the postseason again this year. 

Forwards

Kyle Anderson, SF/PF, Memphis Grizzlies
With Jaren Jackson Jr. not playing at all in the first half of the season, it has been Kyle Anderson who has had the breakout season for the Memphis Grizzlies. Slo Mo this season has averaged 13.4 points, six rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. While the points has been the biggest jump this season, his three-point percentage increase has been astronomical. Last year, Anderson shot 28 percent. That percentage this season has jumped to 38 percent. His free-throw percentage has also jumped 10 percent as well. Anderson’s role will be interesting once JJJ will return after surgery. But, with JJJ still without a timetable, it will be Anderson going forward as the starting power forward. 

Keldon Johnson, SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs
Keldon Johnson was the second-to-last selection in the first round in 2019 and was considered a project player for his first few seasons in the NBA. However, he has already shown to be ahead of the curve and is looking like a solid steal of the 2019 NBA Draft. In his second season, Johnson has averaged 14 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Johnson’s percentages have dramatically dropped compared to his rookie season. Not to mention that they are also considered below average compared to the NBA standards. Nonetheless, Johnson still has plenty of room to improve and may even see more opportunity if the veterans in front of him get traded at the deadline or offseason. 

De’Andre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks
De’Andre Hunter was another player that many were unsure about how long it would take for him to reach his peak despite being the number four overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft. However, he has shown to be ahead of the curve with a breakout season in 2021. Hunter has averaged 17 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Hunter’s biggest improvements have been his percentage from the field and free-throw line, both of which have jumped by 10 percent. Hunter did have to undergo knee surgery which has kept him out for the last six weeks. The big test will be if Hunter can keep up the consistent play even after dealing with a major injury. 

Centers

Chris Boucher, PF/C, Toronto Raptors
Chris Boucher has been one of the best fantasy pickups all season. His opportunity became clear after Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka left the team in free agency and no major replacement was brought to the roster. Boucher has done a great job capitalizing on the opportunity and because of that is now in serious contention to win the Most Improved Player of the Year award. This season, Boucher has averaged 13.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He has also made incredible improvements on his percentages from the field and beyond the arc. Most notably, his three-point percentage has jumped over 12 percent from last season. Until Masai Ujiri feels he needs a more productive team to help this team win another championship, it’ll be Chris Boucher going forward in the second half of the season. 

Jakob Poeltl, C, San Antonio Spurs 
Since February, Jakob Poeltl has been one of the most underrated centers in the league. LaMarcus Aldridge has been dealing with multiple injuries, so it has been the perfect opportunity for Poeltl to show the improvements he has made and attempt to live up to the expectations he had as a top ten selection back in 2016. Since February, Poeltl has averaged eight points, nine rebounds, and two blocks per game. He also shoots efficient 65 percent from the field in those same games. With Aldridge likely to be traded or released before the deadline, this will be the perfect opportunity for Poeltl to be a consistent and productive center for the Spurs organization.

Eastern Conference Fantasy Notes: Week 14

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

Donte DiVincenzo, PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks
Donte DiVincenzo is looked upon as the fifth option starter for the Milwaukee Bucks but still has room to grow since he is only 24 years old. Recently he has been putting together a solid stretch of games that has helped Milwaukee go on a six-game winning streak. In his last five games, DiVincenzo has averaged 13 points, ten rebounds, four assists, and two steals a game. He has struggled with his shooting percentages in those games. He shot 43 percent from the field, 31 percent from three, both below his season averages, and 72 percent from the free-throw line. In his third season, it has looked like DiVincenzo has finally started to bring good production for a Bucks team trying to make another finals run. 

Robert Williams III, PF/C, Boston Celtics
Robert Williams III was mentioned on last week’s waiver wire as a young defensive presence with major upside in an open position for the Boston Celtics. He has now only continued to elevate his game to prove more to the team that he should be the future starting center for the franchise. In his last five games, Williams has averaged 11 points, ten rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 75 percent from the field. Especially for fantasy, these are insane numbers to have. This makes Williams a number one waiver wire and trade deadline target. It will be intriguing if Boston adds another big man at the trade deadline or chose to find their starting center in-house. 

Danilo Gallinari, PF/SF, Atlanta Hawks
After signing a three-year, $61.5 million contract, Danilo Gallinari was expected to bring a ton of veteran experience to a rising and young Hawks roster. With injuries and poor shooting, it has taken Gallinari longer than expected to get into rhythm. However recently, he has finally reached that form and has kept it consistent. In his last five games, Gallinari has averaged 18 points and six rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field and form beyond the arc. Gallinari will continue to produce in the sixth man role for Atlanta as they have won eight straight and are now thee fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. 

Rookies Doing Work

Detroit Pistons’ Rookies
Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart have been playing great since the All-Star break. And with Killian Hayes expected to come back soon, Detroit will hope to form a successful draft class which is something they haven’t had for years. Bey exploded in his game against the Raptors where he finished with 28 points and 12 rebounds. While Stewart has averaged 10 points, seven rebounds, and a block in his last five games. He’s done this while shooting 60 percent from the field and 66 percent from three on an average of one attempt per game. While not much has gone in the direction for Detroit in the past couple of seasons, it is good to see that Troy Weaver and the new front office are starting to build a new regime. 

Question of the Week

What are your thoughts on the Atlanta Hawks?
Since Lloyd Pierce was fired, Atlanta has been on fire. They’ve been undefeated and achieved key wins over the Lakers, Heat, and Raptors. They have shot up to currently sit at the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. John Collins has been a major benefit from the coaching change. Collins has averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, and 1.8 blocks while shooting 52 percent from the field. ll have been small upticks compared to his averages before this. Danilo Gallinari has also been finally catching some rhythm after a slow start to his first season in Atlanta. I would not be surprised to see the Hawks be buyers at the trade deadline for more veteran depth. This team will also only improve once DeAndre Hunter returns to the court. Atlanta is in a really good spot with most of their team still very young.

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 need to move on from their young players. This isn’t much of a hot take as the Celtics have now fallen to below .500 after losing to both the Kings and the Cavaliers. However, it has seemed that year after year they continue to hold onto players like Grant Williams, Romeo Langford, Carson Edwards, and Aaron Nesmith instead of trading for veteran players who bring playoff experience to a team with young stars. Peyton Pritchard is solid, but if he needs to be involved in a trade to bring more experience, it needs to be done. With Thursday’s trade deadline coming up, the Celtics don’t have a ton of time to get a deal done. It may too late for a late playoff push if they cannot make the proper adjustments.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 13

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

Kevin Porter Jr, SG, Houston Rockets
While Kevin Porter Jr is likely owned by over 40 percent of ESPN leagues already, it would be a crime not to mention the immediate impact he has brought to the Houston Rockets since being called up from their G League team. In the first four games he has played this season, Porter has averaged 18 points, three rebounds, eight assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Where he has struggled with his percentages, shooting 42 percent from the field and 20 percent from three. However, there is a lot of positives to take from this. Porter is getting the volume and opportunities he needs to improve. Houston also losing 17 consecutive games will likely lead to more veterans being traded, solidifying Porter’s role for the rest of the season. If Porter is still available in your league, he should be the number one target on the waiver wire. 

Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have entered midseason form, winning five straight, and Duncan Robinson has played a big role in that. After a breakout season last year, Robinson’s numbers have been down. However, he is still playing at a level that has helped this team win five straight. Since the All-Star break, Robinson has averaged 13 points, three rebounds, and 1.5 steals, while shooting 40 percent from three. Robinson’s role is expected to be consistent for the rest of the season, which makes him a solid waiver wire pickup for this week. 

Forwards

Kenyon Martin Jr, SF, Houston Rockets
The son of the former NBA All-Star has finally gotten a crack into the league and has come out strong. Kenyon Martin Jr has benefited from Houston’s losing streak and allowed him to play 30 minutes a game since the break. In those games, he has averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. Similar to the situation with Kevin Porter Jr, veterans are likely to be traded because of their historic losing streak. This will very likely give Martin a consistent role for the rest of the season. This makes him a top priority to add from the waiver wire. 

DeAndre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks
De’Andre Hunter was having a breakout season before being forced to undergo knee surgery which forced him to miss six weeks. He is finally expected to return on Thursday. Now while he will likely be on a minute restriction for the first few games, in the long run, he is still a solid pickup on the waiver wire. Before the surgery, Hunter was averaging 17 points, five rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He also saw a 10 percent jump in his field goal percentage from his rookie year. Hunter will look to return to his earlier season form. 

Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Many questioned OKC’s selection of Aleksej Pokusevski on draft night instead of many more well-known names. And after spending some time in the G League, he seems to have finally gotten some opportunity in the big leagues. Since the break, Pokusevski has averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He has struggled extremely with his shooting percentages, both under 32 percent. But with him playing around 32 minutes a game, he is still a solid option to look out for on the waiver wire, especially as the season progresses. 

Centers

Robert Williams III, PF/C, Boston Celtics
There has been open competition for the center position in Boston the entire season now, but it has been Robert Williams III who has the productive edge over the past few games. In his last five games, Williams has averaged 11 points, eight rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game, while shooting an extremely efficient 74 percent from the field. He has also achieved all these averages in only around 20 minutes a game. The minutes are an indication that the starting job is still open. However, as long as Williams keeps up this production, the minutes will likely increase, only giving more opportunities for Williams to improve. 

Dwight Howard, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid went down with a knee injury and is expected to be out for two to three weeks. This makes Dwight Howard the next man up for the 76ers. We’ve already seen Dwight see his production increase since the injury. In his last five games, Howard has averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He is also shot an efficient 61 percent in those same games. Tony Bradley is also expected to get a boost in minutes as well. But since the injury, it has been Dwight Howard having an uptick in production, making him a solid waiver wire pickup. 

Moses Brown, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mosses Brown has been the biggest surprise since the post-All-Star break across the entire league. Not only is he getting legitimate minutes, but he is playing at an above-average level as well. Since the break, Brown has been averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks a game. He has also been shooting 60 percent in those same games. With Al Horford on the trade block and may even be bought out, Brown is a prospect with high upside on a team with low expectations. These factors make Brown a solid option for the waiver wire for the rest of the season.