Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 15

The key to winning your fantasy football 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, 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. You can also make life easier by checking out our Consistency Rankings!

Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks
With Chris Carson out for the rest of the season with a neck injury, Rashaad Penny now looks like the new number one back for the Seahawks. He finished with one of the best games in his career against the Houston Texans. He ended the game with 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns. With little competition in the Seahawks backfield, Penny should receive most of the snaps going forward. He’s still an unproven running back, so this could also give him some opportunities to shine and improve his stock going forward. 

Allen Lazard, WR, Green Bay Packers
With Randall Cobb being placed on IR with a groin injury, Allen Lazard is expected to take over as the number two receiver for the Green bay Packers. He already had a massive game against the Chicago Bears last week. He finished with six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Of course, having Aaron Rodgers as his starting quarterback is a massive boost to his stock. WIth Cobb likely to miss at least part of the fantasy playoffs, Lazard is a perfect replacement for any late-season injuries. 

A.J. Green, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Against the Rams, A.J. Green joined the 10k club for all wide receivers. That was also capped off with a strong fantasy performance for the seven-time Pro-Bowl receiver. He finished with seven catches for 102 yards. Green has been decently inconsistent all season long. But Green has had his fair share of boom games, including tonight. He’s a decent selection off waivers as he has a healthier season compared to the some he has seasons prior where he would miss large chunks of games. 

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
Despite the Detriot Lions having a disastrous season with only one win, Amon-Ra St. Brown has slowly but surely looked like a bright spot in Lion’s organization. He finished back-to-back games with 12 targets against the Broncos and the Vikings. Last week, he finished with eight receptions for 73 yards against a quality secondary for the Broncos. He’ll likely lose some targets to T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift. But St. Brown is still starting to look like a number one receiver for the rest of this season and likely beyond for the Lions. 

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
After Odell Beckham Jr. was eventually released in dramatic fashion, Donovan Peoples-Jones has ended up receiving a lot of the deep shot targets in the Browns offense. Against the Baltimore Ravens, Peoples-Jones finished with five receptions for 90 yards on seven targets. He’s had no less than five targets in each of his last three games. DPJ’s biggest issue is staying healthy. He has yet to play back-to-back games since Week 9 and 10. If he can stay on the field, DPJ should be a quality flex option for the rest of the season and the start of the fantasy playoffs.

UFC 269 Predictions

The UFC returns with its final pay-per-view card of the year in the familiar city of Las Vegas, Nevada at the T-Mobile Arena. Headlined by a long-anticipated title fight between Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier, there are plenty of familiar names all the way down to the early prelims. Submission specialist, Ryan Hall, makes a quick return after suffering his first loss in the UFC. His match comes against Darrick Minner, who has almost 40 professional fights. Andre Muniz and Erik Anders also square off in a middleweight showdown that should be filled with fireworks. The prelims are stacked top to bottom with a heavyweight banger between Tai Tuivasa and Augusto Sakai. Legend Dominick Cruz continues to defy father time as he’s set to fight Pedro Munhoz. Josh Emmett also makes his return since June 2020 against Dan Ige. The early prelims start at 6:00 pm EST on ESPN+ and the prelims begin at 8:00 pm EST on ESPN2. Let’s get into these main card predictions.

Previous Prediction Record: 26-11

Raulian Paiva vs. Sean O’Malley

The unranked champ makes his return against an unranked opponent. But that’s no shot against his opponent Raulian Paiva. A former flyweight, Paiva has revived his career after back-to-back losses. He’s won three straight fights thanks to his consistent grappling against Kyler Phillips and Zhalgas Zhumagulov. He’ll have to rely on that in this fight. But everyone knows Suga Sean is going to come out with his gun-blazing style. I don’t think that Paiva has the power and technicality to keep up with O’Malley. Basically, making him unable to knockout, this is an uphill battle for him already. Paiva’s best chance is that Suga lacks experience in the grappling game. I expect O’Malley to finish this fight the victor, speaking to yet another reason why he needs to fight a ranked opponent.

Prediction: O’Malley by KO/TKO

Kai Kara-France vs. Cody Garbrandt

The flyweight debut for Cody Garbrandt is certainly interesting. He knocked out all the questions about actually making weight, which is extremely important considering fighters like Alex Perez thought he would never fight at flyweight. But he’s here, and he has a very tough test in front of him. Kai Kara-France is the No. 6 contender in the flyweight division and is 3-2 in his last five fights. His heavy hands have earned him 10 knockouts, including a first-round knockout against Rogerio Bontorin in March. But Garbrandt comes into this fight with a decent height advantage and a resume of his own. Despite a slow-moving end to his Bantamweight career, this seems to be a fresh start and a new motivation. He showed a decent performance against Rob Font, but I don’t think Kara-France shows the same level of elite striking as Font. I see Garbrandt earning another finish to his already long list of names. He’ll also quickly establish himself as a flyweight contender.

Prediction: Garbrandt by KO/TKO

Geoff Neal vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio

Suffering his first loss against Li Jingliang after a three-year layoff, Santiago Ponzinibbio, won a hard-fought battle against Miguel Baeza. He has shown a lot of inspiration after his layoff and that he hasn’t lost a step. His effective and specialized striking can cause problems for anyone in the division. He faces “Hands of Steel”, Geoff Neal, who has lost back-to-back fights after a seven-fight winning streak. His losses came against Stephen Thompson and Neil Magny. Neal’s biggest issue actually has nothing about his fight game as he was recently arrested for DUI and a weapons charge only 16 days before the fight. It is a major distraction no matter how serious the crime actually is. I think it throws off his momentum to rewire his career and this was already an extremely close fight to begin with. Ponzinibbio is at a new height in his career and I expect that to only get higher after this win.

Prediction: Ponzinibbio by Unanimous Decision

Amanda Nunes vs. Julianna Pena

There shouldn’t be much debate on this fight. Amanda Nunes is one of the greatest fighters in the sports period, regardless of gender. She holds records that no one will likely beat. She’s the first in the UFC to defend two belts as a double champ. She continues that journey today against Julianna Pena, who basically talked her way into a title fight. Pena has won three of her last five and is on a one-fight winning streak.  There is not much to say about her and her opportunities to win this fight. The best argument is that this is Nunes’ first fight in Bantamweight in two years and the weight cut and COVID battle she faced could make Nunes’ cardio an issue. Nonetheless, I think this will be another dominant win from Nunes and only more of a reason for the promotion to set the trilogy between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko.

Prediction: Nunes by KO/TKO

Charles Oliveira vs. Dustin Poirier

Two of my favorite fighters come together in an important title fight to establish a new legacy left behind by Khabib Nurmagomedov. Charles Oliveira already won the belt against an undeserving Michael Chandler. Now on a nine-fight winning streak, Oliveira’s story of having 27 fights in the UFC before his first championship bout conveys more than enough motivation. But Dustin Poirier’s story also speaks volumes. Dustin has had 26 fights in the UFC and recently capped off his biggest win against Conor McGregor. But when breaking down recent opponents, it’s hard to judge the talent level that McGregor still has. The first round of the trilogy was also much closer than expected. Oliveira, on the other hand has proved to be devastating with his submission game, but Poirier is more than aware of the dangers Oliveira presents. I do think Poirier will have a striking advantage. However, as tough as it is to say, I think Oliveira is going to pull some tricks out of his bag to get this done on the ground, creating a new legacy in the lightweight division. But this fight could very likely go either way and I would not be shocked at all if this was a legendary Poirier performance.

Prediction: Oliveira by Submission

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 8

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. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA Player Consistency Rankings to see how consistent, good or bad, players are, determined by stats, not hunches or anecdotal evidence!

Guards

Pat Connaughton, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks
After choosing the basketball route, Pat Connaughton has slowly but surely worked his way into a championship rotation. He proved reliable during the Bucks’ championship run. His role has even increased with the injury to Donte DiVincenzo. He’s already started 10 games this season. And as of late, Connaughton has been playing a high-level 3 and D player. In his last 10 games, Connaughton has averaged 14 points and five rebounds a game. He’s also shot an incredible 48 percent from beyond the arc. Until DiVincenzo returns from injury, Connaughton should have a consistent valuable going forward. 

Kevin Huerter, SG/SF, Atlanta Hawks
Kevin Huerter’s playoff run also proved dividends for his rotational role this season. He’s filled the sixth man role for the Atlanta Hawks as they look to repeat an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. In his last 10 games, Huerter has averaged 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He’s also shot a legitimate .52/.46/.89 percentage in those same 10 games. And still, at 23 years old, Huerter still has plenty of upside to make improvements to become an even more valuable player for the Atlanta Hawks. 

Tyus Jones, PG, Memphis Grizzlies
With Ja Morant expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a knee sprain, Tyus Jones has been the typical point guard to fill his roles. Jones has proved to be a phenomenal playmaker and great for the supporting talent on the Memphis Grizzlies. In his last 10 games, Jones has averaged eight points and five assists per game. He’s also averaged less than a turnover per game in the same 10 games. Of course, Jones can always improve on his individual scoring, especially efficiently wise. But he is still a quality waiver pickup as he’ll continue to see a minutes increase. 

Garrison Matthews, SG, Houston Rockets
Jalen Green is currently dealing with a hamstring injury that will force him to miss a handful of games. But Garrison Matthews has emerged as another young player for the Houston Rockets who continue to search through talent to find their future. In his last 10 games, Matthews has averaged 12 points and three rebounds while shooting around 42 percent from beyond the arc. His play has helped the Rockets win six straight games and could see a rotation role for the remainder of the season. His role could even see an increase if Eric Gordonwere to be traded in the coming weeks. 

Forwards

Kelly Oubre Jr., PF/SF, Charlotte Hornets
Despite playing in a crowded frontcourt, Kelly Oubre Jr. has still found an important role as a dynamic scorer as the Charlotte Hornets continue to move towards contenders in the Eastern Conference. In his last 10 games, Oubre has averaged 20 points, three rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s also shot an effective 40 percent on almost nine attempts per game from beyond the arc. Even with Miles Bridges, PJ Washington, and Gordon Hayward, Oubre should consistently have his minutes to put up productive stat lines. He should be considered a number one target on the waiver wire as he is being picked up fast. 

Franz Wagner, SF, Orlando Magic
Even with the Orlando Magic, Franz Wagner has continued to play as one true bright spot in the franchise’s current dark period. He’s proved to be ahead of the curve in his development and could be a front-runner for Rookie of the year. In his last 10 games, Wagner has averaged 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He could still improve on his outside shooting as he’s only hit at around the league average. But for a rookie in his situation, Franz Wagner has continued to be a pleasant surprise through the first half of the season. 

Jae’Sean Tate, SF/PF, Houston Rockets
After being a surprising rookie last season, Jae’Sean Tate was expected to take an underrated step forward with the Houston Rockets. Instead, he’s continued to average similar numbers as last season, which are still productive enough to make him a quality addition off waivers. In his last 10 games, Tate has averaged 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and nearly a block and a steal per game. He recently achieved a stat line of 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and five blocks against the Thunder. Tate is an underrated choice on waivers. 

Centers

Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets
Alperen Sengun was picked as a rookie who could pop off to start the season. And while that hasn’t come quite yet, he’s shown slow improvement through the first half of the season. In his last 10 games, Sengun has averaged eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and nearly a steal and a block per game. In those games, Sengun is only averaging around 16 per game. His play has helped the Houston Rockets continue their six-game winning streak. But it could be soon where the leash is released on Sengun and he dominates with more minutes to operate.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 14

The key to winning your fantasy football 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, 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. You can also make life easier by checking out our Consistency Rankings!

Devante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins
Returning from injury, Devante Parker has proved for multiple seasons now that he can be a reliable number two, even number one wide receiver for Tua Tugovailoa as he continues to develop. This week’s game against the New York Giants was actually Parker’s least targeted game. He finished with five catches for 62 yards. He’s had no lower than seven targets all season long, even with multiple games missed. Even with Jaylen Waddle quickly emerging as a future star in this league, Parker still manages to get his own, making him a solid pick-up for the playoffs. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
It’s now fair that we classify Rhamondre Stevenson as a legitimate starting running back in the NFL. Originally, it was expected that he would be a backup behind Damien Harris. But even as of late, Stevenson has been getting just as many and sometimes, even more, carries in games than Harris. Against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, Stevenson finished with 23 carries for 72 yards. Harris has injured that game, but Stevenson has still finished with 10+ carries in four of the last six games. With a favorable run schedule, Stevenson is a quality target off waiver wires. 

Taysom Hill, QB, New Orleans Saints
Despite throwing four interceptions against the Dallas Cowboys, Taysom Hill showed enough decent play to make him a decent quarterback option going forward. First, Alvin Kamara did not play in last week’s game. He’ll be very beneficial for short outside passes when need be. Hill also showed incredible rushing play throughout the entire game, finishing with 11 rushes for 101 yards. He might lack the weapons he needs to be successful. But Hill is the perfect garbage time fantasy quarterback for playoff options for teams who struggled to find a consistent quarterback all season. 

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
After a 1-7 start to the season, the Miami Dolphins are now on a six-game winning streak and right outside of the playoff picture. Massive team improvement and coaching have resulted in that, including great improvement from Tua Tagovailoa. Since Week 9, Tua has only thrown one interception to five passing touchdowns. He still has a long way to go before being worth what he was drafted. But it is important that he is proving he is not a liability on offense like how he was playing in prior weeks during the losing streak. 

Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Russell Gage has been a rare positive in an Atlanta Falcons offense that has continued to struggle for weeks on end now. With Calvin Ridley out, Gage has filled the number one receiver pretty decently. He’s finished with 18 or more fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. Last week against the Buccaneers, he finished a season-high 11 receptions for 130 yards. Russell’s only concern is for the rest of the season, there aren’t too many favorable matchups left for him to produce. But, he’s proved decent thus far, making him a solid pick-up.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 7

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. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA Player Consistency Rankings to see how consistent, good or bad, players are, determined by stats, not hunches or anecdotal evidence!

Guards

Alec Burks, SG/PG, New York Knicks
After Tom Thibodeau announced that Kemba Walker was going to be removed from the rotation due to his poor play, he also mentioned that it would be Alec Burks replacing his spot. This only comes as a boost for Burks as he’s already played stellar basketball off the bench for the Knicks. In his last 10 games, Burks has averaged 13 points, five rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. All of these averages only come in about 26 minutes on average. Burks has also continued to be lethal from three, hitting about 47 of his threes. His increase in minutes should only give Burks more of a reason to be added off waivers. 

Patty Mills, PG, Brooklyn Nets
With Kyrie Irving continuing to be away from the team due to his refusal to take the vaccine, Patty Mills has filled his production to his own best ability. Steve Nash is already trusting his to play about 30 minutes a night on average. But he is also averaging 14 points and two assists per game. He’s also shooting a hot 50 percent from the arc. He’s the perfect plug-and-play guy for Kevin Durant and James Harden. Until Irving chooses to come back, there should be no concern about Mills’s season outlook. 

Monte Morris, PG, Denver Nuggets
As Jamal Murray continues to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered at the end of the last season, Monte Morris has been assigned the starting point guard opportunities to start the season. And despite his decrease in efficient shooting, Morris has still continued to be an elite playmaker for the rest of the team. Morris this season is averaging 11 points and four assists with only 1.4 turnovers per game. His role will likely decrease once Murray returns but he is still an effective player off waiver wires. 

Forwards

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF, Washington Wizards
After being traded in the offseason for Russell Westbrook, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and company have shown to be better off from the trade despite the Wizards not being contenders coming into the season. KCP has put on another strong start to the season. He’s averaging 13 points, four rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He also continues to show as an outside shooter, hitting around 40 percent of his threes in the same games. He’ll be a critical three and D player for the Wizards for the remainder of the season. 

Herb Jones, SF, New Orleans Pelicans
An undrafted player, Herbert Jones is already proving many wrong about his talent, especially defensively. It has continued to earn him more minutes on the court for the Pelicans. In the last 10 games, Jones has averaged six points, four rebounds, 1.8 steals, and nearly a block per game. He has also improved as a shooter, hitting around 37 percent from deep and 45 percent from the field. He’s certainly still a project player for the organization. But Jones has continued to see his minutes slowly increase throughout the first quarter of the season. 

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder
Selected 32nd overall, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is already showing flashes of why he should have been a first-round back in this past draft. In his last 10 games, JRE has averaged eight points, seven rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. He’s also decent from three, hitting about 36 percent of his deep balls. He still has plenty of room to improve as he’s only a rookie. But playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and their lack of talent should give JRE plenty of minutes to be able to develop his game as a hybrid forward. 

Centers

Daniel Gafford, C/PF, Washington Wizards
After a strong playoff performance against the Philadelphia 76ers, Daniel Gafford came into the season as a defensive anchor with a high upside for the Washington Wizards. He’s continued to live up to that expectation. In his last 10 games, Gafford has averaged nine points, seven rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. He’s also shot an extremely efficient 63 percent from the field. He’s been a great counterpart for Montrezell Harrell, a more offensive-minded center. It’ll be interesting what his role will be once Thomas Bryant returns from injury. 

Willy Hernangomez, C, New Orleans Pelicans
Even with the upgrade at the starting center position in Jonas Valanciunas, Willy Hernangomez has continued to be a highly efficient scorer in limited minutes, 17 minutes to be exact. In his six games since the injury, Hernangomez has averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. He’s also shot almost 70 percent from the field in those same games. Unless he were to be traded, Hernangomez has the opportunity to provide simple but effective production for a rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans team.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 13

The key to winning your fantasy football 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, 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. You can also make life easier by checking out our Consistency Rankings!

Kendrick Bourne, WR, New England Patriots
With the New England Patriots now on a six-game winning streak, everyone on the offense has seen a major boost in production. Especially Kendrick Bourne, who has had two of his biggest games over the last three weeks. His first came against Cleveland in Week 10. Hee finished with four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. He followed that up with five receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. With New England only getting more in rhythm as the season approaches the playoffs, Bourne should be in line for more consistently productive games, making him a quality pickup. 

Dontrell Hilliard, RB, Tennessee Titans
After a mix of multiple names including Jeremy McNichols, Adrian Peterson, and D’Onta Foreman, the Titans have now found their replacement for Derrick Henry until he returns. In back-to-back weeks, Dontrell Hillard has put up solid games as the RB1. Last week against the Patriots, Hillard finished with 131 rushing yards and a touchdown. He’s also proved strong in the receiving game. Two weeks ago, he finished with seven receptions and 47 yards. Even with a bye week coming up, Hillard will be a popular target this week and not one to miss out on. 

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
Well, that was quick. After Christian McCaffrey returned from injury earlier in the season, Chuba Hubbard was expected to return to the backup role that he was expected to have all season long. Well, now McCaffrey has been ruled out the remainder of the season with an ankle injury. Hubbard on the season has almost 600 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. Hubbard will now have the rest of the season to stamp an underrated rookie season with a quarterback who also boosts his abilities out of the backfield. 

Matt Breida, RB, Buffalo Bills
Despite being towards the bottom of the depth chart to start the season, Matt Breida has worked his way up and has earned RB1 reps for the Buffalo Bills. He’s already totaled 176 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns in his last three games. With Zack Moss continuing to a healthy scratch, Breida has a season-long opportunity to continue to produce high-quality games as a dual-threat running back for the Buffalo Bills, who have continued to be contenders in the AFC. 

Boston Scott, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
With the Philadelphia Eagles choosing to shuffle through the multiple running backs they have on the roster, Boston Scott has still continued to get a decent amount of consistency through the games. Last week was his highest performing week of the season. Against the New York Giants, Scott finished with 64 yards and a touchdown. Also with an easier schedule, Scott could be primed for more big games in the future once he proves he can be a future starting running back for the Birds.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 12

The key to winning your fantasy football 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, 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. You can also make life easier by checking out our Consistency Rankings!

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Things have come full circle for Cam Newton. After a surprising cut from the New England Patriots, he returns home to Carolina in an honestly much better situation for what’s needed from him. He’s partnered with one of the best running backs in the league with elite pass-catching that is complementary to Newton’s lack of long throws in Christian McCaffrey. Newton still has a quality number one receiver in DJ Moore. In his first full game against the Washington Football Team, Newton finished with 189 passing yards and two passing touchdowns along with 46 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. His future is bright with the team as Newton is already an established dual-threat quarterback. 

Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
The time is now as Elijah Moore is emerging as another breakout rookie wide receiver in an already loaded draft class. Moore has currently scored four touchdowns in the last three games. Last week was his best game in his young career. Against the Miami Dolphins, Moore finished with eight receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. What’s more intriguing about his performance is that now Corey Davis and Jamison Crowder are both healthy. Moore is lined up for another positive matchup against the Texans next week, a deciding game on his outlook for the rest of the season. 

Devonta Freeman, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Despite having a quarterback who loves running the ball, almost too much, Devonta Freeman has still managed to produce consistent outings since Week 6. His only game during that where he wasn’t able to score 10 fantasy points was Week 10 against the Dolphins. Last week was his best performance of the season. He finished with 16 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown. He also finished with six receptions for 31 yards. With Latavius Murray still injured, Freeman has a high upside until then and could even still be the RB1 for the team for the rest of the season. 

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans
With the injury concern and future for AJ Brown currently unknown, it’s possible that Nick Westbrook-Ikhine could be the wide receiver one for Tennessee Titans for a handful of games. He also had his best game of the season last week against the Houston Texans. He finished with seven receptions for 107 yards. His season high before this game was only 53 against the Colts during Week 3. Brown did have a negative X-ray test but his status for next week is currently unknown. 

Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints
Now with Adam Trautman expected to miss the next 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL, Juwan Johnson is now expected to be the new Tight End one for the New Orleans Saints. Johnson hasn’t been involved with the offense as much compared to earlier in the season. He was a massive talking point after Week 1 when he finished with 21 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers. However, he was quickly left out of the main offensive game plan after that. With Trevor Siemian favoring Truatman more as he adjusted to being the starting QB, it sets up a favorable connection for Johnson going forward.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 6

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. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA Player Consistency Rankings to see how consistent, good or bad, players are, determined by stats, not hunches or anecdotal evidence!

Guards

Josh Hart, SG/SF, New Orleans Pelicans
After signing a three-year $36 million extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, Josh Hart was now expected to have a much bigger role with the franchise. He’s also been playing a lot more small and power forward positions with the roster as well. In his last 10 games, Hart has averaged 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s also massively improved as an outside shooting, hitting almost 40 percent from three in those same games. The change seems to work for his performance and that should give him great upside for the rest of the season. He should be a top priority off waivers. 

Patrick Beverley, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves
Once part of a title-challenging team, Patrick Beverley now brings quality veteran experience to a Minnesota Timberwolves still trying to turn the corner despite three top two draft picks. But at 33 years old, Beverley has still been able to put significant numbers on both ends of the floor. In his last seven games, Beverley has averaged 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. He’s a reliable pickup for ESPN Standard Leagues where defensive stats are buffed. 

Alex Caruso, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls
Fan-favorite, Alex Caruso, continued to prove game in and game out that he can be a legitimate NBA player on a contending team. He’s also been a contributing player on both ends of the floor, earning him more minutes ni crunch time. In his last 10 games, Caruso has averaged seven points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals a game. He could use some massive improvement on his three-point shooting, as he’s only hit about 20 percent of his three in those 10 games. But Caruso has continued to grow all season, giving high upside for the rest of the fantasy season. 

Forwards

Jarred Vanderbilt, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
A project player for years, Jarred Vanderbilt has continued to improve on his defense and rebounding to fill critical roles for the Minnesota Timberwolves. In his last five games, Vanderbilt has averaged seven points, nine rebounds, 1.6 steals, and a block per game. He’s also shot an effective 61 percent from the field. His simple but potent game style makes him a reliable fantasy waiver wire pick up. Only playing 25 minutes, he also has plenty of room to grow in the starting lineup. 

Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF, Los Angeles Lakers
Returning from thumb surgery that forced him to miss the first 12 games of the season, Talen Horton-Tucker is picking up right off where he left. In his first five games of the season, THT is averaging 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and a steal per game. He could improve his shooting efficiency as he’s only hitting about 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc. At still 20 years old, THT has plenty of potentials to improve this season and beyond. And when playing with Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook, he’s already in a better situation than most young players. 

PJ Tucker, SF/PF, Miami Heat
After a strong playoff performance last season, PJ Tucker earned himself a quality contract and a new home with the Miami Heat. Originally expected to be a defensive anchor for the team, Tucker has found himself needing to contribute offensively as well as the team still deals with injuries. In his last seven games, Tucker has averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. He’s also shot an insane 69 percent from deep in those same games. He’s a starter on a contending team and that’s bound to help him keep consistent production for the rest of the season. 

Centers

Brandon Clarke, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
Despite having two quality seasons in his young career, Brandon Clarke is seeing much less time on the floor this season. His season averages last year were both above 10 points per game but that has now dropped to seven, with Clarke also seeing around seven fewer minutes per game as well. Recently he has improved. In his last eight games, Clarke has averaged nine points, five rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. He’s also shot an efficient 63 percent from the field. He’s a great small-ball center for the Grizzlies. It’ll be important if he starts being utilized more during games. 

LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, Brooklyn Nets
Choosing to come back after retiring mid-season last year, LaMarcus Aldridge has still shown he can play high-quality basketball in his 15th season in the NBA. In his last 10 games, Aldridge has averaged 14 points, six rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. He averaged all this only in 22 minutes a game as well. With Kyrie still expected to miss games and the lack of a true big man, Aldridge should have plenty of opportunities to produce for a contending team for the rest of this season at least.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 5

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. Learn to think like a NERD! Check out the NBA Player Consistency Rankings to see how consistent, good or bad, players are, determined by stats, not hunches or anecdotal evidence!

Guards

Grayson Allen, SG, Milwaukee Bucks
After being traded during the offseason from the Memphis Grizzlies, Grayson Allen now joins the defending champions as a key bench piece. However, with injuries, Allen has himself starting every game for the Bucks this season. Allen has averaged 16 points, four rebounds, and a steal per game. He’s also shooting a career-high 44 percent from beyond the arc and 92 percent from the line. He’s also shooting a career-high in field goal efficiency at 61 percent. Surrounded by superstars, Allen should thrive with this team going forward as long as he continues to get a lot of minutes and starting opportunities. 

Devin Vassell, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs
After being selected 11th overall in last year’s draft, Vassell quickly became a project player for the Spurs organization. This season he’s been given big minutes. This has led him to average 13 points, four rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s also massively improved on his shooting, cracking over 40 percent from the beyond the arc and a six percent increase from the field. His next thing to improve is his consistency scoring. But with nightly 25+ minute outings, that’ll develop with time. He’s a solid pick-up with plenty of upside for the rest of the season. 

Luguentz Dort, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder
The bubble hero a few seasons ago, Lu Dort has had plenty of opportunities to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder who continue to go through their tanking process. He’s continued to develop through his three seasons in the league. He’s averaging 15 points, four rebounds, and nearly a steal per game. He’s also averaging a career-high from the field and from the free-throw line as well. But he is having a down year from beyond the arc despite a career-high in attempts per game. But with little talent on the Thunder, Dort will be given more even more minutes to make the improvements he needs. 

Forwards

Bobby Portis, PF, Milwaukee Bucks
After having one of his best seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks last year, Bobby Portis chose to come back in hopes of earning his second NBA championship. He’s continued to play some of his best basketball with the team. He’s been averaging 13 points and seven rebounds while shooting 45 percent from the field. He’s even had a seven-minute increase from last season. All seems consistent and well for Bobby Portis to put on another efficient season with Bucks. All this makes him a perfect fantasy pick-up for the rest of the season. 

Nassir Little, SF, Portland Trail Blazers
After once being a top recruit coming out of high school, Nassir Little has taken a while to become the NBA star everyone hoped for when he was coming out of high school. But he has made some solid season-by-season development, this year being the biggest jump. So far, Little has averaged eight points, six rebounds, and nearly a block and a steal per game. He’s also shooting a career-high of 50 percent from the field. With fairly open options at the forward positions going forward, Little has a solid chance to make even more impact going forward as long as he continues to progress. 

Cam Reddish, SF/SG, Atlanta Hawks
With the injury to De’Andre Hunter that is expected to have him sidelined for at least six weeks, Cam Reddish is now expected to earn consistent minutes at the small forward position. Reddish through the seasons has also shown slow but constant improvement in his game. in only about 22 minutes a game, Reddish has averaged 11 points, three rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s also made massive improvements from beyond the arc, hitting a season-high 37 percent. It likely won’t come right away, but Reddish will have plenty of time to form in his game to help contribute for the Hawks. 

Centers

Mason Plumlee, C, Charlotte Hornets
After being traded from the Detroit Pistons during the off-season, Mason Plumlee comes into Charlotte with a much bigger than expected role for the team because of their lack of a legitimate big man. With that, Plumlee has received a lot of minutes, around 27 per game. He’s produced six points, seven rebounds, three assists, and around a steal and a block per game this season. While it could be likely the Hornets trade for a much more talented big man later in the season, Plumlee is their only option for the time being. 

JaVale McGee, C, Phoenix Suns
For the last handful of seasons, JaVale McGee has proven himself has a consistent and efficient backup center for any franchise he plays for. That is no different with the Phoenix Suns, now his eighth NBA franchise. Only playing about 18 minutes a game, McGee is still able to average 10 points, seven rebounds, and nearly a block per game. He’s also shooting around 66 percent from the field. DeAndre Ayton has also dealt with some injuries, already causing McGee to start in half of his games. McGee is one of the most reliable waiver wire pick-ups right now.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 11

The key to winning your fantasy football 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, 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. You can also make life easier by checking out our Consistency Rankings!

Dan Arnold, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
After being traded from the Carolina Panthers for C.J. Henderson, Dan Arnold has been a quality pass-catching tight end for Trevor Lawernce’s development. Since the Jaguar’s bye week, Arnold has had no less than seven targets and no less than 60 yards in three games. He has yet to score a touchdown but that’ll come as the chemistry improves. He’ll continue to have high upside the rest of the season despite poor team performance. He should be the top target for a harder position to fill in fantasy. 

Tyler Conklin, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Since Irv Smith Jr. went down with a season-ending injury, Tyler Conklin has been very consistent for the Minnesota Vikings, especially over the last four games. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
After some massive preseason hype, Rhamondre Stevenson struggled to break into the running back committee. However, when Damien Harris went down with an injury, Stevenson filled his shoes perfectly. Stevenson exploded for 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns against a solid Cleveland Browns rushing defense. Even with the return of Harris at some point, Stevenson has proved that the two of them could work together as a talent backfield by committee. Nonetheless, his performance earns him as a quality waiver wire pickup, especially if Harris misses more games going forward. 

Bryan Edwards, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The release of Henry Ruggs prompted Bryan Edwards to be the new number one wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders. However, last week he laid an absolute dud against the New York Giants. But with no new additions to the wide receiver locker room, Edwards was still expected to produce wide receiver one numbers. He did exactly that this week against the Chiefs. He finished with three receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. He should still be considered to have decent upside going despite inconsistent numbers throughout the season. 

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Since returning from injury, Rashod Bateman has been one of the more underrated rookie wide receivers this season. He’s had no less than 52 yards since Week 7 and has already brought in 14 receptions in the last three games. He hasn’t scored his first NFL touchdown but the excellent play from the Baltimore Ravens shouldn’t make that much of an issue at all. Bateman’s upside is easily the highest on this list as a consistent wide receiver two with an elite-level quarterback.