Ethan Hartley

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.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 10

Elijah Moore, WR, New York Jets
Surely but slowly, Elijah Moore has started to live up to the hype set for him at the beginning of the season. He had the best game of his young career against the Colts last week on TNF. Moore finished with seven receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He did stack up these numbers without Corey Davis, who is the consense number one receiver for the Jets. But it will interesting going forward what Moore’s role will be with both of them on the field. For now, he’s still a great pick-up while Davis continues to be sidelined with injury.

Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons
While I wish nothing but ht best for Calvin Ridley as he handles his mental health issues, Russell Gage’s stock now takes a major jump with Ridley’s absence. Matt Ryan has always been known to be a throw-first quarterback for chunk yardage and big plays. We’ve already seen Russell Gage benefit as the new number one receiver. He finished last week with seven receptions for 64 yards against a non-favorable matchup in the New Orleans Saints. He’ll continue to form a solid duo with Kyle Pitts as the top weapons for Matt Ryan going forward. He just needs to do better with staying on the field and avoiding injuries.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
The Odell Beckham Jr. debacle did not look good for the Cleveland Browns as an organization. But it did help them find their new deep-shot target in only a matter of days. Donovan Peoples-Jones exploded with two receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. Already establishing himself as the number two wide receiver, his target share should continue to increase. The bottom line, his upside now shoots through the roof, making him a player to not miss out on off waivers.

Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
With Eric Ebron continuing to deal with an injury, rookie Pat Freiermuth has emerged as another receiving option for Big Ben and the Steelers. He’s coming off weeks with back-to-back touchdowns and had his best performance on MNF against the Bears. He finished with five receptions for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Even on a team stacked with weapons, Freiermuth has still found his fair share of targets three weeks in a row now. He’s a solid tight-end option going forward for the rest of the season.

Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Despite the offensive struggles from the Chicago Bears as a unit, Cole Kmet has been a solid consistent player for the team in terms of production. He finished with six receptions for 87 yards. Struggles will certainly come with Kmet finding the endzone, as he has yet to score this season and wouldn’t be too surprised if that stayed that way. But he hasn’t had less than five targets since Week 5 against the Raiders. Justin Fields has also made small improvements weekly that’ll help Kmet receive more opportunities. Kmet for now is a last option waiver wire claim until he has more touchdown upside.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 4

Guards

Jalen Brunson, PG, Dallas Mavericks
Since being a second-round pick in 2018, Jalen Brunson has emerged as one of the best guards off the bench in the league. His underrated career continues with another strong start to his third year in the league. Through nine games, Brunson has averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game. He is also averaging only one turnover per game, giving him some elite passing ability. He’s proven to be a lethal shooter from deep in prior seasons, but 37 percent is still a solid clip with plenty of room to improve. His role is more than established and with production like this, he could be a starter for the Dallas Mavericks.

Tyrese Maxey, SG/PG, Philadelphia 76ers
The Ben Simmons fiasco has led to a major emergence of the second-year guard, Tyrese Maxey. Sure the volume has massively increased, but Maxey has also shown improvement in his shooting and playmaking abilities. In the young season, Maxey is averaging 14 points, three rebounds, and five assists while shooting over 50 percent from the field. With the increasing unlikelihood that Ben Simmons will play another game in a Sixers uniform, Maxey’s upside going forward is huge. With a great supporting cast, Maxey is a solid option going forward with nightly opportunities to improve his game.

Anfernee Simons, SG/PG, Portland Trail Blazers
Through four seasons, Anfernee Simons has shown constant improvement to become a legitimate supporting player for the Portland Trail Blazers, even when he plays behind two-star players. Through 10 games, Simons is averaging 14 points while shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc. Anfernee has carved out a consistent role for himself. And with the Blazers moving to more small ball, it should not be a worry that he plays behind two all-star caliber players for the rest of the season. His playmaking could use some improvement but for now, is still a great player off waivers.

Forwards

Nicolas Batum, SF/SG, Los Angeles Clippers
Now past his ugly days with the Charlotte Hornets, Nicolas Batum has provided quality production during his time with the Los Angeles Clippers. With Kawhi Leonard now out for most of the season, Batum’s nightly production will be even more important the Clippers would like to make the postseason again. So far in the young season, Batum has averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s been a great stretch four as well, hitting around 41 percent of his deep balls. His veteran experience makes him a reliable pick-up off the waiver wire going forward.

Aaron Gordon, PF, Denver Nuggets
After signing a massive extension with the Denver Nuggets in the off-season, Aaron Gordon has now found himself to have a consistent role with a contending team in the Western Conference. Whether he’s considered overpaid or not, he still has more than enough talent to help contribute. Gordon is averaging 12 points, six rebounds, and around one block per game. His three-point shot has still struggled compared to league average. But he is still hitting a career-high 34 percent from beyond the arc. While there isn’t much upside left for Aaron Gordon, he is receiving consistent minutes, making him a decent pickup.

Matisse Thybulle, SF/SG, Philadelphia 76ers
Despite his underwhelming offensive ability, Matisse Thybulle’s defensive technique and talent make him one of the best defensive players in the entire league. What’s even more impressive is that he is only playing around 25 minutes a game despite averaging 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game. That equates to averaging 3.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per 36 minutes. He only averages about five points and two rebounds while shooting about 31 percent from beyond the arc. But his numbers in ESPN Standard leagues, where defensive stats are more points, match up with players who are better offensively.

Centers

Dwight Powell, C, Dallas Mavericks
An efficient and simplistic player, Dwight Powell’s ability to score easy interior baskets makes him an underrated player in the league. He’s currently averaging seven points and five rebounds in about 25 minutes of action. He’s also shooting about 58 percent from the field. But the lack of a more consistent big man for the Dallas Mavericks gives him an already established role with the team. He’s not the most appealing player on waivers, but he is one that will get the job done for teams looking for forward and center depth.

DeAndre Jordan, C, Los Angeles Lakers
After being basically exiled from the playoffs last season for the Brooklyn Nets, DeAndre Jordan has still proved he can provide for championship-caliber teams. Playing less than 15 minutes a game, Jordan is still able to average around five points, four rebounds, and over a block a game while shooting 76 percent from the field. With Anthony Davis also dealing with lingering injuries, Jordan could be in line for more minutes for future games. His simple playstyle makes it easy for him to rack up fantasy points too.

UFC 268 Predictions

It is rare to see the UFC put on back-to-back championship cards, especially cards with multiple title fights on each. But nonetheless, it brings incredible excitement to the sport as the promotion now returns to the United States to put on another incredible card at one of the greatest venues on the planet, Madison Square Garden. Highlighted by two title fights, the prelims on this card are absolutely stacked. The debut of Ian Garry will be an exciting one. But names like Chris Barnett, Melsik Baghdasaryan, Edmen Shahbazyan, Phil Hawes, Bobby Green, Al Iaquinta, and many more round out a loaded undercard. Let’s break down the predictions for this main card.

Previous Record: 21-11

Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler

An absolute barn-burner to start off the main card, Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler are bound to set off fireworks against each other. Both are the two most recent losers in lightweight title fights but the winner seems bound to be the new number one contender in the division. While Chandler hasn’t entirely proven himself as a true contender with only one win in the UFC, his credentials at Bellator still make this a competitive fight. But I was never a fan of Chandler earning a title shot after only one UFC appearance in which he didn’t pull much of a massive upset. However, Gaethje having a chip on his shoulder and his motor create key advantages for Gaethje to escape with another finish to his already long and credentialed list.

Prediction: Gaethje by KO/TKO

Shane Burgos vs. Billy Quarantillo

Once expected to bring new life into the slow-moving Featherweight Division, Shane Burgos is now coming off back-to-back losses against middle-ranked contenders in Josh Emmett and Edson Barbosa. He also hasn’t been the most active fighter as of late with only four fights in the last three years. But Billy Quarantillo isn’t exactly the most exciting prospect making a speeding race to the top. He had his first loss in the UFC against Gavin Tucker but came back to beat Gabriel Benitez a few months later. He’s a legitimate and talented fighter but doesn’t give me much of a reason to believe he can top Burgos. I think Shane Burgos will return to his once extremely violent form mixed with a strong grapple and striking resume.

Prediction: Burgos by Submission

Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera

New York legend Frankie Edgar makes his return to Madison Square Garden against an up-and-comer Marlon Vera who is no slouch of a fighter. Vera recently pulled off an impressive victory against Dwight Grant earlier this year. He also has a finish against fan-favorite Sean O’Malley. Vera has shown throughout his career that he is one of the most durable fighters in the Bantamweight division. Frankie Edgar on the other side is coming off as the victim of a flying knee against Cory Sandhagen. Also at 40 years, it is hard to bank on Edgar’s engine to pull off three dominant rounds against Vera who is still only 28 years old. Unless Edgar pulls some Glover Teixeira kind of comeback, I expect Vera to have a smooth victory.

Prediction: Vera by Unanimous Decision

Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili

One of the most exciting women’s fights in recent time, the rematch between Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili is expected to be as close as it could get for a championship bout. While Thug Rose won the first fight, many could make the argument that she got lucky with the head kick and didn’t show much that she truly dominated her opponent. But I would much rather say that good coaching by Trevor Whittman picked up the space in Zhang’s guard that led to the finish. However, I cannot assume the same thing will happen, making this a much harder fight to call. But I think something that is being extremely overlooked is mindset. Rose has publicly claimed that she is much more confident since winning the belt after her first go around as champion. That could prove to be big in the championship rounds. Rose has also proven herself as a much better and more efficient wrestler in her recent bouts. It’ll be close, but it’ll be Thug Rose escaping with her first title defense.

Prediction: Namajunas by Split Decision

Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington

Despite this rematch being exciting from the bad blood between these two that has stemmed for years, I was never on board with Colby Covington being the next title contender for the Welterweight belt. After the loss to Usman the first time, Covington only had one fight, a win against Tyron Woodley who was on the backend of his career. Since then, Covington has basically waited until he got the opportunity to talk his way into a title fight. It’s hard to say that Covington has massively improved to say his game has improved. The opposite can be said about Usman, who has shown massive improvement against Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, absolutely destroying them. Unless Covington absolutely blows my mind, Usman should add another convincing win to his resume and continue to solidify himself as the pound-for-pound king.

Prediction: Usman by KO/TKO

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 3

Guards

Cole Anthony, PG, Orlando Magic
Despite playing in a crowded backcourt that includes first-round picks, Jalen Suggs and RJ Hampton, and eventually Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony has still done a great job to find his niche role and produce quality basketball outings. Through the first seven games of the season, Anthony has averaged nearly 18 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He’s also had major improvements with his shot beyond the arc. He’s jumped at least nine percent compared to only shooting 33 percent his rookie year. Anthony is one of the most popular waiver wire targets right now so grab him while you can. His upside is tremendous going forward with the Magic who don’t have a true number one option.

Desmond Bane, SG, Memphis Grizzlies
After an under-the-radar rookie season where he only started 17 games, Desmond Bane has taken a major step forward to become a major cornerpiece for the Memphis Grizzlies. In the young season, Bane is averaging 19 points, four rebounds, and 1.2 steals while shooting 43 percent from deep. He’s been a perfect complementary player for Ja Morant and a solid pick-up in fantasy basketball. The only issue is his role with the team once Dillon Brooks returns healthy. However, Bane should still have some productive role with the team all season long.

Josh Giddey, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder
After a successful pre-draft period, Josh Giddey was quickly selected with the sixth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Safe to say through the first six games of his young career that Giddey has played a unique style of basketball. Standing at 6’8″, Giddey is averaging 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He still needs to improve his outside shot, only shooting about 33 percent from three. But he has shown a lot of promise as a solid partner for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as part of the young core for the Thunder.

Forwards

Carmelo Anthony, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers
After choosing to team up with LeBron James down in LA with the Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony has become a quality scoring option for the crew. In his 18th season, Melo is still averaging 16 points per game while shooting an incredible 52 percent from beyond the arc. His volume can be sustainable as a third scoring option for the Lakers. However, his biggest question is his health and how much load management will affect his production. He’s still a solid pick-up who can be relied on to put points on the board.

Kelly Oubre Jr., PF/SF, Charlotte Hornets
After signing with the Charlotte Hornets this season, Kelly Oubre Jr. hopes to provide some veteran presence for a team hoping to make a deep playoff run this season and beyond. Through seven games, Oubre is averaging 16 points, five rebounds, and a steal per game. He has also dramatically improved his three-point shooting after an awful stretch with the Warriors last season where he only hit about 32 percent. He’s currently shooting around 39 percent this season. He’s an underrated player to pick up right now as he’ll have a consistent role with the Hornets going forward.

Cam Reddish, SF/SG, Atlanta Hawks
With De’Andre Hunter struggling to stay consistent and healthy, Cam Reddish has proven more and more that he should be the starting small forward for the Atlanta Hawks going forward. Cam is currently averaging about 16 points, three rebounds, and 1.2 steals while only playing about 24 minutes per game. Reddish has also taken a major step forward with his outside shooting, hitting only about 26 percent last season to now hitting 43 percent of his threes. It is only a matter of time before Nate McMillan makes the change as long as Reddish continues to play consistently. This gives him solid upside assuming he’ll produce even more with more minutes to work with.

Centers

Kelly Olynyk, C/PF, Detroit Pistons
After an incredible 27-game stint with the Houston Rockets that had Kelly Olynyk averaging 19 points per game, he chose to move up north to the Motor City. He’s recently been playing as the backup center behind Isaiah Stewart, but still averages about 25 minutes per game. He also averages 14 points, four rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. Stewart has been off to a slow start, so it may not be long before Olynyk is eventually given more minutes. These factors make him a quality pick-up on the waivers.

Hassan Whiteside, C, Utah Jazz
After a disappointing season with the Sacramento Kings, Hassan Whiteside now finds himself in a more established backup role with the Utah Jazz. And despite only playing 16 minutes per game, Whiteside has still found ways to produce. He’s currently averaging seven points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting over 60 percent from the field. He’s also been averaging those numbers nightly and is rarely inconsistent due to his simplistic game style. He’s a last resort option on the waiver wire, but certainly one that is reliable for owners.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 9

Jeremy McNichols, RB, Tennessee Titans
With Derrick Henry likely done for at least the regular season after a foot injury, Jeremy McNichols is the next man up on the depth chart for the Tennessee Titans. Even with the signing of Adrian Peterson, McNichols will still likely be getting a good chunk of the snaps from the backfield. He’s younger and is a much better pass catcher than Peterson. However, it is still an open competition on who will help keep the Titans afloat for their playoff hopes after a big win against the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday.

Ty Johnson, RB, New York Jets
The New York Jets are starting to figure out the future of their backfield with two great young backs in Michael Carter and Ty Johnson. Carter had a lot of hype coming into the beginning of the season, but Johnson has seen a mid-season improvement. Whether it is Mike White or Zach Wilson at quarterback, taking advantage of Johnson’s pass-catching ability is a strategy that should continue to be used as it helped the Jets earn a huge win over the Cincinnati Bengals when he totaled 71 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions. Expect Johnson to get consistent opportunities going forward.

Trevor Siemian, QB, New Orleans Saints
With Taysom Hill and, now, Jameis Winston out with injury, Trevor Siemian looks to be the next man up in the New Orleans Saints organization barring any trade. Siemian did a solid job after taking over the duties for Winston this past Sunday, finishing with 159 yards, a touchdown, and zero turnovers. The Saints as a whole also finished with a major win over division rival, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Today’s trade deadline could have a lot of questions on who will be the starter for the Saints going forward. But Trevor Siemian is a solid candidate if the Saints would prefer to avoid taking on any more money with the cap tightness they’re already dealing with.

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Fransisco 49ers
Now that Jimmy Garoppolo is back as the starter for the 49ers, it is a much more clear picture that he’ll be the starter for the rest of the season. Despite preseason success, Trey Lance struggled heavily during his playing time as the starter; the inexperience really showed in his game and he still has long strides to go as a passer. Garoppolo also had a solid game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. He finished with 322 passing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and a two-point conversion. The 49ers have one of the best offenses when healthy. Geroge Kittle should be returning soon and Deebo Samuel has been dominant this season. An uptick in production should come as long as Garoppolo stays healthy.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
A popular trade target, Marcus Mariota could be on the move today when the trade deadline approaches. Mariota has been a backup quarterback for the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, but has shown promise in his limited time playing. Teams like the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers could all be possible suitors for Mariota depending on how they view their existing quarterback situation. His fantasy value could see a change depending on if and which team he is traded to

UFC 267 Predictions

Dana White and the UFC are returning to the legendary Fight Island in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates where fights like the McGregor vs. Poirier 2 and Usman vs. Masvidal 1 took place. The same is expected this weekend in terms of talent and hype with a bit of a twist. While this card is going to be broadcasted ESPN+, there will be no PPV for the card despite being built like a typical PPV card. Popular prospects like Andre Petroski, Lerone Murphy Jr., Shamil Gamzatov, Ricardo Ramos, and others fill out a stacked undercard with a ton of fun fights. The main card is filled with even more talent so let’s break it down. A reminder that the Prelims begin at 7:30 am pst and the Main Card begins at 11 am pst.

Previous Record: 16-10

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Volkan Oezdmir

Magomed Ankalaev is one of the most underrated fighters not just in the Light Heavyweight Division but across the entire promotion roster. He hasn’t lost since his UFC debut against Paul Craig and has knocked out three of his last four opponents. His constant forward pressure and elite striking make him a problem for anyone in this division. On the other hand, Volkan Oezdmir has struggled to get the ball rolling again. He’s coming off of a dominant loss to Jiri Prochazka over a year ago and has lost 3 of his last 5 fights. I think this is a major crossroads fight for both of these fighters. But it’ll ultimately be Ankalaev advancing his career forward.

Prediction: Ankalaev by KO/TKO

Li Jingliang vs. Khamzat Chimaev

The return of Khamzat Chimaev is huge for the Welterweight Divison. His terror during the summer of 2020 was out of his world. At one point, fought only 10 days apart on Fight Island and earned finishes in both fights. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has delayed his return for almost 13 months now. His hype as a future contender still rides high. However, his opponent is no pushover. Li Jingliang is a solid newly ranked contender who has been with the promotion since 2014. He’s won four of his last five fights including a first-round finish of Santiago Ponzinibbo in his most recent fight. But I think the Chimaev hype is extremely real and I would expect him to earn the biggest win of his young MMA career with power punching and high-level wrestling. The biggest question is will Chimaev be able to keep his cardio up.

Prediction: Chimaev by Unanimous Decision

Alexander Volkov vs. Marcin Tybura

After being only one win away from a possible Interim title fight against Derrick Lewis, Alexander Volkov now finds himself in another top 10 fight with Marcin Tybura. On a five-fight winning streak, Tybura has given the absolute beat down to his opponents, knocking out the last two in under three rounds. His wrestling has also set up some critical wins including against Maxim Grishin where he finished with over eight minutes of control time. That’ll be what’s key. Volkov’s 6’7″ frame and thundering power could prove vital if used properly. If Volkov is able to show improved takedown defense, he should be on an easy path of earning his 23rd knockout.

Prediction: Volkov by KO/TKO

Islam Makhachev vs. Dan Hooker

Fan favorite, Dan Hooker, is stepping for another short-handed fight after Islam Makhachev was originally supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos. Islam is bound to be a future champ, his wrestling, and grappling skill is out of this world and he has the best support team as he’s coached by one of the greatest MMA fighters and an even better coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dan Hooker is his toughest matchup to date though. His tough chin makes him a threat no matter the prior damage beforehand. His knockout power also gives him solid opportunities for a major upset. However, Islam has been too perfect for his career for that to change now. A title fight could be on the horizon for Makhachev.

Prediction: Makhachev by Unanimous Decision

Petr Yan vs. Cory Sandhagen

Aljamain Sterling continues to stall one of the most exciting divisions in the UFC right now. But nonetheless, we are still treated with a banger interim title fight between the true champion, Petr Yan, and a highly talented contender in Cory Sandhagen. Cory is coming off a split decision loss to T.J. Dillashaw but still holds one of the most exciting knockouts this year against Frankie Edgar. His height and reach advantage has given opponents problems for everyone at 135 lbs. Sandhagen’s fluid striking and slick grappling will also be a handful to handle. Petr Yan is a very dangerous man, and even more dangerous now that he’s out for what is rightfully his. He’s one of the most complete fighters on the roster and is still only 28 years old. I expect Sandhagan to have too much to handle over five rounds unless he can pull off a fantastic finish. We’ll only have to wait longer for the rematch between Yan and Sterling.

Prediction: Yan by Split Decision

Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixiera

Jan Blachowicz turned a lot of heads after his impressive victory against Israel Adesanya, who was attempting to become the promotion’s fifth double champion. Blachowicz’s wrestling proved to be the later rounds that punched his ticket for a huge victory. His story is incredible, at one point being on the edge of cut from the UFC after going 2-4. Glover Texeira has had an impressive story of his own. At 42, Texeira has managed to steamroll some of the toughest fighters in this division including Tiago Santos, Anthony Smith, and Nikita Krylov. That’s thanks to his dynamic wrestling and slick submissions. His striking is also elite, racking up 18 knockouts in 32 wins. He hasn’t lost in three years despite father time knocking on the door. Both of these guys have shown an immense amount of respect for each other, the NMF belt you could say. However, I think the legendary Polish Power will end on top. His striking and wrestling have continued to show improvement as each fight prolongs. Don’t count out Glover though, this will be a very close fight.

Prediction: Blachowicz by Unanimous Decision

Young Thug – Punk, Album Review

Atlanta’s doer of all things, Young Thug, is back with his second studio album, Punk. This comes three years after his first, So Much Fun, but Thugger has been more than active in the music industry since that gap. He executively produced the release of Slime Language 2, a collaboration album with the members of his record label, Young Stoner Life. He was also featured on many high charting albums such as Drake’s Certified Lover Boy and Kanye West’s Donda. Yes, it shocks me too that Thugger only has two studio albums. His discography is filled with classic albums like Beautiful Thugger Girls, Jeffery, and Barter 6. But these of all classify as commercial mixtapes, but who really knows the difference. Nonetheless, a new studio album from Young Thug is a huge deal regardless considering the impact he’s created on the trap rap community.

His debut album, So Much Fun, is one of Jeffery’s best in his entire discography. The reason being is because it’s one of his most cohesive albums, where there is a clear and impactful theme flowing through the entire album rather than just having a bunch of tracks thrown together. Not to say that isn’t bad or the wrong thing to do. But it certainly doesn’t help propel a album to the next level of quality needed for an album-of-the-year type project. So Much Fun brings a joyful and light energy mood that is different than one would expect. Young Thug also did a great job with his features on So Much Fun. He did some experimenting by putting artists like Machine Gun Kelly and others while also sticking to some common names he’s closer with like Gunna, Lil Duke, Lil Baby, etc. So the expectations are set high for Punk in hopes it follows a similar quality that So Much Fun did.

Everything off Punk down to the tracklist is similar to what was presented off So Much Fun. Thugger includes his fair share of his own artists from YSL such as Strick, T-Shyne, BSlime, and Lil Double 0. Of course, Thugger couldn’t drop this album without having at least one surprising name on the feature list. The lead singer of the band “fun.” is featured on the track “Love You More”. Nate Reuss created hits from the 2010s like “We Are Young” and “Some Nights” back on their 2012 hit album Some Nights. However, the band has not released any music since then but claims they are not splitting either. More popular names who’ve worked with Thugger in the past like J. Cole, Drake, Travis Scott, Gunna, and Future also have their own features. Fans are also treated with two posthumous features from Juice WRLD and Mac Miller.

The first four tracks on Punk feature an entirely different theme compared to recent projects. Thugger opens up about his dark past growing up and his relationship with his parents. All this comes over a calm but slick guitar beat that hits hard. His soft and open tone gives a real emotional hitting touch. “Stressed” brings the same atmosphere but with different instrumentals. T-Minus’s productions make a perfect blend for J. Cole’s feature that also pops despite the awkward combination with Thugger’s vocals. “Stupid/Asking” goes back to the low-energy acoustic guitars that open up sentiment and deep thoughts. The transition is also well-done to a more trap-themed chill beat. Thugger does a phenomenal job keeping the energy seamless between the two parts of the track. “Recognize Real” also brings the same guitar instrumental as “Stupid/Asking”. As a feature, Gunna also has some solid vocals without much auto-tune either. “Contagious” and “Peepin Out The Window” follow a similar motif. This first is a solid strong point for Punk.

Where things start to change is when the track “Rich N***a Shit” comes around. The entire theme from the first third of the album is completely thrown out the window and instead, Thugger brings on a Pi’erre Bourne beat with a ton of high energy and booming bass. However, the delivery is awful. The chicken/bird noises on the hook are completely unnecessary. The Juice WRLD feature doesn’t save the track at all and instead this completely ruins the statement that was built through the first leg of the album. On the next track, Thugger returns with acoustic guitars and quality features from Post Malone and A$AP Rocky on “Livin It Up”. “Insure My Wrist” was an enjoyable track. The piano and female vocals throughout the instrumental bring a nice down-to-earth energy. Gunna’s voice also continues to carry. It might not be the worst idea for him to ditch auto-tune going forward.

“Scoliosis” takes another twist on Punk, but not one anywhere near as bad as the first. This track almost sounds like it could have been on So Much Fun with the fun sequence, including a flute in the instrumental and a groovy Lil Double 0 feature. The same can be said for “Bubbly”. This was definitely made to be a party track and the energy would agree. The emergency horn in the background and the bop sounds make it hard not to dance to. The Travis Scott feature carries the same energy, as he’s always known to be best for tracks like this. The main problem with this is the second leg where Drake comes on. There was no reason to change to something more toned down and Drake’s mediocre rapping doesn’t help keep the track alive either, an absolute dud. “Droppin Jewels” has a nice piano melody throughout the song. “Icy Hot” with Doja cat is another absolute miss on Punk. While I still don’t understand why she receives feature opportunities despite multiple reports of her making racist remarks, her vocals on this don’t swing me at all. It just creates an embarrassing listen about more sexualized content. Young Thug’s verses aren’t any better. This is certainly one that should have been left off the album.

The best song on the album is easily “Love You More”. The vocals from Nate Reuss right off the bat make it hard-hitting and easily bring out emotions. “Cause I love you more than anything” is hard to shy away from. Young Thug also brings in phenomenal vocals to keep the spirit the same, listing the things he loves that a particular woman does for him. The mellow instrumental with trap mixture creates a great combination. “Hate The Game” is a great follow-up track. Thugger’s vocals are versatile and upbeat while keeping the softened consistency throughout. I did enjoy the track “Day Before” with Mac Miller. The instrumental ends on similar terms we saw with the first leg of the album. However, Mac’s verse sounds out of place and the lyrics don’t really match the theme of what’s been discussed throughout. This is definitely one of the leftover verses Mac left behind for artists to sort through.

Overall, I would give Punk a 6.3/10 with my favorite tracks being “Love You More”, “Hate The Game”, and “Stupid/Asking”. The first leg of this album is great with a consistent and cohesive theme that attempts to make an emotional connection with listeners. A lot of these tracks in the first stretch could have been seen on Beautiful Thugger Girls. However, it’ll always confuse me why Young Thug just didn’t stick with the theme for the rest of the album. He still could have left some of these out-of-place tracks on the album like “Rich N**a Shit” especially and “Bubbly”. But the order in which they were placed made it confusing to follow. The back and forth between styles didn’t help either. While this album will have some commercial success for Young Thug, there isn’t too much to take away from this compared to what So Much Fun offered to fans. Compared to expectations, this is considered somewhat disappointing. None of the high-end features really blew away their opportunity either, other than, maybe Travis Scott. But there are a lot of solid tracks throughout, just nothing that really moves the needle for Thugger as an artist. It’ll be fascinating to see what’s next for Young Thug as he is always heavily involved in other projects while keeping his style and production as versatile as possible.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Week 2

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 consistently, good or bad, players are, determined by stats, not hunches or anecdotal evidence!

Guards

Ricky Rubio, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
A salary dump trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio has shown he can be productive in whatever kind of role he is assigned. He’s had an incredibly hot start for the Cleveland Cavaliers thus far. Through three games, Rubio has averaged 16 points, four rebounds, nine assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Rubio has also shot an impressive 45 percent from beyond the arc, despite only having a 32 percent career average. His role going forward will be questionable with Darius Garland dealing with an injury, and eventually recovering from it, as well as his starting position from Rubio. But Rubio has proven to be a fruitful guard throughout his entire career and should get plenty of opportunities, if even off the bench.

Chris Duarte, SG, Indiana Pacers
With injuries to Caris LeVert and T.J. Warren, rookie Chris Duarte has already been thrust into the starting lineup and seeing significant playing time. The Oregon product has averaged 20 points, four rebounds, and four assists while shooting 45 percent from three in three games on the young season. His role going forward will likely decrease once LeVert and Warren are healthy again, but that shouldn’t stop Duarte from getting meaningful nightly minutes as he’s already proven to be an NBA-ready rookie.

Alex Caruso, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls
Fan favorite, Alex Caruso, was able to secure himself a rich new contract in the Windy City. With that has come a new role where he is much more involved in the offense. Through three games with the Chicago Bulls, Caruso has averaged eight points, three assists, and three steals while shooting 60 percent from beyond the arc and 50 percent from the field. His minutes should stay consistent even when Colby White returns because Caruso has proven to be a much more consistent player with defensive upside when on the court.

Forwards

Precious Achiuwa, PF, Toronto Raptors
An underrated rookie with the Miami Heat, Precious Achiuwa was moved to the Toronto Raptors as part of the Kyle Lowry trade. With an already thin frontcourt, Achiuwa should find plenty of opportunities to bring impact to a rebuilding Raptors team. Through three games, Achuiwa is already averaging a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. His free throw percentage has also improved by seven percent and should rise as the season goes on. He’s one of the most underrated prospects currently and should thrive under Nick Nurse as his head coach.

Will Barton, SF, Denver Nuggets
Will Barton never seems to be counted on during drafts as he comes in almost every season as a waiver wire player. Through two games, Will Barton is averaging 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists while shooting 50 percent from deep. His role has been consistent with the Nuggets for the last handful of seasons now. His biggest concern is his health and staying on the court; Barton hasn’t played more than 60 games since 2017. But he is still a reliable pick-up off waivers for this coming week.

Franz Wagner, SF, Orlando Magic
Many considered Franz Wagner to be a project player coming into the draft because of his raw ability, but lack of an NBA frame to compete with the best. But his first two games with the Orlando Magic have instantly turned him into a sleeper on waivers. Wagner has averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and a block per game while shooting 57 percent from the field and from deep. Injuries to Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke should get Wagner more minutes going forward to prove himself as a rotation player for the Magic.

Centers

Mo Bamba, C, Orlando Magic
The Mo Bamba show has begun and a breakout season could be on the horizon for the fourth-year big man from Texas. Through two games, Bamba is averaging 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, and three blocks per game. However, that is not the most impressive stat thus far. Bamba’s ability to space the floor has skyrocketed as he has hit 66 percent of his threes with almost five attempts per game. He’s already the hot topic on the waiver wire, so this makes him worth being added immediately.

Daniel Gafford, C/PF, Washington Wizards
After an impressive playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Daniel Gafford was not only awarded a contract extension, but was also looked at as a quality sleeper with Thomas Bryant still out. Through two games, Gafford has already shown massive improvement. He’s averaged eight points and three blocks while shooting 87 percent from the field. His complementary role with Montrezl Harrell makes Gafford’s role consistent going forward. He’s an underrated player on the waiver wire with known consistent production.