Week 10 (Yahoo leagues; Week 11 for ESPN and Fantrax) means a return to a more evenly distributed schedule for the NBA, with no day having more than nine games (Friday and Saturday). That should help managers navigate critical injury situations, headlined by Luka Doncic’s strained calf, which will sideline him for at least one month. Some of the choices for this week’s Waiver Wired column are players who are in line to see their values boosted due to injuries, while others are already in spots where they’ll be positive assets to fantasy managers.
Rankings credit: Basketball Monster
Priority Adds
1. Goga Bitadze
2. Shaedon Sharpe
3. Ben Simmons
4. Royce O’Neale
5. De’Andre Hunter
6. Spencer Dinwiddie
7. Larry Nance Jr.
8. Tristan da Silva
9. Quentin Grimes
10. Peyton Watson
C Goga Bitadze (52%), Orlando Magic
Bitadze is rostered in over 50% of Yahoo leagues, but that may not be high enough given the big man’s production. Over the past three weeks, according to Basketball Monster, he has averaged 12.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks in 29.0 minutes, suitable for 4th-round value in 9-cat formats. And with Magic coach Jamahl Mosley deciding to move Wendell Carter Jr. to the bench after Franz Wagner’s oblique tear, the starting center job appears to be Bitadze’s for the foreseeable future.
SF/PF De’Andre Hunter (43%), Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks have had some fantasy studs this season, whether it’s Trae Young, Jalen Johnson, or Dyson Daniels. But Hunter has also played well, with the bench role appearing to be an excellent fit for the former starter. Despite limited defensive production, he has provided top-75 value over the past three weeks, averaging 22.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 3-pointers per game. Bogdan Bogdanovic’s recent health struggles have freed up more room for Hunter to operate offensively, but the run of success is more about what he has done than who has not been on the court for the Hawks.
SG/SF Shaedon Sharpe (38%), Portland Trail Blazers
Sharpe is another player who does not provide consistent defensive production, but the offense and his role in Portland make him worth a look in standard leagues. Over the past two weeks, he has provided top-60 value in 9-cat formats, averaging 19.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.2 3-pointers in 29.8 minutes per game. Also impressive for Sharpe has been his percentages, with the Blazers wing shooting 51.6% from the field and 80.0% from the foul line.
PG/C Ben Simmons (32%), Brooklyn Nets
I have long been skeptical of Simmons as a viable fantasy option. However, the Nets’ decision to trade Dennis Schroder to Golden State has made Simmons a player worth rolling the dice on. In the five games since, Simmons has averaged 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 30.2 minutes, shooting 50.0% from the field and 84.6% from the foul line. The next “test” will be his availability for back-to-backs, with Nets coach Jordi Fernandez saying after Thursday’s win over the Bucks that Simmons might play on Friday. We’ll see, and the Nets have a Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back to begin their three-game Week 10.
SF/PF Royce O’Neale (25%), Phoenix Suns
The Suns are shorthanded again, with Devin Booker having missed the last three games with a groin injury. Friday’s matchup with Dallas makes four, and the star guard’s absence has boosted O’Neale’s streaming value. While he hasn’t been as productive as earlier this season when the Suns were without Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, the veteran forward remains in a position where he’s well worth the risk, especially with Grayson Allen (concussion) also sidelined.
C Larry Nance Jr. (18%), Atlanta Hawks
The absence of Onyeka Okongwu has pushed Nance into the Hawks’ rotation, unlocking an aspect of the team’s offense that is lacking when Okongwu or starter Clint Capela is on the court. Nance has provided top-25 value over the past two weeks, averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 2.0 blocks, and 2.5 3-pointers in under 25 minutes per game. Atlanta’s first game of Week 10 isn’t until Wednesday in Denver, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to add Nance, especially if Okongwu isn’t back for either game of the Hawks’ back-to-back to end Week 9.
SF/PF/C Noah Clowney (15%), Brooklyn Nets
Clowney’s opportunities have increased with Dorian Finney-Smith out of the lineup, with the Nets forward sidelined by a left calf contusion. Over the past two weeks, Clowney has averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 3-pointers in 26.8 minutes. Of course, one would hope for more defensive production from the second-year big (0.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per game during this stretch), but simply getting on the court in a starting role makes Clowney a valuable option in the short term. Also, he’s a player who should have even greater importance after the trade deadline, with Brooklyn expected to be a “seller.”
SG/SF Quentin Grimes (12%), PG/SG Spencer Dinwiddie (12%), and SG/SF Naji Marshall (7%), Dallas Mavericks
These three players are combined for one reason: Luka Doncic’s calf strain. He’ll be re-evaluated in one month, so these options offer an opportunity to derive long-term value. Regarding season-long fantasy value, none have been significant, with Marshall being the only one ranked within the top 200, but there’s room for all three to have a greater impact with Doncic sidelined. Grimes started the second half of Wednesday’s loss to the Timberwolves, while Dinwiddie (who struggled against Minnesota) will be necessary as a supplementary playmaker to Kyrie Irving. Marshall flourished earlier this season, going on a run of six straight games of 13 points or more (20 or more in the last four).
C Kelly Olynyk (10%), Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are trending in the wrong direction, having lost nine straight games, with Jakob Poeltl having missed the last four with a groin strain. Even though Olynyk’s minutes have been limited due to his return from a back injury that delayed his season debut, he replaced rookie Jonathan Mogbo in the starting lineup on Thursday. He played 23 minutes in a loss to the Grizzlies. That was all Olynyk needed to produce a line of 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two 3-pointers. Olynyk’s value hasn’t skyrocketed as some may have expected, but stay patient, as he has a track record of being a quality fantasy asset on bad teams.
SG Trevelin Queen (7%) and SF/PF Tristan da Silva (6%), Orlando Magic
Injuries have pushed Queen and da Silva onto the fantasy radar, with the former moving into the starting lineup after Moritz Wagner suffered a season-ending ACL tear (Wendell Carter Jr. dropped to the bench). Queen has provided 9th-round value in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks, while da Silva has scored at least 15 points and played 32 minutes or more in four of his last five outings. They’re both worth rostering in deep leagues until Paolo Banchero is cleared to return from his torn oblique injury.
SF/PF Peyton Watson (5%), Denver Nuggets
A strained right calf has sidelined Aaron Gordon for the second time this season. The first instance cost him three weeks (10 games), with Watson moving into the starting lineup. During that stretch, the third-year Nugget averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 3-pointers in 31.3 minutes, shooting 56.3% from the field and 70.6% from the foul line. Unless Michael Malone were to decide to go small and insert Russell Westbrook into the starting lineup, Watson should not have much trouble getting starters’ minutes while Gordon heals.
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