10 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets for Week 8
We're here once again to look at 10 of the most interesting players to emerge off fantasy basketball waiver wires over the past week.
As always, make sure you're checking out last week's edition (and the week before for good measure). We try not to repeat ourselves, but there are always some high-priority options to be found in previous iterations of this column who should still be on your radar if they're out there.
All rankings come courtesy of Basketball Monster.
Now, let's hit the wire.
Markieff Morris, PF/C, Washington Wizards
Yahoo Ownership: 65%
Dwight Howard is expected to miss the next two months following a surgical procedure to alleviate pain from a gluteal injury, so the Washington Wizards are set to use Markieff Morris a lot as a small-ball center going forward.
'Kieff was demoted from starting to coming off the bench seven games ago, but he's returned 38th-ranked value in nine-category leagues since then. Over that span, he's averaged 15.6 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.7 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers in a healthy 29.4 minutes per contest off the pine, while shooting 47.7% from the field and 80.0% from the free throw line.
It turns out that Morris doesn't need to start to return fantasy value. He might not be able to sustain that kind of early-round value going forward, but mid- to late-round returns are well within his reach. If he's available in your league, he should be a top add this week.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, Los Angeles Clippers
Yahoo Ownership: 60%
We geeked out over rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just a few weeks ago, but his recent play and still fairly modest ownership percentage makes him worth mentioning again.
Over the past week (three games), SGA has been the 49th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 12.7 points, 1.0 triple, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in 28.6 minutes per contest, while shooting 52.0% from the field and 81.8% from the charity stripe.
He's locked down a starting role with the Los Angeles Clippers and provides enough goodies across the board to put him on your radar. You'll have to weather the typical ups and downs that come with owning rookies in fantasy hoops, but his situation and skill set make him a must-own player in standard leagues.
Terrence Ross, SG/SF, Orlando Magic
Yahoo Ownership: 45%
Like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrence Ross is another guy who we've mentioned recently that is deserving of another look.
Ross has quietly been the 92nd-ranked player in nine-category leagues on the season as a whole, and he's been heating up even more lately. Over his last five games, he's been the 44th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 18.6 points, 2.8 triples, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 1.4 turnovers in 27.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 51.5% from the field and 78.6% from the line.
He might be a bench player that's liable to drop a dud from time to time, but his solid percentages, low turnovers, and occasional outbursts of points and threes make him well worth owning in standard leagues.
Elie Okobo, PG, Phoenix Suns
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
The Phoenix Suns cut Isaiah Canaan last week, and rookie Elie Okobo has been soaking up his minutes ever since.
His ranking of 167th in nine-category leagues over the three games since Canaan's departure likely isn't enough to get you running to your waiver wire, but his averages of 10.3 points, 1.7 threes, 2.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers per contest show enough promise, and his ranking is mostly dragged down by his 40.6% shooting mark from the field over that span.
If nothing else, his 30.1 minutes per contest on the rebuilding Suns feels fairly safe following the Canaan move, so he's worth a flier to see how things go as he gets more and more reps in.
Damyean Dotson, SG, New York Knicks
Yahoo Ownership: 10%
The rotation for the New York Knicks is ever-evolving, which can be very frustrating for fantasy owners, but we can't avoid talking about this week's Knick add du jour, Damyean Dotson.
Dotson was out of New York's rotation entirely for a recent four-game stretch, but three killer games in a row has him back on fantasy radars. Over that span, he's been the 15th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 18.0 points, 3.3 triples, 3.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.3 blocks, and 0.0 turnovers in 26.7 minutes per contest off the bench, while shooting a blazing 67.9% from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
He might very well be irrelevant in fantasy leagues again by this time next week, but there's nothing wrong with riding his hot hand until it cools off.
Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat
Yahoo Ownership: 45%
Bam Adebayo has grabbed double-digit boards in three of his last five contests, including a 21-rebound performance.
He's been the 111th-ranked player over that span, averaging 10.4 points, 0.0 threes, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 block, and 1.4 turnovers in 23.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 55.2% from the field and 71.4% from the charity stripe.
The complete lack of threes pulls down his overall ranking a bit, but owners in need of a big man who can bring the boards, blocks, and efficiency from the floor should give Bam a look. Adebayo may not crack Miami's starting five, but he often closes out games in place of starter Hassan Whiteside. He should be able to get enough minutes to remain fantasy-relevant going forward.
Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Boston Celtics
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
Marcus Smart has started the last three games for the Boston Celtics in place of an injured Jaylen Brown (tailbone), and he's played well enough over his last five to possibly keep the job moving forward.
Over that five-game span, Smart has been the 23rd-ranked player in nine-category leagues on the strength of his 9.8 points, 1.8 three-pointers, 2.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.4 steals, 0.6 blocks, 1.0 turnover, 48.5% shooting from the field, and perfect 8-for-8 mark from the line.
He's never going to give you much in terms of scoring, but the threes, assists, and steals make him worth owning anytime he's getting enough minutes. He's been a top-75 guy over the last month and could very well keep that kind of ranking up going forward.
Dwyane Wade, PG/SG, Miami Heat
Yahoo Ownership: 40%
Dwyane Wade's days of surefire fantasy returns are long gone, but he's been having a mini-renaissance this past week or so, and therefore is worth an add as a hot hand.
Over his last four games, D-Wade has been the 64th-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 21.5 points, 2.3 triples, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers in 29.5 minutes per contest off the bench, while shooting 46.0% from the field and 79.2% from the free throw line.
His playing time and increased usage have been helped by injuries to Goran Dragic (knee) and Tyler Johnson (hamstring), and he's still knocking on the door of 37 years of age. He can be useful as a short-term solution while he's rolling like this, but temper expectations.
Tim Frazier, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
Tim Frazier has started three consecutive games in place of an injured Elfrid Payton (finger) and has been racking up assists in his new role for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Over that span, he's been the 73rd-ranked player in nine-category leagues, averaging 8.3 points, 1.3 threes, 4.3 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.7 turnovers in a healthy 33.2 minutes per contest, while shooting 50.0% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line.
Payton has roughly four weeks left on his timetable, so assist-starved owners should consider adding Frazier as a dime specialist.
Ryan Arcidiacono, PG, Chicago Bulls
Yahoo Ownership: 20%
Kris Dunn is still "a ways away" from returning, according to Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, which means that Ryan Arcidiacono should remain their starting point guard for the time being.
Arcidiacono's returns have been mixed as a starter, but he's been the 44th-ranked player over his last four games, making him worth a look now while he's rolling. Over that span, he's averaged 14.0 points, 2.8 three-pointers, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.0 blocks, and 1.5 turnovers in 31.9 minutes per contest, while shooting 50.0% from the field and a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.
Arcidiacono won't be a long-term fixture for your fantasy team, as Dunn's eventual return will sap all his value, but he's still worth scooping up for the next month or so if you're desperate at the point guard position.
