This article is part of our Category Strategy series.
This article is for identifying widely available waiver targets who can help in each individual category. Players are only listed if they are both skilled in the category in question, as well as if their production outside of that category is adequate enough that to warrant a spot on a roster.
With that established, let's get started.
I typically use this space at the top to identify some players who don't fit the normal criteria for this column, but are nonetheless worth mentioning. By the time you're reading this, it may already be too late, but Nikola Jokic is still available in more than 20% of ESPN leagues, and about 5% of Yahoo leagues (CBS managers, as usual, are already at 100 percent ownership). Five of his last six appearances have been double-doubles, and he's finally showing the talent that made him an early-round selection in drafts this fall. Reggie Jackson has not yet returned to form, but he's only played five games since returning from a knee injury. Jackson's availability essentially mirrors Jokic's.
The Timberwolves are the only team playing two games this week, but that barely impacts this column since they don't really have any waiver players worth considering, though it makes Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn more droppable. The rest of the league is evenly split: 14 teams have three games, while 15 have four games. The Pelicans play Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, slightly increasing their value in leagues with daily lineups and no games max, since
This article is for identifying widely available waiver targets who can help in each individual category. Players are only listed if they are both skilled in the category in question, as well as if their production outside of that category is adequate enough that to warrant a spot on a roster.
With that established, let's get started.
I typically use this space at the top to identify some players who don't fit the normal criteria for this column, but are nonetheless worth mentioning. By the time you're reading this, it may already be too late, but Nikola Jokic is still available in more than 20% of ESPN leagues, and about 5% of Yahoo leagues (CBS managers, as usual, are already at 100 percent ownership). Five of his last six appearances have been double-doubles, and he's finally showing the talent that made him an early-round selection in drafts this fall. Reggie Jackson has not yet returned to form, but he's only played five games since returning from a knee injury. Jackson's availability essentially mirrors Jokic's.
The Timberwolves are the only team playing two games this week, but that barely impacts this column since they don't really have any waiver players worth considering, though it makes Ricky Rubio and Kris Dunn more droppable. The rest of the league is evenly split: 14 teams have three games, while 15 have four games. The Pelicans play Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, slightly increasing their value in leagues with daily lineups and no games max, since those days have the fewest other options available.
Points
Tony Allen, Grizzlies
Ownership: ESPN – 11%; Yahoo – 26%; CBS – 40%)
Allen made this column earlier in the year for his contributions in steals, and he is still grabbing those at an impressive 1.7 per game. Allen is not usually a high scorer, but he's scored 15.5 points per game over his last four. Part of the increased scoring is a result of an unsustainably efficient 60.5 percent from the field, and a bigger part is due to an increase in attempts. The field goal percentage will probably fall back toward his career average, though his career average (47.7%) is still solid. The increased attempts may last with Mike Conley (back) expected to miss roughly another month.
Ersan Ilyasova, listed below, may make a bigger impact in the short term, but he may already be owned in many leagues, and his usefulness will decline as the 76ers get healthier.
Other suggestions:Ersan Ilyasova, 76ers; Bojan Bogdanovic, Nets
Three-Pointers
Patrick Beverley, Rockets
Ownership: ESPN – 20%; Yahoo – 62%; CBS – 63%)
Beverley is a fantasy specialist. He adds value in specific categories and is harmful in others. In 10-team leagues, he is only worth owning if his skills align with your team's needs (in 12-team leagues or larger, that calculus changes). His minutes are reliable, as he's locked in as the starting non-James Harden guard for the Rockets – I think we are supposed to call that position "shooting guard" now? Either way, Beverley adds threes reliably, and steals, rebounds, and assists less reliably. He has a three in seven straight games and is now averaging almost 1.5 per game. His rebounds and assists are up this season, and as result, his fantasy damage is limited to shooting efficiency and points. He's a better fit for head-to-head leagues, where he can be benched for someone more consistent when you don't need threes or steals.
Other suggestions: Troy Daniels, Grizzlies; Patrick Patterson, Raptors; Tim Hardaway Jr., Hawks
Rebounds
JaMychal Green, Grizzlies
Ownership: ESPN – 37%; Yahoo – 52%; CBS – 82%)
Green has grabbed double-digit rebounds in five straight games. He was mentioned here earlier in the season, but he had some bad games and was justifiably dropped in a lot of leagues. His recent production demands that you un-drop him. His field goal percentage over the last two weeks is dreadful, but he is shooting 47.0 percent on the season and should rebound (get it?) back to acceptable levels soon.
Other suggestions: Kyle O'Quinn, Knicks; Bismack Biyombo, Magic
Very deep leagues only: Dewayne Dedmon, Spurs
Assists
Matthew Dellavedova, Bucks
Ownership: ESPN – 17%; Yahoo – 36%; CBS – 44%)
Dellavedova is another player I've mentioned before, but whose ownership has since dropped. Dellavedova will produce flurries of points, or scattered showers of threes, but assists is where he has been most consistent. He's the Bucks pseudo-point guard, and he has at least three assists in 19 of 22 games. His recent scoring drought is discouraging, but it's unlikely to last long, and there are scant better options for a manager desperate for dimes.
Other suggestions: Patrick Beverley, Rockets; Patty Mills, Spurs
Steals
Ty Lawson, Kings
Ownership: ESPN – 7%; Yahoo – 9%; CBS – 30%)
Ben McLemore (quad) and Rudy Gay (hip) both left Monday's game early, opening up court time for Lawson. If either misses time, then Lawson becomes an option for his passing and his steals. He is an inconsistent thief when his minutes are depressed, but he averages 1.2 per on the season and frequently gets at least one when he plays for more than 20 minutes.
Other suggestions:Tony Allen, Grizzlies; Justin Holiday, Knicks
Very deep leagues only:Luc Mbah a Moute, Clippers
Blocks
Andre Roberson, Thunder
Ownership: ESPN – 7%; Yahoo – 16%; CBS – 24%)
Roberson is a scoring-challenged, defensive expert. His lack of points or assists can hurt. But he carries significantly inflated value as one of the most productive non-big shot blockers in the league. For most fantasy teams, virtually all of the blocks come from power forwards or centers. Roberson allows managers to contribute from a third position – something usually only available from first-round talents like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo. Roberson has at least one block in nine of his last 11 games and two blocks in more than half of those.
Other suggestions:John Henson, Bucks; Kyle O'Quinn, Knicks
