As we near the end of the fantasy playoffs, owners are making one last push in hopes of collecting that final win. To those who are currently ahead of their respective competition, don’t let up. A lot can happen in a short time, so fight that urge to become complacent and make sure to keep your foot on the pedal.
If you find yourself on the other side of that coin, however, don’t let pride keep you from doing what’s necessary to make that comeback. Don’t be afraid to drop someone you would typically sit on if it means adding a valuable streamer, as there’s simply not enough time left in the season to fill your bench with players who can’t help you right now.
The fantasy basketball season is a long one, so don’t let all of the hard work that got you to this point fade when it matters the most. Of course, the fact that you’re reading this now probably means that you don’t need a pep talk from me about not giving up, so how about we get to what matters – our top waiver wire picks for Week 22.
Ownership percentages are for ESPN leagues as of March 15.
Nemanja Bjelica (SF – MIN) 29.5%
Nemanja Bjelica has started each of the last seven games since Jimmy Butler was sidelined due to a knee injury, and as a result, has seen both his playing time and fantasy production skyrocket. Over that period, he’s averaged 13.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.1 threes in 37.9 minutes per game. That kind of production makes for a useful late-season waiver pickup, but if you look at his last three games, in which he averaged 19 points, nine rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 3.3 threes, and one block, Bjelica becomes a must-add player in most leagues.
He is going to have to maintain a heavy workload to keep up that pace, but considering Butler probably won’t return for another couple of weeks, Bjelica’s current role should continue long enough to cover most fantasy playoffs. His across-the-board production makes him a valuable addition (nearly a must-own) in not only points-based leagues, but in category leagues as well.
Wilson Chandler (SF – DEN) 37.4%
Wilson Chandler is one of those high-ceiling, low-floor guys that can drive fantasy owners crazy. He’ll drop 20-plus points one night and then follow it up by barely scoring five the very next game. Though he has averaged 15.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 threes over his last 12 games it makes sense that he’d still be available in so many leagues – not because he shouldn’t be owned, but because fantasy owners tend to have goldfish-like memories.
They will overvalue one player based on his last few games and then turn around and prematurely drop a long-term asset after a couple of hiccups. Don’t let that be you. If you are in need of some extra points, rebounds, or three-pointers, and Chandler is still available, go get him now.
In shallow to standard-sized leagues, you may not be playing him every night, but he will provide you with reliable depth in case of emergencies. In deeper leagues, however, Chandler can easily be used as a regular starter as his strong performances typically outweigh his more forgettable ones.
Taurean Prince (SF – ATL) 37.8%
OK, where was Taurean Prince in January, when I really needed him?! As one of the better waiver wire pickups to start the season, Prince awarded savvy fantasy owners for a good two months only to hit a brick wall to start the new year. A dislocated finger combined with relatively little experience as an NBA starter likely played a large part in Prince’s mid-season struggles, and as a result, owners everywhere dropped him like he was anything but hot.
Fast-forward to late February, however, and Prince started to reappear on fantasy radars. And now, after having put up 38 and then 25 points in his last two games, Atlanta’s second-year forward is making a case to once again be owned in most leagues. He still has that ability to go cold when you least expect it, but when he’s hot, Prince needs to be played. Similar to Wilson Chandler, Prince brings major scoring upside along with useful peripheral stats, making him worth picking up in all formats even though he’ll provide more value in points leagues.
Bobby Portis (PF – CHI) 42%
Another waiver wire stud sporting a tragically low ownership rate, Bobby Portis is somehow still available in nearly 60 percent of leagues. He’s put together a relatively successful season so far but has come on as of late. Over his last 16 games, Portis has averaged 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.5 threes in just 26.3 minutes.
Both he and Lauri Markkanen have excelled playing the four spot for Chicago this season, and while it’s the latter who’s enjoyed more playing time as a starter, a recent injury has put a stop to that for now. Markkanen has now missed two straight games after injuring his back in Chicago’s loss to the Clippers, and with him out, Portis should see a more significant boost to his value than anyone else in red. He may not ever move into the starting lineup–Noah Vonleh has assumed that role for now–but don’t let that scare you away, as Portis has proven time and again that he can make some noise from wherever it is he’s asked to start a game.
He had value playing behind Markkanen, so it only makes sense that Portis will have more opportunities to flourish now that he’s backing up a less competent replacement in Vonleh. Portis is worth picking up in most leagues based on his current production, but his upside with Markkanen out makes him a must-own in all 10-team or deeper leagues.
Terry Rozier (PG – BOS) 39.7%
The Boston Celtics have been flat out decimated by injuries recently. In their last game, Wednesday against the Wizards, they were without four of their starters and two of their bench players yet somehow managed to take Washington to a double-overtime, coming up short by just one point. One of the reasons they were able to hang with Washington for so long, other than sheer grit, was Terry Rozier, as the third-year point guard put up 21 points, nine assists, five rebounds, two steals, three blocks, and four treys in a team-high 47 minutes.
With both Kyrie Irving (knee) and Marcus Smart (thumb) out, Rozier was given as much time as he could handle, and while Irving might return soon (possibly Saturday), Marcus Smart could miss the rest of the season. If Smart’s second opinion shows only a partial tear to the ligament in his right thumb, he’ll likely try to play through it, but if it confirms a complete tear, Boston’s best defender will require surgery and miss the rest of the season.
Obviously, the second scenario will do the most for his fantasy value, but given his raw talent and the hobbled state of the Celtics, Rozier should continue to produce for owners in most leagues from here on out. Go ahead and add him now, if he’s still available.
Marcus Morris (PF – BOS) 18.9%
With so many injured players in Boston, you have to expect a few guys to step up, and in the fantasy world, Marcus Morris is another one who’s doing just that. Over his last seven games, the veteran power forward has averaged 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, one steal, and 2.1 threes in 31.4 minutes. And, due in part to Al Horford (illness) sitting out, Morris played 44 minutes to score a season-high 31 points on 11-of-22 shooting from the floor in Boston’s overtime loss to Washington.
If Horford misses more time, Morris is a lock to see huge minutes. However, even if the former returns this weekend, Morris should continue to play a more significant roll on a playoff-bound team struggling to find enough bodies to stay competitive throughout an entire game. He’s not as reliable as Rozier in terms of fantasy production moving forward, but Morris is still worth owning in a majority of leagues regardless of the scoring format.
Other Players to Consider:
The waiver wire is still just as deep as it was last week, so if you haven’t already, check out our Week 21 article in case some of those players we didn’t cover here are still available. On top of that, there are plenty of other options still out there in the majority of leagues, so make sure to also take a look at the following guys:
In shallow to standard-sized leagues, Jonathon Simmons (SG/SF – ORL), James Johnson (SF/PF – MIA), and Justise Winslow (SG/SF – MIA) all deserve more attention than they’re currently getting. In standard-sized to deeper leagues, Kelly Olynyk (C/PF – MIA), Corey Brewer (SF – OKC), and Wayne Ellington (SG – MIA) are also worth investigating.
George Haw is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from George, check out his archive and follow him @georgeWarfieldH.
