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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16 (2021)

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 16 (2021)
This weekly column will highlight players rostered in under 50 percent of Yahoo leagues who may help you ascertain fantasy glory.

In Week 16, 22 teams will play four games while the rest will play three. 20 teams (CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, GS, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIA, MIL, OKC, PHX, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTA, and WAS) will play a back-to-back set. For a look at the full schedule grid with offensive pace ratings, click HERE.

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Isaiah Hartenstein (PF – CLE): 10% rostered
Hartenstein has been amazing over the last three games, averaging 26.5 minutes, 12 points, 10.7 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and two blocks while shooting 77% from the field and 72% from the line. Now, Jarrett Allen and Larry Nance Jr. have been out, so the minutes will likely decrease when they return. With that said, since arriving in Cleveland, he’s played 26, 20, 17, 27, 27, and 26 minutes. There’s a chance that one of the bigs gets hurt, or the Cavaliers give Hartenstein significant minutes to see what exactly they have. At the minimum, he’s deserved it with his stellar play recently.

Malachi Flynn (PG – TOR)34% rostered
Over the last five games, Flynn has averaged 34.4 minutes, 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks. That’s been good for top 25 value. Now, both Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet have been out, so Flynn will likely go back to playing in the teens when they return. With that said, the Raptors are 21-32 on the season and have already rested Pascal Siakam in recent games because…what’s the point? The same could happen for members of the backcourt as well.

Dorian Finney-Smith (SF/PF – DAL): 20% rostered
Finney-Smith isn’t sexy or exciting as the usage rate and points production is low. He’s been a top 50 player over the last three games, though. He’s averaged 35.4 minutes, 13.7 points, 3.3 three-pointers, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, one steal, and 1.7 blocks. We know that minutes are half the battle. Yo, Joe! He’s on the court a ton and contributes a little something in every category.

Reggie Jackson (PG/SG – LAC): 12%rostered
Over the last three games, Jackson has been a top 20 player, averaging 26.4 minutes, 19 points, four three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, four assists, and one steal. The usage rate has been 20.7. Now, he’s been shooting an unsustainable 63% from the field, so that’s not going to continue. He’s at 46% on the season. With that said, Patrick Beverley is out for 3-4 weeks after getting surgery on his hand, so Jackson should continue to get plenty of playing time with opportunities to accumulate fantasy goodies.

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Jaden McDaniels (PF/C – MIN): 31% rostered
The production hasn’t been great recently as he’s been putting up top 200 value. The usage rate is low, around 12, and he averages fewer than 10 shots per game. He is starting and playing over 33 minutes a game, though, and contributes a little something in every category. Minnesota plays at the third-fastest pace, so the environment is a good one.

Mo Bamba (C – ORL): 17% rostered
Bamba did injure his hip on Friday but was able to return to the game. It’s something to monitor, though. Over the last two games, he’s played 22 and 25 minutes. The usage rate has been 27 and 25.1, respectively, and he’s scored 14 and 19 points. Bamba is versatile in that he grabs rebounds and blocks shots, but he can also shoot from downtown. He’s essentially been splitting the center minutes with Wendell Carter Jr. down the middle when healthy. With Operation Tank in full effect down in Orlando, Bamba should continue to see significant playing time down the stretch.

James Ennis III (SG/SF – ORL): 6% rostered
Talk about meh. Pickings are slim at this stage of the season, but stats are stats. Over the last five games, Ennis has played 33, 18, 38, 36, and 38 minutes. He’s scored double-digits in four of those games and contributed a little something in every category but blocks. The minutes could disappear because why play him, but as long he gets the minutes, he’s viable for fantasy, as gross as that may be.

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Stan Son is a featured writer at FantasyPros. To read more from Stan, check out his archive and follow him @Stan_Son.

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