Fantasy Basketball: Who’s Popular & Worth Adding?

We are coming down to the WIRE! Let’s go! Whether you’re still in the chase for the championship this season, or you’re considering moves to make for your dynasty team for next season, you need to look at who’s available on your league’s waiver wire. Below are some of the most popular player pickups recently, as well as some guys to keep your eye on as streamers or dynastic investments.

CAMERON PAYNE, PHX, PG, 24% ROSTERED (ESPN), UP 17.3%

CamPayne season is in full swing, and the polls suggest a winner. Chris Paul, the Point God, is out for the season. Since CamPayne returned from his own injury he’s averaged 14.8 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 10.8 assists per game (!), 1.2 steals per game, and two 3-pointers made per game. Lemme tell you a fantasy basketball secret: assists are exquisitely valuable, and double-doubles with assists are Faberge eggs. If the CamPayne continues to dish dimes at such an insanely high rate, then he’ll be one of the most valuable fantasy players for the rest of the season. Add him IMMEDIATELY, everywhere!

ISAIAH ROBY, OKC, PF/C, 11.8% ROSTERED, UP 7.8%

The OKC Thunder continue to lose players to injury (shocker, I know), meaning those who remain should be able to take advantage of more minutes and shots. Roby’s averaged 14.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.1 3PM the past two weeks. making him a top 75 player in basic fantasy. If you’re looking for a young player with upside AND opportunity, add Roby.

MARVIN BAGLEY III, DET, PF, 47% ROSTERED, UP 7.6%

Beef Stew, Isaiah Stewart, is currently out for my beloved ‘Stons, add Bags has gained more playing time in Beef’s absence. MB3 has averaged 15.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and one steal per game the past two weeks, on 56% shooting. That line doesn’t wow you, but 15 & 6 is always a nice outcome from a streamer. Ironically, I think Bagley’s rostership is too high, BUT I also think he’ll be a valuable player in fantasy so long as Stewart is out.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

IMMANUEL QUICKLEY, NYK, PG, 8.6% ROSTERED, UP 6.4%

Can Quickley capture Tom Thibodeau’s trust and supplant Alec Burks as the starting point guard for your New! York! Knicks!? Young Quick’s been dynamite the past two weeks: 15.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG (nice from a guard), 3.3 APG, and 2 3PM. He’s been #56 on the player rater for the last 15 days, and he might earn an even larger role on a team that’s sinking fast (the Knickerbockers are 3-7 in their last 10 games).

KENTAVIOUS CALDWELL-POPE, WAS, SG/SF, 13.8% ROSTERED, UP 5.3%

Did you know KCP was only 29 years old? He’s still a worthy investment in a dynasty league, even though it feels like he’s been in the NBA since the late ‘90s. He’s been a top 75 player the past two weeks for the Washington Wizzle-Wazzles, averaging nearly 20 points per game, 2.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1 SPG, and 3 3PM. Do you like the trio of Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope? KKKPKCP? I think it’s kinda sorta maybe interesting, actually, and I’m curious to see if the three can cohere (kohere? sorry) over the last month of the season. Meanwhile, KCP is still sub-30 years old, and he’s delivering volume in fantasy. Take advantage of a guy not many people are thinking about who plays for a team no one’s paying attention to.

MONTE MORRIS, DEN, PG, 28% ROSTERED, UP 4.7%

Morris has really improved since the start of the season. He’s basically a top 100 player on the season, and he’s averaging 14.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 2.1 3PM recently. Those are numbers you’d expect from a guy who gets to play off of Nikola Jokic. Jamal Murray will be back next season, so Monte’s merely a play for this season, but he’s been a damn good one. Denver’s in a dogfight in the Western Conference, so expect Morris to get mucho minutes over the final month of the season.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON:

ALPEREN SENGUN, HOU, C, 9.5% ROSTERED

Sengun is one of my favorite dynasty adds. He’ll be an automatic double-double if he’s given the minutes. He’s averaging 11.3 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2 APG, 1 SPG, and 1.3 blocks per game. The steals and blocks are delicious, and since Sengun is starting while Christian Wood is out he’s also delivered a tasty 21 and 14 against the Lakers. He’s a young big I wish I had in my main league, and he’s absolutely worth a look for this season, and beyond.

JONATHAN KUMINGA, GSW, SF/PF, 9.4% ROSTERED

Kuminga’s trying to help the Warriors maintain while Draymond Green’s out injured. Kuminga’s line of 14.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.6 3PM, along with 54% shooting isn’t nearly anything even remotely CLOSE to what Dray can give you in fantasy, but he’s a kid, and he’s learning, and he’s a ferocious athlete on a team that can seem kind of old at times. I like Kuminga for the rest of the season, but especially going forward. I think he could have a substantial role on the Dubs next year.

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

VICTOR OLADIPO, MIA, SG, 17.% ROSTERED

GORAN DRAGIC, BK, PG, 4.4% ROSTERED

Hey, remember these guys?? Well, they’re both back playing, though sparingly. Dipo’s on a team that doesn’t necessarily need a lot from him (the Heat are in 1st place in the Eastern Conference), while Dragic’s on a team that desperately needs to play well down the stretch (the Nets are in 8th). I really kinda like the combo of Dragic and Durant, and if Dragic can play more minutes, especially in games that Kyrie Irving can’t play in, then he might be a sneaky good fantasy source down the stretch. Who knows when Ben Simmons returns? Maybe Dragic ends up starting games if Kyrie can’t?

Either way, keep your eye on both these guys, because they’ve been fantasy stars before.