The key to finding the right player to pick up from the waiver wire isto study and look at the trends. Let the rest of your league-mates look at the player pool and a player’s overall stats for the season. YOU will, soon enough, look at these stats week-by-week. The overall stats for the season won’t show you a coach’s confidence in a player. When your playing time increases even a little as the season continues, it shows CONFIDENCE. Remember, playing time equals points in fantasy basketball. Be a coach. Look at the shot attempts for a player in their previous few games. If a good-shooting big man off the bench is shooting 6-of-8 from the field, why wouldn’t his coach give him more minutes and shot opportunities? It not only helps from the scoring side, but it will cause the defense to have to shift so someone starts guarding that player outside. It’s science! Always be a coach and look at the finer statistics. It’s only 15 minutes of extra work per week.
Moe Harkless, SF POR - 28% Ownership: As much as the Blazers offense is dominated by their back court, it should not turn you off to other trendy Blazers options because outside of their Guards, there hasn’t been much consistency from the rest of the squad. Harkless has the playing time at his disposal and has had multiple 20 plus point games this season. Harkless is also capable of having seven to eight rebound games w/ multiple blocks. The Evan Turner signing was a complete waste thus far and with very little competition at the position, Harkless is a very safe pick up.
Joe Johnson, SG/SF UTA - 37% Ownership: We go from safe to unsafe. While it is obvious that with the return of Gordon Hayward, Johnson minutes and shot opportunities will take a hit, he has a shooter’s touch and with 20 minutes of playing time, that can go a long way. Johnson has proven that he can still be an effective shooter and a match up nightmare in the high post. For those who need three-pointer’s, Johnson will take a few per game and his perimeter defense will keep him on the floor. If Hayward or George Hill are cold from the field, expect Johnson to get more shots. He will also help a bit with rebounds and assists.
Patty Mills, PG SA - 33% Ownership: Mills is a goo change of pace option and even if Tony Parker was fully healthy and playing well, Mills would still get time in the Spurs rotation. The shot opportunities are there for Mills as he has put up no fewer than seven shots per game. Mills recently had a 10 assist game and that can only bring more playing time because it shows that he is not just an off the ball scoring guard, but a dynamic combo guard and with Parker still not 100 percent, the quicker Mills will be needed. He has also grabbed three rebounds in each of his last three games.
James Ennis, SG/SF MEM - 14% Ownership: Chandler Parsons being back does not scare me away from Ennis because at the end of the day, defense prevails and opens the door for more playing time. Ennis recently had a four-steal game. As a SG/SF, he has had three double-digit rebounding games and has played over 30 minutes in each of his last 4 games. The Grizzlies have been testing Ennis out as their starting Shooting Guard and that screams playing time.
E'Twaun Moore, PG/SG NO - 20% Ownership: The Pelicans are badly injured and playing time is up for grabs at multiple positions on a per game basis. Moore has played over 30 minutes in each of his last 4 games and has recorded 4 straight games of double-digit outings and has dished 5 assists in 3 of those 4 outings. While the Pelicans seem like a wasteland, don’t confuse NBA reality and fantasy. They still have to put a team out on the floor every night, and will need to find some kind of offensive consistency outside of Anthony Davis. Moore seems to be a prime candidate as he continues to take a healthy amount of shots and he just recorded a 20-point game.
Patrick Patterson, PF/C TOR - 8% Ownership: I promise that I will do my very best not feed you the same players week after week, but Patrick Patterson (like Thabo Sefolosha in last week’s article) will be one of those on the wire-off the wire-on the wire-off the wire type of players. The reason is that some games, he shows flashes of mid-range attacking ability on offense and then doesn’t show up at all in others. If you look at Patterson’s stats, they don’t say much. The problem is that the Raptors are still missing that key dominant Forward and because of that, Patterson will continue to play 30 minutes or more in the majority of games, take up to 9 shots per game and he will grab steals and rebounds.
Justin Hamilton, PF/C BKN - 12% Ownership: Hamilton has been improving his production and his long-range game makes him even more dynamic. Hamilton has been playing over 20 minutes per game and is on a team that is continuing to find itself. With Trevor Booker being an attacker and Brook Lopez hanging on the wing, Hamilton adds more to the Nets overall offensive scheme. Hamilton does help a bit with rebounds, but know that when you invest in him, you are looking for scoring and treys with rebounds being a bonus.
Seth Curry, PG/SG DAL - 21% Ownership: With Deron Williams still hurting, this is a big opportunity for Curry to carve out consistent playing time. Curry has played over 30 minutes in his last two games and in one game he had a 23-point scoring night and in the other, he had 9 assists and five steals. Curry is quick and he is pesky on the perimeter. He is always swiping at the ball. He’s a Curry, so you know the perimeter athletic ability is there and the Mavs need all of the help they can get on defense.
Cody Zeller, PF/C CHA - 35% Ownership: The offense is there but the defense needs to improve. Zeller is no stranger to double digit scoring games, but he needs to improve his inside presence. The Hornets do not need anymore scoring. They need big bodies to take hits inside. Being that it is very early in the season, and Zeller’s offense has been consistent, he is a safe add and truly don’t believe in Roy Hibbert and his presence does not faze me nor should it really hurt Zeller’s playing time. I see his minutes going up to the mid-20’s on average if he lifts those rebounds numbers to 6-7 a game consistently.
WILD CARD PICKUP: Spencer Hawes, PF/C CHA - 4% Ownership: Stay with me here on this one! With Zeller’s struggles on the defensive end, maybe the Hornets put a little bit more stock into Hawes hustle. Hawes can hit long-range jumpers and is not afraid to take contact. When Hawes plays over 20 minutes per game, he takes full advantage and his game-line stats reflect it. Hawes has scored in double figures in each of his last three games and even grabbed 13 rebounds in one of those games. This could very well be a four day pick up or a four week pick up.
**Ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo Sports