RADIO
In this post, we are looking into some potential Week 22 waiver wire pickups for guards. It's the playoffs in many leagues. That means it's time to stop messing around and take whatever value you can get in the short term, so I'll be focused on guards with good matchups and games on off-days where you're more likely to use them.
We'll provide options for guards, eligible at PG, SG, or PG/SG who may be available in both standard leagues (less than 50% owned) and deeper leagues (less than 25% owned), and will typically provide a boost in points, assists, threes, and steals. All position eligibility and ownership rates based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.
This year, RotoBaller is separating its waiver wire recommendations by position a little differently. In our three position breakdowns, we'll be separating players into GUARDS, including point guards (PG), shooting guards (SG), and combo guards (PG/SG); WINGS, including small forwards (SF), swing men (SG/SF), and small ball fours (SF/PF); and BIGS, including power forwards (PF), centers (C), and bigs who play both front court spots (PF/C).
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!
Standard League Waiver Wire Guard Adds
Patty Mills, PG, SA (34% owned)
With rookie reserve point guard Dejounte Murray out 2-3 weeks with a groin injury, the Spurs will be relying heavily on Patty Mills to serve as Tony Parker's only legitimate backup option (sorry, Bryn Forbes) through the fantasy playoffs. This has increased his minutes only marginally when Parker plays (if you don't count two starts by Mills with Parker sitting, he's had about 23 minutes per game the last couple weeks, compared to about 22 on the season). Where it really helps is his usage as a primary ball-handler -- per 36 minutes, Mills is averaging 7.4 assists per game over the last two weeks, as opposed to 5.7 on the season. When Mills combines a few extra dimes with his already decent scoring and three point shooting numbers in limited minutes, he becomes a much better standard league option.
On top of the trends, Mills also makes an excellent short term schedule play for your fantasy matchup. With games tonight (Tuesday), Thursday and Saturday, the three lightest days on the schedule, he fits like a glove into open spots in your lineup, while the other days of the week will be easy to man with players already on your roster.
Jameer Nelson, PG, DEN (26% owned)
I know I mentioned him here last week, but it seems pointless to mention anyone else. Nelson is by far the best widely available fantasy point guard right now. The only thing he has going against him this week is that he doesn't play on any of the days like Thursday where there are few games going on. However, he makes up for it with the lack of fierce defensive opposition standing in his way in three remaining games this week -- his upcoming slate of Cleveland, Indianapolis, and New Orleans is fantasy-friendly when it comes to opposing guards like Nelson.
The guy has been playing his best basketball in the last week -- averaging about 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 threes, and 1 steal per game. Just pick him up already.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Ulis, PG, PHO if he's still available (59% owned); Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, MIL (46% owned); Cory Joseph, PG, TOR (27% owned)
Deep League Waiver Wire Guard Adds
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG, BKN (9% owned) and Randy Foye, PG/SG, BKN (1% owned)
Jeremy Lin is a shutdown candidate with a tweaked ankle. Sean Kilpatrick has a balky hamstring, and those can linger (just ask Lin). Joe Harris will be missing his tenth straight with a bum shoulder and a concussion. Who's left to play guard for the Nets? Spencer Dinwiddie looks to be the starting PG with Lin now out. Foye has already been starting at SG with Harris sitting, but may now also end up being more of a secondary ball-handler as well (along with Isaiah Whitehead and Archie Goodwin). Their per minute numbers on the season are thoroughly uninspiring, but they've played well enough of late. Foye has averaged 12 points, 2.3 treys, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists on 48.3% shooting over the last 4 games, while Dinwiddie put up 18 points and 7 assists on Sunday after Lin went out only 7 minutes in.
Looking at the schedule, you'll want to target one of them for Brooklyn's game facing the Suns ravaged backcourt on Thursday's light schedule of games. After that, the Nets play Friday and Sunday, when a lot of teams play, so maybe you don't hang onto them past then. But Thursday alone might be enough to warrant the add in very deep setups.
Deep League Honorable Mentions: Garrett Temple, PG/SG, SAC (5% owned); E'Twaun Moore, PG/SG, NOP (6% owned)
By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.
