Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups - Week 21

The waiver wire is where leagues are won and lost. The draft is long past and now your rosters feel completely different if you are even moderately active. Players come and go due to poor performances and/or injury all the time. Staying on top of your needs is essential to winning matchups and grinding your way to a championship.

As a reminder for most leagues, it is crucial to plan ahead. Waiver wire adds, scheduling, and player injuries are all things to consider. Make an effort to improve your team by maximizing your weekly adds and utilizing streamer spots via the waiver wire. Be wary of weekly streaming options and stay ahead of your opponents.

Our staff at RotoBaller has great insight and daily columns on how to improve your squad and tips to make your team successful, so be sure to check them out! Now, let's get prepared for Week 21.

Week 21 Standard Leagues - Waiver Wire Pickups

*Securing your categorical needs at this point is important, especially if you're playing in head-to-head leagues*

Columns are written based on H2H 9-category standard size leagues:

Shabazz Napier - PG - Washington Wizards (18% owned) 

Napier's scoring is not going to carry anyone's team but he provides enough of an all-around game as a PG to be valuable in deeper leagues. He is just coming off of a 27-point performance but had failed to crack double-digits in his four previous games. His steals, threes, and assists are the main selling point along with the fact that he isn't an absolute tank for FG% while providing a slight FT boost. Ish Smith's absence has opened the door for much more PT and usage from Napier in a starting role.

Dario Saric / Aron Baynes - PF/C - Phoenix Suns (30%/34% owned)

With Deandre Ayton out indefinitely, Baynes slides into the starting C spot and Saric takes on an expanded role from the bench or occasional starting spot. Kelly Oubre's absence has also opened up time for Saric who had fallen out of the lineup completely just a month ago. Saric's main areas of success are threes, points, and rebounds so his production could be a lot more volatile than Baynes who somehow is wrecking over the past two games, but we have seen how Baynes could provide sustainably productive fantasy performances as he did earlier in the season while Ayton was suspended. Baynes averaged roughly 13 points (on 53% shooting), six rebounds, 1.5 threes, and a block while Ayton was suspended. Both are drops if/when Ayton returns but for now, Saric is worthy of adding in 12-plus team leagues and Baynes in even shallower formats.

Donte Divincenzo - SG - Milwaukee Bucks (35% owned)

With Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the next week, Donte DiVincenzo takes on an expanded role in Milwaukee as a ball-handler and scorer. Eric Bledsoe is also dealing with an ailment of his own which leaves even more of an opportunity for DD to succeed. He's been on a relative tear over the past three games providing nearly 20 points per game with an all-around stat-line fill that is backed up with good percentages. He should be added everywhere until Giannis returns.

Michael Carter-Williams - PG - Orlando Magic (2% owned) 

Evan Fournier's dealing with a UCL issue (a precursor to Tommy John Surgery in baseball) and his absence has opened up a larger role for Michael Carter-Williams to take on. MCW is now operating as a combo-guard who is taking more shots rather than an initiator who is minimally involved on offense. He remains a limited ball-player given his poor shot but he has made a few threes this season and carved out a decent role in Orlando. His past three games are promising and as long as Fournier is inactive, there will be the opportunity to continue providing steals, assists, and hopefully points with decent efficiency.

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