This article is part of our Category Strategy series.
Waiver wire depth ebbs and flows throughout the season, and it must be high tide, because there is a lot of talent waiting to be acquired. The top name in every category warrants at least passing consideration even for managers that don't need that particular skill. With so much talent available, the hardest decision might be determining that it's time to cut loose someone currently on your roster.
In general, we'll focus on players available in at least 50% of leagues on ESPN, Yahoo!, and CBS. That said, since the ownership can vary significantly from one site to the next, sometimes we have to fudge those rules a bit.
Points
Josh Richardson, Heat
(Ownership: ESPN – 22%; Yahoo! – 61%; CBS – 65%)
Richardson has returned to his perch atop the Heat's crowded backcourt. Since the start of the month, he leads the team in points and minutes, and trails only the red-hot Wayne Ellington in three-pointers made. Many considered Richardson a potential breakout candidate this season, and after the first two weeks of the season he led the Heat in threes and was second in minutes – but he slumped throughout most of November, dampening enthusiasm and getting him dropped in most leagues.
Richardson has a ton of fantasy potential, bolstered by his rare ability to provide significant help in threes, steals, and blocks. His biggest drawback is the strength of his depth chart. The Heat have at least six players of similar ability levels who each play
Waiver wire depth ebbs and flows throughout the season, and it must be high tide, because there is a lot of talent waiting to be acquired. The top name in every category warrants at least passing consideration even for managers that don't need that particular skill. With so much talent available, the hardest decision might be determining that it's time to cut loose someone currently on your roster.
In general, we'll focus on players available in at least 50% of leagues on ESPN, Yahoo!, and CBS. That said, since the ownership can vary significantly from one site to the next, sometimes we have to fudge those rules a bit.
Points
Josh Richardson, Heat
(Ownership: ESPN – 22%; Yahoo! – 61%; CBS – 65%)
Richardson has returned to his perch atop the Heat's crowded backcourt. Since the start of the month, he leads the team in points and minutes, and trails only the red-hot Wayne Ellington in three-pointers made. Many considered Richardson a potential breakout candidate this season, and after the first two weeks of the season he led the Heat in threes and was second in minutes – but he slumped throughout most of November, dampening enthusiasm and getting him dropped in most leagues.
Richardson has a ton of fantasy potential, bolstered by his rare ability to provide significant help in threes, steals, and blocks. His biggest drawback is the strength of his depth chart. The Heat have at least six players of similar ability levels who each play either point guard, shooting guard, small forward, or some combination of the three. However, we now have enough evidence to say that Richardson seems to be one of coach Erik Spoelstra's preferred options – as long as Richardson is playing well. He's averaging 17.3 points, 2.6 threes, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 34.0 minutes in December.
If you missed out on Richardson, his teammate Tyler Johnson is also having a good month, averaging 14.9 points and 2.5 threes. Sticking with the Heat, Ellington is a good add for either deep leagues or teams in need of threes. He's shooting 44.6 from three this month, including four games where he made more than four.
Other suggestions:E'Twaun Moore, Pelicans; Trey Lyles, Jazz; Tyler Johnson, Heat; Mike Scott, Wizards
Three-Pointers
Ersan Ilyasova, Hawks
(Ownership: ESPN – 14%; Yahoo! – 41%; CBS – 53%)
John Collins is back, and Ilyasova's minutes have not changed. Dewayne Dedmon suffered a leg injury the game before Collins began a six game absence due to a shoulder injury. Ilyasova was one of the primary beneficiaries of the pair of players unavailability, and so Collins' return last week added an element of uncertainty to Ilyasova's outlook. But through Collins' first three games back, Ilyasova is averaging 15.0 points and 1.3 threes (3.7 3PA) in 30.0 minutes per game. As long as Dedmon remains out, Ilyasova remains a viable source of out-of-position threes. Dedmon's original timeline has him missing between one and four more weeks.
E'Twaun Moore is a little too highly owned to qualify as this week's featured player, but he's still available in more than 40 percent of CBS and Yahoo leagues, and more than 70 percent of ESPN leagues. That's crazy. He is probably the best overall fantasy add mentioned in this article. He's been so effective from behind the arc that, despite going 0-6 from long range in his past two games, he is still shooting 59.2 percent and making 2.9 threes per game this month.
Other suggestions:E'Twaun Moore, Pelicans; Trey Lyles, Jazz; Josh Richardson, Heat; Isaiah Canaan, Suns; Wayne Ellington, Heat; Wesley Matthews, Mavericks; Mike Scott, Wizards; Buddy Hield, Kings; Al-Farouq Aminu, Trail Blazers
Deep leagues only:Troy Daniels, Suns
Rebounds
Trey Lyles, Jazz
(Ownership: ESPN – 16%; Yahoo! – 31%; CBS – 55%)
Lyles probably isn't the best rebounder available in your league, but he might be the best overall fantasy add (especially if E'Twaun Moore was already scooped up). Lyles has taken a prominent role in the Nuggets' rotation, displacing Kenneth Faried as the primary beneficiary of Paul Millsap's (wrist) absence. Before the end of November, Lyles had not played more than 24 minutes in any game this season. Since December 1st, he has played more than 24 minutes in all but two games. He's averaging 14.0 points and 6.2 rebounds, and 2.2 threes this month.
JaMychal Green is probably a source of rebounds than Lyles, but he is a significantly worse overall fantasy player. Green is averaging 30.8 minutes per game over the past month, so he's workload is stable, and he's averaged 7.1 rebounds during that stretch. Over his last three games, he's averaging 11.7 rebounds.
Draymond Green (shoulder) missed his fourth consecutive contest Wednesday. In his last three missed games, Omri Casspi has averaged 10.0 rebounds in 27.0 minutes. As long as Draymond Green is out – and we have no idea how long (or short) that will be – Casspi is a useful fantasy player.
Other suggestions: Alex Len, Suns; JaMychal Green, Grizzlies; Omri Casspi, Warriors; Bobby Portis, Bulls; Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Hornets; Mason Plumlee, Nuggets; Ekpe Udoh, Jazz; Al-Farouq Aminu, Trail Blazers
Assists
Isaiah Canaan, Suns
(Ownership: ESPN – 8%; Yahoo! – 25%; CBS – 15%)
Since opening night, the "Tyler Ulis or Mike James" debate has frustrated the fantasy community. Finally, after almost two months, we have a satisfactory answer: neither. Canaan is the Suns' point guard to back and to believe in. Canaan signed with the team last Wednesday and made his debut over the weekend. His impact was immediate: 27 minutes, 15 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. He followed that up with another strong showing on Monday, this time going for 17 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Canaan is a journeyman, on his fourth team in five seasons. In his previous stops, he's usually been used more as a shooter than as a distributor, but he has had stretches where he was called on to be a primary ball-handler and rose to the challenge. Ulis and James have had plenty of chances to seize control of the Suns' point guard minutes, and neither have distinguished themselves. While his career numbers are unimpressive, Canaan is good enough to take and keep this job. Primary point guards are some of the most valuable waiver assets when they come available, and it looks like Canaan has just claimed that role -- at least for now.
Other suggestions:J.J. Barea, Mavericks; Jarrett Jack, Knicks; Jose Calderon, Cavaliers
Steals
Caris LeVert
(Ownership: ESPN – 27%; Yahoo! – 38%; CBS – 73%)
LeVert has been on the fantasy fringe all season, vacillating back and forth between being one of the most added and most dropped players. He can be a little streaky, but if you're in need of steals, you should consider him a possible long-term solution. He averages 1.9 steals per 36 minutes, and it is very rare that he plays less than 22 minutes in a game. Since Thanksgiving, he is averaging 1.7 steals in 28.4 minutes per game, and has multiple steals in seven games.
Other suggestions:Josh Richardson, Heat; Langston Galloway, Pistons; Jawun Evans, Clippers
Blocks
Mason Plumlee, Nuggets
(Ownership: ESPN – 10%; Yahoo! – 22%; CBS – 41%)
It feels like the first time all year that the top name in the blocks section didn't win by default – there are multiple shot-blockers available on waivers right now. How exciting! Ekpe Udoh, listed below, is probably the best source of pure blocks, but Plumlee is the best overall addition. As was the case with Trey Lyles, above, Plumlee benefits from the injury to Paul Millsap, as well as the seemingly annual Nuggets realize they don't really like Kenneth Faried's game breakthrough (it's good to have traditions -- builds a sense of community). Over his last four games, Plumlee is averaging 10.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 28.8 minutes. He's blocked at least one shot in six straight games and is averaging 1.9 per-36 minutes this season.
Other suggestions:Ekpe Udoh, Jazz; Josh Richardson, Heat; John Henson, Bucks
