Brook Lopez (C, MIL) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 3

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12-team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 33% of leagues

ANALYSIS:  We're definitely not back to the bad back when it comes to Brook Lopez, am I right? Lopez has played at least 28 minutes in all five games he's been involved in this season--which is to say in all games the Bucks have played through Saturday--and he's been an absolute beast manning Milwaukee's paint.

Lopez had his health issues last season, but he is (for now, at least) as good as new these days. Lopez had his first dub-dub of the year with a 14-11 outing against the Knicks on Friday in which he also dished out a couple of dimes, stole a possession, and swatted three shots away from the rim's vicinity.

Don't get surprised at the three blocks, though, because somehow Lopez has turned into Manute Bol ahead of the 2023 season and we hadn't realized: five games, 18 blocks for Lopez so far. He's swatted 2, 5, 6, 3, and lastly, 2 in the past five matches and that alone is enough to roster and start him.

Things will settle down a bit in a few days or weeks because that block-pace is ludicrous. Lopez won't be swatting 3.5+ shots per game going forward but he should keep up his current 12-6-1 without much trouble as that's been his career baseline for a long time now.

Also, the treys keep falling for Lopez with 13 made in the past five games (his only 0-3PM coming against New York) and a reasonable shooting percentage for a big man on low-usage/high-volume with three-point shooting prowess.  Not your typical big, but one to definitely have rostered in more than 33% of all ESPN leagues.

Capped the week off with a 21-6 including a season-high 5 treys, shooting 67% on 12 FGA, and stealing one rock to go with two blocks against the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back. Not bad.

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