De'Anthony Melton (SG, PHI) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 30% of leagues

ANALYSIS: The Sixers keep riding the Milton & Melton wave while waiting for James Harden and Tyrese Maxey to return from injury. That should still be a few days away from happening, so it makes sense to keep adding and starting the former two players and oft-backup options now thrust into starting roles.

When it comes to the bigger of those two, De'Anthony Melton has now started nine games in a row averaging 34 MPG and never playing fewer than 28 minutes in any of those matches. Over the full season, Melton has started 14 games of the 21 he's played, averaging a still-healthy 29 MPG.

Of course, without (mainly) Harden around eating shots in bunches himself, Melton has been able to steadily hoist more than 10 FGA a pop without failing at it and for eight games running. He's hit at least 35.7% of the shots he's taken in seven of those eight matches averaging 14 PPG in his last nine games starting and hitting at least one 3-point shot in all of those.

In the last two weeks, Melton has averaged 2.7+ 3PM per game (more than half of his 14 PPG have come that way) to go with 4+ RPG, 4 APG, and 2.5+ SPG. He's basically an all-across-the-stat-line machine since becoming a starter and that should change for at least a few more days/weeks.

Just for context, and over the full season, just seven players are averaging that 14-4-4 line with 1.5 SPG on top of that: PG13, Haliburton, Dejounte, Jrue Holiday, Jimmy Butler, Shai, and Luka. The 2.5+ SPG Melton is averaging are ridiculous and unsustainable, but you have to hit when the iron is hot so you know what to do.

More Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

RotoBaller Writing and Media Team Nominated For 13 FSWA Awards in 2024

It's awards season for the fantasy sports industry, and RotoBaller is honored to be recognized by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) with various award nominations from our writing and media team in 2024. The RotoBaller brand continues to shine among the many talented companies and analysts throughout the fantasy sports industry for their editorial […]

RotoBaller 1 week ago

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 15 (2024-25): February 3 - February 9

If you're like me, you woke up to one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history (Luka for AD) and are still trying to make sense of it. It will likely be the biggest trade of the week, but it won't be the only deal made this week as Thursday's NBA trade deadline looms. […]

Dan Palyo 3 weeks ago

League Winners: Second-Half Trade Targets and Stashes - 2025 Fantasy Basketball

Things have not gone as planned for fantasy basketball managers who drafted players like Joel Embiid or Jimmy Butler. But there's plenty of basketball left to be played and it's time to reassess how we view players going forward. If you want to win that fantasy basketball league championship, worry less about where your players […]

Dan Palyo 3 weeks ago

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 14 (2024-25): January 27 - February 2

We flip the calendar to February this week and edge closer to both the All-Star break and the NBA trade deadline. Some of the moves you can make in the next few weeks could greatly impact your team's ability to compete for a fantasy championship in March or April! Most leagues have a weekly moves […]

Dan Palyo 4 weeks ago

League Winners: Players To Stash For the Stretch Run - 2024 Fantasy Basketball

The All-Star Break is upon us and while it's nice to have some time off from setting lineups, making DFS lineups, and placing bets. It's also a nice time to look ahead and what moves you can make to put your team in the best position possible to win a fantasy basketball title. Remember, the […]

Dan Palyo 1 year ago