X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Basketball: Week 1 Waiver Wire Pickups

Whether you had a superb draft or you made some missteps, there's no doubt you've got to stay competitive on the waiver wire in order to win your league.  This is especially true in the early part of the season when rosters are in flux and roles are being fleshed out in real time.  In this piece, RotoBaller Tyler Petagine gives you some guidance and broadly surveys the fantasy basketball waiver wire landscape. 

Standard-League Adds:

 

Trevor Ariza WizardsTrevor Ariza, WAS (SG, SF) - He's been around the leagues, folks--in fact, the Wizards are the sixth team Ariza's played for in his 11-year career.  After posting two straight double-double games to open up the season, it's time to get this guy on board.  The 28-point performance is an aberration, but he can easily put up 15/8 numbers rest of season.  To go along with rebounds, he also offers solid steals production.

 

Alec Burks, UTA (SG) - The Jazz have remained a frontcourt-oriented team, but somebody has to benefit from Trey Burke's absence.  For however long he remains sidelined, Burks should be able to maintain high-level production.  After two games played, he's averaging a stout 19.5 p.p.g., 4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.  He's also got a 56 FG%, which ranks eighth among SGs with at least 24 m.p.g.

 

Miles Plumlee, PHO (PF) - The Suns' new starting center and former Duke Blue Devil had quite the debut: 18 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks.  Somebody had to benefit from the Marcin Gortat trade, and though rookie Alex Len was expected to become the main beneficiary from the trade, it turns out that he will receive limited minutes and come off the bench.  Plumlee's stock has risen accordingly.

 

Xavier Henry, LAL (SG, SF) - His 18-point outburst should open some eyes, despite it being just one performance. After four seasons of under 5 p.p.g., the Belgian just may be breaking out (finally).  Henry has low upside in the hustle stats (steals, blocks), but can be a reliable source for needy-points scored owners .  36 minutes played is an encouraging sign, especially since the Lakers have a deep rotation.

 

Deep-League Adds:

 

Vitor Faverani, BOS (C) - The once under-the-radar Brazilian prospect is putting on defensive clinics.  Yes, he's currently sporting a 12 p.p.g. average, but his primary contributions will mostly be in rebounds and blocked shots.  His teammate Brandon Bass is the perfect low-post counterpart to boost his numbers-- he's an offensive-minded player without many defensive attributes.

 

Josh McRoberts, CHA (PF, C) - The sharpshooting lefty is making his presence felt after hitting three 3-pointers in his debut: 15 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.  This instant production comes at a surprise for two reasons-- first: the Bobcats frontcourt is crowded as can be; and second: rookie Cody Zeller was expected to handle a heavy dose of minutes.

 

P.J. Tucker, PHO (SG, SF) - At 28 years of age, Tucker appears on the verge to revive his career.  He's spent most of his tenure as a role player, but the tides are turning in his favor.  He's not much of a rebounder, but can certainly be a decent point producer, averaging in the 10-15 range.  Playing alongside Plumlee, the other hot pickup, both make for extremely intriguing options.

 

DeMarre Carroll, ATL (SF, PF) - The Hawks' forward is a feisty defensive go-getter with tremendous upside in the steals department.  He's not known for his offensive ability, but a heavy dose of P.T. should keep the p.p.g average near double digits.  His 3.P.T.M. average(1.5) and steals prowess makes for a scary combo-- Carroll is one of only five players to average 1.5 three-pointers made with at least three steals.

 

 

Players to Scout:

 

Gary Neal, MIL (SG) - The Bucks' backcourt is thinner than black ice!  With Luke Ridnour and Brandon Knight still sidelined, Neal should continue receiving starter-type minutes.  He has a winning pedigree, coming from the Spurs' organization, and he knows how to produce respectable numbers.  His FG% is hard to take, but in Head-to-Head leagues, he more than makes up for it with his points scored and assist-making production.

 

Boris Diaw, SA (PF, C) - Who expected "The Big Fundamental" (Tim Duncan) to suffer an injury this early in the season?  Duncan has been diagnosed with a chest contusion, but the severity of the injury is as yet unknown.  For needy big-men owners, Diaw makes for a nice speculative add.  He won't produce elite numbers, but he can offer 8-10 points, 4-5 rebounds, and 1- 1.5 three-pointers per game.

 

============

Check out RotoBaller's pre-season rankings at every position.  We've got the Top 50 Guards, Top 50 ForwardsTop 30 Centers, and Top 150 Overall Part 1 and Part 2. Be sure to review RotoBaller.com coverage over the coming weeks to get all of our fantasy basketball coverage, and find all of our rankings as well as other fantasy basketball articles all season long!

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Connor Hellebuyck35 mins ago

Posts 40th Career Shutout
Jack Roslovic44 mins ago

Keeps Hot Spell Going Against Penguins
Jack Hughes51 mins ago

Amasses Three Points In Thursday's Win
Bo Horvat58 mins ago

Bags Three Points Versus Senators
Trevor Lawrence60 mins ago

Seems Unlikely To Play Against Vikings
Erik Cernak1 hour ago

Limited By Injury Thursday
Brock Boeser1 hour ago

Exits With Injury Versus Kings
Mikey Anderson1 hour ago

Makes Early Exit Thursday
Ja'Marr Chase10 hours ago

Erupts In Week 10
Joe Burrow10 hours ago

Has Another Strong Performance On Thursday
Baltimore Ravens11 hours ago

Kyle Hamilton Won't Return On Thursday Night
Tony Pollard12 hours ago

Sits Out On Thursday
Darius Slayton13 hours ago

Officially Out For Germany Game
Mansur Abdul-Malik14 hours ago

A Big Favorite At UFC Vegas 100
Luana Pinheiro14 hours ago

Could Be Fighting For Job At UFC Vegas 100
Gillian Robertson14 hours ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Vegas 100
Reinier De ridder14 hours ago

Reinier de Ridder Makes UFC Debut At UFC Vegas 100
Gerald Meerschaert14 hours ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 100
Mike Evans14 hours ago

Another DNP For Mike Evans On Thursday
Christian McCaffrey14 hours ago

Expected To Make Season Debut In Week 10
15 hours ago

Jeff Hoffman Could Enter Starting Rotation In 2025
Ja Morant15 hours ago

Ruled Out For Friday
Christian McCaffrey15 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
15 hours ago

Willy Adames Receives Offers From Mets And Dodgers
Chris Olave15 hours ago

Misses Another Practice
Zach LaVine15 hours ago

Officially Out On Thursday
Andrew Peeke15 hours ago

Out Week-To-Week
Giannis Antetokounmpo15 hours ago

Good For Thursday's Game
T.J. McFarland15 hours ago

Re-Signs With The A's
Brandon Miller16 hours ago

Tagged As Probable For Friday
Mattias Janmark16 hours ago

Considered Day-To-Day With Undisclosed Injury
A.J. Brown16 hours ago

Looks Ready For Week 10
Iván Herrera16 hours ago

Ivan Herrera, Pedro Pages To Split Opportunities Behind The Plate
Miles Bridges16 hours ago

Won't Play On Friday
Alex Turcotte16 hours ago

Remains Sidelined Thursday
16 hours ago

Alex Bregman Could Play Second Base In 2025
Tee Higgins16 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday Night
Zach LaVine16 hours ago

Doubtful For Thursday's Game
Artem Zub16 hours ago

Rejoins Senators Lineup Thursday
Devin Vassell16 hours ago

Could Make Season Debut On Saturday
Tyler Seguin16 hours ago

Expected Back Versus Blackhawks
Wendell Carter Jr.16 hours ago

Listed As Out For Friday
Brayden Point16 hours ago

Remains Out On Thursday
Andre Jackson Jr.16 hours ago

Expected To Start On Thursday
Cale Makar16 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Thursday
17 hours ago

Red Sox, Orioles Looking At Teoscar Hernandez
Kyle Pitts17 hours ago

Remains Limited Participant On Thursday
17 hours ago

Mets To Meet With Juan Soto Soon
Drake London17 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
Aleksei Kolosov17 hours ago

Injured In Pregame Skate On Thursday
Xavier Legette17 hours ago

Aggravates Past Injury, Expected To Play On Sunday
Jake Walman17 hours ago

Will Not Play Thursday
Austin Seibert17 hours ago

Limited On Thursday
Anthony Mantha17 hours ago

Headed To Injured Reserve
Auston Matthews18 hours ago

' Status Up In The Air
Brian Robinson Jr.18 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
Matvei Michkov18 hours ago

Will Be A Healthy Scratch On Thursday
Keaton Mitchell18 hours ago

Making Season Debut On Thursday
DeVonta Smith19 hours ago

Returns To Practice On Thursday
Adam Thielen19 hours ago

Not Participating In Thursday's Practice
Darius Slayton19 hours ago

Not Expected To Make Trip To Germany
Garrett Crochet20 hours ago

An Offseason Trade Candidate
20 hours ago

Ha-Seong Kim Drawing Plenty Of Buzz At GM Meetings
21 hours ago

Willy Adames Willing To Play A Different Position
Tyrese Maxey21 hours ago

Expected To Miss Multiple Weeks With Hamstring Injury
Dylan Larkin23 hours ago

Bags Two Points In Win Over Chicago
Logan Thompson23 hours ago

Continues Winning Ways With Capitals
Jonathan Mogbo24 hours ago

Exits With Hip Problem Wednesday
Tyrese Maxey1 day ago

Makes Precautionary Exit Wednesday
Jalen Duren1 day ago

Considered Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury
Isaiah Collier1 day ago

Considered Questionable Thursday
Jordan Clarkson1 day ago

Listed As Questionable For Thursday
Joel Embiid1 day ago

On Track To Make Season Debut On Tuesday
Willson Contreras1 day ago

Will Transition To 1B/DH Role In 2025
Lauri Markkanen1 day ago

Questionable Versus Milwaukee
Giannis Antetokounmpo1 day ago

In Danger Of Missing Another Game
Ja Morant1 day ago

Injures Hamstring, Leaves Game In Third Quarter
Mookie Betts2 days ago

To Play Infield For The Dodgers In 2025
Bradley Beal2 days ago

Active On Wednesday
Josh Giddey2 days ago

To Play On Wednesday
Royce Lewis2 days ago

Might See More Time At Second Base
2 days ago

Alex Bregman Has Bone Chip Removed From Elbow
Kyle Hendricks2 days ago

Angels Sign Kyle Hendricks
Max Greyserman2 days ago

Earns Highest DraftKings Salary For WWT Championship
Harry Hall2 days ago

In Solid Form Heading To Cabo
PGA2 days ago

Matti Schmid On Fire Ahead Of WWT Championship
Jhonattan Vegas2 days ago

A Safe Play At WWT Championship
Taylor Moore2 days ago

Looks To Contend At WWT Championship
Patrick Fishburn2 days ago

A Volatile Option At El Cardonal
Michael Kim2 days ago

Aims For Back-To-Back Top-10 Finishes At WWT Championship
Charley Hoffman2 days ago

Tough To Trust At WWT Championship
Adam Svensson2 days ago

A Risky Play In Mexico
Daniel Berger2 days ago

Looks To Keep Cuts-Made Streak Alive In Mexico
Tom Hoge2 days ago

Hopes To Steady The Ship At World Wide Technology Championship
San Diego Padres3 days ago

Padres Nearing Contract Extension With Manager Mike Shildt
Jazz Chisholm Jr.3 days ago

Could Be Moved Back To Second Base
3 days ago

Astros Have Had "Productive" Talks With Alex Bregman
3 days ago

Rangers Decline 2025 Option On Andrew Chafin
Camilo Doval3 days ago

Generating Interest
Shohei Ohtani3 days ago

Undergoes Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
Chandler Phillips3 days ago

Attempts To Keep Final-Round Form This Week
Neal Shipley3 days ago

Past Five Tournaments Make Him An Interesting DFS Option
Austin Eckroat3 days ago

Wants To Shake Off Some More Rust In Mexico
Rico Hoey3 days ago

Needs The Putter To Work In Mexico
J.J. Spaun3 days ago

Tries To Keep Second Half Rolling In Mexico
Sam Stevens3 days ago

Hopes To Continue Riding A Hot Putter In Mexico
Erik Van Rooyen3 days ago

Erik van Rooyen Tries To Defend WWT Title
Lucas Glover3 days ago

Well-Rested Heading Into WWT Championship
Ben Griffin3 days ago

Hopes To Continue Good Form In Mexico
Keith Mitchell3 days ago

An Unappealing Play At World Wide Technology Championship
Ryan Blaney4 days ago

Wins At Martinsville And Has Chance To Earn Second Straight Championship
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Penalized At Martinsville, Removed From Championship Four
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

Not A Factor At Martinsville And Looks Ahead To Phoenix
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Misses Advancing Through Playoffs Despite Top-Three Finish
Brad Keselowski4 days ago

Has A Solid Top-10 Performance At Martinsville
Chase Elliott4 days ago

Loses Out On Winning At Martinsville
Rose Namajunas4 days ago

Drops Decision Matchup
Erin Blanchfield4 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Dustin Stoltzfus4 days ago

Gets First-Round Knockout At UFC Edmonton
Marc-Andre Barriault4 days ago

Knocked Out At UFC Edmonton
Trevin Giles4 days ago

Losses Third Fight In A Row
Mike Malott4 days ago

Wins Decision At UFC Edmonton
NASCAR4 days ago

Speeding Penalty Foils Martin Truex Jr.'s Last Realistic Shot At Winning
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Fails To Advance To Championship 4 But Runs Well
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Earns Best Oval Finish at Martinsville
William Byron4 days ago

Tentatively In Championship 4 Pending Ruling On Manufacturer Orders
MMA5 days ago

Ariane Lipski Submitted At UFC Edmonton
Jasmine Jasudavicius5 days ago

Gets Submission Win At UFC Edmonton
Caio Machado5 days ago

Still Winless In The UFC
Brendson Ribeiro5 days ago

Edges Out Split Decision At UFC Edmonton
Amir Albazi5 days ago

Falls Short At UFC Edmonton
Brandon Moreno5 days ago

Dominates At UFC Edmonton
Daniel Suarez5 days ago

Will Start 20th At Martinsville
Zane Smith5 days ago

Might Be An Underrated Value Play For Martinsville
Tyler Reddick5 days ago

Is A Top DFS Recommendation For Martinsville Lineups
Joey Logano5 days ago

Will Be One To Watch At Martinsville
Brad Keselowski5 days ago

Should DFS Players Rely On Brad Keselowski For Martinsville Lineups?
Carson Hocevar5 days ago

Is A Great DFS Option For All Martinsville DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs5 days ago

Is Ty Gibbs Worth Rostering At Martinsville This Week For DFS?
Austin Cindric5 days ago

Could Have A Top-20 Performance At Martinsville
William Byron5 days ago

Might Be Usable Only In DFS Tournaments At Martinsville
Chris Buescher5 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster Chris Buescher At Martinsville?
Alex Bowman5 days ago

Expect A Solid Top-10 Performance From Alex Bowman At Martinsville

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP