James Wiseman (C, DET) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 22

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues

ROSTERED IN: 23% of leagues

ANALYSIS: Make it 11 starts in a row through Saturday for James Wiseman since he went through a two-game testing period after arriving in Motown and sandwiching the AS break. The Pistons have been out since last Thursday and they have also welcomed Jalen Duren back a few days ago after he missed time after returning from the break.

For now, Wiseman is expected to keep the starting C role even with Duren present and playing 25+ minutes per game. Things could change, but even then a role reversal shouldn’t be very damaging for any of the two big men. Duren is excelling off the pine (three double-doubles in the last five games with the other two finishing at 9-8 and 8-9), and Wiseman is doing the same as a starter (three dub-dubs in his last five outings with the other two finishing at 16-9 and 14-9).

The usage rates are nearly the same for the two youngsters, so that’s also a positive considering they are part of two entirely different units. Interchangeable pieces in real and fantasy worlds? That’s a dream scenario for fantasy GMs out there mostly because you run no risk of gambling on the wrong asset. Win-win, and you might even want to consider landing and rostering (and starting, in deeper formats) both for the home stretch, let alone in any sort of dynasty-type league.

Wiseman has averaged a ridiculous 1.17 FP/min in the past two weeks (league average at 0.90) and has put together seven consecutive games of at least 25 FP while averaging 32+ FPPG and having three games above that mark, including a 43.5-FP explosion on Mar. 13 when he went for 18 points, 14 boards, three blocks, and one assist.

The shooting is always going to be good because Wiseman can hit the odd three but operates inside more often than not, and he’s taking around 12 FGA per game, something more than healthy to find him easily reaching 10-15 points every night he’s out there on a basketball court.

More Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

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 10 months ago

Trendon Watford (PF, POR) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (reporting on Sunday morning), the Portland Trail Blazers are leaning toward shutting down Damian Lillard for the remainder of the season. The Blazers, mind you, have been without Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Lillard, and Jusuf […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Xavier Tillman Sr. (PF, MEM) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 7% of leagues ANALYSIS: With just a week and a half remaining in the regular season and Memphis sitting pretty in the no. 2 seed in the Western Conference, it's hard to envision Steven Adams returning before the playoffs and risking any sort of setback in […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Deni Avdija (SF, WAS) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 8% of leagues ANALYSIS: The surge of Deni Avdija in all fantasy leaderboards has a very easy-to-grasp reason and that's Kyle Kuzma missing time with an injury. Ruled out Sunday, that made it four consecutive outings missed by the Kuz, which has clearly opened the door […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago

Nick Richards (C, CHA) - Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 23

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues ROSTERED IN: 9% of leagues ANALYSIS: Rookie Mark Williams returned to the Charlotte Hornets' rotation on Friday and logged 21 minutes coming off the pine. Nick Richards started at center for the seventh consecutive time, but keep in mind Williams had done so for 12 straight games before […]

Antonio Losada 2 years ago