NBA Waiver Wire: Four-Game Fantasy Basketball Sleepers (12/8 – 12/14)

This weekly column is geared toward anyone playing in a head-to-head format, and especially those of you in weekly lineup leagues. It is a great idea to keep up with which players are scheduled to play four games during the upcoming week, as fantasy basketball managers can use this information to gain an advantage in games played over an opponent. Simply put, the more games played, the more potential there is for production.

Based on their respective four-game schedules, the following four players should be viewed as “sleepers” for next week. Advising fantasy owners to play the likes of LeBron James or Anthony Davis is a waste of time and effort; hopefully it is common knowledge that studs of that nature should be in lineups regardless of how many games they are slated to play.

Position Eligibility & Ownership Rate Based On Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Leagues

Top Four-Game Sleepers (12/8 - 12/14)

Greivis Vasquez (TOR, PG/SG) - 36% Owned

The injury suffered by DeMar DeRozan has shaken up the Toronto rotation. DeRozan leaves a ton of minutes behind to be picked up by other guys. Vasquez has been the biggest beneficiary.

The Raptors inserted Vasquez into the starting lineup at shooting guard in place of DeRozan. Since then, Vasquez is averaging 13.0 points, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 threes per game. He probably will not help much in other categories, but can do enough in these three to be worth owning.

Vasquez has been a starter before, so the increased workload is nothing new for him. His minutes have jumped to over 30 a game, so he should be able to sustain solid numbers as long as the minutes are there. DeRozan is not expected back for about a month, so Vasquez should have a nice run in the short term.

His upcoming schedule also gives reason for optimism. Next week he faces Denver, at Cleveland, Indiana, and at New York. None of theseteams are great on defensive end, so get Vasquez active this week.

Mirza Teletovic (BKN, SF/PF) - 41% Owned

"Broke" Lopez is injured again. No, I did not misspell his first name. That is what I like to call him because it is not a question of if he will get hurt, but rather when. This time around it is a back injury, and Lopez is expected to be out for at least a week.

Mason Plumlee is likely going to start in place of Lopez while he is out, and is probably worth a speculative add. However, I believe that Teletovic is going to benefit the most from Lopez’s absence. Last week Plumlee was called out by coach Lionel Hollins, and for good reason. He has been mostly dreadful so far this season, and has not received much playing time as a result.

From a fantasy perspective, Plumlee is more likely to hurt you than he is to help you. He is an awful free throw shooter, and will hurt you in that category. He frequently finds himself in so much foul trouble that you would think he has two fouls before the game even starts. These two glaring holes in his game keep his minutes down. Expect him to get more playing time, but it will probably be in the 20-25 minute range.

Teletovic, on the other hand, will probably see closer to 25-30 minutes a game. He has made a few spot starts this season when Kevin Garnett needs rest, and has shown that he is more than capable when given the minutes. In his last start on December 3rd, he exploded for 26 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and five three-pointers in 43 minutes. While this monster line should not be expected, he should still be able to put up solid numbers in several categories despite coming off the bench.

Brooklyn’s schedule next week includes Cleveland, at Chicago, Philadelphia, and at Charlotte. Owners in need of points, rebounds, and threes from the forward position should take a chance on Teletovic this week.

Rasual Butler (WAS, SG/SF) - 12% Owned

Butler is white hot right now, and should not be ignored any longer. He is averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and a ridiculous 3.3 three-pointers on 54.3 percent shooting over his last four games. His strong play has earned him some additional court time.

Butler has been around for a long time, as this is his 13th year in the league. He shows up with strong performances occasionally, but they are mostly blips on the radar. Martell Webster will probably return soon and spoil the party, but owners would be wise to ride Butler while he is hot. His schedule next week has matchups with Boston, at Orlando, LA Clippers, and Utah. Check your waiver wire, chances are that Butler is available.

Zach LaVine (MIN, PG) - 10% Owned

LaVine has received a second chance as a starter out of necessity, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. He torched the Spurs for 22 points, three rebounds, 10 assists, two steals, and two three-pointers in his last game. The rookie appears to be getting more comfortable playing at the NBA level.

The status of Mo Williams is up in the air, as he is currently dealing with a back injury. When he makes his return, LaVine’s value will take a hit. However, there is no one to challenge LaVine for minutes right now, so he has an excellent shot at short term value. His schedule this week is extremely favorable with all four games coming at home. He will play against Golden State, Portland, Oklahoma City, and the LA Lakers. Pick him up and enjoy the ride while Williams is out.