Fantasy Basketball Week 6: Four Players To Target When Scanning the Waiver Wire
Here are four players still available in the majority of fantasy leagues to target on the waiver wire this week.
Landry Fields (SG/SF, New York Knicks)
Fields, the Knicks’ second-round pick in this past summer’s draft, has been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season, starting all 18 games for New York while averaging 30 minutes per game.
Fields is averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds on 55 percent field-goal shooting so far this season. He’s been even better in his last four games, averaging 13.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 36 minutes per game.
Fields is gaining confidence and the Knicks coaching staff clearly likes how he fits in with the team, as he’s seen solid minutes from day one.
Fields’ rebounding is very impressive for a guard, and coming off three straight double-digit rebounding games, he’s one of the hottest pickups in fantasy leagues this week.
Wesley Matthews (SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers)
Matthews has had an up-and-down season, but with the news today that he will start in place of Nicholas Batum (possibly on a permanent basis), he should be added in all fantasy leagues.
Matthews is still available in a large amount of leagues but he’s averaged 19 points, four rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.8 three-pointers in 34 minutes over his past five games.
Matthews can be a nice source of points, three-pointers and steals when he sees these type of minutes, and his promotion to Portland’s starting lineup makes him an immediate pickup.
Shaquille O’Neal (C, Boston Celtics)
Shaq has put together three straight very impressive games and he’s played with a lot more energy since returning from an injury that forced him to miss five games earlier this month. O’Neal is averaging 18 points and 10.3 rebounds over his last three games and he’s looking better on the court than he had in the past couple of seasons.
With Jermaine O’Neal and Kendrick Perkins both out with injuries for Boston, Shaq should continue to produce at a nice pace and is worth a pick up for owners looking for help at center.
Kris Humphries (PF, New Jersey Nets)
Humphries is a risky pickup because of the return of Troy Murphy, but he’s worth a look in deeper leagues due to his outstanding rebounding numbers. Over his last four games, Humphries is averaging 7.8 points, 12 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
He’s never been a great scorer, but Humphries showed last season that he has a knack for getting boards, and for owners looking for rebounding help, Humphries is worth a pickup.
