Fantasy Basketball 2013: Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups, Deep League
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 13, Deep League
In deeper fantasy basketball league formats, finding useful players on the waiver wire can be a tough task. With most popular free agent choices already owned, owners in deeper leagues often have to dig at even less popular names for players who can provide some sort of fantasy production.
In Week 12, lesser-owned players like SF Al-Farouq Aminu, PG Mario Chalmers and PG/SG Devin Harris found ways to produce for their respective NBA teams as well as for fantasy owners willing to start these players. Unless they are already the owners of these players, owners in deeper formats do not usually have the luxury of finding these players on the waiver wire in Week 13.
Whether these players have recently obtained a starting role, either short-term or long-term, or have become the likely beneficiary from a teammate’s injury, deep league waiver wire pickups can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing a week in the long run. Here’s a look at five players, one eligible at each position, who are owned in less than 10% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues who are worth adding for Week 13 and for future weeks.
* The following players are all owned in under 10% of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Monday, January 21, 2013. MPG: Minutes Per Game, FG%: Field Goal Percentage, FT%: Free Throw Percentage, 3PTM: 3-Pointers Made, PTS: Points, REB: Rebounds, AST: Assists, ST: Steals, BLK: Blocks, TO: Turnovers.
Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.
PG Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons
PG Will Bynum (5% owned)
Promising performance from Week 12: January 17 – 30 minutes, 22 points (two made 3-pointers), two rebounds, four assists, one steal, three turnovers
A solid scoring option off the bench, Bynum had a big performance in Week 12 with Rodney Stuckey out and Brandon Knight struggling. Given the team’s struggles at the guard positions, he could build himself a nice niche on nights when he’s on his game.
SG Richard Hamilton, Chicago Bulls
SG Richard Hamilton (9% owned)
Promising performance from Week 12: January 16 – 18 minutes, 15 points (1-1 free throws, two made 3-pointers), one rebound, five assists, one turnover
Even though he’s still making his way back from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, Hamilton has been solid in January. Despite the limited minutes, he’s been a good scorer and an above-average passer this month.
SG/SF Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
SG/SF Jimmy Butler (2% owned)
Promising performance from Week 12: January 19 – 48 minutes, 18 points (8-8 free throws), eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, one turnover
With Luol Deng out, Butler has made several starts for the Chicago Bulls. Playing heavy minutes, he has really showcased his potential. As a scorer, rebounder and defender, his value has certainly started to rise with increased opportunities.
SF/PF Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat
SF/PF Rashard Lewis (9% owned)
Promising performance from Week 12: January 14 – 27 minutes, 13 points (3-3 free throws, two made 3-pointers), four rebounds, one steal, one block, one turnover
Out of the rotation not too long ago, a Shane Battier injury has given Lewis a glimpse at playing time once again. A decent stream option in deeper leagues, his value is largely dependent on whether he receives playing time in a game.
PF/C Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs
PF/C Boris Diaw (5% owned)
Promising performance from Week 12: January 16 – 29 minutes, 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal
Diaw gets minutes but puts up underwhelming numbers. That being said, he’s a good choice for rebounds and assists in the deepest of leagues.
