Welcome back to The Playlist: my weekly column letting you know who to add to the waiver wire and onto your next week’s fantasy basketball roster.
[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. It’s not too late to create or join a league]
Every league is different – sometimes a 75% ranked player loses money, whether it’s by accident or because of an unbearably bad slump. If they fit your build, go get them. But in this column, we’re focusing on players under 50% of the roster who are widely available and ready to help in Week 14.
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🎧 Who’s in My Stream: High score
Naji Marshall – FC, Dallas Mavericks (33% registered)
With Anthony Davis out and PJ Washington sidelined to start the week, Marshall has been taking advantage of the increased opportunities. He dropped 56 points in Week 13 and has scored at least 22 points in four of his last five games.
The Mavericks play four games this week, including three games in four nights from Thursday through Sunday. That shortened schedule means that healthy bodies like Marshall will get heavy minutes while guys like Cooper Flagg (coming off injury) are more likely to be rested. It will be a solid game for anyone playing in shallow leagues looking for a weekend upgrade.
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Ajay Mitchell – G, Oklahoma City Thunder (29%)
With Jalen Williams out indefinitely after pulling a hamstring on Saturday, Mitchell becomes a must-add in all formats. Scored 40+ fantasy points in Week 12 and 34 in Week 13. Mitchell has been a top-100 player in High Score for a significant portion of the year while Williams has been dealing with a wrist injury, and will likely return to that form in four games this week.
Brice Sensabaugh – FC, Utah Jazz (25% registered)
Sensabaugh dropped a season-high 58 points in Week 13 and has scored 25-plus points in four of his past five games. The boy can’t be missed yet. And, the Jazz are doing Jazz things — bench vets for little guys — with Sensabaugh getting paid. Utah plays four games this week, including a Monday-Tuesday back-to-back to start. Pick him up now before someone else does (just look at his injury name, as he’s got GTD starting Monday morning).
Jalen Smith – FC, Chicago Bulls (23% registered)
The Bulls have started Smith at power forward in the past two games, resulting in double-doubles, including one that reached 50 points. In five starts, he averaged 12.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game. I don’t know if Smith made the starting lineup as an interview with teams scouting him at the trade deadline or if he got it through advanced play.
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Either way, you’re productive. The Bulls are stuck in no man’s land, hovering around .500 and flirting with a playoff spot. They probably have to make a move, which could mean Smith’s role grows or fades. However, add him to High Score and shallow leagues when he starts getting 30 minutes.
🎧 Who’s in My Stream: The leagues are deep
Jaylon Tyson – SF/PF, Cleveland Cavaliers (20% registered)
I took Tyson out of suspension in a few spots this weekend, so if he’s still around, get him. He still ranks in the top 90 in nine leagues and is coming off a career-high 39 points on Friday, where he went 13-of-17 from the field and 7-for-9 from deep.
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This season, Tyson enters in all categories, averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is one of the most improved players this year and continues to be underrated in all fantasy formats.
Aaron Wiggins – SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (5% draft)
If (Ajay) Mitchell is unavailable, Wiggins is sitting on waivers in 95% of leagues. He just dropped 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting Saturday and should see an increase in the run with Jalen Williams sidelined. And again, a four-game schedule plays for him.
Jordan Miller – SF, Los Angeles Clippers (3% registered)
With Kawhi Leonard out, Miller is logging heavy minutes. He posted 11 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals against Washington in 34 minutes, followed by 43 minutes with 19 points, 6 assists, 4 steals and 2 rebounds in an OT win against Toronto on Jan. 16.
Miller displays an all-around skill set with his scoring, playmaking and defensive effort. He looks like a solid broadcast option while Kawhi is sidelined for at least two more games.
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The Heat play five games this week, back to back to start and close. If Davion Mitchell is not available, I would look at Larsson. Larsson is starting in place of Tyler Herro, who has played 27-plus minutes in three of the last four games.
He is a goalscorer – nothing else – which makes him a better fit for points leagues. Still, in a five-game week, those buckets add up quickly. Get him if you need volume.
Danny Wolf – PF, Brooklyn Nets (2% of registrants)
The rookie just recorded his first career double-double in Week 12 and last week, he finished 101st in 9-cat leagues, averaging 8/4/2 with 1.5 3s and 2 steals per game. He doesn’t light up the scoreboard, but we will continue to see more of him and other young players as we move forward in the season.
He was a good source of stocks and low points when Michael Porter Jr. resting, so give him a look in a four-game week, along with fellow rookie Egor Demïn.
