Feb. 6 Fantasy Basketball Takeaways: Top Rookies and Waiver Wire Options | Dillon Brooks, Royce O'Neale, Andre Drummond, Amen Thompson, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and More

There were seven NBA games played on Tuesday night, so there’s plenty to dive into.

Let’s talk about some of the top-performing waiver wire options and rookies from Feb. 6.

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Waiver Wire Options

We’ll start things off by discussing Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks. He tallied 23 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal across 31 minutes played in the team’s loss to the Indiana Pacers. Brooks is currently owned in 46% of leagues.

Houston played without Fred VanVleet, so that opened some scoring opportunities for Brooks. For the season, Brooks is averaging 13.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists. Those are strong enough numbers to roster him in deeper leagues, but until he can consistently deliver these kinds of scoring nights somewhat regularly, I’d avoid adding him in standard league setups.

Milwaukee Bucks’ Malik Beasley was another player to take advantage of some teammates not playing to enjoy a bigger scoring night. Milwaukee played without Brook Lopez and Damian Lillard and lost Khris Middleton to an injury during a loss to the Phoenix Suns. Beasley, owned in 28% of leagues, went for 22 points, four rebounds and two assists across 36 minutes played.

Beasley has shot the ball well from behind the 3-point line most of the season, but only averages 4 rebounds and 1.4 assists to go along with 11.4 points per game. He’s a decent option in deeper leagues, and could be used as a streaming option in standard leagues until Lillard, Lopez and Middleton are all back in the lineup. He should probably go back on the waiver wire when the team gets back to full health though.

Brooklyn Nets’ Royce O'Neale recorded 18 points, six rebounds and two assists across 32 minutes off the bench in the team’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks. He’s currently owned in 20% of leagues.

O'Neale has shot the ball pretty well the past two games, scoring 15 and 18 points in those two games. He’s a decent rebounder (4.5 per game) and averages 2.8 assists per game. He’s worth picking up in deeper leagues until he cools off from the floor. He’s a name to keep an eye on as the trade deadline approaches - a change of scenery could open some opportunities for him to be a better fantasy asset.

Indiana’s T.J. McConnell tallied 17 points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal across 19 minutes in the team’s win. He is owned in 31% of leagues.

McConnell was a popular waiver wire guy when Tyrese Haliburton was hurt a couple weeks back, but now is back to his 20-minute or so role off the bench. He’s still capable of these kinds of nights, so I still like the idea of rostering him in deeper leagues. He’d only be a standard league option if a couple main rotation players were out.

Chicago Bulls’ Andre Drummond, owned in 48% of leagues, recorded 16 points and rebounds and four blocks across 35 minutes in an overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Drummond started for the first time since early January and responded with one of his better games of the season. He’s a great option in deeper leagues and can be streamed in standard leagues when he’s in the starting lineup. He’s another name to keep an eye out for as the trade deadline approaches. He could be moved to a team that needs a starter, and his fantasy value would skyrocket if that becomes a reality.

Memphis Grizzlies’ David Roddy tallied 15 points, three rebounds and three assists across 23 minutes in the team’s loss to the New York Knicks. He’s owned in just 6% of leagues.

With several Memphis players out, Roddy has enjoyed some extra playing time over the past couple games. He’s averaging 27.5 minutes, 15 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over that span. Until the Grizzlies get closer to full health, you could start Roddy in deeper leagues.

Top Rookies

There were several strong rookie outings on Tuesday. Let’s discuss six of them.

Houston’s Amen Thompson, who is owned in 46% of leagues, finished with 13 points and rebounds, six assists and three blocks across 34 minutes. He made just his second career start.

This was one of Thompson’s better outings of the season, but again, remember that VanVleet was out. It was still a good sign to see Thompson stuff the stat sheet, and it should make him a hot commodity in deeper leagues and dynasties. If he can post a couple more statlines like this, he could be an option in standard leagues too.

Memphis’ GG Jackson II, owned in 13% of leagues, posted 16 points, five rebounds, two blocks and one assist and steal across 21 minutes played on Tuesday.

It was his second straight game in double figures and the fifth time he’s scored in double figures over the past six contests. He’s rebounded enough to consider adding him in deeper leagues and dynasties, at least until he cools off as a scorer.

Speaking of a hot shooter, Utah Jazz rookie Keyonte George continued to score it well in the team’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. George accumulated 16 points, five assists, two rebounds and one steal and block across 27 minutes off the bench.

George, owned in 25% of leagues, has now scored in double figures in six straight contests, making at least five field goals in five of those games. He should be added in deeper leagues and dynasties for the time being - I know I’ve said it a couple times already, but his own percentage is still far too low.

Memphis’ Trey Jemison got a second straight start and turned in a final line of 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists and blocks across 32 minutes played. He’s owned in barely any leagues.

Jemison is getting some extra run with so many Memphis players out. It’s probably not going to last for too much longer, but he’s a streaming option in deeper leagues at least for a little while.

Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. came through with 12 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists across 23 minutes off the bench in the team’s win over the Orlando Magic.

Jaquez was a trendy waiver wire player earlier in the season, but an injury knocked him out for six games, and then he was pretty ineffective in his first five games back. He didn’t shoot it super well on Tuesday (4-of-11), but it was his first time in double figures since returning from the injury.

Jaquez is only owned in 42% of leagues right now. He’s a guy to keep a close eye on, because he’s a pretty solid fantasy option in all leagues when he’s right. It might not be much longer until he gets back into the swing of things.

The last guy I need to mention is Brooklyn’s Jalen Wilson. He played 18 minutes, tallying 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in the team’s loss. Wilson is hardly owned in any leagues.

It makes sense that Wilson is widely available, as he played in his first game since early January. Several key rotation guys were out, so it makes sense that he got some minutes. He might be worth streaming in deeper leagues in the near future if more guys miss time - or if the team makes several trades at the deadline.