October 23 Top Fantasy Basketball Performances from Possible Waiver Wire Players | Onyeka Okongwu, Tre Mann, Taurean Prince, Andrew Wiggins, Santi Aldama and More

Ten NBA games took place on the second day of the regular season Wednesday, and now it’s time to go over some fantasy basketball takeaways.

They won’t be as in depth as Tuesday’s takeaways, and we’ll keep the focus on waiver wire targets.

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Hawks Slip Past Nets

Atlanta’s Onyeka Okongwu tallied 28 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and one assist in 28 minutes off the bench. He’s rostered in about 71% of leagues, and that number should rise significantly after that performance.

Hawks’ Dyson Daniels, owned in 46% of leagues, went for 15 points, five steals and rebounds, two assists and one block across 34 minutes. He’ll be added in a bunch of leagues or at least be closely watched after that outing.

Brooklyn’s Dennis Schroder played 34 minutes and posted 13 points, seven assists, three rebounds and one steal. He did make just five of his 16 shots and turned the ball over five times, but that playing time should stick out, because minutes equal fantasy production. He’s available in about 23% of leagues at the moment.

Nets’ Ben Simmons tallied six points, eight assists, five rebounds and one block. Those are pretty well-rounded numbers, and it makes for good fantasy production even without many points. He’s rostered in 65% of leagues, and could be a good streaming option when he’s active.

Pacers Knock Off Pistons

Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin, rostered in 48% of leagues, posted 19 points, six rebounds and an assist in 27 minutes off the bench. Even if he comes off the bench, playing that many minutes could lead to good fantasy production.

Detroit’s Jaden Ivey finished with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal across 30 minutes. He’s owned in 81% of leagues, but should see that number go up after the solid first game.

Charlotte Topples Houston

Charlotte’s Tre Mann went for 25 points, six rebounds, a block and a steal across 28 minutes off the bench. He got some extra run after Brandon Miller left with an injury, and depending on if Miller misses more time, Mann could be a great early-season waiver addition.

It was Houston’s top fantasy players (Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson) that led the team, so no waiver wire guys are worth mentioning. 

Suns Sneak Past Clippers

Phoenix’s starters (Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Tyus Jones, Devin Booker and Jusuf Nurkic) led the way, and most of those guys are owned in all leagues. Jones, who had 11 points, eight assists, two steals and a block, is available to about 10% of you.

Los Angeles’ Norman Powell (57% rostered) and Ivica Zubac (83%) both had solid games and deserve some waiver attention.

Powell had 17 points, four rebounds and assists and a block across 39 minutes. Zubac finished with 21 points, nine boards and three assists across 33 minutes.

Magic Blast Heat

Orlando’s Jalen Suggs, who is rostered in 76% of leagues, totaled 11 points, four assists and a steal across just 12 minutes. That’s good production for such few minutes, and means more minutes should lead to even better totals, making him a good fantasy option.

Gary Harris is only rostered in 2% of leagues, but had 18 points, three rebounds, two blocks and an assist across 21 minutes. His role could increase when Suggs plays more minutes, but Harris looks like a good deep league pickup for the time being.

Miami’s Nikola Jovic had 15 points, five rebounds and a steal, assist and block across 24 minutes. He started and looks like he’ll have a decent rotation role this season, so he’s worth adding in deeper leagues.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in 19 minutes off the bench. He’s owned in 83% of leagues. Jaquez is a decent starting option and can definitely be plugged in when you are lacking starting options.

Pelicans Knock Off Bulls

Jordan Hawkins (10% owned) and Yves Missi (11%) had solid nights off the bench for New Orleans.

Hawkins played 27 minutes and finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and one assist and block. That’s plenty of production to be owned in more deep leagues. Missi had 12 points, seven boards, three blocks, an assist and a steal across 22 minutes. Again, that’s good production and he should be rostered in more deep leagues.

Chicago’s Jalen Smith, rostered in 25% of leagues, went for 15 points, five rebounds and a steal in 17 minutes off the bench. I’m surprised to see his own percentage as low as it is. He won’t play a ton of minutes, but he should provide enough points and boards every night to be a solid fantasy contributor.

Bucks Ease Past 76ers

Milwaukee’s Taurean Prince started in the place of the injured Khris Middleton and had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists across 30 minutes. His fantasy value will drop when Middleton is back, but until then, Prince is a pretty solid fantasy asset, and he’s rostered in just 4% of leagues.

Bobby Portis is owned in 90% of leagues, but that needs to be just about 100. He had 16 points, three rebounds and assists, two steals and a block across 25 minutes off the bench. Don’t let his bench role fool you, Portis is going to play plenty and be a good fantasy option most nights.

Philly played without Joel Embiid and Paul George, so a few guys had to step up.

Kelly Oubre Jr., rostered in 68% of leagues, had 21 points, two rebounds and one assist across 30 minutes. He’s one to stream until the Sixers are closer to full health.

Andre Drummond (67%) is another to target. He played 25 minutes and posted 10 points and 13 rebounds. Drummond should be a fantasy starter most nights, at least until Embiid returns.

Warriors Crush Trail Blazers

Several Golden State players delivered big games, including Trayce Jackson-Davis (85% rostered) and Andrew Wiggins (57%).

Jackson-Davis totaled 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal across 24 minutes. He started, and in a closer game probably plays more, so I see a nice fantasy season incoming.

Wiggins had 20 points, four rebounds and two assists across 23 minutes. He could be the biggest beneficiary of Klay Thompson’s departure, so he’s worth an add to see if he can continue this strong start.

Portland’s Scoot Henderson, owned in 82% of leagues, finished with 22 points and four rebounds and assists across 27 minutes off the bench. He should continue to play a ton of minutes and be a good fantasy asset, so I expect his own percentage to rise.

Cavaliers Trounce Raptors

Caris LeVert (72% owned) and Ty Jerome (1%) had nice fantasy outings on Wednesday.

LeVert played 20 minutes off the bench, tallying 19 points, four assists and a rebound. He could be a streaming option in the right matchups all season.

Jerome played 18 minutes off the bench, posting 14 points, six assists and two rebounds and assists. He needs to be rostered in more deeper leagues after that performance.

Gradey Dick (33% rostered) and Chris Boucher (3%) had nice outings for Toronto.

Dick had 16 points, two rebounds and blocks and an assist across 29 minutes. He started and looks like he’ll play enough minutes this season to be a decent fantasy option. Dick mostly just provides value as a scorer though, so keep that in mind.

Boucher played 19 minutes off the bench, totaling 18 points, two rebounds and one assist, steal and block. He’ll get picked up in a bunch of deeper leagues after that outing, and deservedly so.

Grizzlies Squeak Past Jazz

Memphis’ Santi Aldama (37% rostered) and Jay Huff (1%) had good outings in the win.

Aldama went for 27 points, five rebounds and two assists across 31 minutes. He might be the biggest waiver wire addition of week 1 after posting those totals.

Huff got 22 minutes after Zach Edey fouled out in just 14 minutes. Huff had 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks and an assist. Huff could be a decent fantasy option until Edey figures things out at the NBA level.

Keyonte George, rostered in 63% of leagues, tallied 12 points, seven assists and two rebounds across 31 minutes in a start. If he retains that role, George is going to be a good fantasy option throughout the season.

Jordan Clarkson, rostered in 62% of leagues, played 25 minutes off the bench, posting 17 points, seven assists, five rebounds and a block. This shows Clarkson can still be a good fantasy asset off the bench, and his own percentage should shoot up a good ways.