January 20 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Kel'el Ware, Naji Marshall, Nick Richards, Tari Eason, Isaiah Collier and More

A new fantasy basketball week is here, which means it’s time for another waiver wire article!

The five players we’ll talk about today were pulled from the FantasySP Waiver Wire Pickups page, which is updated daily. Let’s dive right in!

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Kel'el Ware Fantasy Outlook

Ware is the most-added player at the time of publishing, up 12.67% to bring his total mark to 33.26%.

The rookie is coming off a 25-point showing, which tied his season high. He accomplished that on 10-of-19 shooting, while also tallying eight rebounds and two assists and blocks over 33 minutes.

He’s gotten a bit more playing time since the new year, averaging 20.6 minutes a game. In that span, Ware is averaging 12.3 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.5 steals and 1.4 blocks. For the season, the rookie is averaging 7.3 points, 4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.9 blocks across 14 minutes in 26 games played (all off the bench).

His improved averages of late, along with him coming off a big game is the biggest reason behind his surge in own percentage. The Heat are trying to figure several things out, and having Ware flash some big potential might make moving on from Jimmy Butler a bit easier.

As for Ware, he’s become a pretty solid deep-league option. He’s not a must add in those leagues, but his own percentage will keep rising if he continues to produce averages similar to his past several games. You might need to add Ware now in order to not miss out on him in deeper leagues. 

I’d also keep an eye on Ware in standard leagues. The rookie could be starting to settle in, and with more big performances, could easily be a good standard league option.

Naji Marshall Fantasy Outlook

Marshall is up 8.41% and sitting at 34.43% overall.

Marshall has produced more of late, and even though Kyrie Irving returned, he still played 34 minutes and delivered solid numbers off the bench. It makes sense to see his own percentage rising.

In those 34 minutes off the bench, Marshall had 14 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and an assist and block. For the season, he’s averaging 11 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1 steal and 0.1 blocks over 24.5 minutes in 33 games and 14 starts.

With Irving back, and Luka Doncic eventually coming back, Marshall isn’t likely going to ever be a big standard league option, but he’s definitely a deep-league option. I’d keep rostering Marshall until Doncic is back, and then reassess things from there.

Marshall is playing a ton of minutes right now, and until those get lowered, he’s a solid fantasy option in deeper leagues. He’s mostly just going to provide points for his fantasy value, but he’s also capable of solid numbers overall (like he showed in his last game). Take advantage of Marshall while you can.

Nick Richards Fantasy Outlook

Richards is up to 73.07% after a 7.23% bump.

Richards was traded to the Suns last week. He made his debut on Saturday, playing 29 minutes off the bench. Richards had 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while also tallying 11 rebounds and an assist and steal.

You’d like to see Richards starting, but that could come in short order, especially if he keeps playing as well as he did on Saturday. He’s going to shoot a high percentage and pull down a bunch of rebounds. Richards won’t always score 20+ points, but he’s definitely a double-double threat every game.

Richards’ own percentage should keep rising as he gets acclimated in Phoenix. I don’t think he’ll ever get to a point where he’s owned in all leagues, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets over 80%.

If you could use a double-double threat, give Richards some serious consideration. He could also become a big-time trade asset with a couple more big showings, so if you aren’t a big believer in his long-term outlook, you could maybe sell high on him shortly.

Tari Eason Fantasy Outlook

Eason is rostered in 74.3% of leagues after a 6.88% increase.

Eason is back in the waiver wire article as he works his way back from a long absence. He had 16 points, four rebounds and a steal in his first game back, then posted 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in his second game.

He’s come off the bench and played 24 minutes in those contests. Again, while we’d like to see him starting, he’s playing enough minutes, and producing in his time on the court, so he’s a good fantasy asset.

Unless his minutes rise closer to 30, or his production improves in the scoring and rebounding departments, Eason likely won’t be rostered in all leagues. He’s a very good deep-league option, and is worth streaming in standard leagues - those streaming trends can last weeks at a time.

He’s averaging 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks across 22.8 minutes in his 26 games played (all off the bench). Those are solid numbers, and if he can improve them in his return to the court, he absolutely should see his own percentage keep rising.

You might need to add Eason now if you don’t want to miss out on him. If you think his fantasy value is only going to keep rising, you might as well add him now.

Isaiah Collier Fantasy Outlook

Collier was added in 6.73% of leagues, bringing his total to 31.62%.

Collier has seen an increase in playing time of late, and that, mixed with better production, are why his own percentage is rising.

On the season, Collier is averaging 4.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.2 blocks across 20.4 minutes in 32 games and eight starts. Over the past eight games (six starts), Collier is averaging 29.7 minutes, 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.4 blocks.

That’s plenty of production to add him in a lot of deeper leagues, at least until his playing time or production falls off again. Instead of waiting to see if Collier can keep things going, I’d make the add now and enjoy his success while you can.

Other Waiver Options

Some other standard league options are: Scoot Henderson, Ayo Dosunmu, Spencer Dinwiddie, Cole Anthony, Keyonte George, De'Andre Hunter, Daniel Gafford, Dennis Schroder, Toumani Camara, Rui Hachimura, Santi Aldama and Keegan Murray.

Henderson is up 4.6% and at 81.07% overall. Dosunmu is rostered in 81.07% of leagues after a 6.84% bump.

Dinwiddie is up 4.03% and at 51.99% overall. Anthony is owned in 66.59% after a 3.24% bump.

George is up to 77.99% overall after a 3.1% increase. Hunter got added in 2.76% of leagues, bringing his total mark to 79.91%.

Gafford is rostered in 81.54% of leagues after a 2.58% increase. Schroder got a 2.58% bump as well, and sits at 75.88% overall.

Camara is up to 57.69% overall after a 2.26% increase. Hachimura is up 2.24% and in 56.31% of leagues overall.

Aldama was added in 2.23% of leagues and sits at 85.71% overall. Murray is owned in 96.26% of leagues after a 2.14% bump.

Some deep-league options are: Wendell Carter Jr., Jaylin Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, Jose Alvarado, Dillon Brooks, Nick Smith Jr., Anthony Black, and Precious Achiuwa.

Carter is up to 43.79% after a 4.88% increase. Williams is rostered in 24.12% of leagues after a 4.66% bump.

Sensabaugh was added in 4.01% of leagues and is now at 24.82% overall. Alvarado is owned in 14.95% of leagues after a 2.96% bump.

Brooks is up 2.74%, bringing his total mark to 36.45%. Smith is up 2.71% and is at 5.2% overall.

Black is rostered in 16.12% of leagues after a 2.55% increase. Achiuwa is up 2.49% and sitting at 7.01% overall.