January 21 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Wendell Carter Jr., Deni Avdija, Scoot Henderson, Nick Smith Jr., Terry Rozier and More

It’s time for our second fantasy basketball waiver wire story of the week.

The five players we’ll talk about today were pulled from the FantasySP Waiver Wire Pickups page, which is updated daily. We won’t cover anyone in detail that appeared in Monday’s story.

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Wendell Carter Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Carter is rostered in 52.35% of leagues after a recent 8.34% boost.

Carter’s increase in own percentage is because he’s been starting and playing over 30 minutes lately, and fantasy production has followed.

On the season across 31 games and 22 starts, Carter is averaging 8.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in 25.2 minutes. He’s shooting 44.1% overall and just 20.3% from behind the 3-point line. Over the past three games, he’s averaging 33.1 minutes, 14.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.3 blocks.

Orlando seems like they haven’t been at full strength all season, and they still are missing a few players. Carter has taken advantage of the extra minutes, but it hasn’t helped the team, which is 0-3 in his three starts of late.

As long as Carter is playing this many minutes though, he’s a decent fantasy asset. He needs to be rostered in just about every deep league until his usage drops, and he’s also a standard league streaming option until his numbers fall off. Take advantage of things now instead of waiting to see if Carter’s numbers stay strong.

Deni Avdija Fantasy Outlook

Avdija got a 5.83% increase to bring his total to 90.85%.

Avdija has been a bit of a fantasy disappointment this season, but he’s played pretty well of late, and it’s helping his own percentage rise closer to 100%.

In 39 games and 21 starts this season, Avdija is averaging 28.2 minutes, 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1 steal and 0.6 blocks. He’s scored in double figures in 10 of the past 11 games, and is averaging 32.7 minutes, 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocks over that span.

He recently missed three games, but was back in action on Sunday, tallying 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists and steals across 35 minutes. Avdija’s own percentage is a bit down because of lower averages, but his recent absences also have the numbers a touch down too. 

Take advantage of those things and scoop up a pretty good all-around fantasy player for free. He might not remain a great fantasy option for the rest of the season, but his own percentage probably should ever be much lower than it’s current mark - unless he’s injured or really struggling to produce.

Scoot Henderson Fantasy Outlook

Henderson is owned in 86.42% of leagues after a 5.08% bump.

Henderson has been on a tear of late, and his own percentage continues to rise as a result. Over his past four games, he’s averaging 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks across 35.2 minutes - he’s started three of those games.

Across 35 games and six starts this season, Henderson is averaging 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks across 26.8 minutes. He’s a second-year player and seems to be finding his groove now.

He’s been a great dynasty and deep-league option most of the season, and with his improved play of late, Henderson is absolutely worth rostering in standard leagues. His strong scoring efforts might not stick forever, so take advantage of things while you can.

Henderson should at least remain a streaming option in standard leagues for the remainder of the season. He’s a player I’d try to hold on to, not add and drop him as he goes in and out of hot/cold streaks, because the production in the hot streaks is great fantasy production.

Nick Smith Jr. Fantasy Outlook

Smith is up 5.05% and at 12.88% overall now.

Smith has started two games in a row and delivered good showings in each game - that explains his own percentage rising. Smith has 34 points, eight rebounds and two assists and steals in those games combined.

For the season, the 20-year-old has 21 games played and just the two starts. He’s averaging 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.1 blocks across 12.5 minutes.

Charlotte is dealing with a few injuries, and it’s helping Smith get on the court. So far, he’s taking advantage of the extra minutes, and could be earning himself a long-term role even when the team gets closer to full health.

I like the idea of adding Smith in dynasties and did so myself a couple weeks back. He’s flashed some potential in his first two seasons and just needs more playing time to really take off - I think that’s coming at some point, and might be starting now.

I also think Smith is worth adding in some other deeper leagues too, at least until he cools off. He’s playing enough minutes to produce and is delivering results of late. Until his playing time or production falls off, I’d stream Smith. At worst, you drop him after that, but if this is the start of his NBA breakout, you may have a season-long fantasy player on your hands.

Terry Rozier Fantasy Outlook

Rozier is rostered in 63.38% of leagues after a 4.85% bump.

Rozier has come off the bench the past two Miami games, but he’s delivered good results in those games and is seeing his own percentage rise as a result. He has 33 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal across 55 minutes in those two contests combined.

It’s a bit of a risk to roster a player coming off the bench in a standard fantasy league, but at the minutes Rozier is playing and the production he is providing, I have no issues rolling with Rozier. It might not last the rest of the season, but for now, I’d be OK adding him in some standard leagues.

Rozier needs to be rostered in all deeper leagues at this point. Even if he isn’t starting, he’s playing enough minutes and putting up good enough numbers to justify a deep-league spot.

Other Waiver Options

Some other standard league waiver wire options are: Kel'el Ware, Daniel Gafford, Onyeka Okongwu, Keyonte George, Christian Braun, Rui Hachimura, Spencer Dinwiddie and Naz Reid.

Ware was added in 16.86% of leagues and sits at 51.88% overall now. Gafford is up 4.35% and sitting at 86.15% overall.

Okongwu is rostered in 85.01% of leagues after a 3.9% bump. George is up to 82.9% after a 3.64% increase.

Braun got a 3.35% bump and sits at 79.39% overall now. Hachimura was added in 3.26% of leagues and is now owned in 59.48% of leagues.

Dinwiddie is rostered in 55.16% of leagues after a 2.16% boost. Reid is up 1.97% and owned in 94.37% of leagues.

Some deep-league waiver possibilities are: Isaiah Collier, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado, Precious Achiuwa, Kevon Looney, Duncan Robinson, Drew Eubanks, Anthony Black, Daniel Theis, Ricky Council IV, GG Jackson II and Luke Kennard.

Collier was added in 11.77% of leagues and has a 44.26% own mark overall now. Marshall is up another 4.34% and is owned in 40.52% of leagues.

Alvarado got a 4.02% boost and now sits at 20.84%. Achiuwa is up 3.44% and sitting at 11.27% overall.

Looney is rostered in 12.65% of leagues after a 3.2% boost. Robinson got added in 3.05% of leagues and is now in 13.85% overall.

Eubanks got added in 2.69% of leagues and is rostered in 9.6% of leagues overall. Black is up to 18.08% after a 2.64% boost.

Theis and Council each got 2.15% bumps and are rostered in 4.22% of leagues overall. 

Jackson and Kennard are each up 1.83%. Jackson is rostered in 9.89% of leagues, while Kennard is owned in 13.58%.