January 27 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Vit Krejci, Isaiah Joe, Ausar Thompson, Aaron Wiggins, Brandin Poziemski and More
NBA players who are popular waiver wire pickups at the start of the 15th week of the fantasy season.
It’s time for the first fantasy basketball waiver wire article of the week!
The five players we will discuss in detail were pulled from the FantasySP Waiver Wire Pickups page, which is updated daily. Check back later in the week for more waiver wire writeups.
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Vit Krejci Fantasy Outlook
Krejci is up 13.9% and is now rostered in 37.29% of leagues overall. Krejci continues to deliver solid results, and his own percentage is rising as a result.
Over his past 11 games (10 starts), Krejci has scored in double figures eight times. He’s averaging 12.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1 steal and 0.8 blocks across 28.3 minutes in that span. Across 30 games and 13 starts this season, Krejci is averaging 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks.
You can see why Krejci is trending up right now. His averages still aren’t super spectacular, but he’s doing enough to be rostered in most deeper leagues. Until he cools off from the floor, I wouldn’t mind streaming Krejci in deeper leagues.
I don’t think Krejci will ever be a real big standard league fantasy asset, but he’s close enough to at least keep tabs on. Roll with Krejci before his production falls off.
Isaiah Joe Fantasy Outlook
Joe is rostered in 33.66% of leagues after an 8.84% increase. He’s been in a good groove as a scorer of late, so it’s easy to see why he’s being added.
Over the past seven games (one start), Joe has scored in double figures five times. He’s averaging 15.3 points a game though. Joe is also averaging 2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.6 steals across 23.2 minutes.
For the season, Joe is averaging 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.1 blocks across 20.7 minutes. He’s played in 41 games, starting 11.
He’s been a sneaky good fantasy option over the past several games, but that’s mostly because he’s been scoring more, not because his role has changed much, or he’s playing a ton of minutes. I’m fine adding Joe while he’s in this groove, but at the same time, I wouldn’t recommend him if you are looking for a long-term asset.
I think there’s got to be better long-term options out there for you. Joe simply doesn’t average enough outside his scoring to be a good long-term option. I’d still try to take advantage of Joe as a fantasy asset while he’s hot as a scorer.
Ausar Thompson Fantasy Outlook
Thompson is up 5.76% and owned in 52.3% of leagues overall. He’s scored in double figures in three straight games, and continues to stuff the stat sheet, so it’s fair to see his own percentage rising.
Over the past three games, Thompson is averaging 14.3 points, 5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 1 block across 25.5 minutes played. For the season, Thompson has averages of 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and steals and 0.4 blocks across 19.7 minutes in 23 games and 12 starts.
So with more playing time, Thompson is proving to be a better fantasy asset - who would have thought? At his current marks though, there’s enough fantasy production there to roster him in most deeper leagues and even some standard ones. Of course, he should be rostered in dynasty leagues as just a 21-year-old (nearly 22) in his second NBA season.
If you're a standard league team in good position overall, but with a roster spot to play with, taking a chance on Thompson could pay off big down the road for you. You could add and stash him if you aren’t confident enough in him to produce right now - I think he’s doing enough to start here and there though.
Aaron Wiggins Fantasy Outlook
Wiggins got a 4.7% bump and now is rostered in 28.57% of leagues. He’s another OKC player who has performed a bit better of late.
Despite scoring in single digits the past two games, Wiggins is averaging 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.2 blocks across 23.9 minutes in the past 16 games (five starts). He’s averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.2 blocks across 21 minutes in 45 games and 13 starts this season.
Most of his fantasy value comes from his scoring, but he does enough else to consider in some deeper leagues. I’m a bit surprised to see his own percentage rising despite the two single-digit performances in a row. Wiggins started, but only played 17 minutes in the team’s last game.
Anyway, if Wiggins is an upgrade over someone else currently taking up a roster spot in a deeper league, I have no issues giving Wiggins a try for a while. I just personally think there’s some better options out there for you.
Brandin Podziemski Fantasy Outlook
Podziemski is rostered in 25.42% of leagues after a 4.66% bump. He just returned from a lengthy absence, so naturally his own percentage will rise as people figure out he’s back.
On the season, Podz is averaging 8.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1 steal and 0.2 blocks across 24.1 minutes in 32 games and eight starts. In his first two games back (in which he came off the bench and played 21 and 24 minutes), Podziemski has combined for 27 points, seven rebounds and assists and three steals.
I’m honestly a bit surprised his own percentage isn’t taking off more than it is now. He’s a promising second-year player. He struggled this season and has been a fantasy disappointment, but maybe the little break gave him time to reset, and now he’s about ready to turn into the player we all thought he’d become before this season started up.
I’d be adding him in more deeper leagues and keeping an eye on him in standard leagues. He should be rostered in all dynasty leagues as he’s just 21 years old.
Other Waiver Options
Some other deep-league waiver wire options are: Jordan Clarkson, Gary Trent Jr., Isaiah Collier, Jaylin Williams, Dillon Brooks, Mike Conley, Chris Boucher, Jarred Vanderbilt, GG Jackson II, Moussa Diabate, Andrew Nembhard, Harrison Barnes, Keon Johnson and Josh Okogie.
Clarkson is rostered in 43.1% of leagues after a 2.77% increase. Trent is up 2.77% and sitting at 10.41% overall.
Collier is owned in 34.14% of leagues after a 2.16% increase. Williams got a 1.92% bump up and sits at 34.14% overall as well.
Brooks is rostered in 28.8% of leagues after a 1.84% increase. Conley is up 1.59% and owned in 44.55% of leagues overall.
Boucher got a 1.58% bump and is rostered in 10.41% of leagues. Vanderbilt is up 1.54% and sitting at 7.75% now.
Jackson is rostered in 7.02% of leagues after a 1.53% increase. Diabate is owned in 4.84% of leagues after a 1.5% bump.
Nembhard got added in 1.37% of leagues and is now rostered in 46% overall. Barnes is up 1.13% and rostered in 28.81% overall.
Johnson was added in 1.12% of leagues and is owned in 11.86% overall. Okogie is rostered in 6.3% of leagues after a 1.05% increase.
Some more standard league waiver wire options are: Jaden McDaniels, Zach Edey, Nick Richards, Terry Rozier, Cason Wallace and Kyle Kuzma.
McDaniels was added in 4.46% of leagues, bringing his total mark to 78.21%. Edey is up to 62.47% overall after a 3.04% bump.
Richards got added in 2.89% of leagues and is rostered in 68.52% overall now. Rozier is up 1.55% and sitting at 58.35% overall.
Wallace got another 1.29% increase to bring his total mark to 56.9%. Kuzma is owned in 77.72% of leagues after a 1.11% increase.
