Using Fantasy Basketball Weekly Projections to Identify Waiver Wire Options | Onyeka Okongwu, Russell Westbrook, Kyle Kuzma, Ben Simmons, Jusuf Nurkic and More

With the NBA on its All-Star break, the waiver wire page here at FantasySP is pretty stagnant.

So we'll use a different tool here at FSP to identify some possible waiver wire options, the weekly projections page.

Here is a list of some of the top-projected players who are available in at least a handful of leagues. I'll break them down into groups - how many games they are playing this week (which ends February 23).

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Two Games

Onyeka Okongwu Fantasy Outlook

Okongwu is available in about 10% of fantasy basketball leagues right now. He's got games on February 20 and 23.

In 48 games and 14 starts this season, Okongwu is averaging 12.1 points, 8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.9 steals and blocks across 25.5 minutes. 

He's started 14 straight games for the Hawks. In that span, he's averaging 13.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks across 29.2 minutes.

It's not a huge statline, but on points and rebounds alone, Okongwu can deliver good fantasy results. He shoots a high percentage and really doesn't have too many negative points to his fantasy game.

I think he should be owned in about as many leagues as he is, but if you are looking for some help this week, especially a center spot, Okongwu is a good option. 

Russell Westbrook Fantasy Outlook

Westbrook is available in about 12% of fantasy leagues. He's dealing with a hamstring injury and hasn't played since January 31. A return date hasn't been set for the veteran guard, but a post-All-Star break return was mentioned a few times. 

In 48 games and 27 starts this season, Westbrook is averaging 13 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks across 27.7 minutes.

His own percentage is down after missing several games in a row, and it will likely continue to dip until he's back. Keep an eye on his status and pick him up when he's expected back. Westbrook is a pretty solid fantasy asset with his well-rounded averages.

Ben Simmons Fantasy Outlook

Simmons is only rostered in 51% of leagues, so a good portion of you reading would be able to pick him up if you wanted to.

Simmons joined the Clippers after the trade deadline and looked good in his first action with the team. He had 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and one block in 27 minutes off the bench.

Los Angeles was missing a couple players, including Kawhi Leonard, so I understand why Simmons wasn't a massive waiver wire pickup after that well-rounded performance. Simmons is definitely capable of those kinds of performances every night though, especially when surrounded by as much talent as the Clippers have.

I'd definitely be adding Simmons in deeper leagues, and I'd be a fan of picking up Simmons in some standard leagues now too. If I had a roster spot to play with, I'd at least roster Simmons for a bit to see if he can continue to deliver performances like his last game.

Ausar Thompson Fantasy Outlook

Thompson is available in about 13% of fantasy leagues right now.

In 33 games and 22 starts this season, Thompson is averaging 9.3 points, 5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.5 blocks across 20.9 minutes. 

He's scored in double figures in seven straight games, which have all been starts. Thompson is averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.3 blocks across 25.1 minutes.

He's been trending up of late, and will continue to see his own percentage go up if he continues to deliver similar numbers. Thompson is more of a well-rounded fantasy contributor than a star player, but that kind of fantasy production is great for fantasy teams too.

I wouldn't call Thompson a must-add fantasy player, but a player to add if you had a roster spot to play with.

Tari Eason Fantasy Outlook

Eason is available in about 33% of fantasy leagues right now.

He missed the team's final game before the All-Star break, but it isn't expected to be a long absence. The Rockets have not played him in the second-half of back-to-back games since he returned from a long absence on January 16.

In 36 games and four starts this season, Eason is averaging 11.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks across 24.2 minutes a game. 

It's frustrating to not have him available on the second night of back-to-back games, because Eason can be a great fantasy contributor any night. Take his last game for example, when Eason had 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals across 34 minutes.

He's worth streaming in standard fantasy leagues, but until he's playing every game, he should really only be consistently rostered in deeper leagues.

Bennedict Mathurin Fantasy Outlook

Mathurin is rostered in about 75% of leagues right now.

In 51 games and 44 starts this season, Mathurin is averaging 16.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks across 31.5 minutes.

He's scored at least 12 points in five straight games, and has over 16 points in four of those, while going over 25 points twice. With 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over that span, there's enough there to roster Mathurin in some standard leagues.

Some lower-scoring games of late have his own percentage down a bit right now, and if you wanted to take a chance on a player, Mathurin is a pretty intriguing option. He might not be the most consistent fantasy asset, but his ceiling is probably a little higher than most of the other waiver wire options.

Other Options

Most NBA teams are playing just twice between now and Sunday, so most of the waiver wire options are in this category.

Klay Thompson, Caris LeVert, Nicolas Claxton, Andrew Wiggins, Brandin Podziemski, Khris Middleton, Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Clingan are some of the players projected for the most fantasy points among guys we haven't already mentioned.

Three Games

Kyle Kuzma Fantasy Outlook

Kuzma is available in about 16% of fantasy leagues right now.

He's been pretty heavily involved since being traded to the Bucks, but Giannis Antetokounmpo has also been out all those games. In four games and three starts, Kuzma is averaging 33.3 minutes, 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.

I expect his averages to dip a bit when Giannis returns, but Kuzma should still be a pretty solid fantasy asset when the Bucks are at full strength. Kuzma is at least worth rostering until Milwaukee is at full strength to see what kind of role he'll have.

Jusuf Nurkic Fantasy Outlook 

Nurkic is rostered in just 57% of leagues, so he's available for most of you.

He joined the Hornets at the trade deadline and has one game under his belt with his new squad. Nurkic had nine points, eight rebounds and one assist, steal and block across 16 minutes in that contest.

Charlotte was missing several players in that game, most notably big men Moussa Diabate and Mark Williams.

Nurkic should be able to carve out a consistent role in Charlotte, but it might not ever be over 20 minutes. He's still capable of decent fantasy showings with a lower amount of minutes, but that makes Nurkic a better deep-league option.

Keep an eye on Nurkic, but I'm not sure he'll become a standard league keeper for the rest of the season.

Other Options 

There's a few more waiver wire options playing three games this week worth mentioning.

Bobby Portis, Jalen Suggs, Chris Paul, De'Andre Hunter, Santi Aldama, Bol Bol, Tyus Jones and Stephon Castle are among that group.