Grayson Allen has averaged 17.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 3-pointers made per game this season.
Despite there being a lot of injuries across the NBA, the waiver wire is still filled with valuable players. Whether your squad needs scoring, assists or a big man, there are viable options to consider. Here are six players who are still available in the majority of Yahoo leagues that stand out.
Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns (43% rostered)
The move from the Rockets to the Suns has proven to be beneficial for Brooks. After averaging 14.0 points per game last season, he is averaging 22.3 points this season. He has been more efficient, shooting 46.3% from the field after shooting 42.9% last season. However, the biggest reason for his increase in scoring is that his usage rate is up to 29.1%. Last season, he had a 17.7% usage rate.
Brooks hasn’t just been racking up points in bunches. He is also providing 1.7 steals per game, which is on pace to be the highest mark of his career. Jalen Green (hamstring) is still out, and now Devin Booker is battling a groin injury that will sideline him for at least one week. Brooks isn’t going to see his role decline anytime soon.
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (37% rostered)
Zion Williamson (adductor) is out again. The team announced Tuesday that he won’t even be re-evaluated for another three weeks. After playing in just 30 games last season, Williamson appears to be well on his way to yet another disappointing campaign.
With previous injuries to Williamson and other members of the Pelicans, Bey has averaged 31 minutes over his last 14 games. He hasn’t let his opportunity go to waste, averaging 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.1 3-pointers during that stretch. With plenty of minutes likely coming his way moving forward, he’s a top target on the waiver wire.
Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns (36% rostered)
Allen recently missed seven straight games with a quadriceps injury. He returned for just one game before sitting out Monday’s matchup against the Lakers with an illness. The Suns don’t play again until Friday, so he will have had plenty of time to recover before then.
With Green out for most of the season, Allen has averaged 17.9 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 3-pointers. He has shot 46.2% from the field, 79.4% from the free-throw line and 43.8% from deep. Now that Booker is out, the Suns could really lean heavily on Allen for offense. Even when Booker eventually returns, Allen has already proven to be a valuable fantasy option.
Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (27% rostered)
The Pacers entered this season with an unsettled situation at center after Myles Turner departed for the Bucks. Isaiah Jackson is healthy again and was a starter at the beginning of the season, but he struggled in the role. He has come off the bench lately and is logging just 19 minutes per game for the season.
The reason Jackson is now coming off the bench has been the improved play of Huff. Over their last seven games, he has averaged 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 blocks and 2.3 3-pointers. He has started each of the last four games and could be given a long look as a starter, given his recent surge in production. His combination of 3-pointers and blocks isn’t easy to come by on the waiver wire.
Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (27% rostered)
Paolo Banchero (groin) doesn’t appear to be close to returning for the Magic. He hasn’t been cleared for contact yet, which isn’t a good sign. He has already missed 10 games for the Magic after injuries limited him to 46 games last season.
Black has averaged 29 minutes since Banchero was sidelined with his injury. In his new role, he has provided 15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 3-pointers a night. After shooting just 31.8% from three last season, Black has shot 33.8% this season. At just 21 years old, Black looks significantly more comfortable in his third season in the NBA. Even when Banchero does eventually return, Black should play a lot as one of the leading members of the Magic’s second unit.
Ryan Nembhard, Dallas Mavericks (23% rostered)
The Mavericks have been searching for someone to fill in at point guard with Kyrie Irving still recovering from a torn ACL. D’Angelo Russell hasn’t panned out, shooting just 39.8% from the field and 26.6% from three. Brandon Williams has provided flashes, but he has been inconsistent. The Mavericks even tried having Cooper Flagg run the point, which is a lot to ask from a rookie forward.
The latest player to soak up minutes at point guard has been Nembhard, who has started four straight games. As a starter, he has averaged 17.0 points, 7.5 assists and 3.0 3-pointers. The last two games, he played at least 34 minutes each. Now, it’s not sustainable for him to shoot 65.1% from the field like he has as a starter. However, he can be a good source for 3-pointers and assists when given added minutes. Considering the other lackluster options that the Mavericks have, Nembhard could hang onto the starting point guard job for the foreseeable future.
