In Week 12, we’re on a quest to discover the unsung ballers ready to turn your fantasy squad’s storyline from drama to championship glory. So grab your shovel and a sense of humor as we dig up the most obscure, the most unexpected, and the most “Did he seriously just pick him up?” fantasy basketball deep league waiver wire adds to save your fantasy team.
The following players are rostered in < 50% of Fantrax leagues.
Deep League Waiver Wire Adds for Week 12
Killian Hayes, PG/SG – Detroit Pistons (46% rostered)
If you fell asleep early Sunday night, you might’ve missed Cade Cunningham leaving Sunday night’s game early due to a left knee strain. While the extent of Cunningham’s injury is unknown, we do know Killian Hayes started the second half for him. If you’re reading this, open up your fantasy basketball app and add the 22-year-old STAT. If you recall, Cunningham missed most of last season due to a shin injury, and in 64 games as the starting point guard last season, Hayes posted 11.5 points, 6.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers. Expect elite assists and ‘3-and-D’ stats from the former seventh overall pick for however long Cunningham is sidelined.
Alec Burks, SG – Detroit Pistons (30% rostered)
Recommending two Pistons back-to-back feels dirty, but Burks has given me no choice. The 32-year-old has scored double-digit points in seven straight games, averaging 17.4 points to go along with 3.3 three-pointers and 3.0 rebounds in 24.6 minutes. With the aforementioned Cunningham possibly missing time, more playing time awaits the former Colorado Buffalo, which means he should not be on your waiver wire if you need points, triples, and boards.
Simone Fontecchio, SF – Utah Jazz (50% rostered)
Fontecchio has started the last five games for Utah, averaging 13.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 three-pointers, and 1.6 steals. The 28-year-old is as safe as they come in the starting lineup, providing solid and consistent points, boards, triples, and swipes. Add the Italian if you want to improve in 7-of-9 statistical categories.
Derrick Jones Jr., SF/PF – Dallas Mavericks (45% rostered)
Jones Jr. finally busted out of his slump on Sunday, totaling 12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, one steal, and one assist. Before Sunday’s stellar game, the 26-year-old hadn’t broken double-digit points in three straight games, but he seems to have found his mojo after using one of his three blocks on Sunday on Rudy Gobert. The UNLV product has started all but one game for the Mavericks this season, so he should continue providing consistently decent across-the-board stats for your fantasy team.
Derrick Jones Jr. met Rudy Gobert AT THE RIM 😳pic.twitter.com/vwJoGm9T8A
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 8, 2024
Kevin Love, PF/C – Miami Heat (46% rostered)
Love has played 20-plus minutes over the past three games, averaging 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes during that span. The 35-year-old is an auto-start for however long Jimmy Butler (foot) is out. The UCLA product should be added everywhere, especially if you want elite points and boards along with decent dimes, triples, and swats.
Caleb Houstan, SF – Orlando Magic (12% rostered)
Houstan got the starting nod on Sunday and rewarded Orlando with a career-high seven three-pointers on his way to accumulating 25 points on 7-of-14 field-goal shooting, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 36 minutes. The 20-year-old had been getting some run before Sunday’s explosion, averaging 11.5 points, 3.0 three-pointers, and 2.0 steals in his prior two games. The Michigan product is a must-start option while Wagner is out, and even if Franz returns on Tuesday against the Timberwolves, the rookie has earned more minutes moving forward. Houstan should be a consistent source of points, triples, and swipes whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Sam Merrill, SG – Cleveland Cavaliers (12% rostered)
Merrill is ON FIRE from beyond the arc over his last four games, hitting 4, 3, 3, and 5 three-pointers on 42.9 three-point percentage. During that span, the 27-year-old is averaging 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. The Cavaliers paid the Utah State product a lot of money over the offseason to be their sharpshooter, and that’s exactly what he’s been for them all year. Make the add if you want a triple-making machine that also chips in with points, boards, and dimes.
Dennis Smith Jr., PG – Brooklyn Nets (29% rostered)
Smith Jr.’s minutes have been spotty over the past few weeks, but he’s received 25 and 29 minutes over the past two games, averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.0 steals during that span. The 26-year-old has earned more playing time moving forward, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he played 20-plus minutes a game for the foreseeable future. The NC State product is a consistent source of points, boards, dimes, and swipes when given the minutes. Also, head coach Jacque Vaughn HAS to reward the former ninth-overall pick with more playing time after POSTERIZING Duop Reath on Sunday.
DENNIS SMITH JR POSTER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/V4a2hqOG83
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 7, 2024
As we wrap up this Deep League Waiver Wire Adds article, remember that in the wild world of fantasy basketball, you’re not just managing a team; you’re practically running a circus.
So, get ready to juggle waiver wire decisions, make slam-dunk moves, and dodge fantasy curveballs. Lace up your virtual shoes and let the games begin.
As for this article? In the famous words of Chick Hearn, “You can put this one in the refrigerator. The door’s closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter’s getting hard and the Jell-O is jiggling.”
Good luck in Week 12!