It feels good to be back. After taking a week off for NBA All-Star festivities, we hit the ground RUNNING with two straight 5×5 games from Victor Wembanyama and three straight triple-doubles from Nikola Jokic. As the fantasy playoffs draw near, it’s time to kick it into high gear with my deep league waiver wire adds for Week 18.
The following players are rostered in < 55% of Fantrax leagues. I lifted my normal ‘50%’ threshold by five percent because the first two studs mentioned deserve an add in ALL leagues.
Deep League Waiver Wire Adds for Week 18
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF – Los Angeles Lakers (52% rostered)
Hachimura has been on a scoring rampage over the last six games, delivering 21, 15, 36, eight, 17, and 13 points. The Japanese native has started the past nine games for Los Angeles, where he has taken FULL advantage. Look for the 23-year-old to continue starting and posting elite points, boards, and field-goal percentage with the occasional dime and swat.
Simone Fontecchio, SF – Detroit Pistons (52% rostered)
Fontecchio has been rock-solid since entering the starting lineup four games ago, averaging 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.3 three-pointers, and 0.8 steals (22.9 fantasy points). The Pistons have ZERO, ZILCH, NADA to play for, so the Italian sharpshooter should continue receiving HEAVY minutes for the rest of the season. If you need consistent points and triples along with decent dimes, boards, and swipes, give the 28-year-old a LONG look.
Ziaire Williams, SF – Memphis Grizzlies (33% rostered)
Williams got the starting nod right before the All-Star break due to injuries and took advantage, accumulating a career-high 27 points. Memphis then rewarded the 22-year-old with another start and posted 10 points, four rebounds, two steals, and a three-pointer. The Stanford product has played 30-plus minutes over the past two games, a trend that should continue. Ziaire (zy-air) is a speculative pickup who could be a silly-season hero if he keeps up his magnificent play.
Taylor Hendricks, PF – Utah Jazz (46% rostered)
Hendricks has been crowned the new starting power forward for the Utah Jazz as of Feb. 22. His last two games as the starter have yielded a decent 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.0 three-pointers in 25.8 minutes. With Utah virtually out of the playoff race, the 20-year-old should start the rest of the way as the Jazz look toward the future. The rookie out of Central Florida will undoubtedly face growing pains, but his starting role should produce enough stats to keep him relevant in most formats.
Cody Martin, SG/SF – Charlotte Hornets (26% rostered)
Martin has at least one steal in five straight games, averaging 2.2 swipes. He’s also averaging 8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.8 three-pointers (26.9 fantasy points) during that span. Add the former Nevada Wolf Pack if you need swipes, boards, and dimes with the occasional triple.
Quentin Grimes, SG/SF – Detroit Pistons (48% rostered)
Grimes made his long-awaited Pistons debut last Saturday, delivering five points, four assists, two rebounds, two steals, a three-pointer, and a block (21.4 fantasy points) in 26 minutes. The extended amount of minutes was a surprise coming off a knee injury, but it seems Detroit wants to see what they have in the 23-year-old. Don’t be surprised if the former Houston Cougar averages 25-30 minutes the rest of the way.
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 18!