As an American living in England, it’s heartwarming to hear about the Thanksgiving traditions that are increasingly embraced by the British public. And no, I’m not talking about enjoying the fellowship of others, eating great food, or reflecting on the many blessings that we enjoy in our affluent societies. I’m talkin’ ’bout busting down the doors of the cheap electronics store at 4 AM, crushing skulls underfoot, and stampeding toward the flat screens! USA! USA! USA! Amazingly, I’ve come across several Brits who harbor resentment toward America for exporting this time-honored tradition, but thankfully their ranks are thinning. I’m confident we’ll eventually win them all over, one special edition ‘Friends’ box set at a time…
Fortunately for us waiver wire scavengers, there are always Black Friday deals to be found in fantasy hoops if one looks hard enough (and reads this post). My goal is to highlight players who are on 50% or fewer rosters in ESPN and/or Yahoo leagues so that you can find the best fit to win your head-to-head matchup.
If you entered the Metuverse like I did last week, you hopefully benefitted from the threes, rebounds, steals, and blocks that Chimezie Metu provided in the Kings’ final two games of your matchup. However, our journey ended abruptly with the firing of Luke Walton and the installment of Alvin Gentry, which has resulted in back-to-back DNP-CDs for Metu thus far. It’s time to snap back to the real world and find some alternatives.
Since there are no games on Thanksgiving, all teams play just one or two games to close out the week. As a result, I’m not placing as much emphasis on schedules, but make sure to maximize your streaming spot by making multiple moves (if required). That being said, here are my players to watch and add for the final three nights of game action.
Want the best tools and projections to help dominate your league? Check out the Stocktonator, the byproduct of Rudy and machine making love. Click HERE for a FREE 3-day trial.
Three Category Contributors
Jarred Vanderbilt (Rebounds, Steals, Blocks): Given the fact that this is a weekly post, there’s always one or two players who I’m behind the power curve on, and Vanderbilt fits that bill for week six. After failing to live up to heightened expectations over the first ten games, he is averaging nine rebounds, two steals, and one block on 60% shooting in his previous eight outings – all starts. Grab him if he’s still available (Plays Fri, Sat).
Two Category Contributors
Alec Burks (Threes, FT%): Burks was the most solid member of the Knicks’ backcourt over the previous two weeks, given the struggles of their starters. Alongside the elevated scoring and three-point production, he is averaging 1.7 steals over his previous six games. Take this with a grain of salt, as he has historically averaged less than a steal per game over his career (Plays Fri, Sat).
Patrick Beverley (Assists, Blocks): We’re in wait-and-see mode after Beverley exited Wednesday’s game early with a leg injury. Last week, I commented on his lack of shot-blocking. He then proceeded to block eight shots over his next four games. Obviously, he is an avid reader of this post and is highly motivated by what I write. When healthy, he is playing well enough to maintain a spot on twelve-team league rosters everywhere (Plays Fri, Sat).
Kevin Huerter (Points, Assists): De’Andre Hunter’s extended absence is providing Huerter with the opportunity to reclaim most of his production from last season, when he was a top 120 player (Plays Fri, Sat).
Cory Joseph (Assists, Steals): Joseph’s value is largely contingent upon whether or not Killian Hayes returns for Friday’s action. Prior to Wednesday’s no-show performance, Joseph averaged eight assists and two steals across two starts. It’s always difficult to figure out what Dwayne Casey is going to do, however, so take note that Saben Lee took over PG duties for the bulk of Wednesday’s action (Plays Fri, Sun).
Dean Wade / Kevin Love (Threes, Rebounds): While starting for the Cavs in place of Evan Mobley and garnering the lion’s share of minutes at power forward, Wade has put up some uneven performances. Wednesday’s game against the Suns witnessed Kevin Love playing more than Wade, so there is a case to be made for adding Love if you’re searching for more consistency in treys and boards for Saturday (Plays Sat).
Facundo Campazzo (Assists, Steals): P.J. Dozier’s season-ending knee injury means that Facundo is back to playing meaningful minutes for the Nuggets. Under similar circumstances at the end of the 2020-21 season, he was highly reliable for dimes and defense (Plays Fri).
Jeff Green (Points, Threes): The long-term nature of Michael Porter Jr.’s injury is the impetus behind Green’s re-emergence. He’s a relatively consistent scorer who provides little else (Plays Fri).
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Threes, Rebounds): Back-to-back double-doubles have put Robinson-Earl on the map for the young Thunder. Over his past eight outings, he’s averaging 1.6 threes, 8.3 rebounds, and 1 steal in 27 minutes per game (Plays Fri).
JaVale McGee (Rebounds, FG%): With Frank Kaminsky slated to miss several weeks for the Suns, McGee figures to be the only show in town at backup center. He’s averaging 7.5 rebounds and 1 block while shooting 68% this season (Plays Fri, Sat).
One Category Contributors
Maxi Kleber (Blocks): Since returning from injury, Kleber played 21 and 35 minutes over two games. Granted, one of them was an overtime affair, but Kleber’s outside shooting and defense make him well suited for a sizable role in the Mavs’ frontcourt (Plays Sat).
Patty Mills (Threes): Mills is averaging nearly 21 points on 5.5 threes over his previous four contests. Ride the hot streak while it lasts (Plays Sat).
Cedi Osman (Threes): Osman will have more opportunities going forward with Collin Sexton ruled out for the season. In addition to bombing from downtown, he’s a decent playmaker and semi-reliable thief (Plays Sat).
Danilo Gallinari (FT%): Gallo knows how to draw contact and get to the charity stripe. In the three games he played over the past week, he hit all of his free throws on six attempts per game (Plays Fri, Sat).
P.J. Tucker (Rebounds): P.J. had it going from the field for a stretch, but the offensive production has plummeted and is now closer to his career averages. Because coaches love this guy, he sees the floor a lot. He’ll grab rebounds (5.8/game) and hit spot-up threes (1.2/game) (Plays Sat).
Send me any questions or feedback you have in the comments below. Best of luck and Happy Thanksgiving!
