Kev Mahserejian offers up his Week 4 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers, and his NBA Week 4 Sleeper Picks might include waiver wire pickups who’ve fallen through the cracks into free agency — though Tyrese Maxey probably didn’t. Roster percentages refer to figures from Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball Leagues.
The NBA season is at a near stand-still as COVID-related cases rise. Postponements are coming left and right. While the fantasy world holds its breath as to whether the league will choose to delay the season by 10-14 days, we must persist for the time being and continue setting lineups to act as if this week will still be played until a ruling is reached.
These players are the best sleepers for the week of January 11, 2021, which may include possible fantasy basketball waiver-wire pickups.
Week 4 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
Tyrese Maxey, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (42% rostered)
Not sure how much of a “sleeper” Tyrese Maxey is after his 39-point outburst Saturday versus the Denver Nuggets, but here we are.
Maxey was the 76ers’ first-round pick this season and has been fantastic within his role. While there are legitimate questions as to whether his efficiency will sustain throughout his time as the starter, he should remain productive. Joel Embiid returns for the Sixers this week to take the load off of the offense and allow Maxey to work in a complementary role rather than what he was asked on Saturday.
Since becoming consistently involved on New Year’s Eve, Maxey is averaging 14.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 threes, and a steal per game. Albeit, a good chunk of this average is due to playing 44 minutes against and having the ball enough to take 33 shots.
The Sixers play five games this week and with Ben Simmons knee requiring management, it is possible that Maxey starts every single one and acts as a key contributor.
Danny Green, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers (25% Rostered)
To follow-up Tyrese Maxey, another 76er with five games to play this week finds this list. Danny Green is playing much better recently and can provide stats across the board without hurting you anywhere but free throw (even so, on very low volume). Over the past five games, Green is averaging 12.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.2 threes per game.
Seth Curry and Shake Milton remain out due to COVID protocols which puts a heavier burden on Green as his team’s primary perimeter scorer. While Green is prone to dud games, the five-game schedule compensates for the possibility of not only one dud, but even two if they were to occur. Green can carry you in threes and steals this week.
Moritz Wagner, PF/C , Washington Wizards (21% Rostered)
With Thomas Bryant unfortunately out for the year with a torn ACL, bench big Moritz Wagner’s role will increase substantially moving forward. The Washington Wizards do not have much front-court depth as things stand. Davis Bertans’ role will increase, as will Rui Hachimura’s but neither are really centers. Mo Wagner and Robin Lopez will be asked to fill in at the five for a majority of games.
While Lopez is more of a traditional center, his role will likely remain limited given his age and inability to stretch the floor. Wagner can play PF or C and has contributed in the past. Before getting hurt last season and missing nearly two months’ worth of games, Wagner averaged 11.6 points, 6 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, and a three in 20.4 minutes-per-game across 21 games. He even became a starter averaging 25mpg for four games prior to the injury.
The Wizards hardly played him this year outside of garbage time which tempter expectations but a decent role between 18 and 22 mpg should not be out of the question. He has a four-game week and should not be relegated to an end-of-bench role unless the Wizards make a move down-the-line.
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