Kev Mahserejian offers advice on the Week 7 NBA Waiver Wire and offers his choices for the Top Week 7 Fantasy Basketball Pickups.
(Note: Roster % is as listed for Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bid range is based on a percentage of a fantasy basketball player’s remaining budget.)
Week 7 NBA Waiver Wire: Top Week 7 Fantasy Basketball Pickups
Patrick Williams, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls (10% rostered)
With Wendell Carter Jr. out for the next month due to a quadriceps contusion that was worse than expected, Patrick Williams should be a direct beneficiary. Williams has started every game he’s played this season, but with a chunk at small forward, an unnatural position. The Bulls are not a good team, notably due to the fact that that they start three bigs regularly and are so young.
Williams is versatile and talented, however, that has not translated to much fantasy production (yet). The Bulls have shown a willingness to play him heavy minutes which is a major positive for his prospects moving forward. In three games between Jan. 8 and 15, Williams played just over 35 minutes on average while scoring 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.7 threes, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 blocks with a 54% field goal percentage.
He is EXTREMELY fantasy-viable when playing so much, especially with a negligible free-throw percentage at around 80%.
Williams has been a let-down of late, especially in the Bulls’ most recent game versus the Celtics but just note that Williams missed a game a week before due to illness and was possibly dealing with residual issues afterward given his sporadic PT through the three games. He should back and playing a heavy role in the rotation with four days off due to COVID postponements.
While Thaddeus Young (who is worth an add as well) will see an increase in playing time, Williams is the Bulls’ big to add due to his upside across-the-board.
➕ Patrick Williams FAAB bid range: 10-15% ➕
Wayne Ellington, PF, Detroit Pistons (46%)
What the heck is going on here?? Wayne Ellington is drilling from three at an absolutely unsustainable rate, but it is hard to argue against him as an add.
The 33-year old journeyman currently holds the highest three-point percentage in the NBA at 53.2%! This is remarkable on 6.7 attempts from deep per game. Over the past 8 games (of which Ellington started every), he is averaging 17.6 points, 5 made threes, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. This is on a ridiculous 58% FG with 8.4 of 10.1 shots coming from three.
Wayne Ellington has made 44 of 85 three-point shots this season
51.8 percent
Graph showing how Ellington's three-point rate and percentage has changed over his collegiate and NBA career
*make it wayne* pic.twitter.com/62WFPM5HPJ