Kev Mahserejian offers up his Week 9 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers, and his NBA Week 9 Sleeper Picks might include waiver-wire pickups who’ve fallen through the cracks into free agency. Roster percentages refer to figures from Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues.
Week 9 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
Kyle Kuzma, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers (51% rostered)
With Anthony Davis presumably out for the foreseeable future due to an Achilles strain, Kyle Kuzma will step up into a more premier role in Los Angeles. He is averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 threes, and 1.2 blocks in games that AD misses.
In this most recent outing versus Denver where AD injured himself in the first-half, Kuzma accrued 19 points and 8 rebounds. His free throw percentage sucks but he shoots fewer than one per game and he can manage his way to one stock per game. If (God forbid) anything were to happen to LeBron James or another prominent Lakers player, Kuzma’s usage and production would skyrocket. He should be a priority add everywhere until AD returns.
Lakers All-Star Anthony Davis re-aggravated his right Achilles tendonosis and there's some swelling, source tells ESPN. He will get an MRI on Monday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2021
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Saddiq Bey, SF, Detroit Pistons (25% rostered)
Saddiq Bey has been extremely productive since seeing an expanded role in Detroit. He is averaging 13.9 points, 4.1 boards, 2.9 threes, and a steal per game over the past two weeks while shooting over 50% from the field and not tanking FT with a 78.6% average on two attempts per game. The Derrick Rose trade opened up usage for the rookie wing and he has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
Blake Griffin has not been very involved/productive this season, but his departure from the rotation will add even more of a boost for Bey. He is a must-add, for now, to see if he can keep some modicum of production up. The Pistons are terrible and will allow their young players a solid leash.
While the Spurs vs. Pistons’ game on Tuesday is postponed, Bey still has a solid 3-game week ahead to provide value and continue evaluating from.
ESPN story on Blake Griffin and Pistons agreeing that he will be out of the lineup until the franchise and his reps can work through a resolution on his playing future: https://t.co/EHsnV9sED8
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2021
Kenrich Williams, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder (9% Rostered)
This is a very tricky situation given that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee) and Theo Maledon (COVID-19 protocols) are both out for their own reasons. Williams has been extremely productive in their absence as he has been pressed into the starting lineup and operated in a higher-usage role than ever before.
Since starting his first game of the season on Feb. 5, Williams is averaging 11.2 points, 7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 threes per game. His free throw percentage is not good but given that he’s only attempted five total through six games, it is not much of a concern. Williams’ 57.7% FG through this stretch is incredible and is much more helpful than the FT is harmful.
Williams is unlikely to sustain this production but is worth adding in the mean-time and holding when the starting back-court returns to see what his role transitions to.
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