As important as the NBA fantasy draft is to building a winner, staying active on the waiver wire can be the difference between heartbreak and winning a championship. League winners and real difference-makers are found on the waiver wire each year. It requires owners to stay on top of league news, watch trends and be on the lookout for any changes to NBA starting lineups.
Specific league settings mean taking different strategies to the waiver wire, but it's always in your best interest to check it early and often. Whether it's a player coming back from the NBA injury report or a blossoming player who flew under the radar on draft day, there are ample opportunities to upgrade your team even after the draft. No matter how well you've prepared using your fantasy basketball draft kit, there are always challenges throughout the season.
What Is the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Basketball?
The waiver wire is a group of all players who are not rostered on fantasy basketball teams. The initial list is made up of undrafted players, many of whom had low NBA fantasy ADP. Fantasy basketball owners make adds and drops throughout the season, so the waiver wire list is always changing.
Different leagues have different rules on obtaining players from the waiver wire. Some leagues have FAAB (free agent acquisition budget) where, similar to fantasy basketball auction values, the high bidder is awarded the player each day. Some leagues go based on waiver wire order (which often starts with a reverse order of the draft in snake leagues), while others have a free-for-all where owners can pick up and drop players at any time.
Key Traits of Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Gems
The key to finding fantasy basketball waiver wire gems is to understand the context of a player's hot stretch. If a player fills in nicely for a missing star, but that star is set to return, that player may not return much value moving forward. If the player has had a couple big nights because of a rotation change that you expect to continue, it's worth taking a flier on them. Checking out NBA projections each night can help.
It's also good to find players who are performing well in niche categories like 3-pointers, steals or blocks. It's tough to find a Top-10 scorer on the waiver wire, but players who are elite in one category often pop up throughout the year. Don't simply look for big names; look for players specific to the categories you're chasing.
Strategies for Identifying Waiver Wire Breakouts
It's important that fantasy basketball owners know the strengths of their team, where their weaknesses are, and what they need in a given week. If your team is already strong in rebounds and you have that category wrapped up, it doesn't make as much sense to go after a big man who's going through a hot stretch. Know exactly what you need as well as that particular player's schedule, which ensures that you'll have room for them if you're streaming for a single week.
Veterans are often less impactful than younger players, especially early in the year. That's not always the case, but a 10-year veteran has a lower ceiling and is typically locked into their role. They are what they are. Younger players can blossom into larger roles with higher ceilings, so we recommend going after those types of players who may break out. Veterans can certainly help for streaming, but season-long difference-makers will often be younger players.
When to Pick Up Players from the Waiver Wire & When to Drop Them
You're never going to drop your stars as they go through slumps, but we recommend looking at a player's statistics rather than where you had them on your fantasy basketball rankings when deciding whether to drop a player. Don't be too proud to admit a draft day mistake if there's a better option on the waiver wire out there.
If your league has unlimited transactions, make moves early and often. Give players trial runs to see if their hot streak is for real or if a proven player will break out of a slump. This is more common early in the season, but you'll also want to stay active on the waiver wire around the trade deadline and later in the year when NBA rotations change often and certain players take on bigger roles. Keep an eye on those players who you had ranked highly on your NBA fantasy draft cheat sheet who weren't drafted, but could contribute in certain scenarios. Stay active and don't be afraid to make a bold move.
Don't tread lightly when it comes to the waiver wire. League winners are out there every year. Make sure you subscribe to RotoWire so you have the latest information on players flying under the radar that can make a significant impact to your fantasy basketball team.
