Waiver Wire: Prince starting to heat up
With another Fantasy week in the books, a new batch of players are waiting to be scooped up off the waiver wire.
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The schedule is starting to round out for most teams and some players are finally starting to hit their groove. After the early struggles that came with a lack of training camp, roles are starting to become more defined and players have stepped up for those who have underachieved.
Not all players listed this week will be long-term options, but whether it's due to injury or just a hot streak, they are trending in Fantasy and could definitely help some owners.
This week we are looking at Tayshaun Prince.
Prince struggled to find his shot in the early goings but has been more efficient from the field of late and is starting to pick up his scoring. He has always been good at filling up the stat sheet, but the thing that made him valuable in Fantasy all these years was his ability to average 13-14 points per contest without fail.
He put up 14.3 points with 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists over his final three games in Week 3 (Jan. 9-15), culminating with a 20-and-7 against the Warriors on Jan. 15. Prince started Week 4 (Jan. 16-22) with another 20-point performance and is starting to get his shooting percentage back toward his career mark.
The 31-year-old is one of the few veteran players for Detroit and is definitely more reliable than all of the younger options surrounding him. Owners in need of some help at forward should consider grabbing him off waivers.
Guards
Add 'Em
Leandro Barbosa, Raptors
Owned: 25 percent
Analysis: Barbosa was very inconsistent with his scoring over the first few scoring periods but he has been able to rectify that problem of late. He averaged 17.7 points with 3.3 rebounds during a six-game stretch that ended on Jan. 16 and shot 47 percent from the floor over that span. Since Andrea Bargnani is one of the few scoring threats on the Raptors and DeMar DeRozan has struggled mightily, the 29-year-old should continue to see solid run and has always been known for his shot-taking prowess. While he does not always fill up the stat sheet the ways owners would like, Barbosa seems like a solid pickup in deeper Fantasy formats, especially with Phoenix, Utah, Denver and New Jersey on the schedule for Week 5 (Jan. 23-29).
J.J. Redick, Magic
Owned: 40 percent
Analysis: Redick is having a career campaign scoring-wise and is starting to show some more consistency. He started Week 4 (Jan. 16-22) with a season-high 21-point performance, which was his third consecutive game with at least 13 points. A lot of his recent success has to do with his shooting percentage, as he entered the most recent scoring period shooting nearly 47 percent from the field. The Magic play five games during Week 5 (Jan. 23-29) and face both Boston and Indiana two times each. His other matchup will be against the lowly Hornets. Aside from Dwight Howard, Orlando does not have a concrete No. 2 scorer so Redick should continue to get his numbers as he is seeing 25-30 minutes on a nightly basis.
Avoid 'Em
Jodie Meeks, 76ers
Owned: 14 percent
Analysis: Meeks may have fooled some owners with his 26-point performance against the Wizards on Jan. 13 but since he followed up with just five points against the same team the following night, he is proving once again why he goes mostly unowned. After averaging 10.5 points per contest last season, he entered Week 4 (Jan. 16-22) having scored in double figures four times through 13 contests, and managed just nine points in his first game of the scoring period. While there is always the possibility for him to go off at any point -- especially from downtown -- Meeks does not contribute in other areas and will need to show some more consistency before being worth adding off the waiver wire. It doesn't help that he has Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday in the same backcourt.
Wesley Johnson, Timberwolves
Owned: 21 percent
Analysis: Johnson has been one of the more disappointing players in Fantasy this season after he showed promise during his rookie campaign. He scored in double figures just one time entering Week 4 (Jan. 16-22) and was shooting a lowly 32 percent from the floor, including 19 percent from downtown. With the emergence of Ricky Rubio and the Timberwolves running more sets with two points, it will take a lot for the 24-year-old to get back on track. Johnson isn't really contributing much for owners thus far so steer clear of him until further notice. Minnesota also has some tough matchups in the Rockets, Mavericks, Spurs and Lakers in Week 5 (Jan. 23-29).
Forwards
Add 'Em
Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Owned: 64 percent
Analysis: Leonard has benefited most from Manu Ginobili's injury as he has been running with the starters and is starting to pick up his scoring. He averaged 13.2 points with 6.8 rebounds during a five-game stretch that ended on Jan. 15, and started Week 4 with a 12-and-6 performance against a tough Heat team. Considering he's close to 50-percent shooting on the year, the rookie should be able to up his scoring and continually fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis. San Antonio will play New Orleans, Atlanta, Minnesota and Dallas during Week 5 so owners in larger formats should consider scooping him up.
Shawn Marion, Mavericks
Owned: 64 percent
Analysis: Marion is starting to shoot like Fantasy owners are used to seeing and his production has picked up as a result. After scoring in double figures just four times in the first nine games, he entered Week 4 having matched that feat in his previous four contests. He also chipped in with 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals over that span. The 33-year-old is more known for his defensive prowess, which will continue to earn him playing time, but he is capable to generating some consistent scoring as long as his unorthodox shot is working. Dallas has a pretty easy schedule during Week 5 with the Suns, Timberwolves, Jazz and Spurs on the docket, so consider Marion a worthwhile addition in most formats.
Avoid 'Em
Chandler Parsons, Rockets
Owned: 43 percent
Analysis: Parsons was putting up some decent production coming off the bench in Houston, but once he was moved to the starting lineup he struggled to score. Meanwhile, Chase Budinger thrived in his old bench spot, and the two could flip-flop in their roles periodically throughout the season. He rebounds well for a rookie and can put up some decent points when his shot is working but he will have to improve on his 3-point shooting before becoming more valuable in Fantasy. Owners in larger formats should leave Parsons on waivers heading into Week 5.
John Salmons, Kings
Owned: 50 percent
Analysis: Salmons scored in double figures for the first time in six games in the opener for Week 4 as he continues to underwhelm this season. The Kings' rotation has been a mess and Salmons has struggled to find his role with the club. Shooting less than 40 percent from the floor and 20 percent from downtown has not helped either, as he is averaging less than 12 points for the first time since 2006-07. The 32-year-old is only useful to owners when he is putting up decent scoring, so leave Salmons on waivers in the majority of Fantasy formats entering Week 5 (Jan. 23-29), especially with just Portland, Denver and Utah on the schedule.
Centers
Add 'Em
Zaza Pachulia, Hawks
Owned: 45 percent
Analysis: Pachulia has only been able to pick up his production minimally with Al Horford (pectoral) out, but he could be on the verge of breaking out in Week 5. He will play against the Bucks, Spurs, Pistons and Hornets during the upcoming scoring period, which will give him ample opportunities to pick up his scoring and rebounding. He is already posting more points than he has in years past and as one of the few big men in Atlanta, the 27-year-old is in a prime position to produce at a thin position in Fantasy. Owners in need of some help at center should consider grabbing Pachulia off waivers.
Mehmet Okur, Nets
Owned: 37 percent
Analysis: After being limited by a back injury, Okur has shaken off the cobwebs and is starting to produce for the Nets again. He began Week 4 with a 15-point performance against the Clippers and while he recorded just two rebounds, it was his second double-digit performance over a three-game stretch. Due to the lack of big men in New Jersey, his rebounding will likely go up as he begins to gel more with his new team. Owners should note he consistently averaged seven-plus rebounds in Utah from 2006 to 2010. Okur shoots well for a center and can help out with some 3-pointers, so plan on adding him with Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Toronto on the schedule for Week 5.
Avoid 'Em
Kendrick Perkins, Thunder
Owned: 43 percent
Analysis: Perkins has become a favorite in Oklahoma City and continues to see solid minutes, but he is not the best option in Fantasy. He shot 51 percent from the floor over his first 14 games but the 27-year-old averaged just 5.8 points with 5.9 rebounds. While his 1.2 blocks are helpful in Rotisserie formats, his appeal does not reach much beyond that. Add the fact that he will play just three times during Week 5 and Perkins is not looking like a good play in Fantasy.
Jermaine O'Neal, Celtics
Owned: 12 percent
Analysis: O'Neal began Week 4 with his first double-double of the season, but owners should not be duped into picking him up just yet. He averaged just 5.6 points with 5.5 rebounds through his first 11 games, and shot a lowly 39 percent from the floor. He also came off the bench a couple of times -- with Brandon Bass moving to the starting lineup -- as he is not counted on for much production in Boston. The 33-year-old is nothing more than a big man to redirect shots at this stage of his career, so leave him on waivers at this point.
