Top Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Adds: Nurkic, Coward & Other Risers

With superstars like Victor Wembanyama and Ja Morant landing on the NBA injury report, the landscape of the season has shifted dramatically. Success now depends on adapting your fantasy basketball strategy to exploit the resulting changes in NBA starting lineups and NBA depth charts. In this fantasy basketball waiver wire breakdown, we identify six NBA sleepers, including Jusuf Nurkic and rising rookie Cedric Coward, whose recent NBA player stats suggest they can save your season. Read on for the latest fantasy basketball news and analysis to keep your team climbing the fantasy basketball rankings.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Adds

Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz (45% rostered)

Nurkic has started the last nine games for the Jazz with Walker Kessler (shoulder) out for the season. He produced four double-doubles and averaged 7.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.0 steals during that span. As good as he has been, his scoring production could be much higher, given that he shot only 37.5% from the field. His slow start in that department shouldn't be worrisome, considering he has shot 50.0% from the field for his career.

Since Kessler won't be back this season, Nurkic has a clear path to remain in the starting five. The only concern with him is, down the road, the Jazz could give more minutes to their young players as they continue to rack up losses. However, that's a problem to worry about later. Right now, Nurkic should be rostered in the majority of leagues.

Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns (42% rostered)

Injuries have taken their toll on the Suns. Their big offseason acquisition was Jalen Green (hamstring), but he has only played two games. He and Devin Booker were expected to be the one-two punch that carried their offense. With him out, Grayson Allen has provided increased scoring. Now, Allen has missed back-to-back games with a quadriceps injury.

With a lack of quality scoring options around Booker, the Suns have asked for more offense from Brooks. Through nine games, he has a 28.3% usage rate that is more than 10 percentage points higher than his mark with the Rockets last season. He has parlayed that into averages of 20.9 points and 2.4 three-pointers per game. While he hasn't provided a ton in terms of rebounds and assists, he has chipped in 2.1 steals per game. Green won't be back anytime soon, so look for Brooks to continue to provide added scoring.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (40% rostered)

Prior to this season, Alexander-Walker hasn't received a ton of opportunities to showcase his offensive skills. He had never averaged more than 25 minutes per game during his stints with the Pelicans, Jazz and Timberwolves. The last two seasons with Minnesota, he had usage rates of 14.8% and 16.0%. Now with the Hawks, an injury to Trae Young (knee) has left Alexander-Walker with a chance to shine.

A regular member of the starting five, Alexander-Walker is averaging 31 minutes per game. He also has a 25.3% usage rate, which has helped him average 18.3 points and 1.8 three-pointers. The added playing time has also resulted in him averaging 3.5 assists, which is on pace to be the highest mark of his career. Young is expected to be sidelined into December, so don't hesitate to add Alexander-Walker.

Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies (38% rostered)

Coward has quickly become an important player for the Grizzlies. The rookie logged 25 minutes or fewer in each of his first four games, but has averaged 28 minutes across 11 games since. He has shown excellent efficiency, shooting 47.7% from the field, 90.0% from the free-throw line and 40.6% from three. In addition to his 14.3 points and 1.9 three-pointers, he has averaged 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Coward has a clear path to plenty of minutes. He has even started the last two games with Morant out. Over those two games, he nailed seven three-pointers. As if losing Morant wasn't difficult enough, Jaren Jackson Jr. is listed as doubtful for Thursday's game against the Kings with a sprained right ankle. Minutes and shot attempts shouldn't be hard for Coward to find moving forward.

Harrison Barnes, San Antonio Spurs (20% rostered)

Barnes had the most efficient three-point shooting percentage of his career last season at 43.3%. He also played all 82 games for the third straight season. However, his overall averages of 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 three-pointers made him a fringe fantasy option coming into the season. His role wasn't expected to expand, especially after the team drafted the talented Dylan Harper.

Injuries have now created an opportunity for Barnes to increase his fantasy value. In addition to Wembanyama being out, Harper (calf) and Stephon Castle (hip) could all be out for at least the next two weeks. Over two games since Wembanyama went down, Barnes has scored at least 20 points and hit at least three three-pointers in each of them. Barnes isn't a flashy name at this stage in his career, but don't overlook him on the waiver wire.

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (15% rostered)

What makes Morant going down even more painful for the Grizzlies is that they have already been playing without his top backups. Both Ty Jerome (calf) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) have yet to make their season debuts. Pippen might not be back before February, while Jerome still has no timetable for a return.

Williams moved into the starting lineup with Morant out Tuesday, logging 30 minutes against the Spurs. He nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and one three-pointer. Over the five games that he has played at least 20 minutes this season, he has averaged 12.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.2 three-pointers. With the potential for him to at least approach 30 minutes on a nightly basis moving forward, Williams is a viable fantasy option.