Basketball is a scorer-centric sport. There are a ton of aspects to the game, a million stats, but everyone is inherently drawn to point totals. In fantasy basketball, however, sacrificing some points can help you fill out the rest of the stat sheet each week much more efficiently than someone rolling with a lineup of Nick Youngs and Joe Johnsons. There are quite a few multi-category players floating around on the fantasy basketball waiver wire this week that can help win you some categories if you’re willing to sacrifice a few points.
Reggie Jackson (Owned in 54 percent of Yahoo leagues): He may not be Mr. October but he’s got a great chance to be Mr. January and February with Russell Westbrook back on the shelf. He may not be the most efficient shooter but he has scored double-digit points in four of his last five and in 16 of his last 19. Over three games since Westbrook got hurt, Jackson is averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and two threes on 40 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He was valuable when he was coming off the bench, he’s a must-own now that he’s in the lineup.
Khris Middleton (46 percent): Middleton has now scored double-digit points in eight straight games and is averaging 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 threes per game over his last six. With the minutes he’s been getting, he’s a must-own in all leagues.
Terrence Ross (15 percent): Ross has been a beast from downtown and has nailed 13 threes over his last three games, including seven of 11 against the Knicks over the weekend. He’s a three-point guy so the scoring can be inconsistent but he’s averaging 28 minutes, 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 threes per game over his last eight and shooting a great 48 percent from deep. Grab him if you need some threes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 percent): I love a guy who can help fill up all the categories on the stat sheet, even if his name takes half an hour to spell correctly. In six games since being inserted into the lineup, the 19-year-old rookie is averaging 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, and a steal per game. The scoring isn’t high but his unique size and skill set help him with all of the other stats. He’s also shooting a solid 48.4 percent from the floor.
James Johnson (11 percent): Johnson is back in the NBA after being signed from the D-League and has played 28 minutes per game over his last four games. The man they call Bloodsport can help fill up the stat sheet too, averaging 10 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game over that stretch while shooting a great 59 percent from the floor. That shooting percentage isn’t liable to hold up but as long as he keeps getting minutes, he’ll help out in just about every category.
Mirza Teletovic (18 percent): The Nets have opted to move Teletovic into the starting lineup over Shaun Livingston and the second-year Bosnian import has run with the opportunity. He’s started four of the team’s last five games and is averaging 29 minutes, 15.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.4 three-pointers over that stretch. He’s also shooting a solid 40.4 percent from deep on the season and 42.5 percent since becoming the starter.
Jodie Meeks (35 percent): With Kobe sidelined, Meets has now scored double-digits in seven straight games and is averaging 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.6 threes per game. He’s also averaging 37 minutes per game and should continue to fill up the stat sheet if he’s seeing that much court time.
Miles Plumlee (50 percent): Plumlee is an inconsistent scorer but his rebounds make him incredibly worthwhile in fantasy. He has racked up double-digit rebounds in five of his last seven games and is averaging 11.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and shooting 56 percent from the field over his last eight games. The guy is averaging a double-double, you have to grab him.
