Each week Fantasy Basketball Writer Sergio Gonzalez gives Fantasy owners his top choices by position for players to pick up for the upcoming scoring period based upon matchups and other factors.
Top Waiver Wire options for Fantasy Week 7 (Dec. 6-12)
The best waiver wire options available in 40-60 percent of CBSSports.com leagues
Jason Thompson, F/C, Kings: He is starting and getting his first chance at major run this season. He responded with 18 points and nine boards against the Bulls on Nov. 27. Last year, he averaged 13.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in 58 starts. The Kings have favorable matchups in Week 7 against three teams that allow 100-plus points per game, including a tilt against the Knicks that should be extremely fast-paced. As an added bonus, he is eligible at center in leagues that allow multiple positions.
Shawn Marion, F, Mavericks: Suddenly surging, he is averaging 14.8 points over his last four games with around six rebounds. Even with Caron Butler picking up the pace and with just about 25 minutes per game, Marion is chipping in decent totals.
Marco Belinelli, G, Hornets: Steady and reliable, Bellineli is getting 30-plus minutes per game at the two-guard spot for New Orleans. Don't expect huge contributions, but he does give you consistent scoring in the 10-15 point range with premium 3-point shooting for category play.
Brandon Rush, F, Pacers: Coach Jim O'Brien will continue to mix and match with Rush and Mike Dunleavy, playing the matchups. However, Rush is consistently getting 30-plus minutes per game and offers around 13 points, four boards and two assists.
Thaddeus Young, F, 76ers: The matchups (CLE, BOS, NO) are not great for him in Week 7, but he entered play on Tuesday with nine straight games scoring in double figures, averaging 14.4 points during that span. He is good for around four rebounds per game and excellent field-goal percentage.
George Hill, G, Spurs: The Spurs are giving him about 30 minutes and nearly 10 shots per game on a regular basis. The result is 14.3 points per game over his last five. Don't expect much more than cheap double-digit scoring and about a steal per game, however.
Toney Douglas, G, Knicks: This recommendation is based mostly on matchups. Douglas has struggled with his shot for much of November, initially due to a bad back and lately due to a quad strain. If he can straighten himself out in time, Douglas has the potential to put up numbers in the 15-20 point range thanks to excellent matchups ahead for the Knicks against four Fantasy-friendly opponents (MIN, TOR, WAS, DEN).
Avoid 'Em
J.R. Smith, G, Nuggets: Yes, he scored 30 points with eight rebounds on Sunday, but that came in a game where Carmelo Anthony played under five minutes because he was sick. Coach George Karl is not a big fan of his and will continue to give him erratic playing time despite his upside.
Lou Williams, G, 76ers: Tons of upside here, but the minutes and touches just are not there for Williams to get into any kind of a groove. He has scored in double figures just once in his last five games and the Sixers have poor matchups in Week 7.
C.J. Miles, F, Jazz: Hot and cold, he is currently struggling to put up numbers. In three of his last four games, he has been held to six or fewer points. The Jazz have poor matchups against the likes of Miami, Orlando and Dallas in Week 7.
Into the deep ...
Here are players available in over 60 percent of leagues.
Donte Greene, F, Kings: He is getting a chance to start and coach Paul Westphal is giving him around 30 minutes per game. He is a raw, athletic wing man who struggles with consistency, but is good for around 10-13 points and six boards per game in his current role. He also offers about a block per game and light 3-point shooting.
Shannon Brown, G, Lakers: He is one of the better cheap solutions for 3-point shooting in category play, but favorable matchups in Week 7 could lead to a good enough week to get you by if you need a low-end plug-in starter in any format. We have seen him scored 15-20 points here and there all season and he'll get a chance to do that against the likes of the Wizards, Clippers, Bulls and Nets in Week 7.
Chris Douglas-Roberts, G, Bucks: Corey Maggette is hurt, Carlos Delfino is hurt and CDR is looking to make up for lost time after missing most of the season due to an eye issue. He scored 19 points in 34 minutes off the bench Monday night and is a player with excellent upside if he can continue to see big minutes. That is a big if, but he remains worthy of a flier off the waiver wire in the meantime.
Thabo Sefolosha, G, Thunder: The Thunder are not getting much out of James Harden and Sefolosha is still looking at big minutes. He is averaging a surprising 7.0 rebounds over his last five games to go with around a steal and 11 points.
Luther Head, G, Kings: Head is averaging 29.0 minutes per game in his six games as a starter. He isn't the most consistent player in the world, but he is capable of chipping in low-end double figures in scoring with a few dimes and boards. He also offers good 3-point shooting.
Stash 'Em
These are players we recommend picking up for the long term, but are not worth activating yet.
Jordan Farmar, G, Nets: Devin Harris had to leave Tuesday night's game in New York after Kris Humphries landed on his left knee. If he is ruled out for an extended amount of time, Farmar could be quite useful in larger formats. He can offer around 13 points and five dimes per game if he gets a shot at the primary point guard role for any length of time.
Ersan Ilyasova, F, Bucks: Ilyasova is putting up excellent numbers and playing heavy minutes with Drew Gooden banged up. In back-to-back starts, Ilyasova averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He averaged 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in 31 starts a season ago, so expect that type of production should Gooden remain sidelined.
Mehmet Okur, Jazz: He is getting close to making his regular season debut and should be on the floor within the next 7-10 days. He has the upside of a 17-point-per-game scorer, but is likely looking at a decline in playing time this year with Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson playing so well. Expect him to still get in the neighborhood of 25-30 minutes per game with his ability to stretch the floor as a big who can shoot 3-pointers. With that kind of playing time, he could match last season's averages (13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds).
Amir Johnson, F, Raptors: The Raptors, already scuffling to fill the big void left by Chris Bosh's departure this past offseason, lost their starting power forward Reggie Evans for at least the next month. Joey Dorsey has been named the interim starter, but Johnson should see more playing time and was already productive in a backup role to Evans. A better scorer and rebounder than Dorsey, we feel Johnson has the better upside, but he'll have to prove it on the floor before we recommend activating him. That could take a few games.
Kelenna Azubuike, F, Knicks: He is close to making his Knicks debut after working his way back from patella tendon surgery. He'll have to earn his playing time off the bench, but Azubuike fits Mike D'Antoni's up-tempo system well. He averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in his last full healthy season with a team that plays a similar style, the Warriors.
Need a center?
We know there isn't much out there at the center position, but here are your best bets.
Brad Miller, Rockets: Yao is still out for an undefined period of time, but it would appear Miller has at least another scoring period of about 25 minutes per game left ahead of him. He has scored 11 or more points in each of his last four games given 20-plus minutes, with five or more rebounds in each game.
Ben Wallace, Pistons: Big Ben won't give you much scoring (he never has), but he can rack up rebounds and blocks. He is averaging 7.0 rebounds over his last five games and is in no danger of losing playing time in Detroit.
Matt Bonner, Spurs: A rare big man who shoots 3-pointers, he is highly dependent on his outside shot falling in order to put up useful numbers. In his last eight games, Bonner has hit multiple threes five times, but he remains a stab in the dark for Fantasy owners.
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