What a crazy Week 4. COVID caused multiple games to be postponed and it does seem like the trend will continue into Week 5. Hopefully everyone follows protocol, stays safe and the league can get back to its normal scheduling. Predicting what games would be postponed and who would be unavailable is difficult enough, but then Week 4 gave us a blockbuster trade. The four-team trade that sent Harden to the Nets not only affects the stars, but also players on the waiver wire that may gain more opportunity in the upcoming week.

As always, do not feel obligated to pick up anyone if you do not have room on your roster. I will be providing weekly waiver wire pickup suggestions that are mainly for nine-category leagues. The picks are based on players being rostered in less than 30-percent of fantasy basketball teams. Here are some waiver wire pickups for Week 5.

SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker (@UTAH, @UTAH, @MIN)

Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s first start put both the league and Pelicans on notice when he scored 37 points. Even if Lonzo does come back this week, Walker will still have a decent chance to prove what he can do. Since joining the starters, Walker has averaged 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 three-pointers made, while shooting 59-percent from the field. Yes, most of his production came from his first start, but it seems he has solidified himself as part of the rotation even when the Pelicans are at full strength.

SF Cedi Osman (BKN, BKN, @BOS)

Cedi Osman will not play until Wednesday againt the Nets since the game on Monday has been postponed. Depending on the status of Sexton, Cedi may continue to be the scoring threat until both Garland and Sexton return to handle the load. The past three games, Osman has averaged 18.7 points, 5 assists, 3.3 rebounds while averaging over 2 three-pointers made per game. He is someone to keep your eye on as a mid week pickup.

SF/PF Doug Mcdermott/ SG Jeremy Lamb (DAL, ORL, TOR)

With new acquisition Caris Levert out indefinitely, someone needs to help bring the scoring punch that Oladipo has left behind. Doug Mcdermott has thrived this year off the bench. I would not be surprised to see the Pacers run more action just to free him up for more shots. In Doug’s first start of the season, he scored 23 points on 75-percent shooting with 5 three-pointers made. He has a chance to average in the 15-20 points range while also providing a lot of three’s on good percentages.

Dougie will be able to fill the scoring void well enough until Jeremy Lamb comes back from injury. Lamb has the chance to shine as the starting two-guard and could possibly return at some point this week. Lamb might not be effective this week as we still do not know how he’ll be when he comes back from injury. He is still worth a speculative add if your team can afford the roster space. With both Warren and Levert out, I would not be surprised if both Mcdermott and Lamb averaged double figures on good efficiency.

SF/PF James Johnson (@TOR, @IND, @SA, HOU)

The Dallas Mavericks are missing arguably their third-to-seventh best players, which would leave Johnson as a player to benefit from having more minutes played. Johnson is known as someone who can provide defensive stats across the board while still having some playmaking abilities on the offensive end. This is all dependent on when Dallas will get the rest of their team back. In the meantime, Johnson will carve himself into a solid role as a veteran off the bench. He is especially enticing considering he has four games this week.

PF Xavier Tillman (PHX, @POR, @POR, SAC)

Xavier Tillman has shown this past week that he belongs in the NBA. Not only did he play, but he played like a veteran on the floor. Tillman averaged 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals while shooting 65-percent from the field. Those may seem like modest numbers, but he is an efficient player who has four games this week. He is a good waiver wire add until fellow Spartan Jaren Jackson Jr. comes back from injury. Having four games this week also does not hurt.

C Naz Reid (@ORL, ATL, NO)

First of all, it’s just heartbreaking what Karl Anthony-Towns and his family have to go through after the hard year they had in 2020 and Towns now has COVID and will have to follow league protocols until he is okay. This leaves the Minnesota big men rotation thin. Even if Naz Reid does not start, I believe he will be the best replacement while Towns recovers. During the games Towns missed earlier in the year, Reid averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds while shooting 50-percent from the field. I’m not saying to go out of your way to add him, but if there is no one else available on your waivers in deeper leagues, I would take a good hard look at him and see if he improves on his numbers with more playing time.

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