Cooper Flagg Shines and Waiver Wire Moves Shape Week 4
Cooper Flagg ranks sixth in both 9-category and points leagues, validating the first-round fantasy investment he cost entering his second season, according to nba.com.
Fantasy managers in Week 4 face a slate of rookie breakout performances, key injuries, and surging category specialists across the NBA. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama recorded 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 blocks on Monday, pushing his season block total to 48 through 11 games. That defensive output ranks him second all-time since blocks were officially tracked in the 1983-84 season, nba.com reported.
Brayden Burries and other rookies emerge as waiver targets
Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brayden Burries delivered 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists across 38 minutes in his latest outing, emerging as a primary waiver wire target. RotoWire reported that Burries is rostered in just 17% of leagues, making him a strong addition in 12-team formats and an aggressive stream option in shallower leagues.
In Atlanta, rookie Kingston Flemings has taken over the starting point guard role from CJ McCollum, boosting the Hawks’ offensive rating to 124 during a three-game sample according to nba.com.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has also exceeded his 104 draft-day ADP by ranking 54th in 9-cat and 37th in points leagues. Lendeborg is averaging 32.3 minutes with the highest true shooting percentage among rookies playing at least 20 minutes nightly. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore offers short-term streaming value on busy game days, though RotoWire notes his long-term outlook remains uncertain once Egor Demin returns from injury.
Injury Shuffles Create Temporary Value
Charlotte Hornets guard Grayson Allen is averaging 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists with over three 3-pointers per game while filling in for injured teammates Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Dennis Schröder. In Toronto, Jamal Shead has capitalized on Immanuel Quickley’s absence by posting consecutive high-assist performances, including a 20-point, 11-assist game on Monday.
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has dominated the offense in the absence of LeBron James, scoring at least 40 points in four consecutive games. NBC Sports reported that Dončić is averaging 4.9 turnovers per game, but his heavy offensive usage cements his status as a premier fantasy asset and early-season MVP candidate.
Tuesday matchups and injury reports influence betting lines
The Tuesday slate features matchups such as the Boston Celtics at the Philadelphia 76ers at 8 p.m., alongside game-by-game injury reports that list Tyler Herro as a game-time decision for the Bucks and Josh Hart as a game-time decision for the Knicks.
Betting lines for the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks show the Bucks as +15.5 point underdogs (-115) and the Knicks as -15.5 favorites (-105), with a money line of +670 for the Bucks and -1040 for the Knicks, a total of 221.5 points (112 over, 108 under), and a BPI projection favoring the Knicks by 17.8 points with a 91% straight-up win probability and 220.9 total points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brayden Burries a must-add in all fantasy basketball leagues?
RotoWire reports that Brayden Burries is a must-add in 12-team leagues and a strong streaming option in 8- and 10-team formats, particularly after logging 38 minutes with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
How is Victor Wembanyama making defensive history?
Victor Wembanyama has tallied 48 blocks through the Spurs’ first 11 games, placing him second all-time in league history for blocks over that span since the statistic began being tracked in 1983-84, according to nba.com.
Should fantasy managers sell high on Kris Dunn?
Kris Dunn ranks 33rd in 9-cat formats largely due to piling up over two steals per contest while keeping turnovers low, though 42% of his recent trades involve him packaged with another player, nba.com reported.
What is Damian Lillard’s current fantasy outlook?
Damian Lillard sits outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats at 109th while shooting 41% from the field through nine games, presenting a buy-low opportunity according to nba.com.
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