The High Score Playlist: Week 7 fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups and lineup advice
LI
1 week ago7 min read
Alright, hoop heads and fantasy degenerates, gather 'round. It's that time of the week again where we dig through the digital rubble of the waiver wire to find those hidden gems that can save your season from being a total meme.Forget the boring, stat-sheet-stuffing analysis you get elsewhere; we're talking real, actionable intel for Yahoo's High Score format, where the game is simple but the wins feel just as sweet. Week 7 is upon us, and the schedule is throwing some serious curveballs, making your start-sit decisions more crucial than a last-second three-pointer.Let's break down who you need to target before your league-mate, who probably still thinks Jordan Poole is a fantasy asset, snatches them up. First on the docket is Saddiq Bey of the New Orleans Pelicans.This guy isn't just hot; he's practically volcanic, dropping five straight games with 40-plus fantasy points. With Herb Jones sidelined with that calf issue, Bey has been unleashed, putting up numbers that would make even Zion Williamson look over his shoulderâwe're talking near 20 and 10 with a steal sprinkled in.The Pelicans' schedule this week is a fantasy manager's dream: a home-and-home against the Timberwolves and a Saturday showdown with the Nets. Minnesota might be tough defensively overall, but they've had vulnerabilities, and with Jones out, Bey's role as a Swiss Army knife forward is locked in.He's not just a stream; he's a must-hold until further notice. Then there's the Golden State Warriors' latest rookie sensation, Brandin Podziemski.With Steph Curry taking a night off here and there to manage his workload, Podz has stepped into the void like he owns it. In the 23 games Curry has missed, Podziemski has been a stat-sheet stuffer, averaging 14.3 points, 6. 6 boards, and 4.5 dimes. This week, with games against the Thunder, the 76ers, and a back-to-back versus the Cavs and Bulls on lighter slates, his potential for a 40-point High Score explosion is very real.He's already cracked 35-plus in the last two weeks, showing a floor that's safer than most waiver wire fliers. He plays with a veteran's savvy and a rookie's hunger, making him a perfect plug-and-play option.Don't sleep on Noah Clowney in Brooklyn, either. I'm going back to the well here because of a specific, mouth-watering matchup.The Nets have a four-game week, but the real prize is Thursday's tilt against the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are, quite literally, a fantasy buffet for opposing power forwards, ranking dead last in fantasy points allowed to the position.
#fantasy basketball
#waiver wire
#player pickups
#lineup advice
#Saddiq Bey
#Brandin Podziemski
#Noah Clowney
#weeks picks news
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They're giving up a staggering 54. 5 standard fantasy points per game to PFs.
Clowney, who just notched his second 40-point game of the season in Week 6, is poised to feast. He's raw, but his energy and shot-blocking can win you a category single-handedly on a night where the pickings are slim.
Over in the Big Easy, keep an eye on rookie Jeremiah Fears. He's coming off back-to-back games over 32 fantasy points and has shown a particular affinity for torching the Northwest Division.
Guess who the Pelicans play twice this week? The Minnesota Timberwolves. In five games against that division, Fears is averaging 18.
4 points on 51% shooting. The return of Jordan Poole might cloud the picture slightly, but for this week, with three games on tap including that Saturday game against the Nets, Fears offers a high-upside streaming option with the potential to go nuclear.
Speaking of the Timberwolves, if you see Jaden McDaniels floating on your wire, don't overthink it. He's been a bit underwhelming lately, but the matchup is too good to ignore.
The Wolves face the Pelicans twice, and New Orleans is surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to small forwards this season. With Herb Jones still out, McDaniels, who averages 31.
7 fantasy points for the year, is a prime bounce-back candidate. He's the kind of defensive stalwart who can pile up stocks (steals+blocks) in a hurry, and on a two-game stream, he could be the difference-maker.
Finally, let's talk about Jay Huff in Indiana. With Myles Turner dealing with some nagging issues, Huff has seized the starting center spot and is making it count.
He swatted eight shots in his last two games, helping him average a robust 36 fantasy points to close Week 6. His per-minute production (1.
14 fantasy points per minute) is elite, indicating that if the Pacers keep giving him 25-30 minutes, he's not just a streamerâhe could be a league-winner. In a fast-paced Indiana offense, his ability to finish at the rim and protect the paint translates directly to fantasy gold.
The key with all these picks is understanding context. Fantasy basketball isn't just about collecting the best stats; it's about exploiting matchups, understanding rotational shifts due to injury, and capitalizing on schedule density.
Week 7 offers a unique blend of opportunity, with several teams playing on lighter game days where every point counts double. So, make your moves, set your lineups, and may your score be high.
