Markieff Morris, PF, Washington Wizards (44.9% owned)
Markieff Morris’ ownership percentage has unfathomably plunged by nearly 12 percentage points over the past week. Sure, he’s still working his way back from sports hernia surgery he underwent in late September, but fantasy owners who drafted him should have known he’d miss the first few weeks of the season. (That explains why a player who finished with the 74th-best value on a per-game basis in nine-category leagues last season was coming off draft boards three rounds later on average.)
According to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post, those who’ve waited patiently with Morris may soon reap the rewards. “If Morris continues to improve,” Buckner reported Wednesday, “he could return as early as Nov. 1 when the Wizards host the Phoenix Suns or Nov. 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.” Morris did receive a one-game suspension for leaving the bench during the scuffle between Draymond Green and Bradley Beal on Friday, which he’ll serve once he’s medically ready to return, but Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post suggested that may be as soon as Wednesday.
While Kelly Oubre Jr. has played well in Morris’ absence, the veteran figures to reclaim the starting 4 gig once he’s healthy enough to return. If Morris’ career-high 36.2 percent shooting from deep last season wasn’t an aberration, he’ll again have a chance to carve out middle-round value this year.
Regardless of your team’s record at this point, Morris should be among your top waiver-wire targets this week if he’s somehow available in your league. The Wizards may ease him back into action, which could result in a few additional early-season losses for your fantasy squad, but a player with top-75 upside justifies that cost.
Next: Al-Farouq Aminu