What a time to be a hoops fan! College basketball has the nation abuzz with upsets a-plenty at the 2023 NCAA March Madness Tournament, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark have women's college basketball in a great place, and the NBA has been sizzling since the All-Star break. But those still competing in fantasy hoops leagues to this point just care about one thing right now: winning this week and achieving fantasy glory. Whether your head-to-head title round is this week or next, we'll get you prepped to conquer the waiver wire and stream your way into your league's history books.
A solid draft, a moderately healthy season, and some savvy roster moves throughout the season likely served as the predominant factors in your team making it this far. But the real chess match begins now, when you'll have to weigh out the pros and cons of every last player and make more difficult decisions than ever. And with a good chunk of the league injured, resting off and on, or bordering on 'shut-down' status due to their team struggling, it's easy to see why so many fantasy ballers call this stage of the year "Silly Season."
We don't just want to just blindly look at players and their recent stats — we also want to consider their past, present, and potential future roles, as well as their team's schedule in the immediate future. Players whose teams play on the NBA's low-volume days become like diamonds among cubic zirconia. We're not playing for the longterm anymore — every decision we make must produce immediate dividends.
Our job, as it has been all season: to pinpoint strong potential value and guide you to the guys who could legitimately help your squad win your league championship. We first highlight the must-have players who are available in 25-50 percent of leagues. Then we select the best crop of players who can be found in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues, and explain why they could be of worth to your fantasy title pursuit. Finally, we'll offer a few streaming strategies to help you construct a blueprint for the week.
Let's get right to it, as you have plenty of work to do in this final stretch. Here are our must-roster players available in 25-50 percent of leagues, as well as the top waiver adds amongst those available in over 50 percent of leagues. Good luck during this crucial stretch, and be sure to keep checking back in with us throughout your run at the championship!
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Best Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Basketball Championships: Must-roster players available in 25-50 percent of leagues
The following players are available in 25-50 percent of Yahoo leagues and should be considered ‘must-roster’ players in standard 9-cat formats.
Herb Jones, G/F, Pelicans (72 percent rostered)
Herb Jones can do it all, his usage rate has gone up without Zion Williamson active, and he has guard and forward eligibility. He's as good a young three-and-D guy as you'll get in the NBA, and his combo of counting stats and effiiciency make him the 38th-ranked 9-cat player over the past two weeks. The Pelicans have games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week, so Jones could be a worthwhile streamer if you don't have a full lineup on those low-volume schedule days. Lock in Herb and get fully loaded.
Also worth a look on the Pelicans: Trey Murphy III, F (71%)
Tyus Jones, G, Grizzlies (70%)
Jones will be the starting point guard for the foreseeable future with Ja Morant checked into a counseling center in Florida. We have long believed Jones is the best backup point guard in the NBA and deserves an everyday starting role, and he bolsters that case every time he cracks the Grizzlies' starting five. He shoots well from deep, always provides great assists and steals numbers, and rebounds well for a guard. He consistently ranks among the league leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio, and should be consistently owned in 100 percent of fantasy leagues.
Another Grizzlies player worth rostering: Xavier Tillman, F/C (44%) — in fact, we'll talk about him more in a bit!
Derrick White, G, Celtics (71%)
DWhite has been one of the better role-playing guards in the Association this season, and he has maintained consiency even when the Celtics have run into bumpy patches. Over the past two weeks, White has ranked among the top 30 in 9-cat leagues with averages of over 13 points, four boards, and four assists while knocking down 1.6 treys per game. His shooting splits have been sizzling over that stretch: 51.6 from the floor, 100 percent from the line, and 35.9 percent from three-point land. White makes a ton of sense if your championship is next week, as he has games on low-volume days next Tuesday and Thursday and then a back-to-back Thursday and Friday.
Another Celtic worth grabbing: Malcolm Brogdon, G (70%)
Mike Conley, G, Wolves (68%)
Conley has asserted himself in Minnesota, playing like a must-roster asset since he arrived via deadline trade. Over the past week, he's averaging 17 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 boards, and 1.3 steals while downing 3.3 triples per game. He has also been lights out from all three shooting levels during that span. The Wolves need his veteran presence to keep the wheels from falling off, and he could quietly help your fantasy team win it all.
Another Timberwolves player worth owning: Kyle Anderson, F (68%)
Keegan Murray, F, Kings (68%)
Murray endured some rough patches in his rookie season, but this latest stretch has been solid. He's a steady source of three-pointers with modest contributions in points, rebounds, assists, and stocks. He also rarely turns the ball over and while he doesn't shoot well from the free-throw stripe, he also doesn't get there enough to affect you too negatively. Murray and the Kings have back-to-backs today and tomorrow as well as Friday and Saturday, so he could be of use to your squad.
Another King worth a look: Harrison Barnes, F (76%)
Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Jazz (66%)
Olynyk still has plenty of fantasy relevance, even when his offensive skills take a backseat to the heroics of Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson. The veteran scores when needed, dishes the rock well for a big, and has even improved his defensive counting stats through the years. If someone dropped him to get away from the Jazz's two-game week, consider scooping him up now that Utah has four games across the next six days.
Other Jazz players who can help you get Ws: Walker Kessler, F/C (79%), Talen Horton-Tucker, G (53%)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G/F, Nuggets (56%)
KCP is one of the top three-point shooters in the NBA and one of the best steals streamers in all of fantasy. He can't be relied upon as a scorer, but he almost always contributes enough peripheral stats to be a useful fantasy asset. His low turnover numbers are icing on the KCP cake.
Another Nugget worth a look: Bruce Brown, G/F (48%)
Cole Anthony, G, Magic (58%)
Anthony saw a considerable usage boost as soon as fellow Magic point guard Jalen Suggs went down, and the third-year player has not squandered the opportunity. He's the 30th-ranked player over the past two weeks, averaging 17/6/3 with a couple treys and some defensive counting stats. He literally helped my semifinals opponent eliminate me from the playoffs with a late block on Sunday night, so I am writing these words with watery eyes. He's good, okay! There, i admit it!
Another Magic who's an obvious must-roster player: Markelle Fultz, G (77%)
Kevon Looney, C, Warriors (53%)
Looney has been a beast on the boards with Andrew Wiggins out due to personal reasons, Draymond Green recently getting a technical foul-based suspension, and plenty of opposing bigs on the Warriors' recent schedule. He also helps out with stocks and assists and occasionally provides you with double-digit scoring, which is always a nice surprise.
Another Warrior worth a grab: Donte DiVincenzo, G (45%)
Best Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Sleepers for Fantasy Basketball Championships: Five top pickups under 50 percent rostered
The following six players are available in over 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and make for solid additions and streamers in standard 9-cat formats.
Caris LeVert, G/F, Cavaliers (49 percent rostered)
LeVert goes through electric stretches, and he seems to be in one of those right now. He's the eighth-ranked 9-cat player over the past week and 10th-ranked player over the past two. In just the past 10 days, he has knocked down 3.2 treys per game while averaging 18.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.2 boards, and 3.0 stocks. That kind of production won't help — it could solely push you over the top of your championship matchup. He's got Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday matchups this week, so you may want to grab him for tomorrow and Thursday and then cut him ahead of the Friday/Saturday games.
Malik Monk, G, Kings (46%)
Excuse the pun, but Monk has been a points and triples streaming King over the past month. And he's not slowing down anytime soon, as his usage seems to directly correlate with Sacramento's success. Over the past 10 days, the sharpshooter has averaged 3.5 treys, 15.2 points, five assists, four streals, and 1.5 stocks. Monk and Sac-town have games on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday this week.
Austin Reaves, G/F, Lakers (46%)
Reaves has been ascending to local L.A. legend status ever since LeBron James' most recent injury. The young swingman has amazing instincts to go with a ton of talent, and we can't imagine why half of Yahoo is still sleeping on the Cream Sickle. He went bananas with a 35-point effort Sunday night, but his numbers over the past eight games have been solid across the board. In that span, he's averaging 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 boards, 1.3 treys, 1.0 stocks, and just 1.9 turnovers. He's usually a phenomenal free-throw shooter, too, although that has waned a bit over this stretch. It's not easy being a sudden go-to player!
Xavier Tillman, F/C, Grizzlies (44%)
With big man Steven Adams remaining out until well after the fantasy playoffs will be concluding, Tillman remains the main big man alongside Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. in Memphis. He has been great, grabbing boards and filling it up offensively with efficiency. He can defend multiple positions and passes very well for a guy of his sturdy build. He's a no-brainer.
Monte Morris, G, Wizards (45%)
If you can stomach the occasional field goal percentage issues, Morris is a point guard worth owning. He racks up great assists numbers, shoots well from distance, and contributes some defensive counting stats here and there. He's also a deadeye free-throw shooter. He's not an exciting guy to roster, but he can certainly help turn Ls to Ws.
Another assists/threes streamer who sometimes hurts FG%: Dennis Schroder, G, Lakers (41%)
T.J. McConnell, G, Pacers (41%)
McConnell is an elite streamer as long as All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is out for the Pacers. He racks up dimes and swipes, shoots well from the floor, and always knocks down his free throws. He contributes about as much from three-point land as DeMar DeRozan, but he certainly makes up for his long-range deficiencies in plenty of other ways.
Other players under 50 percent rostered worth owning: Marvin Bagley III, F/C, Pistons (34%); Jalen Smith, F/C, Pacers (33%); Royce O'Neal, G/F, Nets (31%); Josh Okogie, G/F, Suns (25%); Isaiah Hartenstein, C, Knicks (21%)
Best Fantasy Basketball Streamers for Championship Week: Day by day
Monday, March 20
T.J. McConnell, G, Pacers (41%); Malik Monk, G, Kings (46%); Xavier Tillman, F/C, Grizzlies (44%); Kenyon Martin Jr. (51%) and Tari Eason (35%), F, Rockets; Patrick Beverley, G, Bulls (16%); Jonathan Kuminga, F/C, Warriors (26%)
Tuesday, March 21
Caris LeVert, G/F, Cavaliers (49%); Marvin Bagley III, F/C, Pistons (34%); Malik Monk, G, Kings (46%); Monte Morris, G, Wizards (45%); Royce O'Neal, G/F, Nets (31%)
Wednesday, March 22 — high volume day (no streams)
Thursday, March 23
Caris LeVert, G/F, Cavaliers (49%); Royce O'Neal, G/F, Nets (31%); Dennis Smith Jr., G, Hornets (31%)
Friday, March 24 — high volume day (no streams)
Saturday, March 25
T.J. McConnell, G, Pacers (41%); Talen Horton-Tucker, G (53%); Malik Monk, G, Kings (46%); Royce O'Neal, G/F, Nets (31%); Bruce Brown, G/F (48%); Josh Okogie, G/F, Suns (25%)
