To dominate your league, your fantasy basketball strategy must exploit the growing NBA injury report. Key NBA injuries to stars like Trae Young and Domantas Sabonis are reshaping NBA depth charts, creating immediate value for NBA sleepers.
This guide provides the latest fantasy basketball news on six crucial pickups. We analyze players like Keegan Murray, who is excelling for the struggling Kings, and Peyton Watson, whose boosted NBA player stats are driving him up the NBA player rankings.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies 
(45% rostered)
Aldama had the best performance of his career last season when he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 three-pointers. He only shot 69.1% from the free throw line, but he shot 48.3% from the field and 36.8% from three. He mostly came off the bench, though, and has filled the same role again this season.
Despite not being a regular starter, Aldama has continued to be a valuable fantasy option with his averages of 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 three-pointers. His scoring production could be even better, but he is shooting only 31.0% from behind the arc. It would likely take an injury to Jaren Jackson Jr. for Aldama to regularly play at least 30 minutes a game, but Aldama has already proven that he should be rostered in his current role.
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings 
(43% rostered)
Murray saw his scoring production decline last season
To dominate your league, your fantasy basketball strategy must exploit the growing NBA injury report. Key NBA injuries to stars like Trae Young and Domantas Sabonis are reshaping NBA depth charts, creating immediate value for NBA sleepers.
This guide provides the latest fantasy basketball news on six crucial pickups. We analyze players like Keegan Murray, who is excelling for the struggling Kings, and Peyton Watson, whose boosted NBA player stats are driving him up the NBA player rankings.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies (45% rostered)
Aldama had the best performance of his career last season when he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 three-pointers. He only shot 69.1% from the free throw line, but he shot 48.3% from the field and 36.8% from three. He mostly came off the bench, though, and has filled the same role again this season.
Despite not being a regular starter, Aldama has continued to be a valuable fantasy option with his averages of 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.5 three-pointers. His scoring production could be even better, but he is shooting only 31.0% from behind the arc. It would likely take an injury to Jaren Jackson Jr. for Aldama to regularly play at least 30 minutes a game, but Aldama has already proven that he should be rostered in his current role.
Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings (43% rostered)
Murray saw his scoring production decline last season with the Kings adding DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. He then began this season on the sidelines while recovering from a thumb injury. When he did finally make his season debut, the Kings were without Domantas Sabonis (hamstring). That has resulted in Murray logging at least 33 minutes in all three of his games.
Murray has taken advantage of his expanded role, averaging 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. He is attempting 15.3 shots per game, which is up from 10.8 shots per game last season. Sabonis could be out for three more weeks, so Murray has a clear path to provide added production.
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns 
(30% rostered)
The Suns haven't received much production from Jalen Green (hamstring), who was their prized offseason acquisition. He missed the first eight games of the season, then lasted just two games before going down with the same injury. They have also played five straight games without Grayson Allen (quadriceps), who had helped pick up the scoring slack by averaging 18.5 points per game for the season.
With Green and Allen out, Gillespie has played at least 28 minutes in each of the last five games. He turned that into averages of 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.0 three-pointers. Gillespie could take a hit in production when Allen eventually returns, but with Green not close to coming back, Gillespie could have value for at least a couple of more weeks.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz 
(26% rostered)
Bailey came off the bench over the first nine games of the season. In that role, he averaged 5.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.4 three-pointers. With the Jazz having their eye on the future, they have already moved Bailey into the starting lineup. Over the last eight games in that role, he has averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.3 three-pointers.
Even as a starter, Bailey has only played 25 minutes a game. The Jazz are 5-12 and well on their way to being one of the worst teams in the league again. As they continue to rack up losses, we could see them give Bailey and their other young players even more minutes. Bailey comes with significant upside in fantasy.
Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets 
(24% rostered)
The Nuggets lack of depth was a main reason why they didn't win another title last season. They immediately remedied that situation by adding Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jonas Valanciunas. While they improved the team, the additions dealt a blow to Watson's already limited fantasy upside.
Watson didn't make much of an impact earlier in the season, but he has been thrust into more playing time with Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) out. Since moving into the starting lineup, Watson has averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers over six games. With Braun and Gordon both possibly out for another month, Watson should be rostered in more leagues.
Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks 
(22% rostered)
The Mavericks received some good news earlier in the week with Anthony Davis (calf) set to practice Wednesday. He has yet to play in November, which has resulted in them racking up losses. On the negative side of things, the team announced Tuesday that Dereck Lively II (foot) will be re-evaluated in 7-to-10 days.
Gafford had one of his best games of the season Monday, posting 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in a loss to the Heat. Even when Davis comes back, the Mavericks have repeatedly said that their plan is to play him alongside a center. Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in only 22 minutes per game last season. He could play 25+ minutes a game for at least the next week, making him a top waiver wire option for fantasy managers who need a center.
