Effective fantasy basketball strategy involves exploiting the latest fantasy basketball news on injuries and shifting rotations. Today's adds are driven by crucial absences.
Andre Drummond's injury vaults Adem Bona into a high-upside, blocks-focused role for the 76ers. Bona's past NBA player stats suggest he is a prime NBA sleeper. Meanwhile, injuries to Jordan Poole and Herb Jones create a clear runway for Jose Alvarado, who is demonstrating high-level production in the Pelicans' starting lineup and is a must-stream. We also analyze Jay Huff's hot streak and increased blocks.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
Jose Alvarado, Pelicans 
Alvarado has been instrumental in the Pelicans' past two wins, totaling 40 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 steals. He now leads New Orleans in point differential at +13.3 per 100 possessions.
New Orleans faces a dilemma: they should develop young talent, but they also need wins since they don't control their own draft pick. Alvarado gives them the best chance to win right now. Historically, he's been a solid per-minute fantasy producer when playing 30+ minutes, providing assists and steals with decent scoring.
The sustainability question looms large. Jordan Poole, Jordan Hawkins, and Herb Jones are out tonight, while Trey Murphy is questionable. These absences create a clear runway for Alvarado through at least the Saturday/Sunday back-to-back. Once the Pelicans get healthier, his minutes will likely decrease.
Recommendation: Alvarado is an excellent stream for the back-to-back. In 14-team and 16-team leagues, add and hold him hoping for sustained production over the next week-plus. In 12-team leagues, he's a solid streaming option who could earn a longer hold if the minutes stick.
Adem Bona, 76ers 
Andre Drummond landed on the NBA injury report, suffering a sprained knee, presumably keeping him out for a while. That vaults Bona into the role of Starter When Embiid Is Out. He finished yesterday's game with 13 points, 6 assists, and 3 blocks in 23 minutes.
Last season as a starter, Bona averaged 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 30.5 minutes. However, that came with a much worse version of the 76ers in March and April. Now he'll face reduced scoring opportunities due to better surrounding talent and will have to navigate Embiid's sporadic appearances.
The blocks are the key category here. Bona provides great shot-blocking when playing meaningful minutes, and Philadelphia's center depth is now thin enough that he should see consistent opportunities even when Embiid occasionally plays.
Recommendation: Add Bona if you need blocks specifically. He's a must-add in 14-team leagues and deeper. In 12-team leagues, he's worth rostering if blocks are a category priority. Don't expect the same scoring volume as last season, but the defensive stats should hold.
Jay Huff, Pacers 
Huff appears to be rounding into form after a disappointing early season. Over his past five games, he's averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3.2 blocks in 24.2 minutes. The production is finally matching preseason expectations.
The improvement stems from increased offensive involvement combined with better shooting and more consistent minutes. Huff is getting looks in Indiana's offense rather than just standing around defensively. The increased confidence has translated to better efficiency and more aggressive play.
The long-term outlook remains murky. Huff and Isaiah Jackson have yo-yoed between starting and benching all season. Nothing suggests that pattern will suddenly stop.
Recommendation: Huff is a good standard-league add right now while he's hot and playing well. Stream him for immediate production, particularly if you need blocks. Don't be surprised if the production starts faltering over the next week or two as shooting regresses and the rotation changes. Enjoy the hot streak but don't get attached—be ready to drop when circumstances shift.
