Success in fantasy basketball demands constant vigilance of the NBA injury report and shifting NBA depth charts. As injuries to Aaron Gordon and Paolo Banchero reshuffle NBA starting lineups, savvy managers must identify emerging NBA sleepers. Today's guide analyzes critical decisions, evaluating whether rising stars like Derik Queen and Peyton Watson deserve a climb in your NBA fantasy rankings or if fading assets like Isaiah Collier are dragging down your team.
Three Biggest Adds
Derik Queen, Pelicans 
Just posted 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Mavericks. The key takeaway remains the same: Zion Williamson's presence in the NBA starting lineup isn't hurting Queen's production. If anything, he's playing better with Zion on the court. Queen continues to lead the Pelicans in on/off differential and is making plays that impact winning beyond just his counting stats. Add him now in 10-team leagues and deeper without hesitation. This isn't a wait-and-see situation anymore. Queen has proven he can coexist with Zion and maintain fantasy relevance in the fantasy basketball rankings.
Peyton Watson, Nuggets 
Aaron Gordon suffered an injury just three minutes into yesterday's game against the Rockets, changing Watson's outlook. The initial concern was that Watson would crater after his career-best 32/11/3 performance, and while he did come back to earth with 9 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, the production is more sustainable with Gordon sidelined for multiple games. Watson is now a must-add in 14-team leagues and very close in 12-teamers, particularly if you need steals, blocks, and rebounds. The defensive stats remain his calling card. Expect NBA player stats around three combined steals and blocks per 36 minutes. Gordon's injury timeline will determine how long Watson maintains fantasy relevance, so monitor NBA injury updates closely.
Anthony Black, Magic 
Paolo Banchero isn't expected back for at least another week, keeping Black's expanded role intact. He's averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2.3 steals across his past three games while logging 30+ minutes. Black still has holes in his game—particularly his three-point shooting and involvement as a passer compared to last season—but the workload and defensive production make him a solid 12-team add and attractive shallow-league streamer.
Three Biggest Drops
Isaiah Collier, Jazz 
Collier just posted two brutal games with reduced minutes, totaling 14 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 block, and a disastrous 9 turnovers in 35 combined minutes. Coach Will Hardy shifted toward Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski instead, while Walter Clayton Jr. also returned to the rotation.
If you don't need assists, Collier is an easy drop. Stop reading and move on. If you do need assists desperately, here's the detailed breakdown for a decision, though he's only a soft hold at best.
The negatives are substantial. Collier has the second-worst net rating on the Jazz at -13.1, ahead of only Ace Bailey's -18.6. He's averaging just 9.9 points per game despite shooting an unsustainable 59% from the field. He's not suddenly an elite three-point shooter despite recent hot shooting, and his defensive metrics are terrible across the board.
The lone positive is that Collier can pass the ball, and the Jazz are bad enough that he'll probably continue getting minutes...probably. But that "probably" is doing heavy lifting. Walter Clayton Jr. could easily prove to be better than Collier, and Clayton's +2.5 net rating suggests he helps the team win more than Collier does.
The bottom line: if assists are your only reason for holding Collier, evaluate whether there are better assist sources on your waiver wire, or similar sources that are also better in other areas. In deeper formats where assists are scarce, you can hold for another week or two, but be ready to cut bait at the first sign his role is actually disappearing.
Moses Moody, Warriors 
This one is straightforward. Moody is an excellent shooter and capable defender who doesn't get the consistent minutes and usage required to be fantasy relevant. Steve Kerr's rotation decisions are unpredictable at best. Moody is fine to hold only if you desperately need three-pointers and can afford the roster spot for a player who provides almost nothing else with regularity. Otherwise, the frustration probably isn't worth it.
Isaiah Jackson, Pacers 
We'll keep this brief because the situation hasn't changed. Jackson is a streamer in 12-team leagues. In 14-team and 16-team leagues, he's somewhere between a streamer and a luxury stash depending on your roster construction. In 20-team leagues, he's a must-roster simply because his upside when playing minutes is too valuable to leave on the wire.
The back-and-forth between Jackson and Huff will continue all season. Don't try to predict which games Jackson will excel. His foul trouble remains the primary limiter on his fantasy value. If he ever figures out how to stay on the court consistently, he could be a backend top-100 player. Until then, he's a frustrating but occasionally useful streaming option in deeper formats.
