Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Best Week 12 Pickups

NBA injuries have been the theme over the past week, providing certain players with an opportunity to step into larger roles. For those hunting for immediate production, now is a great time to sniff out some bargains, both long-term and short-term. As always, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the fantasy basketball rankings. And remember, never assume a player is rostered. It always pays to double-check, just in case they have been overlooked.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles–whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals–is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Justin Champagnie, Washington Wizards (9% rostered)

Despite his role seemingly changing on a nightly basis, Champagnie's production has remained relatively consistent. In four games over the past week, Champagnie has scored 37, 20, 28 and 25 fantasy points, thanks to his ability to chip in across multiple categories, even in limited minutes. Kyshawn George is dealing with a hip injury that has now cost him three straight games. Khris Middleton's time in Washington could come to an end at any point, and for the most part, his production has been nonexistent. Although Champagnie could be considered more of a stash, he has been finding a way to contribute, making him a serious consideration, especially for those atop the standings.

Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls (12% rostered)

Recent injuries to both Josh Giddey and Coby White, while bad for Chicago, will almost certainly provide Jones with a fantastic opportunity. In his first game without both, Jones started, racking up a 20-and-12 double-double, good enough for 46 fantasy points. If we know anything about the Bulls, it is that winning will remain a priority. Jones should remain the starting point guard for at least the next two weeks, giving him a nice window of value. Based on what we saw to begin the season, when White was sidelined, expect Jones to flirt with upwards of 34 fantasy points per game.

Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls (12% rostered)

Although he plays a completely different position, Smith is also going to benefit from the injuries to White and Giddey. In what some thought was a surprise move, Smith started alongside Nikola Vucevic in Wednesday's win over the Pelicans, ending with a 14-and-14 double-double. His 39 fantasy points were his second-highest total of the season, a promising sign for what might be to come. Even prior to the injuries, Smith had been playing a meaningful role, scoring 29, 21 and 29 fantasy points in his previous three games. While Jones is the priority, Smith is certainly worth grabbing in all High Score leagues, at least for the foreseeable future.

Standard 9-Category Leagues

DaRon Holmes, Denver Nuggets (3% rostered)

If you're looking for pure speculation, Holmes is your man. After Nikola Jokic suffered a knee injury earlier in the week, Jonas Valanciunas was seen as a priority pickup, and rightfully so. After a dominant start to his first game as a starter, Valanciunas suffered a calf injury that will cost him at least four weeks. In a simple case of next man up, Holmes could very well find himself as the starting center in Denver, making him a target, even in standard leagues. While he does possess a fantasy-friendly game, managers should be aware that he is coming off a torn Achilles. This will likely limit his playing time somewhat, at least to begin with. There are certainly no guarantees here, but given the lack of depth at center, Holmes is worth taking a flier on.

Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers (24% rostered)

Nesmith returned from a knee injury last week, playing limited minutes off the bench. In three games since returning, he has averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 three-pointers and 2.3 combined steals and blocks. Although he came off the bench in his most recent appearance, Nesmith started the second half, logging 32 minutes in the process. Indiana's long-term rotation remains a hot topic, but for now, expect to see Nesmith playing a sizeable role. As a prototypical 3-and-D player, Nesmith should be able to hold value across most formats, despite his overall ceiling being somewhat limited.

Tari Eason, Houston Rockets (30% rostered)

Another player who has recently returned from injury, Eason has already moved back into the starting lineup. In his three games as a starter, Eason has averaged 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.2 three-pointers. Perhaps the bigger takeaway has been the fact that he has played at least 26 minutes in two of the three games, unlocking his fantasy upside. While his health could continue to limit him to under 30 minutes per night, Eason has proven he can be a top-70 player nonetheless, making him a must-roster asset moving forward.

Standard Points Leagues

Collin Sexton, Charlotte Hornets (20% rostered)

Another player whose role has chopped and changed throughout the course of the season, Sexton has at least been able to remain a relatively consistent source of points. Charlotte is no stranger when it comes to dealing with injuries, a fact that is not lost on savvy fantasy managers. Miles Bridges is currently dealing with an ankle injury, which resulted in Sexton moving into the starting lineup on Wednesday. He finished with a season-high 39 fantasy points, a reminder of what he can do when afforded starter-level minutes. Bridges could certainly return in the next few games, but until we get some more clarity, Sexton is worth taking a flier on.

Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets (19% rostered)

Speaking of injuries, Denver is currently going through a major crisis, with four of its regular starters on the sideline. Watson has been arguably the biggest winner, having now started in 20 straight games. With so much talent unavailable, Watson is going to have to do more on the offensive end, as we saw during Wednesday's win over the Raptors, where he dropped 24 points in 36 minutes. There will be some ups and downs, but grabbing Watson, at least until the roster is healthy, makes a lot of sense.

Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls (22% rostered)

Much like Jalen Smith and Tre Jones, Dosunmu is going to be another winner in Chicago, likely stepping into a more consistent role. While he has flirted with value for much of the season, Dosunmu is a player who typically needs at least 28 minutes per night to be able to be a worthwhile contributor. His ability to play multiple positions, while also providing stout defense, should put him in a position to do just that. He has scored at least 28 fantasy points in each of the past two games, a range that managers should expect to see moving forward.