Week 22 is right here, and the fantasy basketball playoff grind continues. With tanking groups and unpredictable rotations, the waiver wire can get bizarre — so be versatile and do what you need to do.
My Playlist is targeted on affect gamers on your lineup, particularly these with video games on lighter slates (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). This week, I’m keying in on the Hornets, Kings, Pelicans, Knicks, Pistons and Magic. The Suns and Timberwolves are tough as a result of they solely play two video games apiece. I’m holding on to Ayo Dosunmu (extra on him later), however it’s possible you’ll want to chop different rosterable gamers. The alternative is yours. Now, let’s get into the pickups!
Advertisement
Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season
Fantasy basketball pickups and advice.
Shallow league pickups
Saddiq Bey — SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans (44%)
Bey shouldn’t be floating in your waiver wire, however he’s nonetheless out there in 56% of Yahoo leagues. The Pelicans have one of many higher schedules this week, enjoying three of their 4 video games on lighter slates. He’s been a top-75 asset in High Score over the previous two weeks, scoring over 34 fantasy factors per recreation. The Pelicans are the one staff out of Play-In Tournament competition with a profitable document over their previous 10 video games (6-4), a robust indication they’ll make each effort to compete this week and probably by the tip of the season. Bey’s been a multi-category asset for all codecs, so get him if he’s on the market.
Advertisement
Ayo Dosunmu — PG/SG/SF, Minnesota Timberwolves (35%)
Ayo was probably the greatest acquisitions on the deadline for the Wolves, particularly now that they’ll be with out Anthony Edwards for not less than the following week. The draw back to selecting up any Wolves gamers is that they solely play two video games in Week 22. That mentioned, for High Score, that’s sufficient to carry Ayo by Wednesday. Dosunmu’s been a useful supply of factors, rebounds, assists and effectivity since Ant went down, averaging 19-8-5.5 with 50/49/90 capturing splits. I perceive for those who really feel you’ll want to lower him to extend the variety of video games, however I’d nonetheless hold him in your roster, particularly in High Score.
Ace Bailey — SG/SF/PF, Utah Jazz (42%)
The fifth general decide within the 2025 draft is making a robust late-season push for First Team All-Rookie. Since the calendar turned to March, Bailey has been averaging practically 20 factors with 4 boards, 2 assists, 4 3s and 2 shares per recreation, with strong effectivity. I picked him up in a few High Score leagues due to his final two spike video games of 55 and 62 fantasy factors in Week 21. The Jazz cleared the trail for his or her younger core to thrive, so I’d belief Bailey within the closing weeks of the fantasy season.
Advertisement
Daniss Jenkins — PG/SG, Detroit Pistons (25%)
Cade Cunningham (lung) will probably be re-evaluated in two weeks, leaving Jenkins as his direct beneficiary. As a starter this season, Jenkins is averaging 14.9 factors, 6.9 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 32.3 minutes per contest. He’s coming off a 48-fantasy-point efficiency in High Score on Friday, and with 4 video games (two on lighter slates), Jenkins is a participant who must be rostered for those who’re in want of factors and assists.
Mitchell Robinson — C, New York Knicks (18%)
I don’t know what it’s, but it surely looks like a lot of the prime targets I see on the wire are massive males. Robinson simply grabbed a career-high 22 rebounds in a win at Indiana on March 14. He’s averaging 11 boards and 2.7 shares per recreation whereas notching a double-double in two of his final 5 video games. He will not rating you a lot and the free throws are ugly, however for those who want elite rebounding and blocks in a deep-league matchup, Robinson’s alternative is actual as a result of the Knicks don’t play a back-to-back set and all of their video games fall on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday (the smallest slates).
Advertisement
Other choices:
Wendell Carter Jr. – PF/C, Orlando Magic (36%)
Tristan da Silva – SG/SF, Orlando Magic (17%)
Tobias Harris – SF/PF, Detroit Pistons (36%)
De’Anthony Melton – PG/SG, Golden State Warriors (16%)
Deep league pickups
Dylan Cardwell — PF/C, Sacramento Kings (9%)
I’d be taking a look at Cardwell in deep leagues if you need rebounds and blocks. The Kings are nonetheless enjoying their vets greater than most; nevertheless, their frontcourt stays skinny, with simply Maxine Raynaud and Precious Achiuwa. Even in restricted minutes, Cardwell has been a beast on the glass and in a four-game week the place all the Kings’ video games fall on slates below 10 video games, he’s a streamable asset to think about for 9-cat leagues. Another identify to maintain an eye fixed out for is Malik Monk — however that’ll depend upon Russell Westbrook’s standing.
Advertisement
Yves Missi – C, New Orleans Pelicans (10%)
Missi was nice in Week 21, closing the week 78th in 9-cat leagues. Like Cardwell, he gained’t do a lot for scoring, however the rebounds and blocks are essential for fantasy managers. Missi averaged 9 rebounds and 3 blocks final week with a surprisingly excessive 3 assists per recreation as effectively. At this stage within the season, the Kings and Pelicans are the one tanking groups giving their vets significant minutes, and although Missi will hardly ever eclipse half-hour, he’s doing sufficient on a per-minute foundation to be streamed in a four-game week.
Ja’Kobe Walter – PG/SG, Toronto Raptors (3%)
It’s slim pickings on the market, however Walter has quietly been a top-100 asset over the previous two weeks and completed within the prime 60 in 9-cat in Week 21. The Raptors’ schedule is first rate, too, opening the week towards Utah, touring to L.A. to face the Clippers, enjoying New Orleans and ending the week at house versus Orlando. Walter’s extra of an add for 9-cat as a result of his rating is primarily coming from his effectivity, capturing 63% from the sphere and 68% from 3 in his final 5 outings. If he doesn’t do sufficient on Monday, lower him and transfer on, however I like his possibilities towards the Jazz to start the week.
Advertisement
Ousmane Dieng — SF/PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks (8%)
The former Thunder ahead is getting way more enjoying time with Giannis Antetokounmpo out and Bobby Portis and Myles Turner being in and out of the lineup recently. Dieng completed Week 21 contained in the top-150 after posting a good 14.3 factors, 2.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 3.0 3s and 1.3 shares per recreation. As we get deeper into the season and the Bucks fall even farther from competition, it appears like we’ll see much less of the vets and extra from guys like Dieng. That’s what I’m betting on in a four-game week with no back-to-backs — time to let the younger man prepare dinner.
Other choices:
Ron Holland – SF, Detroit Pistons (2%)
Paul Reed – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (4%)
Ryan Kalkbrenner – C, Charlotte Hornets (9%)
Malik Monk, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings (17%)
