Welcome to "Role Revolution," where we explore fantasy basketball players poised to break out due to recent roster changes and expanded opportunities.
With the NBA regular season in its final chapter and fantasy playoffs in full swing, roster changes are creating welcome opportunities for rising talents. As teams jockey for seeding and young players take on expanded roles, this week's edition spotlights eight week 22 waiver wire adds who are primed to deliver game-changing fantasy production when it matters most. (Statistics as of March 25, 2025)
1. Zaccharie Risacher
(SF, Atlanta Hawks)
2024-25 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG
1.2 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG
44.8 FG%, 35.3 3P%, 72.0 FT%
After a poor start to the season, Zaccharie Risacher, one of the least-discussed number-one overall picks in recent memory, has shown considerable progress in the second half of the season and emerged as a top-three Rookie of the Year candidate. He’s currently riding a second streak of six straight double-digit scoring outputs since the start of February and has essentially become the Hawks’ secondary scoring option after Trae Young.
Over his last six games, Risacher has been averaging 17.7 PPG on 53.2 FG%, which are significant improvements on his season-long numbers. He shot 0-6 from deep against Houston on Tuesday but has been otherwise locked in from beyond the arc in 2025 and notched his second game this month with five threes against Charlotte last week. Rostered in just 18.2% of ESPN leagues, Risacher is a worthy pickup for managers seeking points, efficiency, and threes, something that could not be said earlier this season.
2. Toumani Camara
(PF, Portland Trail Blazers)
2024-25 stats: 11.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG
2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG
45.9 FG%, 37.8 3P%, 72.4 FT%
Toumani Camara has earned praise as a standout defender in his second NBA season, including winning Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month for February. The Belgian forward has also made impressive recent strides on offense, posting five consecutive double-digit scoring performances.
Over that stretch, Camara is averaging 17.0 PPG while shooting a blistering 16-32 from three-point range, after shooting just 24.0% from three in his prior five outings. This late March surge has established him as a high-level two-way player that Blazers opponents and fantasy managers can’t afford to ignore. Camara has appeared on more fantasy rosters in recent weeks but remains available in nearly 60% of ESPN leagues so make sure to scoop him up now if possible.
3. Justin Edwards
(SF, Philadelphia 76ers)
2024-25 stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG
1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
45.4 FG%, 37.1 3P%, 71.4 FT%
We highlighted two 76ers in last week’s edition and this week it’s Justin Edwards standing out in a lineup of young, unproven players. With key starters missing significant stretches, Philadelphia has given several fringe NBA talents opportunities in recent months and Edwards has taken full advantage.
The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky posted his sixth straight double-digit scoring output on Monday, and over his last five games, he’s averaging 20.6 PPG while shooting 50.0% from three-point land. Those numbers far exceed his performance earlier this season and are particularly surprising given his 8.8 PPG in his lone collegiate season.
Edwards (rostered in just 15.5% of ESPN leagues) has looked for his shot aggressively and carried the offensive load along with Quentin Grimes. In a lost season for Philadelphia, there’s no reason this trend can’t continue.
4. Peyton Watson
(SF, Denver Nuggets)
2024-25 stats: 8.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG
1.4 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG
47.7 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 69.5 FT%
With Nikola Jokic missing the past five games for Denver, Peyton Watson, one of the league’s most versatile defensive forwards, has stepped things up offensively. Over that span, he’s averaging 14.0 PPG on 55.3 FG% and 50.0 3P%, all major bumps to his career numbers. He’s accomplished this while remaining highly impactful on the defensive end, recording two four-block games during that run.
The 6’8 third-year player has made steady improvements since winning a ring as a deep reserve player his rookie season and this could be the moment he breaks out with the Nuggets preparing for a playoff run. After a 24-point performance on Monday, don’t expect Watons's 2.2% ESPN rostered rate to remain low for long.
5. Kai Jones
(C, Dallas Mavericks)
2024-25 stats: 3.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG
1.0 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG
80.3 FG%, 0.0 3P%, 73.9 FT%
Kai Jones has had a rocky start to his NBA career, including averaging just 2.7 PPG in two seasons in Charlotte and 2.2 PPG in 28 games for the Clippers this season, but has played by far his best basketball in limited action for the injury-depleted Mavericks. With Dallas missing several key frontcourt options, Jones was signed to a two-way deal on March 3rd and has posted 14.2 PPG and 8.6 RPG in five games, even knocking down his first three-pointer of the season in a loss to the Knicks on Tuesday.
Jones can have a major impact on your squad’s field goal percentage as he rarely misses from the field, shooting 83.3% over that run. Anthony Davis is expected to return to the floor next Monday, but with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II still out among others, Jones (rostered in 8.4% of ESPN leagues) should be on your radar for at least the next week.
6. Trendon Watford
(PF, Brooklyn Nets)
2024-25 stats: 9.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG
2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
46.7 FG%, 31.9 3P%, 75.0 FT%
Trendon Watford has missed huge chunks of the season due to injury, but has found his footing coming off the bench for the Nets over the past two months. A multi-talented offensive player, Watford has been particularly good over Brooklyn’s past five games, averaging 15.4 PPG on 56.9 FG%.
The highlight of that stretch was his Nets career-high, scoring 26 points on 9-14 against the Pacers on Saturday, leading to some post-game trash talk with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. With the tanking Nets facing a rebuilding offseason and set to rest star forward Cameron Johnson in their next game, head coach Jordi Fernandez seems prepared to give 24-year-old Watford (rostered in 0.8% of ESPN leagues) every chance to showcase his abilities in the season’s closing stages.
7. Ryan Dunn
(SF, Phoenix Suns)
2024-25 stats: 6.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG
0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG
43.9 FG%, 31.2 3P%, 45.5 FT%
In a highly disappointing season for Phoenix, Ryan Dunn has been one of the few bright spots. A defensive wing specialist, Dunn has notched six straight double-digit scoring performances, helping the Suns claw their way back into the Play-In with five wins over that stretch.
Dunn’s efficiency hasn’t been eye-popping (47.9 FG%, 35.1 3P%), but he has combined these consistent scoring efforts with 6.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG, and 0.8 BPG over the same period. With a roster featuring Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Suns are likely to keep pushing for that Play-In spot over their final ten games, and they’ll need Dunn to maintain his strong play to do so.
8. Spencer Dinwiddie
(PG, Dallas Mavericks)
2024-25 stats: 11.1 PPG, 2.4 RPG
4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
42.4 FG%, 33.7 3P%, 80.7 FT%
Veteran point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has stepped up his production in the absence of Kyrie Irving, grabbing the final slot among our week 22 waiver wire adds and making his second appearance in this series. Before a poor showing Tuesday night against the Knicks, Dinwiddie averaged 20.6 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 1.6 SPG over his prior seven games, while characteristically keeping his turnovers low at 1.3 per game.
Dinwiddie shot 54.3 FG% and 39.5 3P% over that span, during which he twice dished out 12 assists. Dinwiddie has ceded some playtime to fellow point guard Brandon Williams, but will undoubtedly be relied upon by head coach Jason Kidd as the Mavericks battle with Phoenix for the final Western Conference Play-In spot.