Only two more weeks left! Not much is happening on a macro level around the league at this point, as many teams have settled into their plans to end the season. There are no sudden tankers, play-in teams are scrambling, and the top teams have begun embracing rest days with increasing frequency.
In the midst of this routine, though, there is still plenty of room to make moves to secure the final weeks of your season. In this article, I highlight three key players who can be difference-makers down the stretch. Additionally, I cover three players whose value is decreasing as the season comes to a close—strong drop candidates going forward.
Adds
Adem Bona
(Shallow Leagues)
I have gone on record stating that I did not think Adem Bona was capable of extended fantasy greatness should he receive a larger role. I have most definitely been proven wrong over the last week, as the rookie has soared past any prior expectations set by the tanking Philadelphia 76ers. Bona is on a straight-line course to becoming a silly-season legend, and the hype train has undoubtedly left the station after Saturday night.
On a fantasy level, Bona excels primarily due to his shot-blocking ability, managing to swat 2.3 shots per night over the last week—all while playing under 24 minutes. Outside of blocking, he has thrived as a traditional big, grabbing 7.7 rebounds and shooting 74% from the field on his way to a top-40 ranking in that span.
It is worth noting that the 76ers have had some easier opponents for big-man matchups this week (Washington and New Orleans). However, with a resounding performance against Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat on Saturday, Bona has proven he has serious upside as a waiver-wire pickup. This makes him a great add across all league formats for the time being.
Anthony Black
(Standard Leagues)
Anthony Black stands out as a conditional add on this list, but a notable one nonetheless. The Orlando Magic have been playing shorthanded in the backcourt with the loss of Cole Anthony, and with no return date set, they have increasingly turned to Black to help stabilize the lineup. While the sophomore remains inconsistent, his increased role and fantasy profile make him a strong standard-league add in the near future.
Black offers solid upside as an elite defensive point guard who can generate assists and occasionally put up big scoring nights when called upon. Recently, he has held value as a defensive specialist, excelling in out-of-position shot blocking (1.3 per game over the last week) and efficiency (55% FG and 87% FT in the last two weeks).
Overall, Black has managed a respectable ranking of 65 over the last week, largely boosted by his stellar block numbers. He has averaged 28 minutes per night off the bench and has become a key piece in Orlando’s closing unit. As long as Anthony remains out, Black projects as a strong rotational piece, and his excellent three-game-in-four-days schedule to start the week makes him a safe add.
Ryan Rollins
(Deep Leagues)
Perhaps the biggest news this week, Damian Lillard appears to be out indefinitely for the Milwaukee Bucks with deep vein thrombosis—the same condition that ended Victor Wembanyama’s season. This leaves a significant usage vacuum in Milwaukee, and Ryan Rollins looks poised to take advantage of the opportunity and cement his place in the NBA.
While he has yet to consistently receive a large role, Rollins has progressively earned more minutes with each passing game, culminating in a starting spot against New York. He capitalized on the opportunity with a staggering 20/5/4 stat line. He projects as a solid scoring option with decent assist and stock numbers, as well as some three-point upside.
Rollins currently ranks just outside the top 100 for the week, but if he secures a full-time starting role, he would become a must-add player in deeper leagues. With Kevin Porter Jr. struggling to maintain momentum (and the Bucks not winning many games with him at the helm), Milwaukee may opt for a steadier system guard like Rollins. That makes a consistent starting role a very real possibility over the rest of the season.
Drops
Norman Powell
(Shallow Leagues)
Still a Most Improved Player favorite, the initial magic Norman Powell brought to the Los Angeles Clippers has gradually faded since the All-Star break. After an extended injury absence, the Clippers have been cautious with Powell, relying more on their veteran depth to provide the extra boost they need.
Powell is heavily reliant on big minutes and high usage to make an impact in fantasy, both of which have steadily declined of late. Over the last two weeks, he has seen a drop of nearly seven minutes per game, six percentage points in usage, and an eight percent decline in field goal percentage from his season averages. This is the exact opposite of the perfect storm that fueled his early-season success, and his momentum has all but disappeared.
As a result, Powell has been a negative contributor in six categories over the last two weeks, ranking a dismal 212th overall. With two back-to-backs on the Clippers’ schedule this week, there is a very real risk that Powell could sit out games, which—combined with his limited opportunity—makes him a strong drop candidate in shallower formats.
Santi Aldama
(Standard Leagues)
After taking what many considered to be a big step forward this season, Santi Aldama has struggled to find his footing on the Memphis Grizzlies in recent weeks. Already on the fringe of standard-league viability (hovering in the 90-110 range), any dip in form would be a death blow to his fantasy relevance—and that decline has been on full display lately.
Aldama has regressed across nearly every statistical category, significantly damaging his fantasy value. Over the past two weeks, he has been a negative contributor in eight categories, with turnovers being his only redeeming quality. This decline has resulted in a brutal ranking of 269 over the last week.
As noted, the wheels have completely fallen off for Aldama since his return from injury. While poor form is partly to blame, his ceiling remains severely limited when the Grizzlies are healthy. At this stage in the season, there are plenty of stronger waiver-wire options available in standard leagues.
Jonas Valančiūnas
(Deep Leagues)
Some players remain rostered purely due to name value, and this season, Jonas Valančiūnas of the Sacramento Kings is one of the best examples of that phenomenon. Despite averaging just 19 minutes per game this season, he is still rostered in 71% of Yahoo leagues—a shockingly high number given his limited role.
Valančiūnas has performed consistently within his role all season, but come playoff time, that role simply isn’t enough to warrant consideration. Since Domantas Sabonis returned last week, Valančiūnas' playing time has plummeted to just 10 minutes per night, making him a significant negative (-0.7 Z-score) in six categories.
As the 294th-ranked player over the last week, your team will almost certainly improve without him—regardless of league depth. Playoffs are not the time to hold onto dead weight, and handcuffing rarely works as a viable strategy in fantasy basketball. Do yourself a favor and swap him for literally any rotation player, then sit back and enjoy the marginal but meaningful gains.