We have finally arrived at the last week of the year. For those of you starting your championship weeks—good luck, and may you end your season on a high note! For those of you still here because you’re struggling to break your fantasy addiction despite your season being over, I appreciate you just as much.

 

 

Without wasting too much time, let’s dive right into what can only be described as a strange week, with only a few quality games scattered across a packed schedule. We'll be covering one add and one drop candidate for leagues of varying sizes, so keep in mind that this list is far from a one-size-fits-all statement.

 

Adds

 

Davion Mitchell
(Shallow Leagues)

 

Davion Mitchell featured on this list a few weeks ago as an add for deeper league managers. However, his role on the Miami Heat has only become more solidified in recent games. The Heat also have an excellent schedule, playing on a two-game Monday to start the upcoming week, further locking in his value as a shallow league option.

 

Over the past two weeks, Mitchell has established himself as a specialist in steals, assists, and even threes. He's averaging an elite two steals per game during that span, along with seven assists per game. This production has brought him to a ranking of 54th overall during this stretch—one of the best extended runs of his career.

 

Not only does Mitchell now have a secure role where he’s confidently contributing at a high level, but his schedule is possibly the best in the league. He plays four games against tanking teams (Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington), giving him plenty of upside and solidifying his place as a must-roster player in shallow leagues.

 

Ja’Kobe Walter
(Standard Leagues)

 

Ja’Kobe Walter is currently the favorite toy of the Toronto Raptors, who look poised to give him as big a role as he can handle in their pursuit of a top lottery pick. With rotating “injuries” to the majority of their core, Walter has remained relatively immune to the chaos, allowing him to hold a high-usage role.

 

 

Walter has impressed from a fantasy standpoint since stepping into the rotation. He’s averaging around 30 minutes a night as a starter over their last six games, posting strong scoring, three-point, and steal numbers. Over the past week, he’s averaged 3.3 threes and two steals per game—very impressive numbers for a rookie.

 

He’s currently ranked 27th overall over the past week, a ranking that seems relatively sustainable—especially if the steals hold. He appears locked in as a rest-of-season starter and could even see increased usage. All signs point to Walter being a great speculative add in standard leagues.

 

Dalano Banton
(Deep Leagues)

 

A familiar face from last year, the Portland Trail Blazers seem poised to return Dalano Banton to his role as a premier tank commander and silly-season star. Banton has a proven track record of delivering high-level production when handed the keys, and with injuries to Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson, he may have the chance to reclaim that mantle.

 

Banton has struggled over his last three starts, but his potential remains the key focus. Finding a player who takes 15+ shots per night in a deep league is rare, and though he's been inefficient, that percentage could easily rise 7–10%—enough to become fantasy-relevant again.

 

His stock numbers have also taken a dip but could rebound with some regression to the mean. He averages over one block and one steal per 36 minutes, making him one of the better shot-blocking guards in the league.

 

If anyone on the wire has league-winner upside, it’s Banton. With a relatively soft schedule and the possibility of a high-usage role, he’s a perfect dart throw in deeper formats where options are thin.

 

 

Drops

 

Mark Williams
(Shallow Leagues)

 

It was debatable whether Mark Williams should even be considered a drop candidate, given the possibility that he might be shut down for the season with his lingering muscle spasm issue. However, even if he suits up this week, he looks like a drop in shallow leagues.

 

Williams has actually performed well despite the setbacks Charlotte has faced. He remains an elite contributor in rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage, more or less living up to expectations when he’s been active.

 

But it's his availability and schedule that make him a drop this week. With a back-to-back to start, he’ll almost certainly sit one of those games. That’s followed by two matchups against Boston—a team that's made life difficult for opposing bigs all year. All things considered, he’s a strong drop candidate for those seeking an edge in their finals matchups.

 

Stephon Castle
(Standard Leagues)

 

This one might come as a surprise. Despite the tantalizing volume that Stephon Castle is putting up in his new role with the Spurs, he’s a drop in category leagues as the season comes to a close. He has a tough schedule this week, and he continues to struggle to put up well-rounded numbers in 9-cat formats.

 

 

Castle has flirted with triple-doubles recently, but it's come at the cost of efficiency and balanced production. He’s a negative in seven categories over the past week, with his unstable shooting percentages, turnovers, and lack of threes dragging down his value. Despite averaging a gaudy 17.5/9/7, he ranks just 196th during that span.

 

If you're in a points league, Castle remains a strong play. But in category formats, his upside just isn’t balanced enough to be a must-hold in standard leagues.

 

Dereck Lively II
(Deep Leagues)

 

Despite making a surprise return to close out a season that many assumed he’d miss entirely, Dereck Lively II is still far from being a useful fantasy asset. He’s now part of a crowded center rotation in Dallas, and it’s likely the team will prioritize keeping him healthy heading into next season.

 

Lively has played in two games since returning, logging just 16 minutes in a close contest. While he started and put up a decent line given his minutes, it’s simply not enough for deep-league fantasy managers during a crucial finals matchup. Even though his ceiling is top-70, he isn’t usable during a three-game week full of high-volume days.

 

Unless the Mavericks explicitly state that Lively will be playing 25+ minutes, his roster spot is better used on a streamer or specialist. It’s worth monitoring how he pairs with Anthony Davis next season, but that can be done from the waiver wire. Even in deep formats, a sub-20-minute specialist won’t cut it. His time as a viable fantasy option this year is over.