With the NBA trade deadline approaching, fantasy basketball managers are seeing constant movement in NBA news, injury reports and rotation changes. Staying ahead of fantasy basketball news, NBA depth charts and player injuries is critical when working the waiver wire, especially with new starters emerging and roles expanding. This article highlights six widely available players whose recent production and changing opportunities make them strong targets. These fantasy basketball sleepers can help you gain an edge.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns 
(42% rostered)
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Suns. Jalen Green is dealing with the same hamstring injury that has limited him to just four games all season. Devin Booker (ankle) will also be out for at least one week. Booker has been leading the team's scoring attack, putting up 25.4 points over 34 minutes per game.
Brooks scored 26 points in each of the last two games without Booker and Green. He's already having the best scoring campaign of his career, averaging 20.5 points per game. While he doesn't provide much in terms of rebounds or assists, he can score enough to be worth rostering in most leagues.
Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks 
(41% rostered)
Marshall has started each of the last 11 games for the Mavericks. During that span, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals. Not only did he log 32 minutes a game, but he shot 56.8% from the field. While he doesn't make
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, fantasy basketball managers are seeing constant movement in NBA news, injury reports and rotation changes. Staying ahead of fantasy basketball news, NBA depth charts and player injuries is critical when working the waiver wire, especially with new starters emerging and roles expanding. This article highlights six widely available players whose recent production and changing opportunities make them strong targets. These fantasy basketball sleepers can help you gain an edge.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns (42% rostered)
Injuries continue to be an issue for the Suns. Jalen Green is dealing with the same hamstring injury that has limited him to just four games all season. Devin Booker (ankle) will also be out for at least one week. Booker has been leading the team's scoring attack, putting up 25.4 points over 34 minutes per game.
Brooks scored 26 points in each of the last two games without Booker and Green. He's already having the best scoring campaign of his career, averaging 20.5 points per game. While he doesn't provide much in terms of rebounds or assists, he can score enough to be worth rostering in most leagues.
Naji Marshall, Dallas Mavericks (41% rostered)
Marshall has started each of the last 11 games for the Mavericks. During that span, he averaged 19.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals. Not only did he log 32 minutes a game, but he shot 56.8% from the field. While he doesn't make a ton of three-pointers, Marshall is on pace to shoot at least 50.8% from the field for the second straight season.
Marshall has been playing a lot because the Mavericks have been hammered by injuries. Anthony Davis (finger) won't be back anytime soon, if he is even on the Mavericks after the trade deadline. Kyrie Irving (knee) still has no timetable for a return. Minutes and shot attempts shouldn't be difficult for Marshall to come by moving forward.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks 
(38% rostered)
Giannis Antetokounmpo recently suffered a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for at least four weeks. In the first game since he went down, Portis started and played 36 minutes versus the 76ers. He didn't let the opportunity go to waste, racking up 17 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and one steal.
Antetokounmpo may have already played his last game for the Bucks. According to reports Wednesday, the team is willing to listen to trade offers for him. Even if he doesn't get moved at the deadline, he is set to miss multiple weeks. As long as Portis doesn't get traded himself, he has a runway to being a very valuable fantasy option.
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans 
(36% rostered)
Since returning from injury, Bey has continued to churn out juicy stat lines. Over his last eight games, he has averaged 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. What's really encouraging is that he averaged 31 minutes during that span. Currently, the Pelicans aren't dealing with any significant injuries. That means that even when the team is at full strength, they want to keep Bey in a prominent role.
The Pelicans could be active at the trade deadline. They certainly have appealing pieces, including Trey Murphy III. There is also a chance that they finally move on from Zion Williamson. If one of them were to be dealt, then Bey's upside could increase even more. For right now, Bey needs to be rostered in more leagues.
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers 
(31% rostered)
The Cavaliers just can't get everyone healthy at the same time. Right now, both Darius Garland (toe) and Evan Mobley (calf) are out. Mobley just suffered his injury, and he's expected to be out for at least one week. Mobley has only missed seven games this season, so his absence is certainly one that the Cavaliers will have to adjust to.
The silver lining to all of their injuries is that it has given Tyson an opportunity to prove himself. He hasn't let the team down, averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 three-pointers for the season. As a starter, he has provided 14.8 points. Expect him to remain in a starting role for the immediate future, at the very least.
Jock Landale, Memphis Grizzlies 
(23% rostered)
Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Landale had never averaged more than 14 minutes a game for a season. While he wasn't added with the expectation of him playing a lot, injuries to Zach Edey (ankle) and Brandon Clarke (calf) altered their plans. Edey has appeared in 11 games this season, while Clarke has only played in two games.
Over the last 18 games, Landale has averaged 26 minutes. He turned that into 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 three-pointers a game. He also shot 51.5% from the field and 35.9% from behind the arc. Edey and Clarke aren't expected to be back anytime soon, so Landale has the potential to remain in a fantasy-friendly role.
