yahoo - 4/1/2026 4:46:34 PM - GMT (+2 )
Every year, a handful of fantasy basketball managers spot something others miss or move more quickly than the rest of the league. The term “league-winner” gets tossed around for any player who carries a team deep into the playoffs, but that requires both luck and stability. In a game that lasts upwards of 24 weeks, getting any player off the wire who you’re holding for most of the season is a massive value gain.
Not all waiver wire heroes are created equal — they emerge at different moments in the season and don’t always help in the playoffs. Still, it’s worth evaluating those who primarily came off the wire and became difference-makers in the 2025-26 fantasy season.
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee BucksDrafted in 13% of leaguesRollins wasn’t in my top-200 preseason rankings, and that was a huge miss. Much respect to the 13% who were ahead of the game. While I was high on Kevin Porter Jr., his injury nine minutes into the season-opener created an opportunity, catapulting Rollins into must-roster territory. Since then, he’s delivered fifth-round value in High Score and 9-cat formats with a breakout season, placing him firmly in the Most Improved Player conversation.
Rising from undrafted in 87% of leagues to a top-60 player is impressive, further evidenced by his status as the sixth-most rostered player in the top-500 public Yahoo Fantasy leagues.
Collin Gillispie, Phoenix SunsUndraftedSimilarly, Collin Gillispie took advantage when a Jalen Green injury propelled him from backup to starter, resulting in one of the most profitable waiver finds of the season. Having signed a one-year deal last summer after outplaying his two-way contract, Gillispie became invaluable. Like Rollins, he’s a strong MIP candidate after boosting his production to 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 58.1% true shooting over 74 games in his third NBA season.
His standout play is poised to earn him a much better contract this summer, while his contributions helped the Suns rebound into playoff contention and provided fantasy managers with a seventh-round asset in 9-cat leagues.
Jayson Tatum, Boston CelticsDrafted in 16% of leaguesTatum was expected to miss the entire season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the 2025 playoffs. So when it was rumored that he’d return in early March, I had my doubts, going so far as to say it wouldn’t be worth picking him up unless you had the space to do so. Welp, that was an L.
Tatum’s return provided greater value than most late-season waiver pickups, as evidenced by his status as the third-most rostered player (27.2%) in Yahoo’s top-500 teams. If you managed to activate him when he returned, you gained steady fifth-round value (and fourth in High Score) over the past 11 games — far more significant than the usual end-of-year lottery ticket. Despite low FG%, his across-the-board production set him apart from more limited rest-of-season additions.
I doubt redrafters held onto Tatum since October, but if you were one of the smart ones to stash him in IL once the rumors surfaced about his imminent return following the All-Star break, salute. Tatum came back right in the nick of time for the fantasy playoffs, to give those teams who put faith in him that extra jolt to make a deep postseason run.
Anthony Black, Orlando MagicDrafted in 3% of leaguesBlack was the breakout story of the first half. When Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner missed extended time, he stepped into the starting five and never left. Over a 12-game stretch in December, Black averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 assists, 2.3 3s and 1.3 steals per game — all format relevant numbers that put him on the map. Although he ended up settling at 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 stocks in 30-plus minutes per contest.
Though he’ll end the season 115th in 9-cat leagues, he performed at a seventh-round value for fantasy managers from December to early March. Black’s been on the shelf with an abdominal strain since early March, forcing fantasy managers to move on, but the managers who grabbed him in December got nearly three-plus months of legit production out of a third-year player who went undrafted in 97% of leagues.
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans PelicansUndraftedBey missed all of 2024-25 with a torn ACL, so he entered this season flying completely under the radar. Because of the Pelicans' talented, crowded roster, skipping over Bey didn’t feel like an oversight — until I remembered how much Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver loved him from their time in Detroit. Once Bey got into his rhythm, he became an easy roster from November through March.
Bey ranks 86th in 9-cat leagues through Tuesday, averaging 19-6-3 in 61 starts for New Orleans this season. If there were a Comeback Player of the Year, it should go to Bey, who was a positive contributor across points, rebounds, assists and 3s.
Ajay Mitchell - Oklahoma City Thunder
Tre Jones - Chicago Bulls
Jarace Walker - Indiana Pacers
Grayson Allen - Phoenix Suns
Jaylon Tyson - Cleveland Cavaliers
Isaiah Collier - Utah Jazz
Daniss Jenkins - Detroit Pistons
Maxime Raynaud - Sacramento Kings
Precious Achiuwa - Sacramento Kings
Moussa Diabaté - Charlotte Hornets
Dejounte Murray - New Orleans Pelicans
Will Riley - Washington Wizards
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