Last Updated on January 8, 2026 7:59 pm by Keston Paul | Published: January 8, 2026

Trae Young has been traded, Tari Eason is getting big minutes as a starter and we are under a month away from the February 5 trade deadline.

It is a fun time for fantasy basketball.

Here is the article layout:

• Double-Check Zone: Players who should be on a 12-team roster, but whose roster percentages suggest you need to make sure they’re not on your wire.
• Standard Leagues: Players worth an add in standard leagues with a potential path to value over a decent stretch of time (or the season).
• Streamers, Maybe More: Players on a hot streak or a path to short-term value with a smaller chance of long-term upside if certain things break their way.
• Watch-List: Players who may not quite be surefire adds yet, but should be monitored in case they trend up.
• Deep Leagues: Lower-rostered players who should be available in 14-team or 16-team leagues and beyond.
• Weekend Watch: A quick look at teams with strong or poor weekend schedules if you’re planning on some very short-term pickups.

Double-Check Zone

Most of these players will be rostered in competitive leagues, but we get just enough questions about them to warrant another call-out. These are your priority adds and if anyone on this list is still available, thank your lucky stars.

Aaron Gordon (52%)
Key Note(s): Offensive development in the past year and a half has stuck

Gordon being a reliable shooter pretty much removes the one weakness his game had. Since he can provide secondary ball-handling and playmaking too, he should have a lot to do until Nikola Jokic (knee) returns and we have already seen that his role looked good before that.

Jusuf Nurkic (51%)
Key Note(s): Humongous counting stats when active

If Nurkic stays in Utah (which seems likely), I think he’ll start getting more frequent nights off in March. For now, his production will have you lodged high in the standings and that matters. A lot of opportunities for streaming and pickups open up during silly season, so if the Jazz begin messing with Nurk later, you can likely replace him. For now, he remains must-roster.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (49%)
Key Note(s): Likely to just start the rest of the way, but even if he doesn’t, his role is guaranteed to be large enough for 12-team value

The advantage of Alexander-Walker starting is that the Hawks can start a strong defensive unit with wings who are capable enough on offense despite some minor flaws. CJ McCollum (if he stays in Atlanta) is another defensive liability like Trae Young was, so I expect McCollum to act more as a sixth man. Either way, if McCollum starts or NAW starts, both will likely receive a starter-level workload.

Jabari Smith Jr. (47%)
Key Note(s): Huh?

I have to believe that this is because Smith is kind of boring, but he is the definition of “adequate” high-floor, low-ceiling 12-team value. Solid points, threes, rebounds, steals and blocks despite not blowing you away in any of those categories.

Anthony Black (46%)
Key Note(s): Can Jalen Suggs stay healthy?

Franz Wagner (ankle) should be back soon, but Suggs is dealing with a right MCL contusion. Suggs’ intensity causes him to be injured frequently and while I have concerns about Black maintaining value in a sixth-man role if the Magic are ever at 100 percent health, he should be on a roster until we see that happen and can likely just be held through a 100 percent healthy roster for a few games to observe how his role balances out.

Jrue Holiday (54%)
Key Note(s): Top-40 9-cat value per game prior to injury and was cleared to begin on-court work on Jan. 2

The right calf strain has held out Holiday for a long time and while he doesn’t have a timeline, we could see him within the next week or two. He should be on a roster with that in mind. I expect a bit of a ramp up, but his playmaking and defense should equate to good fantasy value even if he slows down from the top-40-level start.

Update: He has been listed as doubtful for Friday!

Honorable Mention(s): Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, PJ Washington, Collin Gillespie

Of course, if your roster is stacked like some of our discord members and these guys are your worst player, you might have to consider them expendable. For most teams, they should just be rostered.

Standard Leagues

These players are either approaching 12-team value or have already seized it but every fantasy league may not have caught on to that yet. They may not be guaranteed to hold ROS value but they are worth a look nonetheless as it may be a possibility, or there may at least be some medium-to-long-term appeal.

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