Last Updated on March 9, 2026 1:52 am by Keston Paul | Published: March 9, 2026

Good luck in all of your matchups this week.

Ajay Mitchell to return from 20-game absence against Nuggets (via @The_ThunderWire):https://t.co/dwHKocXUTw

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) March 8, 2026

Mitchell last played on January 21, so I do think he may not get back into the immediate 12-team picture, but you can stream him on Monday to assess how he looks and whether or not he is worth holding beyond that.

Looking for fantasy playoff preparation? Click here for the Fantasy Basketball Week Ahead.

Top Pickups

This is the “general must-add” section regardless of the slate. If these players are being overlooked and remain chilling on the waiver wire, consider adding them to your squad.

Daniel Gafford (19%)

Gafford turned in 21 points, 11 rebounds, one block and three assists in 23 minutes on Sunday. His level of play has been better in recent months and he should generally be rostered until his ankle falls off.

Tre Jones (19%)

The biggest note here is that Jones played 32 minutes, tallying 12 points, five dimes, a steal and a rebound. Collin Sexton was cooking in 22 minutes, but left with a leg contusion. If Sexton misses time, that would be yet another guard out of the way for Jones. The minutes for Jones is notable, since he really only needs to be in the high 20s for 12-team value anyway.

Reed Sheppard (46%)

Sheppard played a resounding 35 minutes, albeit in a blowout loss, for 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and three 3-pointers. Sheppard is must-roster and the minutes have been really good lately despite his sweet spot typically being around 24 or 25 MPG for 12-team value. He has blown past that “sweet spot” in seven consecutive games.

Games

Sixers – Cavaliers @ 7:00 ET
Nuggets – Thunder @ 7:30 ET
Grizzlies – Nets @ 7:30 ET
Warriors – Jazz @ 9:00 ET
Knicks – Clippers @ 10:00 ET

Teams on Second Night of a Back-to-Back

Note: Teams on the second night of a back-to-back must submit their injury report by the release of the 4:15 pm ET Official NBA Injury Report. 

Knicks, Cavs

Knicks: Since Mitchell Robinson played on Sunday, he should sit out on Monday.

Cavs: Donovan Mitchell returned from a four-game absence on Sunday for a right groin strain. He may or may not sit on Monday.
Evan Mobley might also get a night off for left calf injury management on Monday as well. I don’t think it is a guarantee that Mitchell or Mobley sit out, but there is a legitimate chance.
Jarrett Allen missed Sunday’s game with right knee tendinitis, an injury he suffered last Tuesday. We can label him as “uncertain” at best for Monday.

Teams on First Night of a Back-to-Back

Nets, Warriors, Grizzlies, Sixers

Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are sitting out on Monday, so we should see them on Tuesday.
De’Anthony Melton is available on Monday, so he should sit out on Tuesday.

Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward and Taylor Hendricks are all doubtful for Monday, so they should sit out and possibly return on Tuesday.

Note: Santi Aldama was cleared for last Tuesday’s game briefly before being ruled out and has just been “out” since. Is he a real person? Does he exist? Can he hurt you? Only if he is on your team, I suppose.

Michael Porter Jr. is resting the front leg of the back-to-back on Monday.
Egor Demin is out as expected since he doesn’t have a timeline for return from plantar fascia soreness/injury management, which he has been nursing since training camp.

Top Stories to Watch

The Warriors have a lot of back-to-backs coming up:
De’Anthony Melton missed a non-back-to-back on Saturday, which is concerning, but in H2H formats, I think he might just be a tough hold after he plays on Monday, because of the back-to-back schedule anyway.
That may also apply to Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.
This is the schedule for the Warriors throughout the next two weeks:
March 9 to March 15: Mon-Tues, Fri, Sun (B2B into Monday)
March 16 to March 22: (B2B from Sunday) Mon, Wed, Fri-Sat

If your league has IL+ (or the ESPN IR), maybe you can manage this, but otherwise, it could be difficult for some teams in H2H leagues.

Standout Schedules to Start off Our Current Week (March 9 to 15):
The Sixers have five games: Mon-Tues, Wed, Sat-Sun
The Nets Warriors and Grizzlies also have a Mon-Tues B2B.

If you don’t have room for streaming on the 11-game Tuesday:
The Nuggets are the only team starting the week with the Mon & Wed-Thurs 3-in-4.
The Cavs, Clippers, Knicks and Jazz play on both Monday and Wednesday (skipping the Tuesday as a streaming day).

Remember to read The Week Ahead for a full breakdown of the schedule across these seven days.

Monday’s Pending Injury Designations:
Look out for these updates throughout the day.
Q = questionable (50-50 shot at playing)
P = probable (likely to play)
D = doubtful (likely to be out)
—
Mon-Tues B2B: Nets, Warriors, Grizzlies, Sixers
—
Monday Pending Designations: five games
VJ Edgecombe – Q
Cavs B2B (Out Sunday: Jarrett Allen, Tyrese Proctor) Monitor: Max Strus
Jamal Murray – Q
Alex Caruso – Q
Chet Holmgren – Q
Cedric Coward – D
Taylor Hendricks – D
Ty Jerome – D
Scotty Pippen Jr. – D
Ben Saraf – P
Seth Curry – P
Will Richard – Q
Knicks B2B  (Out Sunday: — )
—
(W20) SUN-MON (W21) B2B: Knicks, Cavs
—

Per updates from Sunday evening.

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Stay up to date on news for this slate with our NBA Blurb Feed! 

Check out our Live Injury Report to see who is probable, questionable, doubtful or sidelined for this slate!

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Streamers

We are not including players who are either most likely on a roster or should be on a roster.

Standard Formats

Kelly Oubre Jr. (must-roster) – points, 3s, rebounds, steals

Quentin Grimes – points, 3s, upside for steals, assists & more

Dominick Barlow – rebounds, blocks, upside for steals, solid FG%
(safer in deep leagues)

Adem Bona – blocks with upside for rebounds or steals
(safer in deep leagues)

Andre Drummond – rebounds, low-end blocks & upside for a triple or steal
(safer in deep leagues)

GG Jackson II (must-roster) – decent points, 3s, rebounds, blocks

Cam Spencer – points, 3s, assists & FT% if he gets to the line (potentially poor FG%)

Walter Clayton Jr. – points, 3s, rebounds, assists, steals, FT% if he gets to the line

Jaylen Wells – hit-or-miss points & 3s with upside for steals

Olivier-Maxence Prosper –  mainly points & rebounds, upside for defensive stats, hit-or-miss 3s

Nolan Traore – points, assists, possibly bad percentages

Day’Ron Sharpe – rebounds, FG% and sometimes adds steals or blocks

Danny Wolf – points & rebounds with potential 3s and assists

Noah Clowney – points, 3s, blocks, potential steals & rebounds (potentially bad FG%)

Ziaire Williams – boom-or-bust points & 3s with steals & potential rebounds

Aaron Gordon – general stats

Christian Braun – points, rebounds, possible steals or assists

Cam Johnson – points, 3s, possible steals

Ajay Mitchell – points, assists, FT%, rebounds, steals, occasional 3s

Cason Wallace – steals specialist with upside for 3s, assists, low-end rebounds

Brandin Podziemski (must-roster) – points, 3s, rebounds, assists, steals

De’Anthony Melton – steals specialist with upside for 3s & assists

Gui Santos (must-roster) – points, 3s, steals, blocks with a little rebounds & assists

Kyle Filipowski (must-roster) – points, rebounds, assists with upside for 3s

Ace Bailey – points, 3s, rebounds & potential for steals (bad percentages)

Isaiah Collier – assists, upside for points

Brice Sensabaugh – points, 3s & FT% if he can get to the line

John Konchar – rebounds, steals, upside for 3s & sometimes assists, blocks

Brook Lopez – 3s, blocks

Kris Dunn – steals specialist with upside for assists & 3s

Derrick Jones Jr. – 3-and-D stats plus rebounds

B2B Watch for Standard Formats

Wait for the official injury reports of the Knicks & Cavs before streaming their players. 

Jaylon Tyson – across-the-board stats

Sam Merrill – 3s, 3s & also 3s with occasional low-end assists upside

Keon Ellis – steals, 3s, upside for blocks

Deep Leagues

Cam Payne – boom-or-bust points & 3s, occasional assists
(12-team upside if VJ Edgecombe is out)

Jabari Walker – rebounds, very low-end upside for points, 3s, blocks

Trendon Watford – low-end general stats

Javon Small – assists, steals, points, 3s, possible rebounds
(some 12-team upside with Pippen/Jerome likely out)

Jahmai Mashack – steals, possible rebounds

Rayan Rupert – 3s, steals

Terance Mann – boom-or-bust points & 3s with potential for rebounds, assists, steals

Tim Hardaway Jr. – hit-or-miss points & 3s

Bruce Brown – mainly points & rebounds but across-the-board upside

Julian Strawther – boom-or-bust 3s, points

Spencer Jones – steals specialist with boom-or-bust upside for 3s, rebounds

Jonas Valanciunas – points, rebounds, FG%

Aaron Wiggins – points & 3s with upside for rebounds, occasional steals & blocks

Alex Caruso (questionable, wait for update) – steals specialist with upside for 3s, assists, rebounds, occasional blocks

Lu Dort – extremely boom-or-bust 3s, upside for steals, occasional rebounds

Isaiah Joe – 3s

Jared McCain – points, 3s & upside for a steal or some dimes (FT% if he gets to the line)

Jaylin Williams – across-the-board upside
(12-team upside if Chet Holmgren is out)

Kenrich Williams (if Holmgren is out) – low-end 3-and-D stats, rebounds

Pat Spencer – points, rebounds, assists, steals

Will Richard (questionable, wait for update) – 3s, steals, potential for rebounds

Gary Payton II – steals, rebounds, occasional points upside

Quinten Post – 3s, rebounds, occasional upside for points, steals or blocks

Cody Williams – decent points, 3s, steals but across-the-board upside

Oscar Tshiebwe – rebounds

EJ (Elijah) Harkless – mainly steals, possible rebounds, blocks, assists

Kobe Sanders – points with upside for 3s and general stats

Jordan Miller – mainly points, 3s, but occasional upside in other areas

Isaiah Jackson – rebounds, FG%, blocks

B2B Watch for Deep Leagues

Wait for the official injury reports of the Knicks & Cavs before streaming their players. 

Landry Shamet – boom-or-bust points & 3s

Jose Alvarado – 3s, assists, steals & occasional upside for rebounds

Ariel Hukporti – rebounds
(if Mitchell Robinson sits out as expected)

Dean Wade – rebounds, 3s & low-end potential for steals or blocks

Dennis Schröder – points & assists with upside for steals, 3s, FT% & low-end out-of-position rebounds