Last Updated on March 31, 2026 1:18 am by Mike Passador | Published: March 31, 2026

Welcome back to another edition of Deep League Pickups, which will be our final one of the season. It has been quite the ride, from shouting out guys like Collin Gillespie before their take-off to rolling the dice on Moussa Cisse and coming up empty. Not every recommendation ended up a smashing success but that’s part of life, and hopefully you were able to snag a season-long win or two along the way. Even if you ended up with Collin Murray-Boyles for a month or two, or a Taylor Hendricks, that would’ve been helpful.

For the remaining head-to-head leagues, what we said last time about the potential relative abundance of waiver options holds true: Most leagues will lock the non-playoff teams from making moves. Even in leagues that don’t, unless there’s future penalties for finishing at the very bottom, many managers who are not competing for the title will cease to be active. That means you have a smaller pool of competition for the available players on waivers.

Now there are even fewer teams in the mix, and some managers are going to ignore players with legitimate appeal because of matchup/fit reasons. Which leads us to the fact that our advice about targeting categories is also still accurate. It also makes a lot more sense in roto leagues at this point, too:

Perhaps the most important change now is that you can be increasingly targeted in your pickups. Winning 5-4 is just as valid as winning 8-1, and you can scout your matchups very seriously. Go to your league’s standings page and sort by stats. Find out where you stack up compared to your opponent. Forget about any categories with wide gaps, unless there are pressing injury situations that have taken a major contributor out of the picture. Hunt out the categories that are going to be close and attack them. If you finished second in your league in assists and your opponent was 11th but you sit 6th and 4th in blocks, drop one of your assist-specialist types for someone who can grab more steals. You need to win this week.

What that also does is throw some conventional wisdom out the window. We have been operating with loose roster percentage guidelines all year but from now on we’re taking a category-based approach. If you need steals in a 14-team league, the guy who is 0% rostered is absolutely in play if he grabs some steals. You’re going to see some funny-looking transactions this time of year but it’s all in service of getting through the week and coming out on top. Don’t be afraid to be bold. You know your teams’ needs.

Good luck and thanks for hanging out with us all season.

For the final edition of the season, we are going to go team-by-team and shout out the players who can be helpful in deeper leagues. If a player isn’t listed it’s because they’re either legitimate standard-league options already or someone we don’t trust to deliver any value, even in 30-team formats. We’re going to look at the teams in contention buckets, as teams at either end of the spectrum are going to get weird with their lineups late in the season, while teams who are fighting for their lives will lean more heavily on the guys we already know about.

A Note on 10-Day Contracts

A few teams out there have been leaning quite heavily on players with 10-day contracts: The Jazz, the Grizzlies and the Nets. None of the other tanking teams have been quite so blatant about things (yet), and a few players here have actually been quite productive.

In Utah, Bez Mbeng and Kennedy Chandler have been playing a ton and posting good numbers. Mbeng signed his second 10-day contract on March 23, giving him three more days as of this writing. At that point the Jazz will either need to sign him for the rest of the season or let him go. Chandler signed his 10-day contract on March 21, so he has just one day to go. That was only his first 10-day so it should be a lot cleaner there, though if Chandler signs another 10-day contract it opens the door for him to be gone before the end of the regular season.

Memphis signed both Tyler Burton and DeJon Jarreau to their second 10-day deals on March 23, putting them on the same timeline as Mbeng. Both have been playing solid roles for Memphis and providing legitimate fantasy appeal in deeper leagues, and if either player is in your plans you need to prepare for a mid-week pivot unless full-season deals are coming. Adama Bal signed on March 28, though we haven’t seen enough yet to declare that he’s a fantasy factor at all.

Brooklyn has just one player on a 10-day contract: Malachi Smith, who signed his second deal on March 25. He has been less involved than his counterparts in Utah and Memphis but has a couple of good games under his belt.

Four out of the five names here have all been real positives for fantasy managers at times. Given the acquisition cost, it has been like finding a wallet on the street. Unfortunately, you’re might have to return that wallet at some point this week. Just remember that before you start making moves, especially if you have transaction limits to work around.

Go for it: Players you can feel confident deploying in 12-team leagues, 14-team leagues, 16-team leagues… basically if they offer a stat you need, don’t get lost in the sauce. It’s not a risk-free proposition but you’ll take your chances.

20-teams and beyond: Players who offer specific appeal but whose playing time may not be safe enough to justify a gung ho approach to adding or streaming in most formats; should still be fine in super deep leagues.

Injury-dependent: Players that are probably not going to be in the mix much at all, but could be usable — or better — if some key players are held out of the lineup. These are the guys that maniacs will be adding on the last day of the season because they’re lined up to play 42 minutes.

Locked At the Top

These are the teams who should feel pretty secure about their places near the top of the standings. There could be some minor moves in terms of seeding but the teams in this group will be largely prioritizing health ahead of the playoffs. Expect some regular nights off, whether that’s in back-to-backs or against tanking teams, or just because when we get to the last couple of games next week.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Go for it: Cason Wallace (steals, 3-pointers, assists), Isaiah Joe (points, 3-pointers), Jaylin Williams (rebounds, points, assists, steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Lu Dort (3-pointers, steals), Alex Caruso (steals, 3-pointers, assists), Jared McCain (points, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Aaron Wiggins (points, steals, 3-pointers, rebounds), Kenrich Williams (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Nikola Topic (points, rebounds, assists, 3-pointers), Branden Carlson (rebounds, blocks), Brooks Barnhizer (points, 3-pointers, rebounds)

Detroit Pistons

Go for it: Duncan Robinson (points, 3-pointers), Javonte Green (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Paul Reed (rebounds, blocks, points), Kevin Huerter (points, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Ron Holland (rebounds, steals), Caris LeVert (points, assists, steals), Marcus Sasser (assists, 3-pointers, steals)

Injury-dependent: Tolu Smith (rebounds, blocks), Chaz Lanier (3-pointers), Wendell Moore Jr. (rebounds, steals)

San Antonio Spurs

Go for it: Keldon Johnson (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Luke Kornet (blocks, rebounds)

20-teams and beyond: Harrison Barnes (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Carter Bryant (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks), Lindy Waters (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Bismack Biyombo (rebounds, blocks), Mason Plumlee (rebounds, blocks)

Boston Celtics

Go for it: Sam Hauser (3-pointers, rebounds, points), Baylor Scheierman (rebounds, 3-pointers, points)

20-teams and beyond: Luka Garza (rebounds, points, blocks), Hugo Gonzalez (points, rebounds, 3-pointers, steals)

Injury-dependent: Ron Harper Jr. (points, assists, steals, 3-pointers), Jordan Walsh (rebounds, steals, blocks), Amari Williams (rebounds, blocks)

Fighting for Seeding

These are the teams who are firmly in the playoffs but who still have something to play for in terms of setting a postseason matchup. This group will be pretty fluid as one multi-game streak in either direction can change everyone’s fate, but for now we’re looking at these teams to mostly play it straight up, with the potential for more rest down as other teams win and lose.

New York Knicks

Go for it: Mitchell Robinson (rebounds, blocks, steals), Miles McBride (steals, 3-pointers, assists), Landry Shamet (3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Jordan Clarkson (points, 3-pointers), Jose Alvarado (assists, steals, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Tyler Kolek (assists, points), Mohamed Diawara (rebounds, 3-pointers), Ariel Hukporti (rebounds, blocks), Jeremy Sochan (rebounds, steals, blocks)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Go for it: Keon Ellis (steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Sam Merrill (points, 3-pointers), Jaylon Tyson (points, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Max Strus (points, 3-pointers, rebounds), Dennis Schroder (points, assists)

20-teams and beyond: Dean Wade (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Nae’Qwan Tomlin (points, rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Craig Porter Jr. (rebounds, assists, steals, 3-pointers), Thomas Bryant (rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers), Tyrese Proctor (points, 3-pointers)

Los Angeles Lakers

Go for it: Marcus Smart (steals, assists, 3-pointers), Jaxson Hayes (rebounds, blocks), Jake LaRavia (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers, blocks), Rui Hachimura (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Jarred Vanderbilt (rebounds, steals, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Maxi Kleber (rebounds, blocks), Bronny James (rebounds, steals), Nick Smith Jr. (points, assists, 3-pointers), Drew Timme (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Denver Nuggets

Go for it: Tim Hardaway Jr. (points, 3-pointers), Bruce Brown (points, rebounds, assists, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Spencer Jones (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Jonas Valanciunas (points, rebounds, blocks), Julian Strawther (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Tyus Jones (assists, steals), Jalen Pickett (assists, 3-pointers)

Houston Rockets

Go for it: Tari Eason (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Clint Capela (rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Josh Okogie (steals, 3-pointers), Aaron Holiday (assists, 3-pointers), Dorian Finney-Smith (3-pointers, steals)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Go for it: Bones Hyland (points, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Kyle Anderson (rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Terrence Shannon Jr. (steals, 3-pointers, rebounds), Jaylen Clark (steals), Joan Beringer (rebounds), Mike Conley (assists)

The Play-In Group

These are the teams jockeying for Play-In positioning, and in the Eastern Conference, the last two actual playoff spots. There is a lot at stake there, as a real playoff series is certainly preferable to a potential one-and-done situation. It is a tight pack and we would expect all of these teams to be going right down to the wire. The Western Conference teams are a little more spread out, so there is more potential for a team like the Warriors to pump the brakes early, but we still imagine all of these squads will be putting forth an honest effort to climb as high as possible. This should be your most reliable group for fantasy value, which means you might have less on the table in deeper leagues.

Oh, and the Pelicans are here too!

Toronto Raptors

Go for it: Jamal Shead (assists, steals, 3-pointers), Sandro Mamukelashvili (points, rebounds, 3-pointers, blocks), Collin Murray-Boyles (blocks, steals, rebounds), Ja’Kobe Walter (3-pointers, points, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Nada

Injury-dependent: Gradey Dick (3-pointers, points), Jamison Battle (3-pointers, points, rebounds), Trayce Jackson-Davis (rebounds, blocks), AJ Lawson (3-pointers, points), Markelle Fultz (steals, assists), Jonathan Mogbo (rebounds, steals, blocks)

Atlanta Hawks

Go for it: Zaccharie Risacher (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Jock Landale (rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers), Mo Gueye (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Jonathan Kuminga (points, rebounds)

20-teams and beyond: Corey Kispert (points, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Gabe Vincent (3-pointers, assists), Buddy Hield (points, 3-pointers), Asa Newell (points, rebounds), Christian Koloko (rebounds, blocks)

Philadelphia 76ers

Go for it: Quentin Grimes (points, 3-pointers, rebounds, steals), Dominick Barlow (rebounds, blocks, steals), Adem Bona (blocks, rebounds)

20-teams and beyond: Cam Payne (assists, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Andre Drummond (rebounds, blocks), Justin Edwards (points, steals, 3-pointers), Trendon Watford (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Jabari Walker (rebounds, points)

Orlando Magic

Go for it: Goga Bitadze (rebounds, blocks)

20-teams and beyond: Jevon Carter (assists, steals, 3-pointers), Jamal Cain (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Moritz Wagner (rebounds, 3-pointers, blocks), Noah Penda (steals, rebounds, blocks), Jett Howard (points, 3-pointers), Jase Richardson (points, 3-pointers, assists)

Miami Heat

Go for it: Jaime Jaquez Jr. (points, rebounds, assists), Davion Mitchell (assists, 3-pointers, steals), Pelle Larsson (points, rebounds, assists)

20-teams and beyond: Kasparas Jakucionis (points, assists, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Simone Fontecchio (rebounds, 3-pointers), Nikola Jovic (rebounds, assists, steals, 3-pointers), Dru Smith (steals, assists), Myron Gardner (points, rebounds, steals), Keshad Johnson (points, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers)

Charlotte Hornets

Go for it: Ryan Kalkbrenner (rebounds, blocks)

20-teams and beyond: Grant Williams (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Sion James (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals)

Injury-dependent: Josh Green (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Liam McNeeley (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Tidjane Salaun (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Phoenix Suns

Go for it: Oso Ighodaro (rebounds, blocks, assists, points), Royce O’Neale (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals, blocks), Jordan Goodwin (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers, blocks)

20-teams and beyond: Khaman Maluach (blocks, rebounds), Rasheer Fleming (rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers, steals)

Injury-dependent: Jamaree Bouyea (points, steals, 3-pointers), Ryan Dunn (steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Haywood Highsmith (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers)

LA Clippers

Go for it: Derrick Jones Jr. (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Kris Dunn (steals, assists, 3-pointers), Jordan Miller (points, rebounds, assists, steals, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Isaiah Jackson (rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Bogdan Bogdanovic (points, 3-pointers, assists), Kobe Sanders (points, 3-pointers, steals), Cam Christie (points, 3-pointers)

Portland Trail Blazers

Go for it: Robert Williams (rebounds, blocks, steals), Toumani Camara (points, 3-pointers, rebounds, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Matisse Thybulle (steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Kris Murray (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Sidy Cissoko (steals, 3-pointers), Vit Krejci (3-pointers, rebounds), Caleb Love (points, 3-pointers), Yang Hansen (rebounds, assists, blocks)

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors might be a little more likely than the rest to sit their regulars since it’s unlikely they climb out of the 10th spot and clearly need Steph Curry back to have a hope in their Play-In contest. What they do until Curry gets back is largely irrelevant aside from getting everyone in rhythm for that postseason game.

Go for it: Gary Payton II (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers, points), Draymond Green (rebounds, assists, 3-pointers, steals, blocks)

20-teams and beyond: Quinten Post (rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers), Will Richard (points, 3-pointers), Pat Spencer (assists, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: LJ Cryer (points, 3-pointers), Nate Williams (points, steals, rebounds, 3-pointers), Malevy Leons (rebounds, steals), Omer Yurtseven (rebounds)

New Orleans Pelicans

They’re the only team here that isn’t going to the postseason, but they have plenty of incentive to win. Unlike the tanking teams below, the Pelicans gain nothing from bottoming out as they don’t control their first-round draft pick this year. As such, it makes sense for the team to win as many games as possible. They won’t push players through real injury but we’re not going to see any joke lineups (beyond the usual).

Go for it: Herb Jones (steals, 3-pointers, blocks, rebounds), Yves Missi (rebounds, blocks), Jeremiah Fears (points, assists, steals, 3-pointers), Derik Queen (points, rebounds, assists, blocks, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Karlo Matkovic (rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Jordan Poole (points, 3-pointers, assists, steals), Bryce McGowens (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Jordan Hawkins (points, 3-pointers), Micah Peavy (points, rebounds, steals), DeAndre Jordan (rebounds, blocks)

The Bottom of the Barrel

The tanking squads. These teams have already floated a bunch of new names onto the deep-league landscape and could produce even more new faces that will impact the final weeks of the seasons. The veterans on these teams are either shut down already or guaranteed to miss further time.

Chicago Bulls

Go for it: Leonard Miller (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Guerschon Yabusele (points, rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Nick Richards (rebounds, blocks, points), Rob Dillingham (points, assists, steals), Isaac Okoro (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Patrick Williams (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Lachlan Olbrich (points, rebounds, blocks), Yuki Kawamura (assists), Mac McClung (points, steals, 3-pointers)

Milwaukee Bucks

Go for it: Ousmane Dieng (points, rebounds, assists, 3-pointers), Kyle Kuzma (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Gary Trent Jr. (points, 3-pointers, steals), AJ Green (3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Taurean Prince (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals), Jericho Sims (rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Pete Nance (rebounds, 3-pointers), Andre Jackson Jr. (rebounds, steals), Cormac Ryan (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers)

Memphis Grizzlies

Go for it: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (points, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Taylor Hendricks (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Cam Spencer (assists, 3-pointers, steals), Javon Small (points, rebounds, assists, 3-pointers, steals), Jaylen Wells (points, 3-pointers), Walter Clayton Jr. (3-pointers, assists, points, steals)

20-teams and beyond: DeJon Jarreau* (points, rebounds, steals), Tyler Burton* (points, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers),

Injury-dependent: Rayan Rupert (points, rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Jahmai Mashack^ (steals, blocks, rebounds), Adama Bal (rebounds, steals)

*Remember the 10-day contract situation

^As of Monday, Mashack is eligible to play in all of Memphis’ remaining games.

Dallas Mavericks

Go for it: Marvin Bagley (points, rebounds, blocks), Brandon Williams (points, assists, 3-pointers), Ryan Nembhard (assists), Max Christie (points, 3-pointers), Klay Thompson (3-pointers), Khris Middleton (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Dwight Powell (rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Caleb Martin (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Moussa Cisse (rebounds, blocks), AJ Johnson (points, rebounds), John Poulakidas (3-pointers)

Brooklyn Nets

Be careful with the Nets. They don’t have a set rotation and guys who play well on one night could be DNP-CDs the next with no warning. Just ask anyone who has been trying to play Josh Minott lately.

Go for it: Josh Minott (points, rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Noah Clowney (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Nolan Traore (assists, steals, 3-pointers, points), Ziaire Williams (points, 3-pointers, steals, rebounds), Ben Saraf (points, assists, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Drake Powell (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals), Terance Mann (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Ochai Agbaji (rebounds, 3-pointers, steals), Chaney Johnson (rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Tyson Etienne (assists, 3-pointers), Jalen Wilson (rebounds, 3-pointers, points), EJ Liddell (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Washington Wizards

Go for it: Bub Carrington (points, assists, 3-pointers, rebounds), Will Riley (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Tristan Vukcevic (points, rebounds, blocks, 3-pointers), Tre Johnson (points, 3-pointers)

20-teams and beyond: Leaky Black (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers), Jaden Hardy (3-pointers, points), Jamir Watkins (steals, blocks, rebounds, 3-pointers), Anthony Gill (rebounds, points)

Injury-dependent: Justin Champagnie (points, rebounds, steals, blocks, 3-pointers), Julian Reese (points, rebounds), Sharife Cooper (assists, points)

Utah Jazz

Go for it: Cody Williams (points, rebounds, assists, steals, 3-pointers), Elijah Harkless (assists, steals, 3-pointers, points), John Konchar (rebounds, steals, blocks), Kennedy Chandler* (points, assists, 3-pointers, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Bez Mbeng* (steals, blocks, rebounds, assists), Oscar Tshiebwe (rebounds)

Injury-dependent: Svi Mykhailiuk (points, 3-pointers), Blake Hinson (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

*Remember the 10-day contract situation

Indiana Pacers

Go for it: TJ McConnell (assists, steals), Aaron Nesmith (points, 3-pointers, rebounds, steals), Micah Potter (points, rebounds, 3-pointers, blocks), Obi Toppin (points, rebounds, 3-pointers), Kobe Brown (points, rebounds, 3-pointers, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Quenton Jackson (points, assists, steals), Ben Sheppard (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Injury-dependent: Jalen Slawson (points, rebounds, steals, blocks), Kam Jones (assists, 3-pointers), Taelon Peter (points, 3-pointers), Ethan Thompson (points, rebounds, 3-pointers)

Sacramento Kings

Go for it: Daeqwon Plowden (points, 3-pointers, rebounds, steals), Devin Carter (points, assists, rebounds, steals)

20-teams and beyond: Killian Hayes (assists, steals), Dylan Cardwell (rebounds, blocks)

Injury-dependent: Doug McDermott (3-pointers, points), Patrick Baldwin Jr. (rebounds, steals, 3-pointers)

*As a reminder, when we talk about “standard leagues,” we’re talking 12 teams with a roster of 13 players, starters and bench. That is 156 players; add in the IL stashes out there and you’re probably up around 160ish to 170.

That roster size of 13 is going to be our assumption. You can also scale up the amount of IL stashes in deeper leagues; more injured players will end up on rosters and larger leagues tend to be populated with more managers who will actively stash to make use of those IL spots. When we bring up 14-team leagues, that means 182 players in the pool plus another 15 or so for IL stashes — say we’re looking at a pool of 200 players overall.

The rest is basic math plus some estimates for stashes: 16-team leagues take you to about 225 players, 18 teams to 250ish, 20 to 300, so on and so on. Feel free to calibrate this to your own league; if you have 12 teams but 20 roster spots, you’re probably operating in the same area as an 18-team manager with a more typical roster size. If you have 20 teams but 10 roster spots, you’re working in the 16-team range for the purposes of our discussion.

After you hit 20 teams, it’s really more about finding players who are either active enough to have some kind of floor or boast enough upside to potentially pay off later. At that point the numbers don’t matter quite as much since you’re free to choose whatever profile you like. If you want to spend a bench spot on the 496th ranked player because he might shine in silly season, it doesn’t matter that he’s not inside the top-400. The difference between those guys is going to be negligible anyway unless you need a pure specialist type.*

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