Last Updated on December 9, 2025 1:23 pm by Mike Passador | Published: December 9, 2025

There’s plenty of turnover in this edition of Deep League Pickups thanks to a few more players “graduating” past our arbitrary 30% roster cutoff, and a big collection of players we’ve already spoken about who haven’t unlocked anything new for us to discuss. Yes, Cason Wallace, Naji Marshall, Jose Alvarado and Jaylon Tyson should all be more widely rostered. We’re focusing on the new developments this week.

Our top two options are a pair of new starters for their respective teams, but the remainder of the list is stuffed with players who are climbing their way up the depth chart. There’s a few veterans who are getting plugged back into prominent spots upon returns from injury, and plenty of guys who are simply earning legitimate minutes with their play. Not every player we mention this week is going to hold level for the long-term but deep-league GMs shouldn’t be as picky when it comes to riding the hot hand.

Let’s see what we’ve got.

Quick Hits

These are the players under 30% rostered that really should be, even in standard leagues. You’re going to start seeing them talked about in your regular waiver columns as well so if they’re available in deeper formats, feel free pick them up right now.

Season-long potential: Jay Huff (28%), Ryan Nembhard (25%), Anthony Black (28%), Cason Wallace (26%), TJ McConnell (16%), Peyton Watson (26%), Malik Monk (27%), Collin Sexton (23%), Daniel Gafford (13%), Moussa Diabate (13%), Vince Williams Jr. (12%), Tre Jones (18%), Ayo Dosunmu (22%), Jaylon Tyson (25%), Ace Bailey (25%), Isaiah Stewart (17%), Kyle Filipowski (22%)

Streamable in the short term, maybe more: Royce O’Neale (20%), Luke Kornet (10%), Naji Marshall (20%), Andre Drummond (20%), Marvin Bagley (10%), Kyle Kuzma (20%), Jose Alvarado (11%), Tim Hardaway Jr. (7%)

Boring but reliable: Sam Merrill (5%), AJ Green (13%), Harrison Barnes (18%), Duncan Robinson (14%), Mitchell Robinson (6%), Keldon Johnson (21%), Zaccharie Risacher (15%), Steven Adams (11%), Rui Hachimura (19%), Kris Dunn (8%)

14, 16, 18 Teams

We’re going to be referencing Yahoo roster percentages for the most part. In one of my 12-team leagues, the highest-rostered player who is still a free agent is Rui Hachimura (19%), but there are only two other players at 20% or above (who aren’t injured). As such, we’re going to set the guardrails for this between 5% and 20% rostered — for the most part.

That doesn’t mean that someone who falls outside that arbitrary band can be overlooked — they just may not be available enough to help out the bulk of deep-league GMs. Basically, if you’re probably going to hear about them in 12-team conversations, we’ve included them above. Remember, just because someone isn’t in a certain section of the article doesn’t mean you can’t bend the rules. If there’s a player that’s 4% rostered that’s a perfect fit for your build, go ahead an add him, even in a 14-team league. Things get increasingly flexible as leagues get deeper.

Maxime Raynaud (21%)

The Kings have plugged Raynaud into the starting lineup and he has been terrific so far. In his three starts the rookie has posted 9-6-3 with a block, 25-6-3 with a block, a steal and two 3-pointers and 12 & 10 with two blocks. We don’t expect that Raynaud will hold onto the starting gig once Domantas Sabonis is healthy but that’s at least a couple weeks away, and if the team doesn’t start winning some games it’ll only increase his shutdown risk. If nothing else it has taken Raynaud less than a week to put Drew Eubanks in his dust, so he should have backup minutes in the long-term at the very worst. The Kings actually promoted a young player into a prominent role rather than try a veteran stopgap — we’re just as shocked as you. We’re on board with Raynaud as an add in standard leagues so if he’s available in anything deeper, run to the wire.

Profile: Strong add with season-long upside

Jordan Walsh (17%)

Walsh has put some very good work on tape and has found a home as the dirty-work PF in Boston’s starting lineup. He isn’t getting a ton of usage but is doing all the little things to fill in the gaps for the group, and it is turning into solid playing time with a healthy helping of complementary stats. In the last two weeks Walsh is averaging 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.1 3-pointers on .690 shooting. He’s got multiple defensive stats in each of his last five games and has 20-plus minutes in seven of his last nine — the other two games he was at 18:55 and 19:50. Walsh is looking like a strong bench presence in fantasy, who should be able to comfortably provide late-round value as long as he holds onto his current role.

Profile: Seat-warmer who might have some staying power

Danny Wolf (4%)

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Mike Passador

Mike graduated from Boston University’s Dual Degree Program with a BA in Economics and a BS in Business with Concentrations in Marketing and Operations Management. He is a faithful supporter of Toronto sports and the Detroit Lions and is always ready to be let down. Tweet to him @Mike_Pandador, but if you badmouth Jose Calderon you might get blocked.

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