Last Updated on February 23, 2026 1:23 am by Keston Paul | Published: February 23, 2026

A lovely three-gamer awaits us on Monday, featuring three lottery teams so it is guaranteed to be fun.

The Fantasy Basketball Week Ahead (click here) will offer you broader week-long perspectives, so be sure to check it out.

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.

Gui Santos (17%)

Santos graced us with 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two triples and a steal in 28 minutes on Sunday. If you have not been paying attention, Santos has been doing stuff like this for a while.

Here is a recent blurb on him that I wrote:

Gui Santos kept the run going with 17 points (6-of-14 FG), five 3-pointers, six rebounds and two assists across 32 minutes in a 110-121 loss to the Celtics on Thursday.

In his past nine games, Santos is averaging 14.6 points, 2.0 triples, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks in 27.9 MPG with an immense .565 FG% and less-good .563 FT% on only 1.8 attempts per game. With Steph Curry (knee) out for at least 10 more days and possibly longer, Santos has a role that warrants him being rostered everywhere.

De’Anthony Melton (10%)

Yes, we are doubling up on Warriors because I was more skeptical of Melton than others because of his 25-minute cap. That said, that cap isn’t holding him back. On Sunday, he did have 20 points, four rebounds, two assists, five steals and two 3-pointers. Obviously the steals were always abundant, but with his scoring being forced to elevate, his baseline and ceiling are even better now. Roster him with confidence.

Guerschon Yabusele (3%) & Nick Richards (3%)

Yabusele logged 11 points, 13 rebounds, one assist and three triples in 30 minutes while starting next to Jalen Smith. However, Smith left with a calf injury and that might mean Smith is going to miss time again. That opens the door for Nick Richards — who had nine points, 14 rebounds and a block in 23 minutes — to also be productive.

Yabusele initially replaced Anfernee Simons in the starting lineup to form a two-big alignment, but Simons could possibly miss time with a left wrist sprain and as I already said, Smith’s calf is still an issue. Hey, I don’t know… maybe don’t play the guys who have had frequent and recent muscle injuries in a back-to-back, especially when you aren’t competing. Who am I to tell them what to do, though?

Yabusele and Richards are not NBA starters in terms of ability, so they will be inconsistent, but opportunity is opportunity and that may get them enough stats to “be in the picture” for 12-team formats. Maybe.

Games

Spurs – Pistons @ 7:00 ET
Kings – Grizzlies @ 8:00 ET
Jazz – Rockets @ 9:30 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 4:00 pm ET Official NBA Injury Report. 

None

That means we have all of the injury intel for Monday aside from any new or unexpected additions throughout the day.

Teams on First Night of a Back-to-Back

None

No extra rest needed for anyone.

Top Stories to Watch

Walter Clayton Jr. got a start on Saturday: I think I have to note that Santi Aldama (is he even going to play at this point?), Cedric Coward and Kyle Anderson were all out and the Grizzlies bumped GG Jackson to the bench (where Jackson was still easily 12-team worthy). Clayton played a little over 25 minutes, tallying nine points, four rebounds and six assists. If he hits some shots and adds he defensive stats that he can, he could be a 12-team flier if the role sticks or even improves. Scotty Pippen Jr. is also likely to be suspended after his recent fight, helping the guard group further. As for Cam Spencer, only 21 MPG in the last two appearances were concerning, but a Pippen suspension maybe opens things up (although, Spencer got 21 minutes with none of Ty Jerome, Pippen or Clayton playing on Friday).

Grizzlies’ two-way players: As for the players on two-way contracts, Olivier-Maxence Prosper has 10 games left, Jahmai Mashack has 19 games left and Javon Small has 25 games left. The Grizzlies have 27 games left in the regular season, but only 14 of their 15 standard roster spots are filled, so they can convert Prosper (or Mashack) to a standard deal whenever they want to. Well, they did just sign Rayan Rupert to a 10-day contract, so they have 15 spots filled over the next 10 days.

The Kings’ rotations: Devin Carter inexplicably played six minutes on Saturday, but I think he should play more in this one. Who knows with the Kings? Russell Westbrook’s minutes were limited again and if his minutes remain limited, he could become a drop. Precious Achiuwa’s role likely won’t be consistent enough for 12-team value either, plus, we have seen him play enough to know he isn’t a consistent producer anyway. I would not trust Malik Monk to be consistent and while Nique Clifford should be “fed touches,” he likely won’t be consistent in terms of hitting shots. Keegan Murray looks like “the guy” and that might be the only consistent thing aside from Maxime Raynaud being unchallenged at center now.

Also, Killian Hayes signed a 10-day contract with the Kings! Welcome back to the NBA sir. Please do not spoil Carter for us.

Jazz Watch: Keyonte George is questionable, Lauri Markkanen is probable and Jusuf Nurkic is out. Kyle Filipowski should likely just be rostered and Isaiah Collier is a hold. We should want to see what the Jazz rotation looks like at this stage vs. an actual good team though.

The Spurs vs. Pistons game should be fun. Hey, possible Finals preview?

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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

Devin Vassell – points, 3s, possible steals, FT% if he gets to the line

Julian Champagnie – 3s, rebounds, steals, scoring upside (& occasional blocks)

Keldon Johnson – points, rebounds, FG% & upside for 3s or a steal

Dylan Harper – points, assists & upside for a steal, some rebounds

Harrison Barnes – points & 3s with upside for rebounds, a steal or FT% if he gets to the line

Luke Kornet – rebounds, blocks, FG%

Tobias Harris – points, 3s, rebounds, FT%, occasional steals

Duncan Robinson – 3s with occasional upside in other areas

Paul Reed – steals, blocks, rebounds, occasional scoring upside

Ron Holland II – steals, out-of-position rebounds, occasional scoring outbursts

Maxime Raynaud (must-roster) – points & rebounds with upside to produce in all areas

Nique Clifford – hypothetical general stats with possibility of bad efficiency

Devin Carter (low minutes floor) – steals, rebounds, decent assists/points/3s

Malik Monk – points, 3s, FT% & upside for assists & maybe a steal

Precious Achiuwa – low-end rebounds, points, steals, blocks

GG Jackson II – 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 – 3-and-D stats, rebounds

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

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

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

Reed Sheppard – points, 3s, steals, assists & sometimes blocks

Tari Eason (must-roster) – steals, blocks, rebounds & occasional scoring upside

Deep Leagues

Some of the names below are some very deep pulls because it is only a three-game day. For a similar reason, I included some usual deep-league level guys in the standard section. Make sure everyone from the list above is accounted for first.

Daniss Jenkins – points, 3s, assists, steals

Javonte Green – steals, blocks, rebounds, occasional scoring upside

Caris LeVert – boom-or-bust points, 3s, upside for assists

Daeqwon Plowden – 3s, points

Drew Eubanks (20-team) – decent blocks, rebounds

Taylor Hendricks (some 12-team upside) – 3s, steals, blocks & upside for rebounds

Javon Small (12-team upside) – assists

Jahmai Mashack – steals, possible rebounds, blocks

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

Vince Williams Jr. – points, rebounds, assists with upside for 3s/steals

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

Svi Mykhailiuk – 3s

Kevin Love (20-team) – boom-or-bust potential for 3s & rebounds 

Oscar Tshiebwe (20-team) – rebounds