Last Updated on November 20, 2025 1:13 pm by Keston Paul | Published: November 20, 2025

Thursday’s slate is a classic fantasy chessboard: injuries, debuts, and rotation shifts are creating a mix of upside and caution flags that managers need to navigate carefully. Sacramento is hoping to finally see Keegan Murray return from a left thumb injury, reshaping minutes for a messy rotation. Meanwhile, Philadelphia remains in flux with Paul George expected back but Joel Embiid’s status uncertain, leaving Andre Drummond, Grimes and Edgecombe to soak up minutes and opportunity depending on how the Sixers manage workloads.

Across the league, open roles are ripe for exploitation. Memphis is missing nearly all its stars, giving Cedric Coward, Vince Williams, Zach Edey and Santi Aldama clear paths to meaningful production, while Cam Spencer provides reliable assists and three-point upside. San Antonio’s depleted lineup provides a mix of stable contributions and high-upside streaming options. Tonight rewards managers who can track rotations and act decisively.

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.

Derik Queen (26%)

Every once in a while, a rookie delivers the kind of game that makes an entire fantasy community sit up straight. Derik Queen erupted for his best performance yet: 30 points on efficient shooting, nine rebounds, four assists and a full suite of defensive stats. The fact that he did it next to Zion Williamson, against a playoff-caliber Nuggets team, is what really pushes this breakout into “must-add” territory.

This is the exact profile managers were hoping for when they held Queen through the slow patches: a big who can score, rebound, pass and disrupt plays defensively without needing the offense built around him. Even if this level of production doesn’t carry over every night, the versatility is undeniable. Now that the upside has shown itself, the next step is simple: make sure he isn’t sitting on the wire in your league while we see where this goes.

Peyton Watson (7%)

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