-
December 30, 2025, 11:45 amLast Updated on December 30, 2025 11:45 am by Mike Passador | Published: December 30, 2025
Only two more nights of NBA action remain in 2025 and the fantasy landscape is anything but quiet. From the scary moment involving Nikola Jokic to several impact adds still sitting on waiver wires, the upcoming slate is full of pivot points that can swing matchups. This cheat sheet cuts through the noise, highlighting the key storylines to watch, where late value could open up and which streamers can give you an edge as the year closes. Letโs dive in and get you ready for the final push of 2025.
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.
Jonas Valanciunas (9%)
This is one of those moments that reminds you why we watch in the first place. Nikola Jokic isnโt just a fantasy cheat code, heโs appointment viewing, the rare player who bends the game in ways that still feel new every night. Any injury scare involving him lands like a gut punch and while we wait and hope for news measured in weeks rather than months, fantasy managers are forced into contingency planning. That plan almost certainly starts with Jonas Valanciunas. Heโs not built to absorb Jokic-level minutes and expecting more than the mid-20s would be optimistic. Valanciunas is dependable, efficient and knows exactly who he is as a player. In a system that funnels offense through the center spot, that steadiness matters. Through 44 games this season heโs delivering his usual mix of points, boards, and solid efficiency, and while it wonโt replace Jokic, it offers something far more realistic in this moment: stability.
Grayson Allen (25%)
Want full access to our Daily Fantasy Basketball Cheat Sheet with Pickups, Slate Notes & Streamers?ย You’ll need to have an Ethos 360, All-Sport or NBA FantasyPass membership. Click here to learn more and sign up!ย Premium Access Required ย
๐ข Want More? ๐ข
๐ก Download the SportsEthos App to get real-time alerts and updates:
Get the SportsEthos App (iOS App Store) Get the SportsEthos App (Google Play)
ย Follow us on Twitter:ย @EthosFantasyNBA
ย Follow us on Bluesky:ย @ethosfantasynba.bsky.social๐ Join our premium community built on integrity, competition, and winning. Let’s crush this season together.
Get the NBA FantasyPass!Join the SportsEthos team! Fill out an application by clicking here!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
From the cliffs of Porto Moniz to the forests of Latvia. With a degree in business and a background in finance, I traded balance sheets for projection models, following a lifelong love of the game. Iโve played it, Iโve lived it and Iโve had the privilege of working inside team front offices at both the club and national level.
For over 20 years, Iโve also been immersed in the world of Fantasy Basketball, studying trends, finding edges and living the grind season after season. That passion has brought me here, to SportsEthos, where Iโm honored to be part of our management team alongside the great Aaron Bruski. My mission is simple: help SportsEthos thrive as the premier home for Fantasy Sports and sports coverage. A place where users get real value and where every member of the team can sharpen their craft, find joy in the work and build something special that feels like home.
NBA FantasyPass HomePage
Go to 2025 NBA Draft Guide
Go To NFL FantasyPass
Go To MLB FantasyPass
Go To WagerPass
Go To DFS Pass
In-season Bruski 150
Blurb Feed
Live Injury Report
Discord
ROS Projections/Rankings
The Layup Line
Pickups of the Night
Daily Projections
Working The Wire
The Week Ahead
Buy Low/Sell High
H2H Matchup Breakdown
Trade Analyzer
My Team Breakdown
Weekly Projections
Depth Charts
Streaming Schedule
Schedule Grid
Dynasty Rankings
Dynasty Check-In
