Last Updated on February 19, 2026 4:25 am by Keston Paul | Published: February 19, 2026

I want this article to prep you for the remainder of the season. That is a tall task that I am challenging myself to do, but I will try to do it anyway. We are going to talk about a lot of things and I hope by the end, you feel like you have a blueprint of how to handle things moving forward.

There are players in certain sections who I think have the capacity to elevate further or tumble down, and I will explain those views when I get to guys like that.

Note that a majority of the quoted percentages were collected on Tuesday night.

Here is the article layout:

• Double-Check Zone: Players who should be on a 12-team roster, but whose roster percentages suggest some leagues are lagging behind.
• Standard Leagues: Players worth an add in standard leagues with a potential path to value over a decent stretch of time (or the season).
• Streamers, Maybe More: Players on a hot streak and a path to short-term value with a smaller chance of long-term upside if certain things break their way.
• Watch-List: Players who may not quite be surefire adds yet, but should be monitored in case they trend up.
• Deep Leagues: Lower-rostered players who should be available in 14-team or 16-team leagues and beyond.
• Weekend Watch: A quick look at teams with strong or poor weekend schedules if you’re planning on some very short-term pickups.
• Two-Way Contract Eligibility Watch: Notable two-way contract players on playoff or Play-In teams and all of the possible tanking teams, with their remaining NBA game days.
• Fantasy Playoff Schedules: A quick and basic look at the rest-of-season weekly schedules to see how many games each team has per week.

Double-Check Zone

Most of these players will be rostered in competitive leagues, but we get just enough questions about them to warrant another call-out. These are your priority adds and if anyone on this list is still available, thank your lucky stars.

Kristaps Porzingis (92% rostered on Yahoo)
Key Note(s): Upside play, nothing else

Porzingis might only be available in one reader’s league at this point, but he was definitely and deservedly dropped in a few spots a few weeks ago. He might still be severely limited and has only appeared in 17 games this season, but perhaps the change of scenery and medical staff (he complimented the Warriors’ medical team already) could help him out.

Jakob Poeltl (77% rostered on Yahoo)
Key Note(s): Another upside play

Poeltl had missed 23 games in a row and 26 of 27 games before a return shortly before the All-Star break. He recorded nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. Poeltl is far from guaranteed to get back to his prior heights, plus the emergence of Sandro Mamukelashvili and Collin Murray-Boyles could result in a timeshare to manage Poeltl’s lower back strain as well, if all of the time off didn’t get him 100% right. Still, he is an upside flier if you simply need the big-man stats.

Christian Braun (69% rostered on Yahoo)
Key Note(s): Another upside play

Braun has sucked this season. He was bad prior to the left ankle sprain, but also said that he initially returned too early and didn’t have the same burst, also saying that he has recovered that burst now. I’ve been staunchly anti-Braun since the emergence of Peyton Watson (who just looked like the better player before his hamstring strain), but Braun has the chance to re-establish himself now. Prior to the break, Braun looked good with lines of 20 points, four triples, five rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes, followed up by 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists with the elite efficiency that drove him to fantasy value in 2024-25. Those performances warrant us giving him another chance.

Donte DiVincenzo (46%)
Key Note(s): Bad shooting run and blowouts

DiVincenzo’s bad run started one game before Ayo Dosunmu’s debut, as he went 2-of-10 from the field for six points in 26 minutes vs. the Pelicans. It has not been good in the games after that since Dosunmu debuted as well. I think many managers may link his poor run to Dosunmu — and don’t get me wrong, Dosunmu may indeed reduce DiVincenzo’s ceiling and floor — however, DiVincenzo isn’t the worst shooter in the NBA either and he should get back on track and be fine. I think managers treat him too harshly.

Dillon Brooks (45%)
Key Note(s): Points, threes, FT%, steals (after he serves his one-game suspension of course)

The free-throw percentage and steals are only “decent” areas influenced by Brooks as he isn’t elite in those two categories, but he is still a positive. His production remains very roster-specific for managers who specifically need a boost in points and threes, but he does belong on someone’s roster if he isn’t on one. A Jalen Green resurgence could be troublesome for Brooks as well, but at this point, Green is the one that needs to prove his productivity (and health), not Brooks.

Saddiq Bey (43%)
Key Note(s): Locked in as a rest-of-season starter

The starting job is subject to injuries or a potential pivot to development (that is, someone being benched to feature Jeremiah Fears). Since the Pelicans don’t own their first-round pick however, they won’t be worried about actually winning games, which they have been doing recently. Bey might be slowing down a little, but remains must-roster for points, threes, rebounds with FT% if he gets to the line and occasional low-end additions in assists.

Ty Jerome (35%)
Key Note(s): 19.7 points, 2.3 triples, 6.0 assists, 1.2 steals, .535 FG%, .848 FT% in 20.2 MPG

Jerome’s per-minute numbers are frankly crazy and he should slow down a bit, but he is clearly a must-roster player and it is surprising to me that he is less rostered than some guys you will see in the next section. Now, I think the limit is more linked to the fact that Jerome missed over half of the season with a calf strain, but you can argue that his minutes will remain capped because he is “too good” for them to tank if he plays 25-plus MPG and the fact that the guard group is crowded and the younger guys need developmental minutes. Either way, Jerome just belongs on all rosters.

Honorable Mention(s): Nickeil Alexander-Walker (58%), Kon Knueppel (58%), Andrew Wiggins (55%), Jrue Holiday (55%), Derik Queen (51%), Jabari Smith Jr. (49%), Jaden McDaniels (47%), Collin Gillespie (37%)

Here is a hilarious note: Jordan Poole (65% rostered) and Jimmy Butler III (64% rostered) really have me questioning if only around 35% of Yahoo leagues are active…meanwhile, Walker Kessler is 52% rostered and there is no way that 48% of leagues are dynasty, keeper and draft-only leagues.

Standard Leagues

These players are either approaching 12-team value or have already seized it but every fantasy league may not have caught on to that yet. They may not be guaranteed to hold ROS value but they are worth a look nonetheless as it may be a possibility, or there may at least be some medium-to-long-term appeal.

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