Last Updated on January 29, 2026 6:21 pm by Mike Passador | Published: January 29, 2026

We are officially a week away from the trade deadline. It’s one of the most exciting times of the year and we got some new life breathed into the proceedings yesterday with news that Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a trade — but definitely has not asked for one. After injuries to Anthony Davis and Ja Morant seemed to take a couple of the biggest names off the board, Giannis’ availability will shake everything up because 29 other teams are ready to make a pitch. That could end up slowing things down as teams try and keep their powder dry for the all-world talent that is suddenly on the market, leading to a holding pattern that prevents other, smaller deals from being made. Alternatively, it only takes one gutsy decision to shake up the entire league.

Fantasy-wise, it’s a time to be proactive and take a look at players who could see their fortunes swing with one move. And while those moves are happening, valuable guys who don’t need to rely on the trade deadline are probably going to hit the wire. It’s a good time to asses the bottom of your roster because at the very least, you should be able to make some marginal gains.

Here is the article layout:

• Double-Check Zone: Players who should be on a 12-team roster, but whose roster percentages suggest you need to make sure they’re not on your wire.
• 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 or a path to short-term value with a smaller chance of long-term upside if certain things break their way.
• Trade Deadline Impact: Players you might want to pick up in case they hit the jackpot on trade deadline day.
• 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.

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.

Collin Gillespie (35%)
Key Note(s): Still a top-60 value on the year, still undervalued.

Gillespie hit a little bit of a rough patch a couple weeks ago and is currently dealing with a hand injury. Add in the fact that his scoring totals belie his overall value and you have the classic profile of a strong fantasy option who is going to be overlooked by a ton of managers.

Grayson Allen (38%)
Key Note(s): Back in cruise control after shaking the injury bug.

Allen was a non-factor for a lot of December because of some injury issues but he is rolling again, with or without a starting job. It’s possible that Allen loses some shine when Devin Booker and Jalen Green get healthy but that feels like a long way off given Green’s season so far. Either way, Allen is going to see big minutes as a secondary scoring threat and floor-spacer. He’s a top-65 guy even with that chunk of time lost to injuries.

Cam Spencer (30%)
Key Note(s): May or may not be the starting PG from here on out.

Ja Morant (elbow) will miss a couple more weeks at minimum and it’s possible he gets traded out of Memphis. In that case, we have Cam Spencer and currently nobody else on the PG depth chart. Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. (we’ll get to them in a bit) will return eventually but are going to be on minutes restrictions for a while, which puts Spencer in a great spot to continue producing must-start value in the near term with no real timeline for when he might drop off.

Neemias Queta (37%)
Key Note(s): Reliable stat set and stable role.

Queta has been a top-85 guy on the season as the clear-cut starting center for the Celtics. A recent bout of illness has messed with his deployment a little bit and if he was dropped as a result of the last week’s events, you should pick him up without hesitation.

Saddiq Bey (36%)
Key Note(s): Still holding strong as the Pelicans sort out their rotation.

Bey has gone from a “see where it goes” add to someone who might just hold steady all year long. There was legitimate cause for concern about Bey’s role once Zion Williamson and Herb Jones returned to the lineup but the Pels have opted to lean heavily on their wing group and are currently running without a true point guard in the starting five. It may not last forever but Bey has played his way into a big role. He isn’t reinventing the wheel or anything but he needs to be rostered in fantasy.

Jaylon Tyson (31%)
Key Note(s): Inside the top-100 and starting to flash more scoring/playmaking chops.

The Cavs are dealing with more injuries and Tyson was a pretty solid fantasy option before that. He has been worth rostering in competitive formats since the first few weeks of the season and nothing has changed to hurt him.

Collin Murray-Boyles (22%)
Key Note(s): Back in action and making a big difference on the court.

Murray-Boyles returned on Wednesday after missing a week’s worth of games with a left thumb injury and put up five rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 28 minutes. Giving him extended run at center has benefited the Raptors in a major way and there’s no reason to dial things back. His ability to contribute steals and blocks alone should get him rostered, and then you have some upside in rebounds and the occasional nice scoring game for good measure.

Toumani Camara (42%)
Key Note(s): Heating up and would be automatic if the steals came back.

This is a continued season-long bet on Camara’s steal rate catching up to last year’s levels. A lot of his stat line looks good relative to last year but he’s missing the money stat. His role in Portland is bulletproof and eventually Camara will go on a steals binge that vaults him to the top-100.

Toumani Camara (38%)
Key Note(s): No Giannis.

Portis is always a strong add when Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t around. A potential trade return could mess with things a bit but until that happens, Portis needs to be universally rostered.

Honorable Mention(s): Nickeil Alexander-Walker (54%), Jrue Holiday (54%), Jaden McDaniels (47%), Peyton Watson (45%), Ryan Rollins (58%), Kon Knueppel (55%), Nic Claxton (57%), Andrew Wiggins (56%), Jabari Smith (47%),  Keegan Murray (36%), PJ Washington (42%), Tari Eason (38%), Jerami Grant (33%), Tobias Harris (34%), Dillon Brooks (38%), Santi Aldama (43%), Cedric Coward (33%)

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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