6 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Targets Benefiting From NBA Injuries & Lineup Changes

As injuries continue to pile up across the league, staying ahead of the latest fantasy basketball news and NBA injury reports has become essential for protecting your roster. The waiver wire is often where leagues are won, and this week's group of pickups offers real upside tied to shifting NBA lineups, expanding roles and evolving depth charts. Below, we break down six widely available options who are benefiting from NBA player injuries, rotation changes and increased usage, with a focus on sustainable fantasy basketball stats rather than short-term noise.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies (46% rostered)

Aldama is in the midst of the best season of his career, averaging 13.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 three-pointers per game. The key is he has played 28 minutes per game. He also has a 20.4% usage rate that is the highest mark of his career. Even his averages of 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks have provided value.

The reason that Aldama has been playing so much is that Zach Edey (ankle) has been limited to just 11 games. Brandon Clarke (calf) has only played two games as he continues to struggle with injury issues. Even when Edey does return, Aldama has made a case to remain in a prominent role down the stretch. He shouldn't be available in so many leagues.

Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (46% rostered)

The Magic have dealt with a lot of injuries. Paolo Banchero has missed 10 games, Franz Wagner (ankle) has been out for the last month and Jalen Suggs (knee) has missed 10 of the last 12 games. With so many key injuries, Black has logged 30 minutes a game. That has propelled him to averages of 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 three-pointers.

One of the biggest improvements for Black this season has been his efficiency. After shooting 42.3% from the field and 31.8% from behind the arc last season, he is shooting 45.3% from the field and 33.7% from deep this season. He has also increased his three-point attempts from 2.5 to 4.4 per game. Suggs hasn't proven that he can stay healthy, so even when Wagner returns, Black will have plenty of upside.

Tari Eason, Houston Rockets (39% rostered)

Eason came off the bench to begin the season, then eventually went down with an oblique injury. He came off the bench for the first two games after making his return but was then moved into the starting lineup. He has started seven straight games, averaging 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.9 three-pointers in the role.

Eason has averaged 28 minutes per game as a starter, compared to 24 minutes per game for the season. Alperen Sengun (ankle) is going to miss around two weeks, so the Rockets likely won't be able to deploy as many double-big lineups as they have become accustomed to. With his new role in hand, Eason makes for a great waiver wire target.

Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (24% rostered)

Domantas Sabonis (knee) has not appeared in a game since the middle of November. Based on the most recent update that the team gave on him, we might not see him again until February. With the Kings racking up losses, there's also a chance that Sabonis is dealt before the trade deadline, meaning he very well may have already played his last game with the franchise.

With Sabonis out, Raynaud has morphed into a valuable fantasy option. Across the last 15 games as a starter, he has averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 57.6% from the field. To complicate matters for the Kings' frontcourt, they announced Tuesday that Keegan Murray (ankle) is expected to miss at least the next three weeks. Raynaud doesn't have much competition for minutes right now.

Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans (20% rostered)

Fears has started for most of his rookie season. That has helped him average 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 three-pointers. He hasn't exactly been efficient, though, shooting 43.3% from the field. Also, he has averaged a modest 27 minutes per game despite his starting role.

The Pelicans have one of the worst records in the NBA, which means they could turn into sellers by the trade deadline. They have two guards in Jordan Poole and Jose Alvarado that could be appealing for contending teams. If either or both of them were to be traded, then Fears could play 30 minutes per game down the stretch. He's producing enough right now to be worth rostering in most formats, but he could really take off during the stretch run.

Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (18% rostered)

Collier only shot 42.2% from the field and 24.9% from behind the arc during his rookie campaign. This season, he is shooting 51.2% from the field and 35.3% from deep. His usage rate is low, but his improved efficiency has allowed him to average 8.4 points to go along with his 6.6 assists per game.

As promising as Collier's shooting percentages are, the reason to roster him in fantasy is because of his ability to rack up assists. He has only played 23 minutes per game this season and has still been an asset in that department. The Jazz have been accumulating losses in the early going and are already showing signs of resting players. With the potential for Collier to play more down the stretch, adding him now could be a wise decision.