2026-27 Deep League Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 3

As we enter Week 3 of the NBA season, injuries are already starting to pile up. I know it’s frustrating, especially when you’re trying to keep your fantasy roster competitive, but remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Just don’t make any emotional decisions that could hurt your team outlook for the worse. Continue to stream while key players are out for you. Let’s look over players that could help in Week 3.

Deep League Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire

Braden Smith, G – Pacers

Smith made his first career start Monday and certainly made the most of the opportunity. He finished with 19 points, four rebounds, 10 assists, three steals, one block, and two three-pointers while shooting 8-of-13 from the field. The Pacers were extremely short-handed, with just six healthy players available, which opened the door for Smith to see an expanded role.

On Wednesday vs. Memphis, he played 23 minutes, finishing with 10 points, one rebound, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. Smith is an excellent playmaker, and performances like this will certainly grab fantasy managers’ attention. Haliburton is still going to be out, and there are no guarantees, but he’s a great short-term pickup.

Cam Spencer, G – Grizzlies

Spencer continues to make the most of his opportunities, providing a nice spark off the bench Wednesday against the Pacers. He finished with 7 points, six rebounds and nine assists. He’s now recorded 29 assists over his last three games, showing that he can provide some fantasy value even without a starting spot.

His ceiling is somewhat limited with Ty Jerome ahead of him in the rotation, but Spencer is still worth keeping on your radar. He’s a solid streaming option when Jerome is unavailable and can provide some sneaky value in deeper leagues.

Klay Thompson, F – Heat

Klay continues to heat up in the scoring department. Thompson dropped 30 points, shooting 50% from the field along with eight three-pointers, five rebounds, three assists, and one block.

The veteran sharpshooter has now knocked down at least four three-pointers in the last three games. That’s exactly what fantasy managers are looking for when adding a player like Thompson. He’s not going to provide much across the board, but the three-point production for points leagues and three-pointers made with solid percentages is very useful.

Kingston Flemings, G/F – Hawks

Flemings is starting to make some noise, and fantasy managers should be paying attention. He scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, three rebounds, four assists, and two 3-pointers in a win over the Wizards Wednesday night.

The biggest concern right now is playing time. Flemings has played more than 20 minutes just three times through seven games, so the opportunity isn’t consistent enough to trust him in every matchup. However, the upside is certainly there when he gets extended minutes.

He’s already shown some defensive ability, and averaging 4.7 assists in just 20 minutes per game is impressive for a rookie. For now, he’s someone I’d be looking to roster in deeper leagues before his minutes and production start trending upward.

Max Strus, G/F – Clippers

Strus finally made his season debut Monday after missing time with a foot injury dating back to the preseason opener. He finished with 11 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one steal while knocking down three three-pointers in 23 minutes against Toronto.

It’s encouraging to see Strus contribute across multiple categories right out of the gate. He wasn’t shy about getting involved offensively, and the six assists were a nice bonus for fantasy managers.

As he gets further removed from the injury, his minutes should gradually increase, and there’s a chance he works his way back into the starting lineup. He’s worth monitoring on waivers, especially in deeper leagues where his ability to contribute three-pointers, assists, and rebounds can provide some sneaky value.