Deep League Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire for Week 23: For all the marbles

Here we are! If you’re reading this it’s because you have made the finals for your league. Now it’s time to finish the job and bring it home. Let’s get you a championship! It has been a great honor to be writing these all season! This is my final article for the season. If for some reason your league extends to next week, please shoot me a DM or @ me on X @Nick_Wilcox25.

Scheduling is everything right now. Please be sure to check injury reports well in advance of the games and about 15 minutes before.

Unfortunately, Denver and Portland have the annoying two-game week, so only truly start your studs. Golden State, Indiana, and Sacramento don’t even show up until Wednesday, while New Orleans drags its feet until Thursday before cramming three games into four nights. On the flip side, Boston, Chicago, Memphis, and Utah quietly give you four games without a back-to-back.

Washington is the only team with a weekend back-to-back, which is sneaky useful if you’re chasing stats late. Early in the week, you’ve got Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, LA Lakers, and Phoenix all running Monday-Tuesday back-to-backs, so you should already be thinking about quick-hit streaming spots.

Saturday is a trap with just three games on the board. Tuesday and Thursday are where you need to be aggressive—lighter slates that can swing matchups if you load up properly.

Now let’s talk about the names that can actually win you this week.

Deep League Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire

Kennedy Chandler — G, Utah Jazz

Kennedy Chandler is still floating out there in way too many deep leagues, which at this point just doesn’t make sense. Isaiah Collier continues to deal with a hamstring and that will make his 7th straight game missed. Seven-plus assists in four straight games is not a fluke. If you’re chasing dimes in the finals? This is your guy.

Tyler Burton / Rayan Rupert — Forwards, Grizzlies

Memphis is messy right now, and that chaos can work in our favor. Tyler Burton popped with a full stat line and heavy minutes. If you’re streaming based on schedule, fine, but don’t get attached. Rayan Rupert is a little more interesting from a usage standpoint. The minutes are there when bodies are missing, and with injuries continuing to pile up, he’s got a path to relevance. It’s not pretty, it’s not consistent, but in deep formats, it’s the opportunity we crave.

Both of these guys should get long looks to produce Monday night as Maxence-Prosper is doubtful.

Jamal Shead/Ja’Kobe Walter — Guards, Raptors

Toronto’s backcourt is another situation you need to stay locked into. Jamal Shead is quietly stacking minutes and just dropped a double-double along with 3 steals. The key here is availability around him. With Brandon Ingram popping up as a late scratch and Immanuel Quickley dealing with issues, Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter both become viable. Walter has been trending up, and if Quickley sits again, you’re looking at another spot where volume alone can carry fantasy value.

Kobe Brown — F, Pacers

Kobe Brown is one of those under-the-radar names that can swing a finals matchup if things break right. Back-to-back strong games have put him on the radar again, and it really comes down to the status of Jarace Walker. If the minutes open up, Brown has already shown he can produce across the board. This is the kind of gamble that wins you a title—not safe, but high leverage.

Jericho Sims — C, Bucks

Sims has been efficient lately, averaging 6.0 rebounds and shooting 77% from the field over his last seven outings. The Bucks are officially out of the playoff hunt and Sims should continue to get decent minutes. If Myles Turner and Bobby Portis remain limited or out, Sims keeps his role and gives you steady production. The Bucks have a busy four-game slate this week.

Final Nugget

At this stage, don’t overthink it. Make the best decisions you can make with the info you collect. Volume, opportunity, and timing will decide your championship. Stay aggressive, stay active, and don’t get sentimental about names.