Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Jones is Back

Yes, the calendar did turn to 2026, but there’s no time to pause or celebrate. The NBA season continues to move forward with excessive force and speed. This is not the time to slow down. Of course, we have you covered, so stick with Fantrax as you look to dominate your fantasy basketball leagues. One way to do that is by constantly looking to churn your roster. So, let’s jump right into some options on the fantasy basketball waiver wire to help improve your team.

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire

Tre Jones, G, Chicago Bulls

Next man up. With both Josh Giddey and Cody White sidelined for the Chicago Bulls, someone needs to step up in the backcourt. While the timetables for both guards are still in flux, it appears that both will be sidelined for the next few weeks, at a minimum. And when it comes to waiver wire, you really can’t look any further than that, as we simply don’t have the luxury to do so.

Tre Jones closed out 2025 showing what he was capable of. In his 27 minutes of action, Jones took full advantage of his opportunity, finishing with 20 points and 12 assists as we got a good look at the high point of his upside.

While Jones isn’t going to finish with a double-double on a nightly basis, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen him step into a larger role. On the season, Jones is averaging 12.2 points per game, and if it holds, it would be his third season scoring in double figures. In those other two seasons, Jones averaged 6.6 and 6.2 assists, which slots nicely with his 5.2 assists to this point.

Despite only making two starts this season, Jones has 10 games with at least 15 points, so we know he’s capable of doing so with an increased role. In his last eight games of 2025, Jones averaged 12.4 points and six assists per game. That came in just 23.3 minutes as Jones has also shown to be efficient. The veteran point guard is a perfect waiver wire addition given the current Chicago Bulls depth chart.

Peyton Watson, F, Denver Nuggets

Quite simply, Peyton Watson doesn’t have a choice. In his fourth NBA season, the 23-year-old forward needs to step up. The Denver Nuggets are beat up from an injury perspective, and Watson is healthy. That piece is very critical here.

Watson is talented, and I would say capable as well. We have seen his production steadily increase throughout his career, and that trend only stands to continue now.

Through 28 minutes per game, Watson is averaging 11.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, to go along with a block and a steal. It shouldn’t be a surprise, as Watson has been starting all month for the Nuggets, but recently, there has been an uptick in his performance.

In his last seven games, Watson has scored at least 15 points four times with a high of 24. Of course, there’s a four-point game mixed in, but the overall consistency has been there. Overall, Watson averaged 14.9 points and four rebounds per game in that stretch while shooting 49.4% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line.

Aaron Nesmith, F, Indiana Pacers

After a lengthy injury absence, Aaron Nesmith is back, and he should be on our radars. The good news is that he looks healthy, and Nesmith returned to the starting lineup in his most recent game.

In three of his four games, Nesmith has nine points, while scoring 14 in his other game. What I’m after on the waiver wire, though, is Nesmith’s ability from beyond the three-point line.

Generally, finding viable options for that category on the waiver wire tends to be difficult. Since his return, Nesmith has made 10 three-pointers. While that’s impressive, what’s more notable is that he attempted 22 shots from beyond the arc. That production could make a real impact.