Week 2 of the fantasy basketball season is officially here, and it’s time for some fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups. Whether you’re looking to replace an injured player, find a short-term streamer or uncover a breakout candidate, staying active early can make all the difference.
Some players have already capitalized on expanded roles and early-season injuries, giving fantasy managers a chance to gain an edge before their league mates catch on.
We’ll look at players you should consider picking up who are rostered in four different tiers:
- 50-60%
- 30-49%
- 15-29%
- 0-14%.
What’s more, I’ll include a breakdown of how many games each team plays in the upcoming week, helping you maximize your streamers’ minutes and squeeze every bit of value from your lineup. Without further ado, let’s dive into the fantasy basketball waiver wire — starting with next week’s schedule.
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 2)
Four games:
ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, GSW, LAL, MEM, NOR, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHX, TOR, UTH
Three games:
BKN, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, POR, SAC, SAS, WAS
Two games:
LAC
Rostered in 50-60% of Leagues
Donovan Clingan (C – POR)
Donovan Clingan has seen a nice jump in playing time this season, averaging 26 minutes per game compared to 19.8 minutes as a rookie.
Clingan has been productive for fantasy managers so far, averaging 11 points, seven rebounds, 1.5 assists, one block and one steal per game. With consistent minutes expected throughout the year, Clingan is a solid option for managers in need of a reliable big man.
Davion Mitchell (PG – MIA)
With Tyler Herro (ankle) sidelined until mid-to-late November, Davion Mitchell will continue to serve as Miami’s starting point guard. He looked fantastic in Wednesday’s season opener against the Orlando Magic, recording 16 points, six rebounds, 12 assists, one block and two steals, showcasing his upside.
Mitchell struggled to replicate that production in Friday’s contest against the Memphis Grizzlies, logging 21 minutes for just two points, one rebound and seven assists. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be overly concerned, as the game was a blowout in Miami’s favor. Mitchell remains a strong pickup and a reliable contributor until Herro returns.
Rostered in 30-49% of Leagues
P.J. Washington (SF, PF – DAL)
P.J. Washington was overlooked in many fantasy drafts due to concerns about the arrival of Cooper Flagg, but he’s set to see plenty of action on the floor this season. He finished last year averaging 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per game.
Washington is posting similar numbers through two games this season: 17.5 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 34.5 minutes per game. Washington is poised to provide fantasy managers with consistent, reliable production across multiple categories.
Rostered in 15-29% of Leagues
Dillon Brooks (SG, SF – PHX)
Dillon Brooks has been outstanding to start the season, averaging 19.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.7 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. He currently holds an impressive 29.2% usage rate and is worth adding for managers in need of scoring and defensive stats, as his strong start won’t go unnoticed for long.
While Brooks’ usage is expected to dip once Jalen Green (hamstring) returns sometime in November, he will continue to log around 30 minutes per game and remain a reliable source of steals in the meantime.
Ajay Mitchell (PG – OKC)
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been without Isaiah Joe (knee) and Alex Caruso (concussion), and Ajay Mitchell has stepped up in a big way. He’s averaging 18.7 points, four rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while taking on a larger role in recent outings.
After logging just 15 minutes on opening night when Joe and Caruso were active, Mitchell has since played 38 and 29 minutes, respectively, in back-to-back games. He’s a solid short-term pickup who can provide a scoring boost while the Thunder’s backcourt remains banged up.
Grayson Allen (PG, SG, SF – PHX)
Grayson Allen makes his second straight appearance in this waiver wire article — a reminder that he should already be rostered in deeper leagues.
With Jalen Green (hamstring) sidelined to start the season, Allen has thrived in the starting lineup, averaging 15.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists while shooting 42.3% from beyond the arc. Green has yet to begin live work, so Allen should continue seeing starter-level minutes for at least another week.
Tre Jones (PG – CHI)
With Coby White (calf) expected to be sidelined for at least another week, Tre Jones stands out as an excellent short-term option.
Jones has filled in as the starter and has made the most of the opportunity, averaging 12.5 points, three rebounds, eight assists and four steals in 30.5 minutes per game while shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc and 53.3% from the field.
Jones should remain a valuable streaming option until White returns.
Rostered in 0-14% of Leagues
Ryan Kalkbrenner (C – CHA)
Ryan Kalkbrenner, the No. 34 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is a strong option in deeper leagues. He’s immediately stepped into a starting role and made the most of it, averaging 12 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting an impressive 92.3% from the field.
Fantasy managers should note that once Grant Williams (knee) returns, he could eventually eat into Kalkbrenner’s minutes. Williams is recovering from a torn ACL and doesn’t have a firm return timeline, though he could be back sometime in November.
It’s something to keep an eye on, but for now, Kalkbrenner remains an excellent pickup who should maintain steady production in the short term.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (SG – ATL)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a player to keep an eye on heading into Week 2. In Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Zaccharie Risacher (ankle), Jalen Johnson (ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) were all sidelined, and Alexander-Walker stepped up by leading the team with 17 points.
Alexander-Walker could be leaned on heavily again this week, especially if Risacher remains out. Alexander-Walker currently holds a 24.2% usage rate — second-highest on the Atlanta Hawks — and has averaged 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game this season. He’s a solid short-term add with upside if the injuries linger.
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