Fantasy Basketball Adds and Drops, Including Jalen Williams' Injury Fallout

After taking a look at some fantasy basketball pickups based on weekly projections, let's now go over some more traditional waiver wire options. We'll tack on a few drop candidates as well!

We have several players to get to, so let's dive right in!

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Adds

Anthony Black - Orlando Magic

Black is rostered in 64.25% of fantasy basketball leagues right now. He was at 50.72% just two days ago.

He's on the rise with the Magic dealing with a few injuries - more on that in a bit. Black also is rising after getting on the court for the first time in the team's most recent game.

He came off the bench and played nearly 26 minutes. Black tallied 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and two steals while on the court. That's solid production, and he could deliver even more now with a couple Magic players banged up.

Black is definitely worth adding in some deeper leagues today. He could also be a short-term option in standard leagues, so if you are dealing with injuries, consider adding the guard.

Jay Huff - Indiana Pacers

Huff has jumped up to 9.5% after being at 1.14% yesterday.

He's a backup center for Indiana, but with Ivica Zubac dealing with an injury, Huff should have an expanded role and usage. It might just be a short-term run for Huff though.

He's played in two of the team's three games. Huff played over 20 minutes in his last appearance, with the Zubac injury helping his cause there. Huff had 14 points, three assists and blocks and two rebounds in that contest.

Again, just look at Huff as a short-term fantasy option, but until Zubac is back, I think there's some appeal with Huff. Try him in some deeper leagues, especially if you need some big man help.

Ajay Mitchell - Oklahoma City Thunder

Mitchell is rostered in 55.59% of leagues right now. That's up from 46.72% yesterday.

He's another player on the rise due to injuries around him in OKC - more on that shortly. Three Thunder players left the court with injuries, so Mitchell's role is likely to rise.

Mitchell has come off the bench for all three of the team's games so far, logging between 22-27 minutes. He has a chance to start, or at least be closer to 27 minutes per game while the Thunder deal with injuries. Mitchell is averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.7 steals and 0.3 blocks per game so far.

Mitchell is already a solid deep-league asset, and tacking on injuries to OKC, he becomes a better fantasy option overall. He should be scooped up and utilized in all deeper leagues until the Thunder get healthier. He could be tried in standard leagues as well, so also consider adding him in those leagues.

Drops

Jalen Williams - Oklahoma City Thunder

Williams is sitting at 97.21% after being at 100% owned previously. He suffered a nasty-looking ankle injury on Sunday. Williams was stretchered off and his availability going forward looks very bleak.

He's one to keep rostering until we know the extent of things, but he might become droppable in a lot of leagues if he's out a while, or for the season. Keep rostering him in dynasty/keeper leagues.

Across 31.7 minutes a night so far, Williams was averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1 steal and 0.7 blocks per game. He's a big part of the Thunder, and any absence will be a big blow to the team.

Hopefully he's able to return this season, but we'll have to wait and see what the diagnosis is. Until he's back on the court, several players are going to need to step up, including Mitchell. Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams were the other OKC players who got hurt, so the likes of Mitchell, Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, Aday Mara, Kenrich Williams and others will need to step up in the meantime.

Jalen Suggs - Orlando Magic

Suggs is rostered in 70.95% of leagues today. He was as high as 77.21% this season.

He did not return to his team's Sunday game after suffering a knee injury. Suggs struggled a bit across the first three games, so he's being dropped before we know the extent of his injury.

Suggs was averaging 8 points, 5.7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 0.3 blocks, so he was still a solid fantasy asset. I'd try to hold him until we know the extent of his injury, especially in deeper leagues, but any lengthy absence will probably make him droppable in all redraft standard leagues.

Keep tabs on him and this injury and be ready to add him when he's back, but he'll need to pick up his production before being worth more fantasy ownership.

Egor Demin - Brooklyn Nets

Demin is now owned in 70.11% of leagues. He's been up and down this season, but started over 80%.

Demin isn't injured but has struggled to deliver across three games so far. He's played between 19-30 minutes, so that's already an issue. Demin scored 22 points in one game, but had four and three in the other two. He's added nine assists, eight rebounds and three steals, which isn't a ton of production.

That makes Demin droppable in a lot of leagues already. He's one to keep tabs on, but he's a better deep-league option right now. Until he's showing more this year, he's not one you have to hold in standard leagues.