Welcome to Week 13! This week brings a mix of major trades, big injuries, and rotation shakeups that open the door for several strong waiver wire pickups. For this article, I’m breaking down my Week 13 fantasy basketball waiver picks, focusing on players who suddenly have clearer paths to minutes and usage. Most of the strategies and pickups I talk about here are based on how Yahoo fantasy basketball actually plays, especially when it comes to head-to-head matchups and playoff formats. When situations change this fast, opportunity matters more than name value, and these are the kinds of weeks that can swing entire matchups.
We already saw the biggest trade of the season so far, with Trae Young heading to Washington and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert going the other way. Add in some serious injury news around the league, and suddenly, a lot of young players are stepping into bigger roles. Let’s get into the waiver adds that can tilt your Week 13 matchup.
I used the league schedule grid and the latest injury updates as references, so all of these picks are based on real opportunity and game volume.
Vince Williams Jr., Grizzlies
Williams is eligible at three positions in Yahoo, which already makes him valuable. He had a really strong November before going down with injury in mid-December. Now he’s back, and the timing couldn’t be better. Ja Morant is currently out, and Memphis is openly listening to trade offers for him. That opens the door for Vince to return to the role he had earlier in the season, when he flirted with triple-doubles and even posted a couple of games with 15-plus assists. He contributes across rebounds, assists, and steals. If field-goal percentage isn’t a category you’re protecting, he’s an easy add.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets
Kalkbrenner is a classic rim-protecting rookie center who’s already playing beyond his years. After missing time, he returned and immediately made an impact with 12 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in just 23 minutes. That’s exactly what you want to see from a young big. Charlotte is clearly building toward the future, and Kalkbrenner looks like their most skilled center in that plan. As his conditioning improves, there’s room for his minutes and production to grow quickly.
Egor Demin, Nets
At some point this season, Demin is going to be a must-roster player, it feels inevitable. Brooklyn has no real incentive to push for wins, and they don’t have a long-term answer at point guard. Over the past two games, Demin has exploded for five three-pointers in each, close to 20 points per game, and solid contributions in rebounds, assists, and steals. With the Nets leaning into development, there’s no reason for his role to shrink. This is one of those adds you make before the rest of the league catches on.
Daniel Gafford, Mavericks
With Anthony Davis now injured, Gafford steps in as the clear top big man in Dallas. His season numbers have been underwhelming compared to previous years, around nine points, six boards, and 1.4 blocks, but context matters. As the primary center, there’s no reason those numbers shouldn’t climb. Gafford has always been a per-minute monster, especially in FG%, rebounds, and blocks. If you need center impact, this is the moment to grab him before the box scores catch up.
Tre Johnson, Wizards
With McCollum gone and Trae Young still sidelined, Johnson is one of the biggest winners from the trade. He’s been trending up already, and the opportunity just expanded. Over the past two weeks, he’s averaged more than two threes, around 14 points, and 1.4 steals per game. Washington has no reason to limit him, and this feels like the start of a much larger role. If you’re chasing points, threes, and steals, he fits perfectly.
Naji Marshall, Mavericks
Marshall is another player benefiting from Dallas’ new situation. He’s never been flashy, but the minutes are real now. Over the past week, he’s averaging over 15 points, four rebounds, nearly three assists, and close to two steals per game. He won’t dominate a category, but he contributes everywhere. Dallas also plays four games in the first six days of the week, which boosts his short-term value even more. Very available, very usable.
Bub Carrington, Wizards
Carrington is another Wizard who should see a major bump. With McCollum traded and Young not back yet, Carrington is going to be thrown into the fire. Over the past two weeks, he’s averaged around five assists per game, but the efficiency hasn’t been great. That’s the trade-off here: strong opportunity, some growing pains. If you can absorb lower FG% and turnovers, the assists and usage make him worth the gamble.
Final Thoughts
This season is moving fast, and weeks like this are exactly where active managers gain separation. Trades and injuries change fantasy value overnight, and staying ahead on the waiver wire is often more impactful than any trade you’ll make.
Good luck in your Week 13 matchups, and don’t wait too long to make these moves.
If this helped, explore more strategy-focused insights on BestHoop:
Fantasy Basketball Roster Strategy: Maximize Games Played and Win Matchups
5 Fantasy Basketball Strategies That Win Head-to-Head Matchups
Fantasy Basketball Trade Strategy: 7 Rules That Actually Improve Your Team
5 Ways to Dominate the Waiver Wire in Fantasy Basketball
When Should Fantasy Basketball Playoffs Start? The Setting That Saves Your League