As the season moves into Week 19, another opportunity arrives to strengthen rosters through fantasy basketball waiver wire pickups.
Injuries continue to pile up, short-term needs emerge and new contributors step into larger roles, making active waiver management a key edge when trying to gain ground in the standings.
To simplify the process, this week’s recommended adds are organized into three rostership tiers:
30–49%
15–29%
0–14%
The Week 19 schedule is also included to help guide streaming decisions and maximize total games played. Here’s a closer look at the top waiver wire targets for the week ahead.
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups (Week 19)
Four games:
BOS, BKN, CLE, DAL, DET, HOU, LAL, MEM, MIL, NOP, OKC, POR, SAC, SAS
Three games:
ATL, CHA, CHI, DEN, GSW, IND, MIA, MIN, NYK, ORL, PHI, TOR, UTH, WAS
Two games:
LAC, PHX
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 30-49% of Leagues
Brandin Podziemski (PG, SG – GSW)
With Steph Curry (knee) still without a clear timeline for return, Brandin Podziemski should continue to see expanded opportunities in the backcourt. The increased role has already translated into steady production, as he has taken on more ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities in Curry’s absence.
Podziemski has been particularly impressive over his last four games, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals while logging a team-high 32.1 minutes per contest for the Golden State Warriors. As long as Curry remains sidelined, Podziemski should continue to play heavy minutes, making him a strong waiver wire option for managers in need of well-rounded production.
Maxime Raynaud (C – SAC)
Domantas Sabonis (knee) underwent season-ending surgery, paving the way for Maxime Raynaud to take on a significant role for the remainder of the season. In the six games Sabonis has missed, Raynaud has averaged 14.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 30 minutes per contest, providing strong production as a starter-level option in the frontcourt.
With the Sacramento Kings out of contention, the focus has shifted toward development, and the team has shown a willingness to reduce veteran workloads in favor of giving younger players extended opportunities. That approach should continue to benefit the 22-year-old rookie, putting Raynaud in a position to maintain consistent minutes and emerge as a valuable rest-of-season pickup.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 15-29% of Leagues
Cameron Johnson (SF, PF – DEN)
The Denver Nuggets have been hit hard by injuries lately and are currently without Aaron Gordon (hamstring) and Peyton Watson (hamstring), both of whom remain without clear timetables for return. With multiple rotation pieces sidelined, extra minutes and usage have opened up in the frontcourt and on the wing, creating opportunities for other players to step into larger roles.
Cameron Johnson has taken advantage and emerged as an intriguing pickup while those absences continue. He has been particularly impressive since the All-Star break, averaging 16.5 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists and one steal in 31 minutes per game. As long as Denver remains shorthanded, Johnson should continue to see steady run and enough offensive involvement to provide useful fantasy value.
Jarace Walker (PF – IND)
Jarace Walker is putting together a breakout February, easily his most productive stretch of the season. In seven games this month, he has averaged 16.9 points, eight rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.3 minutes, showing meaningful growth in both confidence and overall involvement.
With the Indiana Pacers holding the worst win percentage in the Eastern Conference, the focus has clearly shifted toward development. Injuries and lineup absences — including frequent missed time from Pascal Siakam and the continued absence of Ivica Zubac (ankle) — have opened the door for Walker to take on a larger role. He should continue to see steady minutes, making him an appealing rest-of-season pickup with multi-category upside.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered in 0-14% of Leagues
Jalen Smith (PF, C – CHI)
Jalen Smith missed the final three games before the All-Star break due to a calf injury, but has returned to appear in both games for the Chicago Bulls since then. Over that span, he has averaged 12 points, 8.5 rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals and two blocks in 24.5 minutes, showing the ability to contribute across multiple categories.
Smith’s role should continue to grow as he gets further removed from the injury, and there’s a clear path to consistent minutes with Nikola Vucevic no longer on the roster. With expanded opportunity and strong per-minute production, Smith offers intriguing upside for the remainder of the season, particularly for managers in need of rebounds and defensive stats.
Scoot Henderson (PG, SG – POR)
Scoot Henderson has appeared in just five games this season after recovering from a torn left hamstring suffered in September 2024, averaging 13.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and five assists in 20.2 minutes per contest. While those numbers may not immediately stand out, they have come with Henderson working under a minutes restriction as he eased back into game action. With that limitation now lifted, his role should continue to expand as he regains conditioning and rhythm.
This pickup is more about upside than immediate production. Henderson is known for his explosiveness, playmaking ability and scoring potential, giving him the tools to provide well-rounded fantasy value as his workload increases with the Portland Trail Blazers. As the season progresses and he settles into a consistent role, Henderson has a strong chance to take on more offensive responsibility, making him an intriguing waiver wire target for managers looking to invest in upside for a fantasy basketball playoff run.