Handling the waiver wire is critical to success in fantasy basketball. With so many games, injuries and endless rotations throughout the marathon, we need statistics from free agents to maximize imaginary rosters. Being willing to compete for those final few spots on your fantasy basketball roster can prove beneficial. When curating this fluid group of statistical contributors, it’s helpful to consider your bench players’ direct competition with free agents.

The goal of this weekly series is to identify widely available players at various positions in ESPN league free agency. Some nominations are for experts who can help in one or two categories, while others provide more diverse and significant statistical services.

In the breakdown below, I’ve ranked players at each position based on acquisition priority rather than roster percentage in the ESPN Men’s Basketball League.

point guard

Alex Caruso, Chicago Bulls (28.4% ESPN league play): Whenever Caruso gets significant playing time, some of the most defensively efficient players in the league appear, as is the case with Zach LaVine ailing. The Bulls rely on Caruso’s two-way offense in most games, especially with his recent offensive surge. Teammate Ayo Dosunmu (5.8%) also arrived with strong defensive numbers despite the team’s injury issues in the backcourt.

Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets (38.2%): We haven’t seen much of Simmons on the court this season, though he’ll likely return to action at the start of the week and quickly regain his status as a rare playmaker and defender who’s also eligible. Played point guard and foursome.

Andrew Nembhard, Indiana Pacers (8.6%): With Tyrese Haliburton recovering, Nembhard has shown impressive distribution ability and is an interesting fantasy option in the interim once his star teammate returns. He might even be a valuable utility player on this speed-driven Pacers team.

shooting guard

Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets (60.3%): The scoring machine has restarted, and at the start of a new week in the NBA, Thomas averaged 25.3 points per game over the past week. You rarely get more than three points and points out of Thomas, but when he’s in the game, that’s usually enough.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Dallas Mavericks (26.8%): Among the league’s best high-volume shooters, Hardaway will be especially important for fantasy purposes with Kyrie Irving sidelined with a long-term injury.

small forward

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (31.0%): Ranked 11th among small forwards in player ratings over the past two weeks, Williams has done his best for the Grizzlies’ lineup. Williams should retain real value given the team’s wave of injuries.

Saddiq Bey, Atlanta Hawks (22.5%): Bey added to his hot performance last weekend with a game-winning layup off the backboard. With the Eagles likely to trade some proven rotation players in the coming days, Bey could become even more indispensable if he continues to be a core part of the plan.

Josh Hart, New York Knicks (33.2%): Julius Randle’s injury will likely give Hart more work, both as an offensive creator and as the team’s key rebounder among multiple frontcourt starters.

Power Forward

Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (35.0%): After sharing his dissatisfaction with his limited role, Kuminga’s rise has allowed him to produce a ton of points, rebounds and defensive efficiency for a Warriors team that desperately needed his contribution.

Jeremy Soshan, San Antonio Spurs (26.8%): The unique player has the credentials to be both a point guard and a power forward, and in recent games he has excelled on the glass and has become the glue for a Spurs team that regularly plays high-scoring, fast-paced games.

Jared Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers (21.7%): Increases in minutes, touches, rebounds and defensive opportunities make Vanderbilt a legitimate addition in deeper leagues as he complements a Lakers rotation that desperately needs a two-way frontcourt beyond Anthony Davis attack.

center

Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic (54.2%): Despite the trade rumors surrounding Carter, his late performance suggests sustainable value. As far as fantasy stocks go, he’d be better off staying with the Magic, but it would be better to trust recent returns and act on any new information that emerges. The combination of efficient offense and solid defense sparked interest.

Isaiah Hartenstein, New York Knicks (36.0%): With Julius Randle out of shape and the team already losing Mitchell Robinson from the rotation, Hartenstein, who was also injured recently, is likely to be in the lineup. Take on big minutes, rebounding opportunities and rim protection opportunities in the coming weeks. When he’s active, he consistently leads the league in rebounds, steals and blocks.

Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks (20.1%): The scoring floor may be low for a team with some of the top perimeter creators, but the rookie still brings enough rebounding and rim protection upside to warrant interest in a category-driven league.

special teams

This section focuses on the experts; players who shine in a single category and can provide specific value to players in both the category and the wheel format. Nominations are based on which category these players contributed in and how well they rotated throughout the season.

• 3 point shot: The Suns’ Grayson Allen (38.5%) doesn’t shoot great from beyond the arc, but it’s enough as he combines the league’s best efficiency with a true shooting percentage. Hardaway is also a floor spacer in this tier.

• Steals: Over the past two weeks, Vanderbilt has been second only to OG Anunoby in steals added value. The Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels (7.5%) also steals in passing lanes.

• Motherboard: Hartenstein is one of the best rebounders in the league and will likely be even busier with the team relying on him to work in the paint without Randle. Among wing players, Atlanta’s Bey has been very reliable on the defensive glass.

• piece: Caruso’s unique defensive traits even show up in the shot-blocking column. It would also be wise to look to Charlotte’s Nick Richards (12.5%) for rim protection support.