welcome back playlist – Your weekly tour of the Fantasy Basketball Landscape, where we break down the exemptions for the 9-Cats and Standard Points leagues to help you stay competitive.
Week 10 means it’s Christmas and basketball games. There were no games on Wednesday (Christmas Eve), and while 11 teams played four games this week (most of which I discussed in my discussion ), the Nets were the only team to play two games. So, you can move on from BK’s fringe players.
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Now with that out of the way, let’s talk about pickups.
You can also read my high score pickup story for advice on this format.
🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Shallow leagues
Cam Spencer – PG/SG, Memphis Grizzlies (27% of roster)
Ja Morant and Vince Williams Jr. will be out Monday against the Thunder, opening up another starting spot for Spencer. Surprisingly, he ranked 31st over the past month, balancing points, efficiency, and assists. There’s also no guarantee Morant will play on Tuesday, so if Spencer is on your waiver wire, put him in a 9-cat or point league when the Grizzlies play four games in Week 10. In Saturday’s loss to Washington, Spencer had 19 points, four rebounds and 11 assists in 37 minutes. I would also consider Joc Landale as a backup in the frontcourt.
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Cason Wallace – Point Guard/Shooting Guard, Oklahoma City Thunder (25% of roster)
The Thunder have a favorable schedule this week, starting with a back-to-back on Monday/Tuesday. They also have games on Christmas Day and Sunday (two lighter games), so Wallace is a good option in Week 10. However, thanks to his defense, he’s been a top-90 player over the past two weeks, averaging more steals per game than most backups in the league. Whether it’s a 9-cat or a points league, his stock makes him a solid 20-25 fantasy point contributor with more upside if injuries occur or he plays more than 25 minutes. Ajay Mitchell (25% roster) is another option.
Naji Marshall – Small Forward/Power Forward, Dallas Mavericks (22% rostered)
Marshall has a respectable 25 points in the league, but with Cooper Flagg, Max Christie and Klay Thompson all questionable on Monday, their absence could increase his share of the offense. He had 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals against Philadelphia on Saturday, but he has scored at least 15 points in seven straight games. He ranked 36th this past month, adding points or 9-cat leagues with his efficiency and ability to pile up numbers in every category.
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🎧 Who’s in my rotation: Deeper leagues
Bruce Brown – SG, Denver Nuggets (6% of rostered players)
The Nuggets play four games in Week 10, starting with a Monday/Tuesday back-to-back, and I’ll be streaming the Browns’ game in the 9-cat and points leagues. He had his first double-double since March 2024 and was a top-60 player in the league in Week 9 in nine games. In the past seven games, Brown is averaging 8.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In a points league, the volume of games combined with the opponents to start the week (Jazz and Mavericks) should provide at least 27 minutes of 20-30 fantasy points. He can play extensively in deep leagues.
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Bub Carrington – PG, Washington Wizards (19% played)
Carrington has performed very well since entering the starting lineup, averaging 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the past five games. Efficiency will be an ongoing issue, but you don’t have to worry about that in points leagues. The Wizards face the Hornets, Raptors and Grizzlies this week, so the three-game set of opponents won’t pose much of a backcourt challenge for the defense.
Now that Babb is getting playing time, his combination of scoring and playmaking make him an attractive option in Week 10. At 9-cat, I’d add him to the stat line and hope you have some more efficient players to balance out his inevitable shooting woes. He ranks 61st in nine games over the past two weeks, largely due to his ability to reduce turnovers, committing just nine to 24 assists.
Isaiah Stewart – PF/C, Detroit Pistons (20% roster)
Beef stew has been trending as Tobias Harris’ performance looks increasingly questionable. Stewart has been a reliable source of blocks this year, averaging 1.9 blocks per game. Despite his size, his ability to stretch the floor allowed him to play valuable minutes at the power forward position alongside Jalen Duren. So with Stewart’s defense and shooting ability, if Harris continues to struggle, he could easily bump up his playing time to 25-30 minutes. Stewart’s role is solid, and while I’d prefer him playing nine games, the Pistons’ four-game schedule also opens the door to points league play for him. Back-to-back games against Portland and Sacramento Monday through Tuesday are a promising fantasy matchup.
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Other pickups to consider:
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Spencer Jones – SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (1%)
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Ryan Nembhard – Point Guard, Dallas Mavericks (13%)
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Dominic Barlow – PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers (10%)
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Ace Bailey – SG/SF, Utah Jazz (22%)
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Noah Penda – SF, Orlando Magic (1%)
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Brook Lopez – Center, Los Angeles Clippers (11%)