Fantasy waiver wire: Rollins, Grimes headline early-season pickups
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ATLANTA — November 3, 2025 — A wave of injuries and lineup adjustments across the NBA has pushed several lightly rostered players into larger roles, offering immediate help for fantasy managers, ESPN analyst Dr. André Snellings reported Monday.
Backcourt boosts
Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks (48.9% ESPN rostered) vaulted onto the radar after back-to-back scoring explosions of 25 points against New York and 32 versus Golden State. With Kevin Porter Jr. sidelined, Rollins has assumed starting point-guard duties and projects as an every-game option while the job is his.
Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers (27.8%) is coming off the bench but still tops 30 minutes nightly. Last season’s injury-driven breakout is averaging close to 20 points while adding rebounds, assists and high-volume three-pointers. His workload could dip once Paul George or rookie Jared McCain return, yet the current minutes make Grimes roster-worthy.
Other guards drawing attention include Cole Anthony, Bucks (48.9%), a sixth-man scorer who contributes across categories; Brandin Podziemski, Warriors (26.9%), producing double-digit points plus steals and threes whether starting or not; Bilal Coulibaly, Wizards (21.7%), who entered the lineup after a thumb injury and posted 16 points in 24 minutes; and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks (33.9%), now starting in place of the injured Trae Young and delivering his first 20-point outing.
Frontcourt finds
Tari Eason, Rockets (38.0%) rebounded from a slow start with 22-5-5 in 26 minutes, fitting his projected 3-and-D profile. Simone Fontecchio, Heat (3.4%) offers reliable three-point volume in roughly 20 minutes per game, while De’Andre Hunter, Cavaliers (28.4%) supplies mid-teens scoring, rebounds and an uptick in assists when Cleveland’s primary ballhandlers sit.
At power forward, Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets (39.1%) retained his starting slot and flashed 25 points against Toronto, pairing scoring upside with steals, occasional blocks and outside shooting. P.J. Washington, Mavericks (42.3%) nearly posts a double-double nightly, providing upper-teens points, close to 10 rebounds, two combined steals/blocks and about two threes, regardless of Anthony Davis’s status.
Center spot scarcity
Neemias Queta, Celtics (21.9%) is delivering the expected low double-double with strong defensive stats and high-efficiency finishing, making him a valuable option in a year thin on dependable fantasy centers.
With marquee names shelved early, these under-the-radar contributors are filling stat sheets and could stabilize fantasy lineups until rosters return to full strength.
Source: ESPN
