Fantasy Waiver Wire: Melton, Hield Among Options After Butler’s Season-Ending Injury
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Jan. 26, 2026 — Golden State guard Jimmy Butler III will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, a setback that has triggered new opportunities for several low-rostered fantasy options, ESPN’s Dr. André Snellings reports. With Butler sidelined and Jonathan Kuminga also nursing a knee issue, the Warriors and other clubs have shuffled rotations just ahead of the trade deadline, creating fresh waiver-wire targets.
Point guards
De’Anthony Melton, Warriors (5.6 % rostered) — The combo guard delivered 22 points in 23 minutes three days after Butler went down, his third game of 22-plus in the past five contests. Melton profiles as a short-term flex or streaming play while Golden State’s lineup is in flux.
Brandin Podziemski, Warriors (38.9 %) — Also point-guard eligible, Podziemski’s expanded role keeps him in standard-league consideration.
Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards (12.0 %) — Reinserted into Washington’s starting five 10 days ago, Carrington is supplying mid-teens scoring, several assists, three to four rebounds and multiple threes. With Trae Young still out indefinitely, Carrington’s workload appears secure.
Shooting guards
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks (20.6 %) — Christie flashed another hot streak last week, surpassing 20 points and three triples in multiple outings, production that spikes whenever Anthony Davis is unavailable.
Buddy Hield, Warriors (14.5 %) — Hield poured in 25 points in his first appearance after Butler’s injury. Although still coming off the bench, he projects for mid-teens scoring and several three-pointers as long as his minutes remain steady.
Small forwards
Kelly Oubre Jr., Philadelphia 76ers (47.9 %) — Since moving into the starting lineup last Monday, Oubre has raised his scoring from 18 to 21 to 26 across three games while adding rebounds and defense.
Sam Hauser, Boston Celtics (15.0 %) — Hauser has hit 46 of his first 95 three-point attempts in 2026 and posted at least 16 points in five straight, highlighted by a 30-point outburst against Atlanta.
Power forwards
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (28.3 %) — Back from a hip injury, Bey has logged double-digit scoring in every game over the past two weeks, topping 20 points four times and reaching 36 on Friday.
P.J. Washington, Dallas Mavericks (48.8 %) — Washington returned Thursday after personal and ankle issues, supplying 10 points plus five combined blocks and steals in 22 minutes. His typical line features mid-teens scoring with rebounds, threes and defense.
Centers
Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz (51.2 %) — Although limited to 10 appearances from Dec. 22 to Jan. 22, Nurkic averaged 17.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists and recorded consecutive triple-doubles, the Jazz’s first in decades.
Jock Landale, Memphis Grizzlies (15.4 %) — Alternating between starter and sixth man, Landale produced 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in two bench games last week before posting 24 and 11 after rejoining the first unit Friday. He remains a viable play while Zach Edey is out.
The Warriors’ final choices at the trade deadline could reshape these roles, but for now, the above players carry immediate fantasy value.
Source: ESPN
