The NBA’s Christmas week schedule, which leaves Christmas Eve without games and features only five matchups on Thursday, trims fantasy opportunities and places extra value on reliable streamers. Managers searching the waiver wire will find several lightly rostered players poised to deliver immediate help, particularly at center, according to ESPN fantasy analyst Dr. André Snellings.
Point guards
Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (19.6% rostered): The rookie has grown into an on-ball creator, logging heavier minutes and flirting with nightly points-assists double-doubles whenever he reaches starter-level court time.
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns (37.6%): Even with Devin Booker and Grayson Allen back, Gillespie maintains a steady scoring role, averaging high-teens points with strong three-point production, steals and supplementary rebounds and assists.
Dennis Schroder, Sacramento Kings (29.3%): Despite coming off the bench, Schroder averaged 22.5 points, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 31.5 minutes over his last two outings and drilled Sunday’s overtime game-winner, signaling continued momentum.
Shooting guards
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies (10.6%): Improved perimeter accuracy has propelled Wells into the upper teens in scoring with nearly three triples and more than one steal per game during his recent stretch.
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies (29.6%): Over the past month Spencer has averaged roughly 20 points, six assists and almost four threes, punctuated by his first points-assists double-double in a spot start Saturday.
Small forwards
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans (37.0%): Since entering the starting lineup in late November, Bey has hovered around 20 points and 10 rebounds nightly while adding close to two threes and more than one steal.
Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns (45.8%): Brooks continues a season-long run of 20-plus points per game, complementing his trademark defense with increased scoring responsibilities.
Power forwards
Kyle Filipowski, Utah Jazz (10.7%): Frequently spelling Jusuf Nurkic, Filipowski scores 15-plus points or collects double-digit rebounds whenever plugged into the starting five, making him a prime streamer or DFS choice on those nights.
Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers (48.4%): The versatile forward has hit double-figure scoring in 11 of his past 14 contests, averaging 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and a season-best four steals over his last two games.
Centers
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic (25.6%): Since December began, Carter offers mid-teens scoring, near double-digit boards and contributes in threes, steals and blocks.
Mitchell Robinson, New York Knicks (7.3%): Though utilized off the bench, Robinson remains an elite rebounder—grabbing 15 boards, 10 offensive, in 18 minutes during the NBA Cup Final—and delivers dependable blocks and steals.
Jock Landale, Memphis Grizzlies (5.5%): With Zach Edey sidelined, Landale’s expanded role produces consistent low double-doubles, complementary threes and defensive stats whenever his minutes climb past 25.
Maxime Raynaud, Sacramento Kings (13.0%): Filling in for the injured Domantas Sabonis, the rookie posted a season-best 29 points, 11 rebounds and two steals against Portland and remains a nightly double-double threat while starting.
With multiple teams playing only twice during the abbreviated holiday week, these under-the-radar options could provide the additional games and categories necessary to keep fantasy rosters competitive.
Source: ESPN
