The 2025-26 fantasy basketball season is finally here, and if you want to get ahead of your competition, the place to start is on the waiver wire. Early-season pickups can be league-winners, and Week 1 is full of quietly productive players sitting in free agency waiting to be claimed. Here are six names I’m targeting right now before the rest of your league catches on.
Aaron Nesmith – Indiana Pacers
Everyone is talking about Andrew Nembhard and TJ McConnell, but here’s the truth: McConnell is out for a month, and somebody needs to soak up those backcourt minutes. Nesmith is that guy. He showed in last year’s playoff run that he can battle on both ends and put up efficient scoring lines. He’s available in over 80 percent of ESPN leagues and offers instant production in points leagues.
Ryan Kalkbrenner – Charlotte Hornets
Meet one of my favorite deep-league stashes. Kalkbrenner looked strong in person during Charlotte’s preseason matchup against Dallas. He crashes the boards, has a solid mid-range shot, and could be the only reliable pure center on this roster. If he lands even 25 minutes a night, he can outproduce the last guy on your bench. At only 1.7 percent rostered in ESPN formats, he could pay off huge as the season gets rolling.
Herb Jones – New Orleans Pelicans
Herb Jones is one of those players everyone forgets about until it’s too late. He’s a defensive stat specialist who can quietly give you steals, blocks, and threes with solid percentages. He’s rostered in just over 20 percent of ESPN leagues right now, which is wild given Zion’s injury history. History says the moment Zion misses time, Herb’s value spikes. Lock him in early and enjoy the steady production.
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Kyle Filipowski – Utah Jazz
Utah is full of intrigue this season, and Kyle Filipowski might be the sneakiest name of the bunch. He impressed all summer, and sometimes the eye test is all you need. You can see the confidence and skill growth. He’s rostered in only 10 percent of ESPN leagues, and while he’s better for deeper formats, I recommend grabbing and stashing him in any 14-, 16-, or 20-team league. This one could quietly pay off midseason.
Bryce Sensabaugh – Utah Jazz
This Jazz team is being ignored, which spells value. Sensabaugh is projected for roughly 25 minutes per game and could be a strong two-category contributor. Available in 95 percent of leagues, he’s worth stashing now before his minutes and confidence rise. If he starts fast, he could become this year’s early-season waiver-wire gem.
Davion Mitchell – Miami Heat
Here’s a short-term value alert. Tyler Herro won’t return until at least late November, and that leaves room for Davion Mitchell to carve out an early rotation role in Miami. He won’t be playing heavy minutes from the start, but if he gets 22 to 23 minutes per game, he’s worth a pickup for managers who need short-term scoring and defensive help.
These are my top six early waiver targets for Week 1. Most of them are sitting unclaimed in over 75 percent of leagues, which means managers who act first will get the biggest returns. Add them now, monitor their minutes, and set yourself up for long-term fantasy success.
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Robbin Marx
NBA Fantasy Analyst
Experience: NBC Sports - Rotoworld, HashTag Basketball, Bleav Network