Done with all your Fantasy Drafts? Now What???
Let’s unlock some hidden values in Fantasy Basketball with the use of your IL/ IL+ Slots.
What is up BLEAV FAM?!, Your Pinoy Fantasy Papi is back for another juicy Fantasy Topic. This time, let us talk about an undervalued strategy in Fantasy Hoops – Stashing.
Here’s the thing, while everyone chased the hyped players, sometimes real fantasy difference makers are sitting on the Free Agent Pool... literally. In Yahoo leagues, that IL+ (Injured List Plus) slot isn’t just a parking spot for banged-up stars. It’s your secret weapon for stashing potential players who are out, injured, or buried on depth charts. Think of it as investing in an undervalued stock: low risk with good potential payoff when they heat up mid-season, or just a big value for a week or two. Stashing works like this: You snag a player who’s sidelined early (hello, preseason injuries or deep bench roles) and slot them into IL/IL+ without burning a regular roster spot. Yahoo’s flexible IL+ rules let you stash up to five if your league activates them, freeing you to stream hot hands while waiting for your gem to shine. The beauty? These guys often fly under the radar in drafts, letting you scoop them off waivers or in the late rounds. But beware—patience is key. Not every stash pans out, but the ones that do can turn a mediocre squad into a contender. Why stash now, in October 2025? The NBA’s injury bug is already biting, and with a packed schedule ahead, rotations will shift. Teams like the rebuilding Wizards and Pelicans are handing out minutes to young guns, while vets on contenders fight for scraps. Done right, stashing boosts your depth without sacrificing current production. Let’s dive into several under-the-radar candidates for both shallow leagues and deep leagues. These are players with potential breakouts hidden in the eyes of most GMs. We will not include a couple of well-known names with IL/+ eligibility in the list, like Kyrie, Dejounte, Bilal, Scoot, Hauser, and the likes, since all of these players would’ve been picked already in most leagues.
Cam Whitmore - WAS (GTD)
Fresh off a trade to tank-town D.C., Whitmore’s athleticism could yield 15+ PPG and 2+ 3 PM in 25 MPG, and we are not yet touching his defensive upside. Maybe he won’t fully enjoy the opportunity off the bat since there are vets like Middleton and CJ that will eat usage and minutes to start the year, but he is just a couple of trades away from a pure scorer to explode on a roster begging for offense.
Derik Queen – NOP (GTD)
Lottery pick “Baby Jokić” brings around 16-10 double-doubles with elite passing to the table once he gets a hold of the primary front-court minutes. The Pelicans really like him; they even traded a 1st rounder just to get him. Let us get ahead of the curve and stash DQ while everyone hasn’t noticed him in the FA Pool.
Grayson Allen – PHX (GTD)
Elite shooter (40%+ from deep) primed for a bounce-back year. Offseason conditioning has him eyeing 15-4-3 lines with steals in Phoenix’s revamped wing rotation, but with Jalen Green’s injury, he should start this season as the Sun’s primary Shooting Guard, which can give him a good momentum to get back to his Top 100 form.
Dillon Brooks – PHX (GTD)
Traded to Phoenix for KD? Nah—wait, Brooks is the gritty vet that scores can get some steals. His motor fits the Suns’ scheme perfectly. Just watch out for the possibility of him enjoying the scoring part too much, which could lead to some inefficient game days. Why add him? It’s just hard to get a steady 15+ scorer for free, he may not be perfect but he is going to BE a top choice if you need some additional scoring punch.
Ryan Dunn – PHX (GTD)
Another Suns’ Wing, but this time we are talking about an athletic wing with lockdown D that is projected to give you about 1.5 STL/0.5 BLK. His Summer League dominance hints he can really be a stocks threat especially with a bigger role this season.
Jeremy Sochan – SAS (INJ)
Last year, he had a moment of averaging 17-8-4 coming off the bench before he got injured for several weeks. Now that Sochan will not continue exploring a Pont-Forward role, he should be able to get consistent counting stats despite not being a starter. The upside might be capped, but efficiency should be better.
Jarace Walker – IND (GTD)
A lot of people forgot about JW’s fantasy upside. He was buried in the rotation in the past season, especially with his history of injuries. Now that he is healthier and has the biggest opportunity he has ever had since his rookie season. We might finally witness that do-it-all stat line that we all craved when we first saw his upside. With TJ McConnell out for a while, his preseason games showed that he is the main facilitator of the second unit.
Alex Caruso – OKC (GTD)
The OKC Carushow might not be the same super glue guy we knew before, but he is still going to rack up multiple stats from time to time, especially if JDub is limited to start the season. Another reason to stash him, at least for the first week, is OKC’s favorable schedule that could enable you to start off your 2025 Fantasy Season with a W.
Terrence Shannon Jr. – MIN (GTD)
TSJr’s more stable role post-NAW trade means a low to mid-end efficient fantasy line. We all saw his ability to just burst out if given a chance - If you haven’t, just rewatch his performance against OKC in the playoffs last season.
De’Anthony Melton – GSW (INJ)
Before the Thompsons, there was De’Anthony Melton. But his rise to Fantasy Basketball stardom was limited as he moved from one team to another, plus those nagging injuries. Similar to us, Steve Kerr knows how good Melton is, which should allow him to squeeze enough minutes to be fantasy relevant the moment he is 100% healthy.
Patrick Williams – CHI (GTD)
From Chicago’s next Kawhi to Ka-Why not is he not performing well?! Every year, seems to be the year he will break out, but instead, he always breaks our hopes. So for the NTh time, why should we add him? Again… Maybe he gets inspired by Matas Buzelis, and this will be the season he finally breaks out…
Take note that despite not being guaranteed hits, these options aren’t just dart throws. They’re calculated bets on opportunity. Whitmore and Queen thrive in rebuilds, while vets like Caruso and Allen are steady, reliable contenders. Rookies like Dunn and Shannon add youth movement spark. Stashing isn’t sexy, but it’s smart ball. It’s how the casuals become veterans. Grab these guys, fortify that IL+, and watch your squad stash its way to glory. Hit or Miss… either way, this strategy will not cost you much, so what are you waiting for, Papi? Stash Now!
Enjoy Later!
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Robbin Marx
NBA Fantasy Analyst
Experience: NBC Sports - Rotoworld, HashTag Basketball, Bleav Network
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