André SnellingsMar 2, 2026, 01:22 PM ETCloseDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.Multiple Authors
play0:20Naji Marshall’s mid-range jumper draws the and-1Naji Marshall sinks a mid-range jumper and draws the and-1 for the Mavericks.
Naji Marshall’s mid-range jumper draws the and-1Naji Marshall sinks a mid-range jumper and draws the and-1 for the Mavericks.
We are now in the fantasy hoops version of March Madness, the month when most leagues have their playoffs and even their championship. As we’ve discussed in this space before, injured players on teams headed for the lottery are more likely to get “season-ending” designations that lead to opportunities for players off the bench to produce.
Also, rookies and young players are getting more and more time for teams leaning into their youth movement. All told, you can set your squad up to succeed during the madness by keeping both eyes on your free agency wire to identify lightly rostered players that can make a difference down the stretch of the fantasy season.
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Javon Small, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (6.8% rostered in ESPN Leagues): Small has proven himself a solid scorer and all-around contributor in his role off the bench, averaging roughly 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes in his last six games off the bench before joining the starting lineup. He has started the last few games with Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward out, and so far his minutes and production have remained similar though he does have more upside.
Brandin Podziemski, SG/PG, Golden State Warriors (45.5%): Podziemski has been playing a larger role with Stephen Curry out, and he has moved into and out of the starting lineup as other players have dealt with injury. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he has been a consistent mid-teens scorer, a borderline dominant rebounder and a solid source of assists, 3-pointers and steals in over 30 minutes per game.
Naji Marshall sinks a mid-range jumper and draws the and-1 for the Mavericks.
Naji Marshall, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (42.0%): Marshall has been the primary scorer for the Mavericks for the last month with Cooper Flagg battling injury along with most of the rest of the frontline. He had four 30-plus point scoring efforts since Jan. 22, and averaged 23.2 PPG in the six games leading up to last Friday. He suffered a finger contusion in that game, and missed Sunday’s game, but if the injury isn’t serious he should be back putting up big numbers again soon.
Julian Champagnie, SF, San Antonio Spurs (12.5%): Champagnie has been a strong source of 3-pointers off the Spurs’ bench all season, but he has particularly picked it up of late with 14 3-pointers over three games last week.
Moussa Diabate, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets (32.7%): Diabate was coming on strong before his fight with Jalen Duren led to a four-game suspension. But he immediately picked up right where he left off and has double-doubles in each of his last two games.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (21.2%): Achiuwa has moved into the starting power forward role for the Kings and is thriving. He has double-digit rebounds in four of his last five games, including two 22+ point, 12-rebound double-doubles.
Micah Potter, C, Indiana Pacers (4.1%): Potter has grown into a role as a sixth man off the bench for the Pacers, notching around 16 points, 6 rebounds and almost three 3-pointers since the game before the All-Star Break.
Wendell Carter Jr., Orlando Magic (23.1%): Carter has been solid as a starter all season for the Magic, but in the last week he has stepped up both his scoring and rebounding to the tune of a 17-point,10-rebound double-double average last week.
André SnellingsMar 2, 2026, 01:22 PM ETCloseDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.Multiple Authors
CloseDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.