Depth chart movement often determines which waiver wire players actually turn into fantasy-relevant assets, and this week's top adds—Maxime Raynaud, Pat Spencer, and Malik Monk—are perfect examples.
Recent adjustments to NBA depth charts, coupled with short-term NBA injuries, have opened the door for these players to produce well above their typical roles. Those changes directly influence NBA player projections, as Raynaud's rise in Sacramento's frontcourt, Spencer's minutes boost in Golden State, and Monk's expanded role all create actionable value. Whether you consult fantasy basketball projections, track NBA starting lineups, or rely on detailed fantasy basketball articles, these are the type of pickups that can swing a matchup.
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire
Maxime Raynaud, Kings 
After flying under the radar early in the season, Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud has suddenly become one of the hottest waiver adds. Over his past three games, Raynaud has averaged 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block, all in just 26 minutes per contest. More importantly, he's clearly leapfrogged Precious Achiuwa and Drew Eubanks in the rotation.
Sacramento has leaned into Raynaud's strengths by featuring him in short-roll actions, where his soft 8-foot floater has quickly become a go-to scoring weapon. His three-point shot remains a work in progress, but he's shown enough polish around the basket to command real offensive involvement when he's on the floor.
From a fantasy perspective, Raynaud is not yet a universal must-add in standard 12-team formats, as his playing time still fluctuates and the Kings' long-term trust isn't guaranteed. However, with Sacramento playing both today and Monday, he's an ideal short-term streamer. In 16-team formats, he's even more appealing — not only as a streamer but as a speculative stash. If the Kings make moves at the trade deadline or if injuries hit the frontcourt, Raynaud could easily find himself stepping into a larger and more consistent role.
Pat Spencer, Warriors 
The Warriors are shorthanded, and that makes Pat Spencer a sneaky waiver wire gem for managers eyeing immediate value. With Stephen Curry already ruled out and both Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green listed as questionable, Golden State has been forced to rely on Spencer more heavily. The results have been encouraging.
Across his past two games, Spencer has posted 33 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals, showcasing productive all-around play. When he logs 20 or more minutes, he has averaged 14 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and a steal, making him a versatile plug-in for assists, low-end scoring, and across-the-board contributions.
The challenge with Spencer has always been role stability. When the Warriors are healthy, Steve Kerr often keeps him in a smaller role. But when key players sit, Kerr leans on him heavily. That's exactly what makes Spencer a timely streamer right now. Golden State also plays both today and Monday, giving managers a compact two-game boost that can swing weekly matchups.
For 12-team leagues, he's a streaming option tied directly to injury news. In deeper formats, his combination of minutes-driven upside and multi-category contributions makes him worth holding until the Warriors' lineup stabilizes.
Malik Monk, Kings
Another King on today's most-added list, Malik Monk has seen a noticeable bump in opportunity with Dennis Schroder sidelined. Monk has always been a microwave scorer with fantasy-friendly efficiency, but his recent run may be one of his most consistent stretches yet.
Over his past six games, Monk is averaging 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists while shooting 46% from the field, 38% from deep, and 88% at the line. Those splits are not far off his career norms, making the production more sustainable than it may appear. Even more encouraging: Monk has experienced a 5% increase in usage during this stretch, clearly benefiting from the additional ball-handling load without Schroder.
Monk is a clear add in 12-team leagues as long as Schroder remains out, and he should be prioritized as a streamer this weekend given the Kings' schedule advantage. In 16-team leagues, he probably deserves to be fully rostered until Schroder returns — if not longer, depending on how the rotation shakes out.
