The Monday fantasy basketball waiver wire is defined by calculated gambles, forcing managers to analyze the latest NBA injury report. Dominick Barlow, Daniss Jenkins, and Jordan Clarkson are surging, but their value is tied to uncertain NBA injuries and rapidly shifting NBA depth charts.
Each player is a high-risk, high-reward NBA sleeper whose temporary elevation in the NBA starting lineup provides a short window to capture valuable NBA player stats. Use this analysis to execute a precise fantasy basketball draft strategy and capitalize on the constant influx of breaking NBA news and rotation changes.
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3 Most-Added Fantasy Basketball Players Today
Dominick Barlow, 76ers 
The Injury Return: Dominick Barlow opened the season as the 76ers' starting power forward before an elbow injury sidelined him for two weeks. He made his return Friday against the Pistons, initially coming off the bench but earning a promotion to the starting lineup for the second half. The end result: 29 minutes, 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks—solid all-around production.
The Coach's Preference: Head coach Nick Nurse appears to favor Barlow as the team's starting power forward, which is encouraging for fantasy purposes. When a coach shows trust by promoting a player mid-game, it's typically a positive signal about their standing in the rotation.
The Paul George Problem: Here's the first major complication: Paul George will return from injury tonight. That could mean the 76ers' frontcourt rotation changes dramatically, and Barlow's role could evaporate overnight. We're talking about a window of opportunity that might close within days.
The Two-Way Contract Issue: Barlow is on a two-way contract, which strictly limits the amount of time he can spend with the NBA roster. Despite playing well and earning the coach's trust, the team could be forced to send him to the G League purely for contractual reasons.
The Timeline: Barlow might have value through today's game and potentially the Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back, but that's about as far as you should project with any confidence.
Recommendation: Barlow is a fine streaming option for today if you need immediate production, particularly in rebounds and blocks. If you're in a deep league and need to fill games on the Wednesday/Thursday back-to-back, he could help there too. Beyond that, don't get attached. The combination of George's impending return and the two-way contract restrictions makes Barlow one of the most precarious holds in fantasy basketball right now.
Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups to find out starters for every game on the schedule!
Daniss Jenkins, Pistons 
The Preseason Hype: Daniss Jenkins showed promise during the preseason, generating buzz among fantasy managers looking for deep sleeper picks. However, once the regular season started, his role was minimal—until injuries forced the Pistons' hand.
The Opportunity Explosion: With key players sidelined, Jenkins has been thrust into heavy minutes, and he's seized the moment. Over his past three games, he's averaging 20 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2.3 steals in 36.3 minutes per contest. There's a legitimate argument that he's earned a more permanent spot in the rotation.
The Return of the Regulars: Unfortunately for Jenkins' fantasy value, reality is about to come crashing down. Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, and Jalen Duren are all expected to return from injury sooner rather than later—possibly as soon as tonight. When they're back, Jenkins' 36-minute role disappears instantly.
The Schedule Quirk: The Pistons play tonight and Tuesday, then don't have another game until Saturday. This creates a natural decision point for fantasy managers. You can stream Jenkins for the back-to-back, extract two games of value, and reassess before the Saturday contest when Detroit's rotation will likely look completely different.
The Deep League Consideration: If you're in a 14-team or deeper league, Jenkins is worth monitoring even after Cunningham and company return. He's shown enough to potentially carve out a bench role that could have streaming value during future injury situations.
Recommendation: Jenkins is a smart short-term stream for tonight and Tuesday's games. Add him if you need help in points, assists, or steals for this immediate two-game window. The expectation should be that he's a drop before Saturday's game, but deep league managers should track whether he maintains any meaningful role once the Pistons are healthy. Don't be the manager who holds him too long and misses out on the next opportunity.
Stay up to date on who is in and who is out with RotoWire's NBA Injury Report!
Jordan Clarkson, Knicks 
The Duncan Robinson Note: Before diving into Clarkson, a quick aside: Duncan Robinson is technically being added more frequently than Clarkson on Yahoo today, but he's essentially the same situation as Jenkins—stream him for the Pistons' back-to-back and potentially hold in deeper leagues. Now, back to the more interesting case.
The Injury Situation: The Knicks are dealing with a significant backcourt crisis. Jalen Brunson is out again Monday due to a sprained ankle and could potentially miss the entire upcoming road trip. That's a major blow to New York's offensive engine. Adding to the problem, OG Anunoby has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Immediate Production: In the Knicks' most recent game, Clarkson jumped into the void and delivered: 33 minutes, 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. It was exactly the type of scoring punch that New York desperately needed with other creators sidelined.
The Competition for Minutes: Clarkson isn't the only player benefiting from the injuries. Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Josh Hart all saw significant workload increases as well. The Knicks are spreading the additional minutes and usage around rather than channeling everything through one player.
The Clarkson Edge: What separates Clarkson from the other beneficiaries is his scoring punch. He's the most potent offensive weapon among the group of fill-in players. When the Knicks need buckets, Clarkson is the most likely candidate to deliver them in volume.
The Timeline Question: Brunson's ankle injury timeline is the key variable here. If he misses the entire road trip as suggested, Clarkson has a multi-game window of fantasy relevance. If Brunson returns sooner, the opportunity slams shut. Anunoby's two-week absence provides a more stable timeline, but his offensive role is less directly competitive with Clarkson's.
The Category Fit: Clarkson is essentially a pure scoring play. If your fantasy team needs points and you can stomach mediocre percentages and minimal defensive stats, he's a strong fit. If you're trying to win assists, rebounds, or stocks (steals plus blocks), look elsewhere.
Recommendation: Clarkson is a strong speculative add for the short term, particularly for teams desperate for scoring. The potential multi-game window if Brunson misses the road trip makes him more than just a one-night stream. Add him with the understanding that his value is entirely dependent on the injury situation, and be ready to cut bait the moment Brunson is cleared to return. Monitor injury reports obsessively—Clarkson's roster value lives and dies by the health of the Knicks' backcourt.
Find out who to target the rest of the way with RotoWire's NBA Projections!
