Fantasy basketball: Which "silly season" stars should you add?

It’s that time on the fantasy basketball calendar known as “silly season,” when many of the struggling teams around the NBA are giving their younger, less-known players more opportunity as they look to build towards next season.

And with so many big-name players missing games in 2025-26, and less reliable fantasy options than any season in recent memory, identifying some “silly season” stars to boost your lineup in the fantasy playoffs can be your ticket to winning your league.

So who are the players to add before other managers beat you to it?

Here are Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander with the “silly season” stars they like most the rest of the way.

Ace Bailey, SF/PF, Utah Jazz (rostered in 33.0% of ESPN leagues): The Jazz have already leaned into the silly season, drawing a fine from the NBA for sitting their best players during the fourth quarter of a close game before the All-Star Break. They did the same thing earlier this week, sitting Keyonte George in the fourth quarter with an illness after he scored 15 points in the first three quarters. But the Jazz drafted Bailey to be a star of the future, and as they’ve shut down their veteran stars they have leaned into giving him the green light. He has averaged more than 15 FGA in his last 13 games, and if anything I expect that number to increase further as they funnel him the ball down the stretch. — Snellings

Ace Bailey with the massive block at the rim

Ace Bailey with the massive block at the rim

Tre Johnson, SG, Washington Wizards (4.8% rostered) The Wizards seemed ready to lean into the rebuild when they shut down newly traded for Anthony Davis, but in the last week they surprisingly re-activated Trae Young and Alex Sarr and got them back into the lineup. I would be shocked if they continue to play Young, in particular, for the rest of the season. I expect they’ll be leaning back into their youth movement before the month is out. Meanwhile, lottery rookie Johnson was getting more than 31 MPG and more than 14 FGA in the eight games from Jan. 11 until he sprained his ankle on Jan. 29. His minutes and shots have been controlled but inching up since his return, and in his last three games he has averaged 17.3 PPG and 4.0 3PG in 21.7 MPG. I fully expect his minutes to rise back into the 30s and his scoring average up into the 20s before the season ends. — Snellings

Kyle Filipowski, PF, Utah Jazz (46.7% rostered): The Jazz are on a collision course toward the lottery, and Filipowski has emerged as part of their future while taking advantage of injuries in the frontcourt. He has scored at least 43 fantasy points in four of his last five games and should continue to see steady minutes as the team focuses on his development. Rostered in 45.6% of leagues, he is someone fantasy managers can trust in their lineups. — Moody

Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (37.0% rostered): Achiuwa has taken on a prominent role in the Kings’ rotation due to injuries in the frontcourt. Like the Jazz, the Kings are headed toward the lottery and are unlikely to rush players back, which bodes well for Achiuwa from a fantasy perspective. He has averaged 36.2 fantasy points and 32.6 minutes per game over the last eight games. Achiuwa is rostered in 39.9% of leagues and is a must-add player for the fantasy playoffs. — Moody

Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings (32.9% rostered): Someone must play for the Kings, and Raynaud, the rookie selected in the second round from Stanford via France, has averaged 15.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG and shot 59.4% from the field since the beginning of February, enjoying big minutes and regular double-doubles. He is a top-10 center in that span! The terrible Kings may not win much, but Raynaud can certainly aid fantasy managers in their playoffs. — Karabell

Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns (60.6% rostered): It is hard to believe that Gillespie, among the top 50 ESPN points league scorers in fantasy for the entire season, remains available in nearly 40% of standard leagues. What else does the Villanova product need to do? Gillespie has been a Phoenix starter since Thanksgiving. The Suns are bound for the playoffs and Gillespie, averaging 14.4 PPG, 4.8 APG and 30.2 MPG as a starter, is a big reason why. — Karabell

GG Jackson, PF, Memphis Grizzlies (19.0% rostered): The Grizzlies are banged up and have given up on the season, meaning there are several tank commanders in Memphis. My favorite one is Jackson, who is only rostered in 22% of ESPN leagues. He’s a fine source of points and he tends to do a little bit of everything. Add in the fact that the Grizzlies play four games per week from now until the season ends, and he’s the perfect addition to any team. — Alexander

GG Jackson posterizes defender

Grizzlies’ GG Jackson skies for a huge jam over Ochai Agbaji.

Derrick Jones Jr., SF, LA Clippers (10.1% rostered): Sticking with teams that are undeniably trying to win in the final weeks, the Clippers have clawed their way back into the play-in mix after a disastrous start to the campaign. Jones is and always has been a role player, but he brings a level of production certainty that is unique among players this widely available. Beyond his value as a lob threat, Jones is one of the Clippers’ top rim protectors, averaging a center-like 1.4 blocks per 36 minutes this season. His defensive rates have surged since the deadline; he’s up to 2.8 blocks plus steals over the past week and has at least two blocks in four of his past 10 starts. — McCormick

Tristan da Silva, SF, Orlando Magic (15.7% rostered): The Magic play four times in each of the last four weeks and Franz Wagner is iffy with a high left ankle sprain for all of their remaining games. While da Silva isn’t a star player and likely won’t single-handedly win you your league, he’s going to get a ton of run and be a contributor. He’s averaging 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.2 3-pointers over his last five games and is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. — Alexander

While many teams with widely available players are looking to secure or improve lottery odds in these final weeks of the season, the Magic are chasing the Southeast Division crown. Da Silva serves as a floor-stretcher for a team in dire need of spacing. His sticky hands on defense also show up in box scores. A spike in passing production as a connector in recent weeks gives him Toumani Camara (spring 2025 edition) vibes down the stretch. — McCormick

Tristan da Silva gets the hoop and the harm

Tristan da Silva gets the hoop and the harm