yahoo - 12/15/2025 7:08:27 PM - GMT (+2 )
Welcome back to The Playlist — your weekly scan of the fantasy basketball landscape, where we break down waiver adds for 9-cat and standard points leagues to help you stay competitive.
Week 9 offers some time off for every team except for the Spurs and Knicks, who will play in the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday, the results of the NBA Cup championship will not count towards Week 9 scoring.
Three teams play four games (MIA, HOU, TOR), 14 teams play three games and 13 teams play just two games this week. This will be the final odd scheduling week until we reach the All-Star break. Now that's out of the way, let's talk pickups.
You can also read my High Score pickups story for advice in that format.
Huff is building momentum as one of the best shot blockers in the NBA. He leads the league in total blocks and is averaging 2.5 blocks in just 19 minutes per game. As the starting center, he's risen to 2.8 per game, and over his last six outings, he's swatting 3.5 shots a game. His defense alone warrants him being on every roster, yet he's still under 40%.
One thing I'm expecting? Some positive regression on his shooting numbers. He's currently sitting at 42% FG and 56% TS, which are far below his career numbers of at least 50% FG and 65% TS, respectively. Shallow leagues need to take action.
Jaylon Tyson – SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (28% rostered)Tyson is surging in his second season and, like Huff, is somehow still under-rostered. In December, he's averaging an efficient 17.5 points, 9 rebounds, including three double-doubles. His versatility gives him real 9-cat value: strong FG%, rebounds from the wing, low turnovers and just enough stocks to matter.
In points leagues, he's hitting 30-38 FP with regularity thanks to rebounding and efficiency. Tyson should be rostered in all leagues, especially with Evan Mobley becoming the latest victim of the dreaded calf strain.
Tari Eason – SF/PF, Houston Rockets (25% rostered)Eason was upgraded to questionable ahead of Monday's tilt against Denver, indicating he's nearing a return from his oblique injury that sidelined him for 11 games.
He's a target in 9-cat leagues for efficiency, 3s, rebounds and stocks, especially with Houston playing four games this week, offering multiple lineup opportunities. Eason is a key factor of the Rockets' rotation, so getting him back gives Houston another two-way weapon.
🎧 Who's in My Rotation: Deeper leaguesMarcus Smart – PG/SG, Los Angeles Lakers (10% rostered)Since Austin Reaves will miss at least the next week or so with a calf strain, Smart has some short-term appeal in deeper leagues. Smart drew his 10th start of the season on Sunday, finishing with 8 points (2-7 FG, 3-4 FT), 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 3-pointer, 1 steal and 2 blocks in 31 minutes — solid all-around production. The 12-year vet remains a disruptive defender, averaging 1.7 steals per contest. While he can be helpful in any format depending on need, I prefer him in points leagues because efficiency is his primary weakness.
Jamal Shead – PG, Toronto Raptors (6% rostered)Shead has been one of the Raptors' biggest surprises over the past two weeks, producing TJ McConnell-like numbers off the bench: strong assists, low turnovers and steals, but with more 3s.
With Toronto entering a favorable Week 9 schedule (four games, including a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back), Shead profiles as a streaming option in 12+ team 9-cat and points leagues.
Jock Landale – C, Memphis Grizzlies (12% rostered)The Grizzlies will be without Zach Edey (ankle) for at least four weeks, leaving Santi Aldama and Landale to help man the frontcourt. Landale is an add for deeper 9-cat formats, since he's more of a bench depth streamer whose upside can be a low-end double-double.
In 14 games without Edey this year, Landale is averaging 10.5 points with 5.7 rebounds per game. That's not too far off his seasonal numbers, with the primary difference being that he averages three more minutes per game when Edey is not active.
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