Handling the waiver wire is critical to success in fantasy basketball. With so many games, injuries and endless rotations throughout the marathon, we need statistics from free agents to maximize our imaginary rosters.

Being willing to join the race for those last few spots on a fantasy basketball roster could pay off. When curating this fluid group of statistical contributors, it's helpful to consider your bench players' direct competition with free agents.

The goal of this weekly series is to identify widely available players at various positions in ESPN league free agency. Some are experts who can help in one or two categories, while others offer more diverse and important statistical products. In the breakdown below, I've listed the players at each position in the ESPN Men's Basketball League in order of preference rather than roster percentage.

point guard

Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic (10.9% of ESPN league games played): Much like his father, former NBA point guard Greg Anthony, Anthony is also a notoriously inconsistent scorer and is enjoying his warm-up period. The combo guard is able to attack from deep and penetrate the paint at will on an increasingly healthy team. You won't get traditional point guard passing results, but points and steals are still valuable.

Spencer Dinwiddie, shooting guard, Dallas Mavericks (10.8%): While his ceiling isn't as impressive when he plays alongside Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic's absence still provides enough usage overflow to accommodate some impressive production from the combo guard. Impressive fantasy lines. In short, the team needs Dinwiddie's playmaking ability after losing one of the league's true gravitational pulls.

Lonzo Ball, Chicago Bulls (10.8%): There's no denying it's cool to see Ball regain his trust in the team's offense, especially with the heavy minutes he's been playing in recent games. The basketball world wants to know if we'll ever see Ball thrive on the NBA hardwood again, so it'll be worth it. Ball may still be just a collectible in deeper leagues, but it's worth noting that Ball brings atypically good steals, blocks and assist rates to the depth players on the floor.

Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz (1.4%): The Jazz have recently turned to Collier to create offense as the team deals with a series of backcourt injuries. This could just be a stopgap campaign for Collier, but it could also give him future power if a deal is done and he gets more playing time again.

shooting guard

Donte DiVincenzo, point guard, Minnesota Timberwolves (49.5%): The Villanova product is starting to hit at a pace that's reminiscent of his offensive performance with the Knicks last season. His confidence in shooting has returned, as has the dynamic playmaking ability of the second unit. DiVincenzo can help you in any form.

Shaden Sharp, small forward, Portland Trail Blazers (44.5%): That's the thing about players like Sharp who rely on scoring; when they score, it's fun. Note that Sharpe is averaging 19.5 points over the past 10 games. The passing ability even took a leap, adding a dimension to his game that many weren't sure existed.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Detroit Pistons (4.6%): Hardaway is a proven bench scorer who has been in the mix for Sixth Man of the Year in recent seasons with the Mavericks, but he is finding his rhythm as a shooting specialist with Detroit.

small forward

Jaime Jaquez Jr., shooting guard, Miami Heat (43.9%): Jimmy Butler coached Jax last season and even invited the rookie to participate in a television campaign. As Butler's role changes, Jaquez has emerged as a versatile two-way wing player with excellent chance rates. No, he won't offer Butler's unique efficiency and value, but there's reason to believe Jacques is a winning fantasy option going forward.

Peyton Watson, power forward, Denver Nuggets (4.7%): I admit I'm attracted to players who are great at protecting the rim. The reason is that if a small forward or guard, like Derrick White of the Boston Celtics, can sustain the block rates we see with most centers, there's a lot of added value. Watson averaged 2.3 blocks per game over the past week and is averaging 1 block per game this season. With the team needing him as a glue guy, Watson suddenly became a fantasy sleeper.

power forward

Trayce Jackson-Davis, center, Golden State Warriors (47.3%): For a team in need of an inside presence, Jackson-Davis is a force on the defensive glass and has become a part of the Warriors' transformational lineup. You won't see too many stretch shots or exciting rim protection, but Jackson-Davis is still a noteworthy double-double threat.

Tumani Kamara, small forward, Portland Trail Blazers (11.5%): Kamara has a compelling style of play where all the little things he does ultimately lead to positive results. Kamara's scoring isn't high, but his rebounds, steals and blocks are at a satisfactory level for players in deeper leagues.

Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic (1.7%): It's unclear whether his recent surge in playing time is an outlier or a trend, but it's exciting considering Isaac is playing more minutes. He is one of the most special defenders scoring per minute in the league right now and maybe in history. He's tucked away for now, but there's some hope developing.

center

Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks (44.6%): The relentless rim run provides fantasy managers with an interesting two-way center. Lively has shown quality passing skills in recent games, but it's his rebounding numbers and respectable rim protection that have really generated interest.

Donovan Klingen, Portland Trail Blazers (10.3%): Klingam is a real threat shooting the ball, and his recent uptick in exposure illustrates his potential value if the team does part with a high-priced frontcourt player.

special teams

This section focuses on experts and players who excel in a single category and can provide specific value to players in both category and spin formats. Nominations are based on which category these players contributed in and how well they rotated throughout the season.

3 point shot: According to Player Ratings, DiVincenzo ranked sixth and Hardaway ranked seventh in terms of three-point value added over the past week.

Steals: Jaquez ranks fourth among all players in terms of residual value generated from snaps over the past week. Kamala is right behind him.

piece: Only Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama had a higher block value than Watson over the past week. Lively and Isaac also rounded out the top five.

Rebounds: Mason Plumlee can do one thing and get rewarded; Phoenix minor rotation rebounder. Last week, Lively ranked eighth in glass value added.

Assists: Collier showed great passing ability when given the opportunity. Judging from the past week, Dinwiddie's added value ranks in the top ten.