### The Final Stretch: Who to Trust, Who to Cut, and Who's Playing for Next Year
Alright, so we're staring down the barrel of the fantasy playoffs. Some of you are in, some of you are fighting for your lives, and some of you are just trying to avoid last place and the dreaded league punishment. No matter where you stand, this isn't the time to get cute. This is the time to optimize every single roster spot, especially with teams either resting guys or playing some weird rotations.
**Waiver Wire Wonders (Or Lack Thereof)**
Let's be real, at this point in late March 2026, the waiver wire is probably picked clean in most competitive leagues. You're not finding a Nikola Jokic out there. But there are always a few guys who get a late-season bump, usually tied to injuries or a team just mailing it in.
**Aaron Nesmith (SF/PF, Indiana Pacers)**: Nesmith has been on a tear. Over the last two weeks, he's averaging 16 points, 4 boards, and nearly 2 threes a game. With Tyrese Haliburton still battling that nagging knee soreness and Bennedict Mathurin inconsistent, Nesmith's getting serious run. He played 34 minutes against the Knicks on March 27th, dropping 22 points. If he's somehow available in your league, grab him. He's a legitimate source of threes and decent scoring.
**Duane Washington Jr. (PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers)**: Here's my slightly controversial take: Washington is a legitimate end-of-roster add. Portland is a mess. Scoot Henderson has been shut down for the season, and Anfernee Simons is on a minutes restriction. Washington has scored 20+ points in three of his last five games, including a 28-point outburst against the Jazz on March 25th. He's a volume shooter, sure, but volume often translates to fantasy points when nobody else is playing. He won't give you much outside of scoring and threes, but if you're desperate for points, he's your guy. Just prepare for some awful shooting percentages.
**Jalen Johnson (SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks)**: Is he still available in your league? Probably not, but I have to mention him. De'Andre Hunter is out for the season, and Johnson has completely seized that starting forward spot. He's been averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and over a block and a steal since the All-Star break. He's a legitimate multi-category threat, and he's showing why the Hawks invested in him. If you're in a shallower league, or someone rage-dropped him, go get him. He's a top-50 guy moving forward.
**Start 'Em If You Got 'Em (Or Sit 'Em If You Don't)**
This is where schedule and team motivation become huge. You need to identify who's playing hard and who's already on vacation.
**START: Miles Bridges (SF/PF, Charlotte Hornets)**. Charlotte is playing for absolutely nothing, which usually means good things for fantasy stats. Bridges is averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists over his last 10 games, and the Hornets are just letting him eat. He had 34 points and 11 rebounds against the Pistons on March 28th. Don't overthink it. Ride him to the finish line.
**SIT: Victor Wembanyama (PF/C, San Antonio Spurs)**. This might sting, but hear me out. The Spurs are already talking about "managing his workload" for the final two weeks of the season. He sat out the back-to-back on March 26th and 27th, and coach Popovich indicated they're prioritizing his long-term health. You can't afford a DNP-rest in the fantasy playoffs. He's still a generational talent, but your season is more important than his long-term health right now. It sucks, but you might need to bench him for a more reliable option.
**START: Jarrett Allen (C, Cleveland Cavaliers)**. Evan Mobley is still recovering from that ankle sprain, and Allen has been an absolute beast without him. He's put up 17 points, 12 boards, and 2 blocks over his last eight games. The Cavs are fighting for playoff positioning, so they're not resting anyone. Allen's minutes are secure, and his production is elite for a center. He had a 20-point, 15-rebound game against the Hawks on March 29th.
**SIT: Anyone on the Toronto Raptors**. Seriously. Scottie Barnes has been out for weeks, RJ Barrett is banged up, and Jakob Poeltl is playing limited minutes. They're actively trying to lose games for draft positioning. Unless you're talking about Immanuel Quickley, who's still getting shots up, everyone else is a huge risk for rest, injury, or just plain poor performance. Gradey Dick has had a couple of good games, but he's too inconsistent to trust in the playoffs.
**Trade Targets (The Last-Ditch Effort)**
At this stage, you're not making blockbuster trades. You're looking for guys whose value might be depressed because of recent struggles, or players on teams with nothing to play for who are getting inflated stats.
**BUY LOW: Jaren Jackson Jr. (PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies)**. His blocks have been down a bit lately, and he's been battling foul trouble. But the Grizzlies are still without Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart, which means JJJ is the primary scorer and defender. He's still averaging 2 blocks per game on the season, and the points are always there. If an owner is panicking because of a couple of down games, go get him. He's still a top-tier shot blocker, and he put up 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks against the Bucks on March 29th.
**SELL HIGH: Anyone on the Oklahoma City Thunder (not named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)**. The Thunder are pushing for the top seed, but they're also deep. Guys like Lu Dort, Josh Giddey, and even Chet Holmgren could see their usage fluctuate down the stretch. Holmgren has been phenomenal, but he's a rookie, and the Thunder might prioritize rest, or try different lineups. If you can get a more consistent, less volatile asset for one of your Thunder guys, especially if they just had a huge game, do it.
**BUY LOW: Keldon Johnson (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs)**. With Wemby's minutes potentially being managed, and Devin Vassell in and out of the lineup, Keldon is getting all the shots he can handle. He's averaging 19 points and 6 rebounds over his last five games. He's not efficient, but he's getting volume. The Spurs have absolutely no incentive to win, so they'll let him chuck. If an owner is fed up with his streaky shooting, make an offer.
**Final Thought**
Don't panic. Stick to your strengths, play the waiver wire smart, and don't be afraid to make a tough decision on a big-name player if their team is clearly shutting them down. Every single category matters now.
**Bold Prediction:** Aaron Nesmith will be a top-75 player in category leagues for the final two weeks of the regular season, proving to be the waiver wire steal of the fantasy playoffs.