For the first time this season, injuries aren’t the focus of this week’s Waiver Wire column. Instead, I’ll highlight rookies who are hitting their stride and bench options with standalone value.

Brayden Burries and Kingston Flemings joined the starting five for their respective teams over the last week, and both players are making the most of their opportunities.

Morez Johnson Jr. and Bennett Stirtz are rookies making an impact off the bench, and Jamal Shead and Cam Spencer are efficient facilitators who are just one injury away from a starting role and tremendous fantasy value.

Klay Thompson has turned back the clock, and I’m rounding out my Top 12 with he and another sharpshooter, Grayson Allen.

Here are my top Waiver Wire adds for Week 4.

Priority Adds

1. Brayden Burries
2. Kingston Flemings
3. Nolan Traore
4. Klay Thompson
5. Aaron Wiggins
6. Jamal Shead
7. Morez Johnson, Jr.
8. Jaxson Hayes
9. Jared McCain
10. Grayson Allen
11. Cam Spencer
12. Bennett Stirtz

Others to consider: Cameron Johnson (24%), Karlo Matkovic (22%), Daniss Jenkins (14%), Meleek Thomas (7%), Danny Wolf (7%), Walter Clayton Jr. (4%), Kevin Huerter (4%), Leaky Black (3%).

Nolan Traore, Brooklyn Nets (39 percent rostered)

Traore just makes the cut this week, and his roster percentage will likely exclude him from the Week 5 Waiver Wire column.

Traore has started seven straight games. He’s scored at least 14 points in five straight, averaging 16.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.0 steals and 3.0 triples across 25 minutes. The absence of Egor Demin has contributed to Traore’s expanded role, but even after Demin returns, Traore could see meaningful minutes in Brooklyn’s still-changing rotation.

Klay Thompson, Miami Heat (36 percent rostered)

The veteran started his Heat tenure slowly, but he’s been red hot as of late, and fantasy managers should take notice.

Across his last five outings, the veteran sharpshooter has posted 21.6 points and 5.6 triples to go with 1.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a block. He’s stepped up as a go-to scoring option for the new-look Heat and even canned a game-winner in a comeback victory over the Clippers.

Aaron Wiggins, Atlanta Hawks (34 percent rostered)

Wiggins is a Top-100 player this season, but he’s still available in 66% of Yahoo! leagues. In his first season with Atlanta, he’s logging career highs in points (14.9), assists (2.4), steals (1.0), triples (2.9) and minutes (26.1).

Over his last three, Wiggins has been even better with 18.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 treys. Along with CJ McCollum, Wiggins is providing a punch for Atlanta’s second unit, and the latter ranks fourth in bench scoring.

Brayden Burries, Milwaukee Bucks (34 percent rostered)

The Arizona product has started four straight games, averaging 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.8 triples and 0.8 “stocks” along the way.

Buries’ minutes are encouraging at 28.8 per tilt, and his role and playing time are unlikely to change moving forward. The rebuilding Bucks have just one win to their names this season, and they’re focused on the future rather than the 2026-27 campaign. Burries is trending up, and this will be the last time he’ll be available in less than 40% of leagues. To put the cherry on top of this add, Milwaukee has a four-game week on tap.

Grayson Allen, Charlotte Hornets (33 percent rostered)

Allen has been a spark for Charlotte off the bench all season, but he stunk it up in his first start on Friday, posting a donut in the scoring column.

The recent dud gives fantasy managers a chance to pick up Allen without fierce competition on the waiver wire. Kon Knueppel has been injured for most of the season, and Dennis Schroder and Brandon Miller are banged up. Those injuries open the door for Allen to continue seeing big minutes for a struggling Hornets squad.

Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks (24 percent rostered)

The Michigan product was the first selection of the Dusty May era, and the big man has found his groove in recent contests.

Johnson Jr. has logged 26 rebounds across 43 minutes over his last two games, adding 17 points, a steal and a block. He’s unlikely to offer much in the way of points right now, but he’s an effective rebounder who can become a quality scorer with additional playing time. Fantasy managers in need of rebounds and looking for upside can grab MJJ now while he’s still available in three-quarters of Yahoo! leagues.

Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks (21 percent rostered)

The numbers haven’t been extraordinary, but Flemings has started three straight games with CJ McCollum coming off the bench. The move was reportedly McCollum’s idea, so it’s possible the rookie sticks with the first unit indefinitely.

In his three starts, the Houston product has averaged 11.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.7 blocks and 1.0 triple across 25 minutes, and Atlanta has won all three contests. Flemings ranked outside the Top 125 over the last week, but this move is about pouncing on upside early before he breaks out and gets scooped up off your waiver wire.

Jaxson Hayes, Utah Jazz (19 percent rostered)

Hayes is far from exciting, and his ceiling is fairly limited. If you’re looking for a thrilling, high-upside add, you’ve come to the wrong place. If, however, you’re targeting a particular skillset from a player forced into meaningful minutes, let me introduce you to Hayes.

The big man has averaged 7.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.1 “stocks” over 26.2 minutes across his last six games while shooting 53.3% from the floor and 87.5% from the charity stripe.

Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies (16 percent rostered)

Spencer is breakout sensation Ty Jerome’s backup, but the former is producing enough off the bench to be a viable option in standard formats. Through nine games, the UConn product is averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 triples in just over 19 minutes per tilt.

In his lone start, Spencer piled up 10 points, five rebounds and 13 dimes, showing what he can do in a featured role and offering lottery-ticket appeal to managers who pick him up.

Max Strus, Los Angeles Clippers (16 percent rostered)

Since making his season debut, Strus has averaged 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 triples across only 22 minutes per tilt. His playing time will surely ramp up as the season goes on, and Strus should see meaningful run even after Brandon Ingram and/or Bradley Beal return thanks to his floor-spacing abilities. He’s a worthwhile add while his minutes and counting stats are still relatively muted.

Jamal Shead, Toronto Raptors (12 percent rostered)

Shead got the starting nod and dished a career-best 16 assists in Friday’s win over Milwaukee, but I’m not chasing that game here. Throughout his career, Shead has been an excellent facilitator on a per-minute basis, averaging 8.9 assists per 36 minutes. He’s also been a reliable source of steals, with 1.4 per game on the season.

Toronto’s backup PG is averaging 6.6 assists across only 23 minutes per game, and prior to his 16-assist performance, he handed out 5+ assists in seven of eight games. Shead has standalone value off the bench, but his recent spot start highlights his upside when Immanuel Quickley and/or Scottie Barnes are sidelined.

Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder (4 percent rostered)Jared McCain, Oklahoma City Thunder (39 percent rostered)

The rookie sharpshooter out of Iowa has been thrust into a meaningful rotation role for the Thunder right out of the gate, and he’s starting to hit his stride.

Over his last three games, Stirtz has averaged 13.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.7 triples across 25 minutes.

McCain has been solid as of late, with averages of 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.5 steals, 1.0 block and 2.5 triples across his last two games. McCain is the better add right now, but if he’s already taken in your league, Stirtz is a fine consolation add.