Ty Jerome's 45-Point Opener Leads the Week 1 NBA Waiver Wire, With Grayson Allen and Kyshawn George Behind Him

Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points as Memphis beat Utah 123-103 on Wednesday, the biggest individual line of the NBA's first full slate and the clearest waiver-wire signal of opening week. Jerome made 17 of 25 shots, including 5 of 10 from three, and added seven rebounds and six assists in his first game as the Grizzlies' starting point guard. His 45 points broke the franchise record for a season opener, topping the 44 Ja Morant scored against San Antonio in 2020.

Wednesday's 11 games produced several other pickup candidates, from a Charlotte sharpshooter filling in for two injured starters to a Washington wing soaking up usage while the No. 1 pick heals. Here is who to add, who to watch and how long each opportunity is likely to last.

The opening-week pickup board

Ty Jerome is the top add

Jerome's opportunity is structural, not a one-night fluke. Memphis traded Morant to Portland in the offseason, and Jerome stepped into the starting point guard job. His previous career high was 33, set with Cleveland in January 2025, so nobody should expect 45 again. But the role is what fantasy managers are buying: a starting point guard on a team that just won by 20 with him running the offense.

Before the season, at least one Week 1 fantasy projection already had him in the top 50 in value, with assists, threes and free-throw percentage as his best categories. Wednesday supported that profile. If he is still on waivers in your league, he is the first priority. The Grizzlies open a road trip Friday at Golden State, then visit Sacramento on Sunday and Utah on Monday.

There is one note of caution. A 45-point night inflates expectations, and Utah's defense offered little resistance. Managers should add Jerome for the role and the assists, not for the scoring outburst.

Grayson Allen and the Hornets' injury window

Charlotte beat Brooklyn 110-103 without two starters, and Allen was a big reason why. Acquired from Phoenix in the offseason deal that sent Miles Bridges to the Suns, he came off the bench for 21 points on 6 of 9 shooting and made five of the Hornets' 15 threes. Naz Reid added 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his Charlotte debut, and Dennis Schroder, Brandon Miller and Moussa Diabate all scored in double figures.

The opportunity exists because Kon Knueppel (left hamstring strain) and Coby White (left calf strain) are both out, along with Grant Williams. Coach Charles Lee has said there is no timeline for Knueppel or White, although both have resumed individual on-court work and added some contact. One report raised the possibility that they could return Friday against Atlanta or Saturday against Miami, but nothing has been confirmed.

That makes Allen a short-term add with a clear ceiling. He is one of the league's more efficient three-point shooters, and he is a strong pickup in leagues that reward threes for as long as the two guards are out. When they return, his minutes will likely shrink. Diabate, a rebounds-and-efficiency center, is a deeper-league option if Charlotte's frontcourt minutes hold.

Kyshawn George and Jabari Smith Jr.

George scored 18 points in Washington's 128-116 win over Milwaukee, part of an opener in which Anthony Davis scored 34 and six Wizards reached double figures. The usage came with Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick, sidelined by a left ankle sprain that coach Brian Keefe has called mild and day-to-day. Washington plays Friday at home against Toronto and Saturday at Chicago, so George offers two games this weekend. Once Dybantsa returns, George's shots will likely shrink, so he is a streamer rather than a hold.

Smith is a different case. He scored 30 points as Houston routed Dallas 128-110, matching Kevin Durant's 30; the two combined to shoot 21 of 34. Alperen Sengun added 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and the Rockets outscored Dallas 38-12 in the second quarter. Smith is likely already rostered in competitive leagues. If he is not, he is worth a look, but the 30 points came in a game where Houston's offense had everything going, and his role has fluctuated in past seasons. Expect a more modest line most nights.

Deeper-league names: Wagler and the Warriors' bench

Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 pick, played 29 minutes off the bench in a 121-96 win over Sacramento and finished with 15 points on 4 of 8 shooting, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. With Bradley Beal among five Clippers ruled out Wednesday and Max Strus sidelined by a plantar fascia tear, Wagler's minutes look secure. He is the best rookie pickup available in most formats.

Golden State is the situation to monitor. The Warriors said Wednesday that center Kristaps Porzingis will not be around the team in the immediate future, and ESPN reported that the team is exploring trade options while Porzingis weighs his future amid health concerns. Against the Lakers, Brandon Williams scored 14 off the bench, Gui Santos and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 12 apiece and Gary Payton II added 10. None of them is a must-add yet, but if Golden State moves Porzingis or reshuffles its frontcourt, minutes will open up quickly.

Betting angle

The waiver names above are also the players most likely to have mispriced props early in the week. Sportsbooks set early-season lines from limited data, and a 45-point game or a 21-point bench outburst can move a player's numbers sharply. Bettors of legal betting age in your jurisdiction should focus on the role behind the box score rather than the box score itself.

For Jerome, the starting role is real, so a higher points line at Golden State on Friday is defensible, but asking him to repeat Wednesday's shooting is not. For Allen, the key variable is the Hornets' injury report: if Knueppel or White returns, his minutes and props both lose value. For George, everything hinges on Dybantsa's status for Friday's game against Toronto. Late injury news is the edge in all three cases, so check the official reports before lineup lock.

For Verdexed's game-by-game outlook, see the NBA predictions at /nba/predictions.

What's next

Friday's slate is the next test. Memphis plays at Golden State, Charlotte faces Atlanta, Washington hosts Toronto and the Clippers visit the Lakers. Three things to watch: whether Jerome keeps his usage against a Warriors defense that just gave up 127 points, whether Knueppel or White returns for Charlotte and whether Dybantsa makes his debut in Washington.

Add Jerome now. Add Allen and George for the short term, with a plan to drop them when the injured starters return. Keep an eye on the Warriors' frontcourt as the Porzingis situation develops.