Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama look like the top two picks in fantasy basketball regardless of formats.
The NBA season is less than two months away, meaning fantasy basketball prep is here! If you’re looking for an edge this season, RotoWire has you covered with their early top 150 rankings. Read on to see the rankings, plus analysis for each player. Rankings for points leagues, categories and High Score formats will be available as we get closer to drafts.
- Nikola Jokić, DEN — Jokić is the safest No. 1 pick in fantasy basketball regardless of league format. His combination of stat sheet stuffing, health and consistent team environment is impossible to match.
- Victor Wembanyama, SAS — Wembanyama is unquestionably in contention for the No. 1 fantasy player, though more so in category leagues where the boost he gives in blocks provides a significant single-category advantage.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC — Generally considered the clear No. 3 pick in category leagues, SGA can slip a bit farther down the board in points leagues and High Score leagues due to his game being tilted toward efficiency rather than gaudy numbers.
- Luka Dončić, LAL — With LeBron James moving on to the 76ers, Dončić’s already sky-high usage rate and MVP-caliber production could increase.
- Cade Cunningham, DET — Cunningham has established himself as a clear first-round talent. Given his age (24) and possibility of further development, plus a similar team environment, he’s generally drafted before the middle of the round.
- Jayson Tatum, BOS — After returning from an Achilles tear toward the end of last season, there’s confidence that Tatum will be back to full strength in 2026-27. The deck has shuffled a bit around him with Jaylen Brown being traded for Paul George, but that only serves to affirm Tatum as Boston’s clear No. 1 option.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIA — Moving on to the Heat after spending his career with the Bucks, not much is expected to functionally change in fantasy for Antetokounmpo. Category-league players have to navigate his lack of threes and poor free-throw percentage, but that isn’t a concern in points leagues or High Score formats.
- Jalen Johnson, ATL — Johnson established himself as Atlanta’s franchise player last year amid Trae Young’s injury troubles and subsequent trade. That doesn’t change this season for the young stat-stuffer.
- Anthony Edwards, MIN — The Timberwolves sent out Naz Reid and Julius Randle, getting LaMelo Ball in return. There could be growing pains in the new high-usage backcourt, but Edwards should remain a first-round player.
- Tyrese Maxey, PHI — Based on last season’s production, Maxey should be drafted sooner than this. But with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James entering the fold, fewer touches will presumably be available, and a decrease in minutes to save Maxey for the playoffs could be in store too.
- Tyrese Haliburton, IND — Unquestionably a first-round talent, it might be difficult for some managers to draft him this early coming off an Achilles tear. But there’s no question the team environment is set up for him to succeed as much as ever.
- Cooper Flagg, DAL — After an easy-to-forget slow start to his rookie campaign, Flagg ended on what felt like a months-long heater. MVP-caliber production doesn’t feel far off as he enters his sophomore season.
- Scottie Barnes, TOR — Barnes is one of the most versatile two-way players in the league and continues to develop his game. Replacing Brandon Ingram for Kawhi Leonard means there could be slightly less usage for Barnes, but he’s capable of making up for it with rebounding and defense.
- Donovan Mitchell, CLE — Mitchell is one of the steadiest sources of All-Star-level guard production you’ll find. He remains the Cavaliers’ primary scoring option as James Harden takes on much of the playmaking and passing duties.
- Kevin Durant, HOU — Much like Steph Curry, Durant is still capable of better production than this draft slot, but age (37) means higher risk of injury and rest days.
- Stephen Curry, GSW — Curry can unquestionably put up mid-first-round numbers, but age (38) and injury risk are enough of a concern to bump him down near the turn.
- Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK — If you miss out on Nikola Jokić or Victor Wembanyama, Towns represents the start of the next tier of fantasy basketball centers. His all-around efficiency and shooting ability make him especially valuable in category formats.
- Trae Young, WAS — It was a lost 2025-26 season for Young, who was bothered by injuries before being dealt to the Wizards and seeing minimal action with his new team. The ball should be in his hands plenty this year in Washington.
- Alperen Sengun, HOU — Sengun is one of the few rare triple-double threats from the center position, like Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis. Sengun is coming off a career-high in assists, blocks and threes.
- Austin Reaves, LAL — Much like Luka Dončić, Reaves should be in store for increased usage now that LeBron James has moved on to Philadelphia. It’s possible that results in decreased efficiency, but that’s not as much of a concern in points and High Score formats.
- James Harden, CLE — Harden’s usage took a step back in Cleveland following his trade from the Clippers, but he remains one of the league’s premier 20-and-10 threats. He’s most valuable in High Score leagues, which boost assist value and don’t count turnovers.
- Chet Holmgren, OKC — Holmgren’s mix of threes and blocks is rare from the center position, making him valuable in category leagues. Managers in points leagues can wait longer on him.
- LaMelo Ball, MIN — After spending the first six years of his career with the Hornets, Ball was traded to the Timberwolves in the offseason and will start in the backcourt alongside Anthony Edwards. Minutes and games played hang over Ball’s fantasy value, but he has upside to beat this draft slot.
- Amen Thompson, HOU — Coming off a breakout season, the only real hole in Thompson’s game is his shooting, with subpar percentages from deep and the charity stripe. But in points leagues and High Score formats, his box-score stuffing on both sides of the ball is what matters.
- Josh Giddey, CHI — Though injuries limited him to 54 games, Giddey is coming off a career year, setting highs nearly across the board. Chicago added more firepower around Giddey, but he remains the team’s go-to playmaker and triple-double threat, making him immensely valuable in High Score leagues.
- Jamal Murray, DEN — Murray is coming off the best regular season of his career, partially boosted by teammates missing significant chunks of time, namely Nikola Jokić . While it’s easy to project better health for the team, the offense still runs through Murray and Jokić, giving the guard an extremely high floor.
- Anthony Davis, WAS — Davis’ first full season in Dallas last year wasn’t quite that, as he played in just 20 games. A midseason trade to the Wizards put him yet again in a new situation. What stays the same is his potential to put up first-round numbers, with health concerns dropping him down the rankings.
- Devin Booker, PHX — Some nagging injuries and an inconsistent shot led to Booker having a down year. But amid the Suns’ retooling, he remains the lead playmaker and franchise player.
- Trey Murphy III, NOP — Murphy took small steps forward last year but continued to cement himself as an efficient 20-point scorer and two-way threat. There will be more competition for usage this year with Dejounte Murray healthy, but Murphy’s role isn’t at major risk of decline.
- Evan Mobley, CLE — Mobley struggled with his shot last season but remained the team’s third offensive option and one of the best frontcourt defenders in the NBA. Neither of those things are expected to change in 2026-27.
- Jalen Brunson, NYK — Fresh off a Finals MVP, things are projected to stay the same for Brunson and the Knicks given minimal roster turnover this summer. Brunson will lead the charge as the No. 1 option.
- Domantas Sabonis, SAC — Sabonis is coming off a lost season due to injury, limiting his minutes and games played. But with high-usage players like Russell Westbrook (retired) and DeMar DeRozan (with the Nuggets) gone, Sabonis could reassert himself as a bigger usage hub than over the past two seasons.
- Lauri Markkanen, UTA — After spending years near the bottom of the standings, the Jazz are in win-now mode fueled by additions of Jaren Jackson Jr. and rookie Darryn Peterson, plus the breakout of Keyonte George. While that could mean more availability for Markkanen, it could come with a decrease in shot opportunities with better teammates.
- Kawhi Leonard, LAC— Leonard was mostly healthy last season and ended up being one of the best players in fantasy. However, games played remain a concern as he ages. The Raptors have enough offensive weapons to let him take his foot off the gas here and there if his expected trade to Toronto goes through.
- Bam Adebayo, MIA — It will be a new environment for Adebayo, who now has to share the frontcourt with Giannis Antetokounmpo. That could mean an altered playstyle – namely a potential for fewer rebounds and more three-point attempts.
- Deni Avdija, POR — Avdija is coming off his first All-Star appearance in what was a breakout 2025-26 campaign. However, the offense is bound to change due to the additions of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard, giving Avdija more downside risk in fantasy.
- Jalen Williams, OKC — It was close to a lost season for Williams, who got a slow start to the campaign recovering from wrist surgery, then dealt with a persistent hamstring issue.
- Brandon Miller, CHA — Continued to quietly take steps forward in his third season following an injury recovery at the beginning of the year. With LaMelo Ball now in Minnesota, there’s upside for Miller to take on the role as Charlotte’s franchise player.
- Walker Kessler, LAL — Shoulder surgery limited Kessler to five games last season, but it looked like he was on the verge of a breakout with the Jazz. Now on the Lakers, there will be more competition for usage, but he should get the easiest looks of his life off passes from Luka Dončić.
- Derrick White, BOS — White was asked to do more for Boston last season while Jayson Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles. He struggled with his efficiency but delivered a well-rounded two-way stat profile – notably an excellent steals and blocks combination for a guard. He’ll probably be asked to do less this season with Tatum healthy and Paul George in town but remains a key contributor on both sides of the ball.
- Jaren Jackson Jr., UTA — It was an up-and-down 2025-26 with the Grizzlies for Jackson before he was dealt to the Jazz and saw limited action. However, it’s full speed ahead for Utah this season, and Jackson will be a major part of it.
- Kon Knueppel, CHA — Similarly to Brandon Miller, Knueppel is expected to take on more responsibility for the Hornets following the trade of LaMelo Ball. That, in addition to presumed improvement in his second season, means the wing is sought after as an upside play in all fantasy formats.
- Jaylen Brown, PHI — Not many players are entering a more vastly different situation than Brown. He’s going from being the clear No. 1 option on the Celtics and an MVP candidate to part of one of the most potent starting fives in the NBA. Expect a downturn in usage, but a potential boost in efficiency.
- Jalen Duren, DET — Duren is coming off his first All-Star appearance but struggled in the postseason. Despite that, the Pistons didn’t make major moves to take away from his role heading into 2026-27.
- Keyonte George, UTA — Would have arguably been the Most Improved Player favorite if he appeared in enough games to qualify – putting up All-Star-caliber numbers. However, with Darryn Peterson joining the team and Jaren Jackson ready for his first full season in Utah, the competition for touches brings some downside risk to George.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker, ATL — Winner of last season’s Most Improved Player, Alexander-Walker asserted himself as one of the better 3-and-D players in the NBA. His role is expected to remain similar in 2026-27.
- Darius Garland, LAC — Garland battled injuries with the Cavaliers and then was traded to the Clippers last season. He’s in an improved situation this year as a clear top two option on his team.
- Kyrie Irving, DAL — Following an ACL tear, Irving did not take the floor last season. But he’s ready to go this year, pairing up with 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. Irving is a great fantasy player in all formats, but really thrives in category leagues, where his efficiency and lack of turnovers boost his value.
- Paolo Banchero, ORL — Banchero is a prime example of a player who should be drafted significantly sooner in High Score formats and points leagues due to his stat-stuffing ability. Category league managers need to work around his percentages, low-volume threes and lack of steals and blocks.
- Desmond Bane, ORL — Bane fought through some early-season struggles with his new team to catch fire mid-season and keep up the strong production throughout the campaign. He should remain the team’s third option behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
- Onyeka Okongwu, ATL — Okongwu truly asserted himself as Atlanta’s starting center last season and notably expanded his range behind the 3-point line.
- LeBron James, PHI — In a borderline shocking decision, James joined the 76ers this summer, helping form a formidable starting five. Given the situation and his age, James could be entering a new phase of his career in terms of fewer minutes and less usage.
- Donovan Clingan, POR — Clingan took a significant sophomore leap, notably seeing a bump to 27.2 minutes per game and averaging a double-double. He also improved his free-throw percentage and extended his range out to the three-point line.
- Tyler Herro, MIL — After spending the first seven years of his career with the Heat, Herro was traded to the Bucks as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. In Milwaukee, he’s expected to be the team’s lead playmaker and has more upside than ever before.
- Matas Buzelis, CHI — Buzelis led all Bulls players not named Josh Giddey in almost every major total counting stat as a second-year forward playing just less than 30 minutes per game. If more minutes are on the way in addition to development, another leap is possible.
- Dyson Daniels, ATL — Daniels didn’t produce the elite steals he did two years ago, and his 3-pointer failed him, but a bounceback season could be in store. His role feels safe regardless as a passer and defender for Atlanta.
- Franz Wagner, ORL — Injuries have hampered Wagner’s past two seasons, but he did get back on the right track with his 3-point percentage in 2025-26. He should remain Orlando’s No. 2 option behind Paolo Banchero.
- Pascal Siakam, IND — The return of Tyrese Haliburton from an Achilles tear means less usage for Siakam, but he should be able to counteract that with better efficiency.
- Cameron Boozer, MEM — Boozer is arguably in the best position of any rookie to be his team’s leading playmaker. Minutes and opportunity go a long way to counteract typical rookie growing pains.
- OG Anunoby, NYK — Like the other members of New York’s starting five, not much is changing following the title run. Anunoby remains a great mid-round pick in fantasy, especially for those in category leagues looking for 3-and-D stats.
- Joel Embiid, PHI — Health remains the key issue for Embiid. This season, there’s less pressure on him than ever to deliver in the regular season due to Philly’s major summer additions. That could mean less usage and fewer minutes, creating some downside risk outside of just games played.
- Dejounte Murray, NOP — After missing most of last season due to Achilles tear recovery, Murray is expected to get back to his 30-plus minutes and see a sizable role in the offense. Not only that, but he’s a great source of steals as well.
- Ryan Rollins, MIL — Rollins broke out with the Bucks last season while Giannis Antetokounmpo dealt with injury. Though Tyler Herro is now in town, Rollins should maintain a sizable role in the backcourt.
- Julius Randle, BKN — Randle’s fantasy production was steady in Minnesota as the second option behind Anthony Edwards. Now he heads to Brooklyn, where it seems likely he’ll lead the team in combined points and assists. That makes him a prime target in points leagues and High Score formats.
- Michael Porter Jr., BKN — The addition of Julius Randle likely means fewer shot attempts for Porter, but there’s still a chance he leads the team in scoring, and will almost certainly lead the team in made 3s.
- Kel’el Ware, MIL — Ware’s role often fluctuated during his first two years in Miami, but there’s an expectation his minutes will increase for a Milwaukee team in the midst of a rebuild. Managers in category leagues can view him as a high-upside player given his rare combination of rebounds, field-goal percentage, blocks and 3s.
- Alex Sarr, WAS — Team context has shifted drastically around Sarr, who now is playing alongside Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa. However, Sarr is still expected to start and has shown intriguing upside as a two-way big man.
- Stephon Castle, SAS — Castle broke out as a sophomore last season, taking a leading role for San Antonio and stuffing the stat sheet. His shooting efficiency and turnovers are points of development, though, so he remains a better option in High Score formats.
- Zach Edey, MEM — A foot injury caused Edey to miss almost all of last season, but he was an ironman in college, so it’s too early to sound the alarms. He’s already proven to be a great source of big-man stats on a per-minute basis – the question now is if he can approach 30 minutes per game.
- Ivica Zubac, IND — Zubac had a down season while dealing with injuries, also being dealt to the Pacers at the deadline. He opens the season with his new squad, led by the return of Tyrese Haliburton, and will be in position to get back to his full potential.
- De’Aaron Fox, SAS — The emergence of Stephon Castle in the regular season and Dylan Harper in the playoffs cut Fox’s expected usage relative to expectations coming into last year. Those two young players should continue to develop, but there’s also a good chance Fox has a comeback season.
- Naz Reid, CHA — Reid established himself as one of the league’s best sixth men with the Timberwolves, but now is in line to become the starting power forward for the Hornets.
- Mikal Bridges, NYK — Bridges took a step back last season but holds value as the healthiest player in the NBA. Not much is expected to change for him coming off a title with the Knicks.
- Ja Morant, POR — Repeated absences led to the Grizzlies moving on from Morant, trading him to the Trail Blazers. He joins a new crowded environment, having to share offensive responsibilities with Deni Avdija and Damian Lillard, not to mention Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson.
- Jaden McDaniels, MIN — McDaniels’ development continued last season, especially as a self-creator and 3-point shooter. LaMelo Ball joining the team could cut some of those self-created looks, but could produce more efficiency from the field overall.
- Rudy Gobert, MIN — Gobert’s production has been in slow decline as he’s aged, but he’s still an excellent source of traditional big-man stats in category leagues, and he’s played at least 70 games in four straight seasons.
- VJ Edgecombe, PHI — Edgecombe had an excellent rookie season. Normally, a massive step forward would be expected, but it will be tough for him to find extra touches given how Philadelphia reloaded in the offseason.
- Immanuel Quickley, TOR — Quickley enjoyed his first healthy season with the Raptors last season, putting up mid-round fantasy value – something that’s expected to remain stable this year.
- Coby White, CHA — Injuries cut into White’s production last season with the Bulls, then he was placed in a sixth-man role once traded to the Hornets. With LaMelo Ball now in Minnesota, White is the clear-cut starter at point guard.
- Brandon Ingram, TOR— After one season with the Raptors, Ingram is expected to be shipped to the Clippers for Kawhi Leonard. He’s arguably in a better position, with he and Darius Garland representing the clear-cut No. 1 and 2 options in Los Angeles.
- Paul George, BOS — George has played 56 or fewer games in six of the past seven seasons, now joining Boston for his age-36 campaign. He’s still shown plenty of fantasy value when available due to his 3-and-D skillset and self-creation ability.
- Dylan Harper, SAS — Given Harper’s postseason success as a rookie, it’s easy to forget he played just 22.6 minutes per game in the regular season. The Spurs have a bit of a logjam in the backcourt with him, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but it feels like a given Harper should see more minutes and touches as a sophomore.
- Zion Williamson, NOP — Williamson was relatively healthy in 2025-26 (62 games), though played fewer than 30 minutes for a second consecutive season. Fantasy managers in points and High Score formats can draft him higher, as his skillset is more suited for those leagues.
- Jarrett Allen, CLE — Allen’s minutes and production have been in slow decline over the past few seasons, but he’s still a constant double-double threat and took a leap when James Harden arrived in Cleveland.
- Payton Pritchard, BOS — 2025-26 marked career highs essentially across the board for Pritchard, who took on an expanded role due to Jayson Tatum missing most of the season. But with Tatum now healthy and Paul George entering the fold, another step forward may be difficult to achieve.
- Damian Lillard, POR — Lillard sat out all of last season due to a torn Achilles (though still won the 3-Point Contest). He’s likely entering a new phase of his career and isn’t guaranteed to be a top-two option on the team given the presence of Deni Avdija and Ja Morant.
- Jalen Suggs, ORL — Health remains the primary concern when targeting Suggs in fantasy, but he reached career highs in assists and steals last season and is an important part of Orlando’s defense and spacing.
- Ausar Thompson, DET — Thompson has established himself as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, and a boost to 30 minutes per game this season would help his fantasy value immensely. However, his struggles as a shooter can hurt managers in category leagues.
- Josh Hart, NYK — Hart’s numbers took a step back last season as he played fewer minutes, but he remained one of the league’s best rebounders at his position. He shot over 40 percent from distance for the first time in his career as well.
- Norman Powell, CHI — Powell has averaged over 20 points per game in two straight seasons – one with the Clippers and one with the Heat. Now he joins the Bulls with a chance to do it again, keeping him in contention for a top-100 pick in fantasy basketball.
- Ty Jerome, MEM — Jerome had a breakout two years ago with the Cavaliers. He was hurt most of last season, but looked great in the 15 games he did play, putting together career high per-game production. The question is how many minutes he’ll play in 2026-27.
- Derik Queen, NOP — Queen’s role was inconsistent as a rookie, but he played 81 games and showed off plenty of talent and upside. Still, minutes in the frontcourt may not be easy to come by on the Pelicans, so it’s hard to draft him much earlier than this.
- Jabari Smith Jr., HOU — Smith saw a career-high 31.5 minutes last season, and the production followed. He has a high floor in fantasy, but it will be tough for him to carve out more shots while surrounded by Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Fred VanVleet.
- Myles Turner, MIL — Turner spent 10 years in Indiana, playing a key role in the Pacers’ run to the 2024-25 NBA Finals, but he struggled mightily on the court during his debut season with the Bucks and voiced his frustration about how Giannis Antetokounmpo handled his departure. Antetokounmpo is now in Miami, and Turner is surrounded by a youthful, ragtag roster in Milwaukee, but it’s unclear if that’s a good or bad thing for the veteran center’s fantasy value.
- Andrew Wiggins, MIA — Wiggins played his first full season with Miami in 2025-26, producing numbers in line with the second half of his career up to this point. Things should remain similar this season, with him appearing to be the third scoring option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
- AJ Dybantsa, WAS — The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Dybantsa comes into the league as a self-creating forward with a deadly mid-range jumper and ability to get to the free-throw line. The question is how much usage will be available between Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and if Dybantsa can lock in his 3-ball.
- Nic Claxton, CHI — After holding down the starting center spot for the struggling Nets, Claxton was dealt this offseason to a Bulls team that will presumably be looking to utilize his skillset to their full extent. Having Josh Giddey throw easy lobs for Claxton could help his field-goal percentage climb to previous heights.
- Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC — Calf issues limited Hartenstein to 47 games last year, but he looked good when available and produced well-rounded numbers from the center position.
- Day’Ron Sharpe, BKN — After putting together great per-minute numbers as a backup, it appears Sharpe will enter the 2026-27 campaign with the starting center job. He has one of the league’s best rebounding rates, and is an efficient scorer with nice defensive production.
- Caleb Wilson, CHI — The rookie is in good position to start, play 30 minutes, and be a significant contributor on both ends of the floor for Chicago.
The Rockets are depending on Fred VanVleet to be the player he was during the 2024-25 season as the team’s starting PG.
- Fred VanVleet, HOU — A torn ACL resulted in VanVleet missing all of last season, and he struggled shooting the ball the year before that. Still, a bounceback season could be in store for the veteran playmaker, who has no shortage of skilled teammates to set up.
- Darryn Peterson, UTA — The No. 2 overall pick, Peterson should start at shooting guard for the Jazz. However, he’ll be fighting for touches with Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson, capping his rookie year upside.
- Kevin Porter Jr., MIL — Porter produced career-best numbers in his 38 appearances last season, but his role is murkier this season due to the acquisition of Tyler Herro, the drafting of Brayden Burries and the development of Ryan Rollins.
- Ayo Dosunmu, MIN — Dosunmu was traded to Minnesota at the deadline and proceeded to star in an elevated role due to numerous injuries. He was rewarded with a five-year deal this offseason and is expected to play a critical role for a new-look Timberwolves squad that should boast a high-octane offense led by Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
- Cedric Coward, MEM — Coward went through typical rookie growing pains but should be in line for more minutes in addition to development, so a sophomore breakout is possible.
- Kyshawn George, WAS — George made significant strides as a second-year player, improving minutes, efficiency and usage. But a busier and more skilled team environment caps his upside in Year 3.
- CJ McCollum, ATL — McCollum continued his solid backcourt production after being traded from Washington to Atlanta, where he remains in a similar role this season.
- Miles Bridges, PHX — Bridges took a step back in his role last season with the Hornets and was traded to the Suns in the offseason. He’ll start but will be behind Devin Booker and Jalen Green in the offensive pecking order.
- John Collins, DET — Collins saw only 27.1 minutes per game last season with the Clippers but reached a career-high 40.6 percent from three. Now in Detroit, he’s effectively replacing Tobias Harris, giving up upside for more minutes and touches.
- Ajay Mitchell, OKC — Mitchell emerged as a key piece for the Thunder last season and is in line for even more usage this season after OKC moved on from multiple key wing contributors. If Mitchell doesn’t claim a starting spot to begin the campaign, he should still be prioritized with the second unit and could flirt with Sixth Man of the Year recognition.
- Zach LaVine, SAC — Following a lost season in Sacramento, LaVine picked up his nearly $50 million player option for 2026-27 and should have a clear path to heavy usage for a rebuilding team. However, the veteran has missed 108 regular-season games over the past three seasons and is in danger of being shut down or traded to a contender.
- Keegan Murray, SAC — Murray appeared in just 23 games last season due to injury troubles. He’s in a good position this year to take a step forward during Sacramento’s rebuild.
- Reed Sheppard, HOU — Sheppard took a step forward in Year 2, but it’s clear that coach Ime Udoka doesn’t fully trust the 2024 No. 3 overall pick. The Rockets will get Fred VanVleet back following a lost season due to an offseason ACL injury, and they signed Marcus Smart this offseason, so Sheppard’s path to a leading role is more crowded than it was last season.
- Neemias Queta, BOS — The center had a breakout 2025-26 season and was a constant double-double threat. There’s more competition for center minutes now, however, with Mitchell Robinson in town.
- Toumani Camara, POR — Camara has established himself as a starter-level 3-and-D player. That makes him more valuable in category leagues as a specialist and someone who can generally be avoided in High Score formats.
- Peyton Watson, CLE — After breaking out in Year 4 with Denver, Watson moved to Cleveland this offseason and has a clear path to a full-time starting role for the first time in his career. The 2022 No. 30 overall pick has shown improvement every offseason, and if he takes another step with his new squad, Watson could be a league winner.
- Collin Murray-Boyles, TOR — With Jakob Poeltl dealing with a nagging back issue, rookie Murray-Boyles was able to carve out a significant role. He flashed upside as a versatile two-way forward, but it remains to be seen how many minutes will actually be available for him in Year 2.
- Jakob Poeltl, TOR — A persistent back issue limited Poeltl to 46 games and 25.0 minutes per contest, though he did shoot a career-high 70.0 percent from the field. If he can stay healthier this year, he has a good chance to beat this draft slot.
- Jalen Green, PHX — Hamstring issues resulted in Green playing just 32 games and 25.9 minutes per game. Still, he provided a scoring punch in limited action. He’s someone to target in High Score leagues and points formats.
- Mark Williams, PHX — Williams’ first year in Phoenix was the healthiest of his career, appearing in 60 games and flirting with double-doubles every night. His role shouldn’t change much this season unless second-year big Khaman Maluach takes a leap.
- Cason Wallace, OKC — After falling short of a repeat, the Thunder made major changes on the wings this offseason, mostly to save money. Can Wallace capitalize on the extra usage and evolve his game, or will he remain a steals specialist?
- Darius Acuff, SAC — Acuff is arguably in the best situation for fantasy value of any rookie except for Cameron Boozer. Acuff should start and help lead the charge along with Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
- RJ Barrett, TOR — Barrett is a strong points league player who also thrives in High Score due to his playstyle, which leans on his ability to be a nightly 20-point scorer.
- Brandin Podziemski, GSW — Podziemski continues to make strides each season, setting multiple career highs in 2025-26. It appears he’ll continue to be a sizable part of Golden State’s gameplan around Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
- Jusuf Nurkić, UTA — Nurkic had a larger role than expected last season due to Walker Kessler’s early season-ending injury. With Kessler now on the Lakers, it appears Nurkic may start again this season alongside Jaren Jackson in the frontcourt.
- Maxime Raynaud, SAC — Raynaud took advantage of increased minutes as a rookie and cracked relevancy in standard leagues in 2025-26. However, Domantas Sabonis is still on the roster and is expected to be healthy to start 2026-27, so Raynaud is stuck in a backup role, limiting his upside.
- Kristaps Porziņģis, GSW — On a per-game basis, Porziņģis can crush this ranking. But he has played over 65 games just twice in his career, and his minutes have been declining as well.
- Anthony Black, ORL — Teammate injuries helped fuel a third-year breakout for Black, who showed off versatility on both sides of the ball and an improving three-pointer. There are only so many minutes and touches to go around when everyone is healthy, though, meaning another step up might not be in the cards.
- Jeremiah Fears, NOP — The No. 7 pick in 2025, Fears displayed microwave scoring ability as a rookie in addition to a solid all-around stat profile. With Dejounte Murray healthy, it may be tough for Fears to take a big leap, however.
- Sandro Mamukelashvili, LAL — After a career year in Toronto, Mamukelashvili signed with the Lakers in what is a relatively thin frontcourt outside of new addition Walker Kessler. That gives Mamukelashvili some intriguing sixth-man upside.
- Davion Mitchell, MIA — Mitchell’s role has grown in Miami, and it may again this year with the team trading away Tyler Herro to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. Near the end of fantasy drafts, Mitchell is a great source of assists and is especially good in 9-category leagues due to his extremely low turnover rate.
- Egor Dëmin, BKN — Dëmin showed flashes as a rookie, especially from beyond the arc, but he struggled to finish around the rim. He now faces competition from 2026 No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr., while Michael Porter Jr. and newcomer Julius Randle are expected to lead the offense.
- Andrew Nembhard, IND — With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined all season, Nembhard broke out in 2025-26, posting career highs in points (16.9) and assists (7.7) per game. He’ll look to maintain that momentum this season, but Haliburton’s return will make it difficult for Nembhard to repeat his production, let alone take another step.
- P.J. Washington, DAL — Washington provides solid frontcourt production year after year and is expected to start at power forward for Dallas once more. However, there is more downside risk than last year if rookie Morez Johnson develops quickly.
- Collin Gillespie, PHX — After an injury-plagued start to his career, Gillespie burst onto the scene last year and excelled for a banged-up Suns squad. Phoenix’s starting lineup is healthy this offseason, so Gillespie may not start as often as he did in 2025-26, but given the four-year extension he signed this offseason, the sharpshooter should remain a key part of the rotation.
- Quentin Grimes, LAL — Grimes broke out two seasons ago and enjoyed another strong season with the 76ers in 2025-26. Now with the Lakers, he should act as a release valve for high-usage stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
- Saddiq Bey, NOP — Bey missed all of 2024-25 but returned in 2025-26 and had a career year. A similar campaign could be on the way, though there is no shortage of players competing for usage in New Orleans.
- Jaime Jaquez, MIL — After taking a massive step forward with the Heat last year, Jaquez was dealt to Milwaukee in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. There are a myriad of players competing for minutes at forward, but Jaquez should have the inside track.
- Tari Eason, HOU — Eason is one of the better per-minute fantasy players in the NBA, though he’s stuck in a crowded Rockets rotation. Still, he’s next man up in plenty of cases where a teammate suffers an injury.
- DeMar DeRozan, DEN — After two modest seasons in Sacramento, the veteran moved to Denver this offseason to replace Peyton Watson. DeRozan hasn’t come off the bench since his rookie season and is expected to play 30-plus minutes a night while getting plenty of open looks from Nikola Jokić .
- Yaxel Lendeborg, GSW — It’s possible the rookie will be competing for a starting role on the Warriors out of the gate. His size and diverse skillset fit Golden State’s playstyle.
- Christian Braun, DEN — Braun broke out in 2024-25 and was rewarded with an extension, but he struggled to stay healthy for the first time in his career last season, and even when available, his production across the board regressed. Aside from DeMar DeRozan replacing Peyton Watson, Denver is running it back with the same rotation, so Braun should play 30-plus minutes, but his fantasy value hinges on what version of the Kansas product shows up in 2026-27.
- Ace Bailey, UTA — The No. 5 pick in 2025, Bailey improved as his rookie season progressed. While he may come off the bench this season, there’s plenty of potential for impact as a sixth man.
- Aaron Gordon, DEN — Gordon has been limited by injuries over the past two seasons but continues to have great chemistry with Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. His role is safe, with health being the main question.
- Devin Vassell, SAS — Vassell has taken on less usage over the past couple seasons as other players have emerged during the Spurs’ ascension. He’s still a good source of late-round 3-pointers for fantasy managers in category leagues.
- Cameron Johnson, DEN — Johnson’s first season in Denver didn’t go as expected, as he maintained efficient shooting numbers while his counting stats plummeted. He’ll be a prime bounce-back candidate, as the Nuggets are essentially running it back after swapping Peyton Watson for DeMar DeRozan this offseason.
- Bennedict Mathurin, LAC— Mathurin averaged a number of career highs between the Pacers and Clippers last season. He reportedly signed a contract with the Pelicans this week and projects to come off the bench as the sixth or seventh man.
- Jrue Holiday, POR — The additions of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard to the rotation this season project to reduce Holiday’s offensive workload as he enters his age-36 campaign.
- Grayson Allen, CHA — Allen took on an expanded role with Phoenix last season but was dealt to the Hornets over the summer. He will presumably continue to see minutes in the mid-20s and fire up 3-pointers.
- Mikel Brown Jr., BKN — The No. 6 pick in this year’s draft is expected to start at point guard, giving him plenty of potential as a rookie.
