Anthony Edwards is entering his prime at 25 years old, making him one of the most valuable fantasy stars for dynasty leagues.
Navigating a dynasty fantasy basketball league can be a challenge. How do you balance veteran stars who produce now with the young prospects who could become the next big thing? RotoWire’s fantasy experts break down the Top 50 keeper options for the upcoming season while prioritizing a 3-5 year outlook for each player.
1. Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama took the throne from Nikola Jokić last year and still has room to improve after finishing as the MVP runner-up and winning DPOY.
2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Jokić made a career-low 65 regular-season appearances last season but remains a fantasy unicorn whenever he suits up.
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The back-to-back MVP is one of the most efficient scorers in NBA history, but his lack of prolific secondary stats leaves him a tier below Wemby and Jokić.
4. Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Dončić’s tenure in Los Angeles hasn’t gone according to plan, but with LeBron James out of the picture, the Slovenian superstar could be in store for his best statistical season yet.
5. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
A perennial All-NBA talent already, Cunningham has turned the Pistons from bottom dwellers into legitimate contenders and is just now entering his prime.
6. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Flagg was dominant from the jump in Year 1, earning Kia Rookie of the Year honors and establishing himself as a legit fantasy stud, but he’s just scratched the surface of his potential.
7. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum is an MVP candidate when healthy, but are the recent injuries a sign of things to come or an outlier on a Hall-of-Fame resume?
8. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Johnson made a career-high 72 regular-season appearances last season, catapulting him up fantasy rankings, and the 24-year-old nightly triple-double threat is now Atlanta’s go-to guy.
9. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Already an All-NBA talent, Edwards is entering his peak surrounded by a new-look, revamped Timberwolves squad that’s expecting to play faster with LaMelo Ball in town.
10. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Maxey has grown into an elite fantasy option, but he faces short-term usage competition after the 76ers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James this offseason.
11. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Despite not taking a major step forward, Barnes remains an elite fantasy option, but his usage could look different after the Kawhi Leonard addition.
12. Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers
After sitting out the entire 2025-26 campaign, Haliburton is set to reprise his role as the fulcrum of Indiana’s offense, though limitation concerns will be an interim issue.
13. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
Despite a disappointing playoff performance against Wemby, Holmgren remains a key cog of a championship contender, though his skill set is better suited for category leagues.
14. Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls
Giddey has established himself as a nightly triple-double threat in Chicago and is surrounded by skilled youngsters who could make life easy for the 24-year-old point guard if everything clicks.
15. Amen Thompson, Houston Rockets
Fresh off a massive extension, Thompson is looking to continue his steady improvement and establish himself as one of the best two-way players in the NBA.
16. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Despite a lack of major improvement in key areas, Mobley remains an elite fantasy option in all leagues and is still only 25 years old.
17. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Coming off an injury-plagued 2025-26, Williams is looking to get back to his All-NBA ways, and the new-look Thunder will need him at his best if they want to reclaim their throne.
18. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat
Antetokounmpo is looking for a fresh start after an injury-plagued 2025-26 that ended his tenure in Milwaukee, and while he remains an MVP candidate, there’ll be questions about his fit next to Bam Adebayo.
19. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Entering Year 5 in Cleveland, Mitchell has been a steady offensive engine and is heading into his first full season paired with James Harden.
20. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Fresh off an NBA championship, Towns is entering a contract year and looking to submit yet another elite fantasy campaign.
21. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Avdija broke out in Year 2 with Portland, and while there’s added competition for usage this season, the do-it-all forward should remain the Blazers’ offensive engine.
22. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Booker is Mr. Steady, having averaged at least 25 points and 6 assists in three straight campaigns, and remains Phoenix’s go-to option entering his age-30 campaign.
23. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans
Murphy repeated his breakout 2024-25 campaign last season and remains a prolific producer for a Pelicans team fighting to get back to the playoffs, though availability remains a red flag.
24. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
Miller has established himself as an elite 3-point shooter and could be asked to do more with LaMelo Ball out of town, but efficiency and availability have been early-career issues for the Alabama product.
25. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Since signing with New York, Brunson has been an All-NBA talent and is looking to submit a fifth straight season with at least 24 points, 6 assists and two made 3s per game.
26. Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Sengun broke out in 2023-24, establishing himself as one of the best young centers in the game, but since then, the overall improvement has been modest, though he did see a minor uptick in defensive and playmaking production last season.
27. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat
Adebayo scored at least 20 points per game for only the second time in his career last season and made a career-high 1.7 triples a night. However, despite passing Kobe Bryant on the all-time single-game scoring list with an 83-point night against Washington, Adebayo shot a career-worst 44.2% from the field in 2025-26.
28. LaMelo Ball, Minnesota Timberwolves
After six seasons as the go-to guy in Charlotte, Ball was shipped to Minnesota, where he’s expected to inject offensive excitement into a team led by Anthony Edwards. While availability remains a concern, Ball was healthy last season and is always a fantasy dynamo when on the court.
29. Trae Young, Washington Wizards
Young struggled to stay healthy last season, and with the Hawks performing well without him, they opted to ship him to Washington, where Young made only five appearances before being shut down. The Wizards have revamped their roster to suit Young, adding Anthony Davis and AJ Dybantsa to an already-young, promising core, but how they all fit together will be a major question mark.
30. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers
Reaves has shown steady improvement in each of his first five NBA campaigns, earning a massive four-year extension this offseason, and is slated for his largest workload yet after LeBron James’ departure.
31. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Banchero has been a strong producer in each of his first four campaigns but is still looking to make the superstar leap heading into his age-24 season.
32. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Murray set career highs in nearly every important statistical category last year, vaulting him from a consistent mid-round talent to a potential first-round value, but it’s unclear if that’s the new standard or an outlier for the 29-year-old veteran.
33. Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic
Bane had an up-and-down first season in Orlando but ended close to his career averages, with his solid all-around production and elite efficiency making him a strong option in all fantasy leagues.
34. Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers
With Jayson Tatum missing most of last season, Brown set career highs in points, rebounds and assists per game but had an unceremonious exit from Boston this offseason and will now have to share usage with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and LeBron James.
35. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
The 2024 Rookie of the Year was even better in Year 2, improving across the board while serving as a key piece for the Western Conference champs, and while the sky is the limit, the emergence of Dylan Harper might impact Castle’s bottom line.
36. Darius Garland, Los Angeles Clippers
After being swapped for James Harden last season, Garland now finds himself as the Clippers’ franchise man, and with numerous first-round picks stripped in the Kawhi Leonard fallout, that might remain the case for years to come.
37. Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
Harper’s regular-season impact was muted as a rookie, but he burst onto the scene during the postseason and is clearly ready for a Year 2 leap, though he’ll have to fully supplant De’Aaron Fox as the starting point guard to reach his full fantasy potential.
38. Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Knueppel was rivaling Cooper Flagg for Rookie of the Year last season but hit a late-season wall that carried into the Play-In Tournament. With LaMelo Ball out of town, the new-look Hornets are loaded with efficient, high-volume 3-point shooters, led by Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
39. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Clingan was a defensive specialist as a rookie and took a major leap forward across the board in Year 2 while showcasing an improved 3-point shot, though free-throw efficiency remains a concern.
40. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Wagner is a strong all-around producer capable of elite fantasy production on a nightly basis, but he’s missed 70 regular-season contests over the past two seasons and is prone to long droughts from deep.
41. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Buzelis’ all-around production in Year 2 puts him in rare air, and while there’s All-Star potential oozing out of the 22-year-old, his prioritized development and fantasy ceiling might take a hit playing next to 2026 No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson.
42. VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers
Coming off a stellar rookie campaign, Edgecombe’s fantasy value moving forward is murky after the 76ers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to a squad that already had high-usage, go-to players in Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
43. Walker Kessler, Los Angeles Lakers
After a promising rookie campaign in Utah, Kessler struggled to stay healthy or make a consistent impact and was shipped to the Lakers this offseason, where he’s expected to perfectly complement Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
44. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Sarr is one of the most talented young big men in the NBA, but his short-term fantasy value takes a hit with Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton healthy and ready to contribute in Washington.
45. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
Duren made an All-Star leap in Year 4 but disappeared during the postseason, culminating in a contract standoff with Detroit this offseason.
46. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Usually a stalwart of health, Sabonis made a career-low 19 regular-season appearances for a Kings team that’s teetering on a full rebuild. A trade to a contender would likely improve the 30-year-old’s fantasy value.
47. Jaren Jackson, Utah Jazz
Jackson’s availability history, inconsistent offense and lack of rebounds have always been red flags in his fantasy profile, but rarely have those flaws stopped him from delivering elite season-long value. There’ll be usage questions during his first full season on a talented Utah squad, but Jackson was a better producer with Memphis when the defense wasn’t focused on him.
48. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz
Following two promising, yet subpar, campaigns, George exploded in Year 3 behind a stark efficiency improvement. While the 23-year-old still figures to play a key role for the ascending Jazz, the additions of Darryn Peterson and Jaren Jackson, plus the second-year development of Ace Bailey and a healthy Lauri Markkanen, will make it very difficult for George to improve on his breakout campaign.
49. Ivica Zubac, Indiana Pacers
One of the steadiest big men in the NBA, Zubac is entering his first full season with the Pacers and will get to play with Tyrese Haliburton, which should only boost his fantasy value.
50. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Markkanen’s 3-point shooting and scoring ability for a 7-footer is unrivaled, but he just can’t stay healthy. The 29-year-old should have prioritized usage for a Jazz team that’s expected to show vast improvement, though the presence of Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey and Jaren Jackson shouldn’t be dismissed when evaluating Markkanen’s ceiling.
Honorable Mentions:
- Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
- James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards
- Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Derrick White, Boston Celtics
- Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
- Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
- Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
