True fantasy basketball success often hinges on spotting breakout performances before the wider community. Imagine predicting Tyler Herro`s rise to a top-15 Player Rater finish or Ivica Zubac`s double-double dominance of 16.8 PPG and 12.6 RPG, as they both delivered last season. Such foresight grants a significant competitive edge in your fantasy leagues.
To help you gain that advantage, we`ve gathered our panel of fantasy basketball experts – André Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick, and Steve Alexander – to unveil their boldest predictions for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Brandon Miller Will Finish in the Top 40 on the Player Rater
Brandon Miller is poised to climb into the top 40 of the Player Rater. Currently, he`s being drafted around the 85th pick on average in ESPN leagues. However, his coaching staff already places significant trust in his offensive capabilities, both in creating his own shot and facilitating for teammates. With the potential to sink an impressive volume of three-pointers and his growing proficiency in defensive stats, Miller could emulate Trey Murphy III`s trajectory to become an exceptional `3-and-D` fantasy wing as early as this season. His rare combination of size, slashing ability, and shooting prowess makes him a true outlier at his position.
– Jim McCormick
Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard: Top 50, One in Top 20
Both Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard are predicted to finish within the top 50 in fantasy points this season, with at least one of them breaking into the top 20. While these players are undeniably ultra-elite fantasy performers on a per-game basis, their careers have been plagued by significant injury absences; last season alone, they collectively missed 108 out of a possible 164 games. However, I anticipate a strong bounce-back season for both. Entering the season in relatively good health, they would only need to play 60-65 games at their typical performance levels to achieve these impressive milestones.
– André Snellings
Four Celtics Among Top 10 in Made Three-Pointers
A remarkable four Celtics players will rank within the top 10 for made three-pointers this season, despite the absence of Jayson Tatum. Last season, the Boston Celtics led the league in both attempted and made three-pointers, a trend that is unlikely to significantly diminish even with their star player sidelined for most, if not all, of the season. Look for Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Sam Hauser to secure spots among the top 10 in three-point production, with Jaylen Brown, the team`s leading scorer, also coming very close.
– Eric Karabell
Matas Buzelis Will Be a Top-25 Fantasy Player
Matas Buzelis is predicted to ascend to a top-25 fantasy player ranking. I anticipate the Bulls will integrate him into their starting lineup, providing him with approximately 30 minutes per game. His versatile skill set is ideally suited for fantasy basketball, offering contributions across blocks, steals, three-pointers, and rebounds. Despite being overlooked in later draft rounds due to his less-than-stellar numbers last season, Buzelis possesses as much upside as almost any prospect in this year`s drafts, making him a priority target for my fantasy teams.
– Steve Alexander
LaMelo Ball Plays More Than 70 Games
LaMelo Ball is projected to play over 70 games this season. His elite fantasy upside when healthy is widely acknowledged; last season, he demonstrated his comprehensive impact by averaging 25.2 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.8 three-pointers. Historically, his availability has been the primary concern, with only 105 games played over the past three seasons. However, I believe this will be the season Ball surpasses the 70-game mark. At just 24 years old, he has fully recovered from his ankle and wrist surgeries, and Charlotte`s improved team depth should effectively help manage his workload. Should he remain on the court, Ball possesses genuine top-15 fantasy potential.
– Eric Moody
Rupert Hollis