Fantasy Basketball: André Snellings’ Ultimate Draft Board

To excel in fantasy basketball, thorough pre-draft preparation is key. Even seasoned players like myself conduct detailed analyses before significant drafts. This involves strategizing based on your draft position, identifying target players, and comparing them against rankings. Many competitors enter drafts unprepared, making your thoughtful planning a significant advantage from the outset.

Engaging in mock drafts is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with player availability, understand market trends for potential sleepers, and identify undervalued assets. Often, excellent players are ranked lower than expected and might be available later in the draft. Having insight into these trends before your actual draft can significantly enhance your team`s potential.

In this guide, I`ll highlight players I recommend drafting at various points in your fantasy basketball draft. For early rounds, specific draft slots greatly influence player availability, so I`ll point out players of interest for different sections of the round. For middle and later rounds, I`ll focus on groups of players that offer strong value within their projected draft range. My recommendations are informed by average draft pick (ADP) data to give you an edge in identifying potential value throughout your draft.

The Foundation: Early Rounds

Round 1: Securing Top Talent

• If you hold the first overall pick in a points league, selecting Nikola Jokic (1.4 ADP) is a no-brainer. For a category league, Victor Wembanyama (3.5 ADP) is the immediate priority. If you have the second pick, simply take whichever of these two elite talents remains available. Jokic has dominated fantasy points production for five straight seasons, while Wembanyama is the only player poised to challenge his supremacy.
• For picks in the middle of Round 1, points league managers should target either Giannis Antetokounmpo (4.6 ADP) or Anthony Edwards (6.1 ADP). Antetokounmpo is a consistent triple-double threat, set for an even larger offensive role with the Bucks. His free throw shooting is his only notable weakness, which might cause him to slide in category leagues. Edwards, however, maintains high value across both formats, with his high volume scoring and increased three-point production solidifying his status as a top-tier wing.
• Towards the end of the first round, my preferences are Cade Cunningham (8.9 ADP) or Anthony Davis (8.8 ADP). Cunningham had a breakout fourth season, playing 70 games and demonstrating triple-double potential, and at just 24, he still has significant room for growth. Davis, despite past injury concerns (playing 56 or fewer games in four of the last five seasons), offers elite per-game production. Now the primary option for the Mavericks, especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined, Davis could deliver top-5 overall fantasy production in both points and category leagues if he can maintain his improved durability from last season.

Round 2: Capitalizing on Value

• Early in Round 2, excellent value picks include Trae Young (12.2 ADP) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12.5 ADP). Young is projected for high fantasy points and a strong category league ranking, likely leading the league in assists for the Hawks. Towns, a high-volume, efficient big man scorer with dual-position eligibility, is a valuable asset given the scarcity of elite power forward options.
• Arguably the best value in Round 2, regardless of your draft position, is James Harden (19.4 ADP). Last season, Harden ranked fourth in total fantasy points, just behind Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Antetokounmpo. He projects as a first-round talent in category leagues and borderline first-round in points leagues, making him an exceptional second-round pick with dual-position eligibility, adding to his appeal in a league abundant with quality point guards.

Late Round 2 / Early Round 3: Brunson and Mitchell

• Jalen Brunson (20.3 ADP) has been a high-volume producer for the Knicks. This season, under Mike Brown, who is known for leading strong offenses, Brunson could elevate his game even further, offering great value late in the second or early third round.
• Another target in this range is Donovan Mitchell (21.2 ADP). His volume decreased last season due to the Cavaliers` dominant performance, leading to fewer minutes. If the Cavaliers face more competitive games this season, and Mitchell`s minutes return to his career average, his production should increase significantly, potentially exceeding his draft position value.

Round 3: Brown and Giddey

• Jaylen Brown (26.3 ADP) steps into the season as the undisputed primary option for the Celtics. Historically, his scoring significantly increases when Tatum is absent. If he can handle the increased workload, Brown is poised for a career-best season.
• Josh Giddey (30.9 ADP) had an explosive breakout last season after Zach LaVine`s departure from the Bulls, becoming a focal point alongside Coby White. In his final 19 games, Giddey averaged an impressive 21.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, and 9.3 APG, signaling incredible upside for the upcoming season.

Round 4: Promising Young Wings

• Rookie Cooper Flagg (32.8 ADP) arrives with significant hype. His performance in the NBA Summer League indicated he has the physicality and skill set to thrive immediately. With Kyrie Irving sidelined for the first half of the season, Flagg is expected to take on a substantial offensive role for the Mavericks, playing off Anthony Davis.
• Amen Thompson (36.7 ADP) was a highly-touted prospect in the 2023 draft. After an injury-affected rookie year, he shone brightly in his sophomore season when given starting minutes. Following key roster changes on the Rockets, Thompson is set for major minutes and a versatile role. At only 22, he is primed for another significant leap in his third year.

Middle Rounds (Rounds 5-8): Diverse Contributions

• Josh Hart (45.8 ADP) offers an exceptionally fantasy-friendly, all-around game that consistently outproduces his general reputation in both points and category leagues. Last season, he ranked 19th in total fantasy points, making him a great middle-round value.
• Derrick White (47.7 ADP) finished last season as the 33rd highest fantasy scorer and is poised for an expanded role with Jayson Tatum sidelined. White is a consistent shooter and scorer who contributes positively across the board, including strong three-pointers, steals, and even solid blocks for a guard, making him particularly valuable in category leagues (preseason rank 19th).
• Jalen Green (56.4 ADP) produced the 44th-most fantasy points last season as the Rockets` leading scorer. Now with the Suns in a heavy-volume, secondary role behind Devin Booker, Green is in a more advantageous situation. Defenses will focus on Booker, allowing Green potentially more volume and efficiency. At 23, and having played all 82 games in two consecutive seasons, Green offers both upside and durability.
• Walker Kessler (72.5 ADP) provides consistent double-double potential and should rank among the league leaders in blocked shots. This makes him a solid starting center in points leagues, but his shot-blocking ability elevates his value significantly in category leagues (preseason rank 54th).
• Deni Avdija (74.6 ADP) showed strong breakout potential last season with the Trail Blazers, especially in the second half where he averaged 23.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 5.2 APG. As the centerpiece for the Trail Blazers this season, Avdija could dramatically exceed his draft slot if he maintains similar production.

Late Rounds (Round 9 and Beyond): High Upside and Stashes

• Kevin Porter Jr. (86.7 ADP) previously averaged 19.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, and 5.3 RPG as the Rockets` full-time starter in 2022-23. With Damian Lillard now gone, Porter could see similar run for the Bucks, potentially having the best season of his career playing alongside Antetokounmpo at just 25 years old.
• Alex Sarr (99.4 ADP) projects as a nightly double-double threat, with his scoring potentially reaching the high teens for the Wizards in his sophomore year. His value is even higher in category leagues, where he has the upside to average 4+ combined blocks, three-pointers, and steals from the center position.
• Shaedon Sharpe (107.9 ADP) entered the NBA with limitless potential and has consistently improved. With Anfernee Simons traded, Sharpe has the opportunity to blossom into a 20+ PPG scorer in his fourth season. At just 22, he remains one of the league`s high-upside plays.
• Andrew Nembhard (109.3 ADP) and Bennedict Mathurin (120.2 ADP) are leading candidates to absorb increased opportunities due to Tyrese Haliburton`s absence. Mathurin has shown 20 PPG potential, while Nembhard`s impressive playoff run when Haliburton was injured previously suggests he has dramatically higher upside as the team`s primary ball-handler.
• Kyrie Irving (120.5 ADP) and Dejounte Murray (132.2 ADP) are strong stash candidates. Both are recovering from major surgery and are expected to return in the New Year, likely with minute restrictions. While risky, if your team can withstand their absence, they offer high-round value just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
• Reed Sheppard (139.3 ADP) showed immense potential in the 2024 draft class but had limited minutes as a rookie due to roster depth. With the Rockets trading two wings and their starting point guard Fred VanVleet sidelined, Sheppard could step into starting minutes. In this scenario, he could conservatively rank as a top-75 producer in both points and category formats, offering major upside.