With the 2025-26 fantasy basketball season just around the corner, players, analysts, and just general enthusiasts are taking stock of sleepers, breakout candidates, and busts. This year’s draft offers an array of intriguing options, with some players poised for significant contributions and others at risk of underperforming. Guys like Ivica Zubac, Moses Moody, and Desmond Bane are receiving public praise. Their incredible runs last season have set the table for thrilling opportunities this year.
Ivica Zubac was dominant all year in 2024-25. He was mighty close to making an All-Star team, putting up 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 1.1 blocks. His breakout has made him one of the most sought-after players by fantasy managers looking to improve their teams this year. Our own Moses Moody is hot on the trail after making some headlines! After only five games last year, he won a starting job, demonstrating just how freakishly talented this kid is heading into the 2023 season.
Red flags abound with veteran stars such as Paul George. Nonetheless, he continues to be a hot pick in fantasy drafts. Experts warn about his bust potential as the 2025 season nears. As fantasy managers evaluate their approaches to draft day, it’s important to know these dynamics at play to construct a winning fantasy roster.
Key Players to Watch
Here’s a few players that are becoming key pieces in the fantasy basketball landscape this season. Zubac’s breakout season gives the Clippers an asset they can lean on in the future. Analysts warn that his minutes and overall production are unlikely to continue along that upward path in the coming season. It’s a pivotal decision fantasy managers will have to make. They need to find a balance between Zubac’s previous achievements and the chance he regresses.
Moses Moody’s meteoric growth as one of the elite young players in the association is another theme to track. The 2024 second-round pick wouldn’t take long to grab hold of a starting position, showcasing his development and versatility. As he steps into the new season, eyes will be on him. Fantasy managers will sloppy second him as one of the biggest potential breakouts to snag.
Collective traffic this coming week is sure to be sparked by fans nationally excited to see Jalen Buzelis in action. He should be the Chicago Bulls starting power forward in his sophomore season. With his performance closely monitored, many will be keen to see how he adapts to the increased responsibilities and whether he can deliver on the promise he showed last year.
Breakout Candidates and Bust Risks
As the offseason progresses, some players are already being thrown out there as breakout candidates. J.J. Flagg is poised for a breakout year. Injury histories of stars such as Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving create burdens for their teams, but the door opens for Flagg. If Flagg takes advantage of the open door left by their departures, he’ll establish himself as the centerpiece. Fantasy managers looking for a sleeper will definitely want to pay attention to him.
Players such as Paul George come with built-in uncertainty. His real-life story and reputation still have huge currency in fantasy drafts. As analysts point out, his potential isn’t enough to merit the probable draft price. Even more concerning, the recent performance trends make him a tough sell in drafts.
The example of Julian Ware is hugely encouraging and fascinating in its own right as well. Ware has been severely undervalued in early average draft positions (ADP). His rookie season numbers are actually likely not full representations of his potential as he faced a lack of playtime in the first few months. With his opportunity increasing as this season progresses, there is plenty of upside in taking a flier on him late in drafts.
Performance Trends and Future Projections
Reviewing performance trends over the last season will help you gain insights on how to project those players into the next season. Desmond Bane loaded up the box score last season. He had a gaudy usage rate of 24.2%, had an average of 14.8 field goal attempts and minutes per game at 30.2. Bane’s production is starting to come under fire due to the potential shift in team culture. Analysts believe that players such as Wells will step up and fill some of Bane’s role.
For Ja Morant, last season’s drop-off was dramatic. His points per game, rebounds and assists all declined, while his turnovers spiked dramatically. Trends like this one can impact draft strategies and makeup of rotisserie and auction teams as league managers consider Morant’s high risk/reward.
That’s why Castle has quickly become one of the players to watch. He put on a show over the last 25 games of his rookie season, averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game. His late-season play makes one wonder if he can carry that play over into this, a new season.
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