2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Underrated & Undervalued

Win your 2025-26 fantasy basketball draft with our top sleepers. Find undervalued players like Brandon Miller & John Collins poised to provide huge value.

September 29, 2025

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Underrated & Undervalued

By:

Alex Barutha

Nick Whalen

September 29, 2025

Player Rankings

As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, fantasy basketball managers are hitting the books, refining their rankings, and preparing to build a championship roster. While landing superstars in the early rounds is crucial, the key to dominating your league often lies in unearthing high-value sleepers in the mid-to-late rounds. These are the undervalued players slated to outperform their Average Draft Position (ADP) and provide a massive return on investment.

Based on a recent discussion between RotoWire's Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha, here are some of the top sleepers to target in your upcoming fantasy basketball drafts

High-Upside Fantasy Sleepers

These players possess the talent and opportunity to jump multiple rounds in value, making them prime targets in the middle of your draft.

Brandon Miller, SF, Charlotte Hornets

It's easy to forget just how good Brandon Miller was before a wrist injury cut his sophomore season short after only 20 games. Before the injury, Miller was playing at an All-Star level, ranking as a top-45 player in 8-category leagues.

He was launching 9-10 three-pointers per game and looked every bit the part of a No. 2 overall pick. With his injury now in the rearview mirror, Miller is on track to resume his All-Star trajectory. Don't let his injury-plagued season cause you to forget his elite potential; he's a player who could easily return top-40 value.

Ausar Thompson, SG/SF, Detroit Pistons

Ausar Thompson is a player whose ADP is likely to climb as draft season progresses. Currently available around pick 100 on many platforms, savvy managers in expert drafts are already snagging him in the 60s and 70s.

After recovering from a blood clot issue that sidelined him for the early part of last season, Thompson was logging 26-28 minutes per game by year's end. His calling card is his ridiculous combination of steals and blocks, and his versatile game allows him to contribute across the board. If Thompson consistently sees his minutes rise to the 30-per-game mark, he has a clear path to becoming a top-60 fantasy asset.

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Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks

Currently falling to around pick 80 in drafts, Kristaps Porzingis represents a fantastic value opportunity. Despite a lingering illness concern from last season, his per-game production is undeniable. Porziņgis has not finished lower than 48th overall on a per-game basis in roto leagues since his rookie season.

Now with the Atlanta Hawks, he is expected to play a key role in their frontcourt. Even in a down year with the Celtics, he produced averages of:

19.5 points
7.0 rebounds
2.0 assists
1.5 blocks

If he stays healthy, Porziņgis has the potential to return top-40 value, making him a risk worth taking at his current ADP.

John Collins, PF/C, Los Angeles Clippers

Another player benefiting from a change of scenery is John Collins, who escaped the frustrating rotations in Utah for a spot with the LA Clippers. An injury limited him last season, but before he went down, Collins was performing as a top-45 fantasy player.

He's now going around pick 100, largely due to the surrounding talent in LA. However, with the significant injury histories of Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal, there will be plenty of nights where Collins is asked to step into a larger offensive role. He can play both forward and center, and his ability to shoot threes, dunk in transition, and operate in the pick-and-roll gives him a solid fantasy floor with considerable upside.

Mid-to-Late Round Value Picks

These players are perfect targets in the later rounds of your draft who have a clear path to outproducing their draft slot.

Santi Aldama, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies

Santi Aldama is a perennial fantasy favorite who continues to be undervalued, with an ADP hovering around 130-140. While he isn't a projected starter, the Memphis frontcourt is far from settled. Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent foot surgery in July, Brandon Clarke has his own injury history, and rookie Zach Edey is prone to foul trouble.

There is a clear path for Aldama to earn significant minutes. In games last season where he played at least 25 minutes, he averaged:

15.0 points
7.0 rebounds
3.0 assists
1.0 steal
2.5 threes

He's a player worth reaching for closer to pick 100, as he's likely to be a key rotation piece who sees his role expand throughout the season.

Donovan Clingan, C, Portland Trail Blazers

With Deandre Ayton now a Laker, the stage is set for Donovan Clingan to take over as the full-time starting center in Portland. His current ADP is around 110, but he has easy top-100 potential.

In his 37 starts last season, Clingan averaged 8.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and over 2.0 blocks in just 24 minutes per game. His foul trouble is a concern, but as he develops, his workload should increase into the high-20s. Clingan finished second in the entire NBA in blocks per 100 possessions last year, trailing only Victor Wembanyama. He's a premier source of blocks available in the late rounds.

Collin Sexton, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets

A move from the fantasy wasteland of the Utah Jazz to the Charlotte Hornets is a massive upgrade for Collin Sexton. While he may begin the year as the team's sixth man, injuries to starters like LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller could easily thrust him into a larger role.

Sexton finished as a borderline top-100 player last season in a terrible situation. He provides solid points, assists, and threes with elite efficiency. Over the last two years, his shooting slash line is an impressive 48/40/85. He is a reliable producer who will be undervalued in most drafts.

Alex Sarr, C, Washington Wizards

Rookie Alex Sarr had a rough shooting season last year, but context is key. The Wizards were a mess, often forcing Sarr to create for himself late in the shot clock. With the additions of veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, Sarr should get much easier looks this season.

It won't take a significant leap in efficiency for him to provide great value. He is already a fantastic shot-blocker, averaging over two blocks per 36 minutes. With established offensive upside and a strong defensive foundation, Sarr is a post-hype sleeper worth targeting.

Late-Round Fliers to Watch

Keep these names on your cheat sheet for the final rounds of your draft.

Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks : If he wins the starting point guard job in Milwaukee, he has clear top-75 upside.

Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics : Last year's Sixth Man of the Year has high usage potential, especially if the Celtics end up trading Anfernee Simons.

Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls : Though the fourth option, he's a fantastic shot-blocker and transition player who fits Chicago's system perfectly.

T.J. McConnell, Indiana Pacers : If he can secure 26-27 minutes per game, he's an easy top-100 player who contributes elite steals and assists.

Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors : The Warriors' stars are aging, and the team lacks backcourt depth. Podziemski came on strong late last year and will have plenty of nights where he's a featured option on offense.