Winning your fantasy league starts with finding the best fantasy basketball sleepers—undervalued NBA players with breakout potential. In this guide, we highlight mid-round value picks and late-round steals you need to know heading into your 2025 draft. These NBA fantasy sleepers are flying under the radar based on current ADP, lineup shifts, and injury reports. Whether you're digging through NBA projections, keeping up with the latest NBA news, or targeting upside, these are the best NBA fantasy basketball sleepers to help you win big this season.
Mid-Round Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
These are players that will certainly be drafted but are worth the risk of grabbing a bit sooner than expected to secure their significant potential.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls 
The forward is a multi-dimensional player primed to take on a larger and more consistent role from last season. With the Bulls making a shift towards focusing on their younger core, he will have the green light on offense, while he also has the size and quickness to block shots on the defensive end.
Keyonte George, Jazz 
George may play off the bench, but his ability to score and distribute at a high level should result in him racking up the stats in what could resemble a sixth-man role. He has also shown a knack for contributing on the glass, which will help round out his overall production.
Dennis Schroder, Kings 
The point guard has bounced around the league over the last few seasons but has made impressive statements
Winning your fantasy league starts with finding the best fantasy basketball sleepers—undervalued NBA players with breakout potential. In this guide, we highlight mid-round value picks and late-round steals you need to know heading into your 2025 draft. These NBA fantasy sleepers are flying under the radar based on current ADP, lineup shifts, and injury reports. Whether you're digging through NBA projections, keeping up with the latest NBA news, or targeting upside, these are the best NBA fantasy basketball sleepers to help you win big this season.
Mid-Round Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
These are players that will certainly be drafted but are worth the risk of grabbing a bit sooner than expected to secure their significant potential.
Matas Buzelis, Bulls 
The forward is a multi-dimensional player primed to take on a larger and more consistent role from last season. With the Bulls making a shift towards focusing on their younger core, he will have the green light on offense, while he also has the size and quickness to block shots on the defensive end.
Keyonte George, Jazz 
George may play off the bench, but his ability to score and distribute at a high level should result in him racking up the stats in what could resemble a sixth-man role. He has also shown a knack for contributing on the glass, which will help round out his overall production.
Dennis Schroder, Kings 
The point guard has bounced around the league over the last few seasons but has made impressive statements on the international stage in recent summers, leading Germany to a FIBA World Cup and a EuroBasket championship. He is set for a fresh start with the Kings, where he is surrounded by top-tier offensive talent that should help his own production.
Ace Bailey, Jazz 
The rookie is set to take on a starting role with the Jazz and has already turned heads with a couple of notable preseason performances. His six-foot-eight frame stacks up very well against competition at the wing, and he could quickly become a top scoring option for his squad.
Isaiah Jackson, Pacers 
Jackson was limited to just five games due to injury last season, but with the departure of Myles Turner, he is in line to take on the starting center job for the Pacers. He should fit in well with their fast-paced style of play and could take a major leap in production in a much more significant role compared to his first four seasons.
Quentin Grimes, 76ers 
Grimes stunned the league by pouring in impressive point totals after being traded to the 76ers last season. He is back for his second campaign with the squad and will have the opportunity to pick up where he left off. He would also be right back in position to take on a leading role in the offense should either Paul George or Joel Embiid become unavailable.
Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls 
The well-rounded wing may find himself mostly in a bench role after the Bulls' acquisition of Isaac Okoro. However, he is a tough competitor with a proven ability to contribute across the stat sheet and will certainly see significant action. He could also work his way back into a role as a starter, which he earned last season, before injuries took him out of the loop.
Bennedict Mathurin, Pacers 
The 2022 No. 6 overall pick is set to take on a starting role following a shift within the Pacers' lineup due to the absence of Tyrese Haliburton. He has proven able to provide an impact across the board through his first three seasons but has not had the chance to break out while mostly limited to a bench role. He could be up for a career season and take his game to new heights as a result of the increased opportunity.
Late-Round Steals: Deep Fantasy Basketball Sleepers
These are players who are likely to slip to the final rounds or not be drafted at all in many leagues but who may become highly sought-after targets off the waiver wire.
Nikola Jovic, Heat 
The recently-extended Jovic has all the tools to be a strong contributor across the board but has not been able to achieve much consistency over his first three seasons. However, he showed solid production in relation to his playing time last year, and he remains in position to handle a key part of the Heat's frontcourt rotation.
Chris Boucher, Celtics 
A veteran big, Boucher has a new home with the Celtics. Although he is expected to begin the season in a bench role, he could potentially make a case to move up as a starter, especially considering the squad does not have any clear-cut standouts in the frontcourt. His long-range shooting, ability to run the floor and shot-blocking provide many opportunities for him to rack up stats.
Adem Bona, 76ers 
Bona elevated his game towards the end of last season, showing that he can score, rebound and block shots at an impressive rate. With Joel Embiid's ability to remain available in question, Bona could find himself thrust into a major role at any time. Nonetheless, he should be able to deliver notable production even from a bench role.
Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz 
The wing could find himself in a starting role for the Jazz in his third NBA season. He has shown flashes of potential to be a 20-point-per-game scorer, including knocking down shots with efficiency from long range. While his squad is not beholden to any major expectations, he should have the opportunity to carve a path as a high-volume contributor.
Cam Whitmore, Wizards 
The talented scorer was unable to find a consistent role among the Rockets' lineup, but it was less due to his ability and more a result of their many options at the wing. He should have a much better opportunity to take ownership of a place in the rotation with the Wizards and could even break into the starting lineup if there is a time when the veteran Khris Middleton is unavailable.
Jerami Grant, Trail Blazers 
Grant could find himself in a bench role for the Trail Blazers, behind Toumani Camara. However, he will likely still see significant playing time and could end up on the floor to close games with regularity. He averaged over 19 points per game for four straight seasons before injuries limited his usage in 2024-25.
Jared Butler, Suns 
Butler is set to debut for the Suns, where he is expected to take on a backup role behind Devin Booker at point guard. He has shown flashes of an ability to rack up significant numbers in points and assists, but inconsistent opportunity has limited him. However, with the makeup of the Suns roster, his services should be required on a more steady basis, which could result in a career season.