2026–27 Fantasy Basketball Outlook Rankings

Jokic is the closest thing fantasy basketball has to a cheat code, and he should be the first pick in every draft format. The 31-year-old center is a three-time MVP, and he finished runner-up for the award again in 2025-26 after averaging a triple-double, something only two other players in NBA history have done (Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook). Jokic led the NBA in rebounds (12.9) and assists (10.7) per game last season and was one of only two players to average more than 27 points a night while shooting better than 55 percent from the field (back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the other). Unlike most superstars, durability has been a genuine selling point for Jokic rather than a caveat. However, while he's been one of the most reliably available stars of his era and rarely misses extended time, Jokic played in a career-low 65 regular-season games in 2025-26. That was only the second time he failed to eclipse 70 appearances during a single campaign in his 11-year career. Denver remains built entirely around the Serbian superstar, so there's no scenario where his role or usage shrinks, and the front office's offseason tinkering only affects the fringes of the rotation. The one thing he hasn't given fantasy managers in bulk is blocks, but he's not a slouch defensively and has averaged at least 1.2 steals per game in nine straight seasons. If you're looking for consistent balance across every category, Jokic is the single most valuable player in fantasy and has been for years.

After leading the Spurs to the 2026 NBA Finals, the health scare that ended Wembanyama's 2024-25 season is now firmly in the rearview. During the 2025-26 regular season, the French phenom averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game en route to a litany of accolades, including the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award in NBA history, an All-NBA First Team nod and a third-place MVP finish. At 7-foot-4, Wembanyama plays like nothing the league has ever seen, blocking shots at a historic rate and making three-pointers in volume while being ultra efficient around the rim. The team around him also grew up fast, and while the Finals run ended sourly, Wembanyama's box scores against the Knicks were still enormous. Wembanyama has already established himself as one of the best players in the NBA, but he still has plenty of room to improve, mostly from a consistency standpoint. When at his best, there's not a player in the league who can replicate Wembanyama's production, but when compared to Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and even Luka Doncic, the game-by-game dominance isn't as steady. There's also an availability concern. While the blood clot issue has been resolved, Wembanyama still missed 19 regular-season games last season, bringing his total to 66 over his first three professional campaigns. Wembanyama's fantasy profile isn't as polished as the other elite options, but there's no denying that when he inevitably puts everything together, he'll be sitting on top of the mountain by himself.

Gilgeous-Alexander collected his second consecutive MVP in a landslide, added his first Clutch Player of the Year award, made another All-NBA First Team and finished second in the league in scoring at 31.1 points per game while steering the Thunder to an NBA-best 64-18 regular-season record. SGA is a 6-foot-6 guard whose game is built on a nearly unguardable mid-range attack, and he scores with elite efficiency, shooting over 51 percent from the field and 87 percent from the line in four straight seasons. His 38.6 percent mark from deep last season was the second-highest mark of his career and highest since 2020-21. He's also averaged at least six assists per game in three straight seasons, at least 1.4 steals per game in four straight and is an above-average rebounder and shot blocker for a guard. The only sour note of last season came in June, when the defending champions were stunned by San Antonio in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, ending their bid to repeat. While that slowed Thunder dynasty talks, it has zero bearing on SGA's fantasy stock. He's 28, squarely in his prime, with no new mouths to feed or coaching upheaval. The only reason he ever slips to third in drafts is that Jokic's playmaking and Wembanyama's shot-blocking provide more raw category juice. SGA's counter is that his floor is essentially his ceiling, giving managers elite and steady production on a nightly basis. If your draft strategy prioritizes certainty and consistency over per-game upside, he's the best pick in fantasy basketball.

During his first full season in Los Angeles, Doncic won his second career scoring title with 33.5 points per game while adding 8.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals, earning his sixth All-NBA First Team selection at just 27 years old. The Slovenian superstar is a 6-foot-8 point guard who controls every aspect of his team's offense as a true heliocentric leader, which translates to massive fantasy production. While not the most efficient three-point shooter, Doncic has shot at least 36 percent from beyond the arc in three straight seasons and attempted a league-leading 10.8 threes per game in 2025-26. His free-throw percentage (78.3 percent over the past three seasons) remains merely okay for a player with his volume, but the main concern that has crept into his profile is availability. Doncic hasn't appeared in more than 70 regular-season games since his rookie season in 2018-19, and he's made 50 and 64 regular-season appearances over the past two campaigns, respectively, which are two of his three fewest totals in his eight-year career. He was on pace for a healthy 2025-26 before a Grade 2 hamstring strain ended his season in early April, and the Lakers were ultimately run off the floor by Oklahoma City in the Western Conference Semifinals. That's back-to-back seasons with soft-tissue injuries for Doncic, who's now officially the face of the franchise after LeBron James left in free agency this summer. Without James in the picture, one would assume Doncic would have more offensive responsibilities, but it's hard to improve on a league-leading 38.3 percent usage rate. He is arguably the best per-game fantasy player in basketball when healthy, but while he certainly belongs in the top tier, Doncic's robust turnovers, modest free-throw shooting and recent injury concerns make him slightly less reliable than Nikola Jokic or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Fantasy managers who gambled on Johnson last October got paid in full, as the oft-injured youngster finally stayed on the court for an entire season and delivered a monster breakout. He averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, joining Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to post 22/10/7 for a season. Johnson also earned his first All-Star nod and a spot on the All-NBA Third Team. At 6-foot-8, Johnson's game resembles a point guard trapped in a power forward's body. He rebounds like a big, pushes the ball in transition and runs the offense as the primary playmaker. Johnson racked up a dozen triple-doubles last season and the third-most double-doubles behind only Karl-Anthony Towns and Jokic. The lone red flag is durability, with shoulder, wrist and ankle injuries limiting his early-career availability, and even his healthy 2025-26 included short absences for hip, knee and shoulder flare-ups. While 72 regular-season appearances last year quiet the concern, they don't completely erase his track record. Johnson's shooting splits are also closer to solid than spectacular, and he's not going to dominate any single category in the way some first-round talents will. However, the across-the-board production is undeniable, and at only 24 years old, he may still have another gear. Johnson has graduated from promising prospect to elite fantasy producer, so you'll likely have to pay a fair, first-round price for one of the most productive fantasy players in basketball.

Flagg's rookie season lived up to every bit of the hype that surrounded his No. 1 overall selection. Across 70 games, he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 33.5 minutes, earning unanimous First Team All-Rookie honors and the Rookie of the Year award. He put together a legendary stretch run, including a 51-point outburst against Orlando (the youngest player ever to reach 50) and a near 45-point triple-double against the Lakers days later. Durability was a strength beyond the ankle issues. He battled a foot sprain that cost him eight games in February and March, plus a stretch of ankle trouble in January, but otherwise handled a massive workload for a teenager. The clearest weakness was efficiency from deep - 29.5 percent on threes. Heading into 2026-27, the biggest swing factor is Kyrie Irving's return from his knee injury. With Irving back in the backcourt, Flagg should see relief from the ball-handling and shot-creation burden he carried as a rookie, which could mean a dip in usage and counting stats but likely better efficiency, since he'll benefit from more open catch-and-shoot looks rather than manufacturing everything himself. The coaching change (Jason Kidd's departure) adds some uncertainty to how minutes and role are distributed, and rookie big man Morez Johnson's arrival could stir up frontcourt rotations, though that's more likely to affect the bigs than Flagg directly. Given his two-way skill set, motor, and the organization's clear intent to build around him, Flagg remains a top fantasy asset regardless of touches. He should still profile as a high-floor, multi-category contributor with MVP-caliber upside if his jumper progresses as expected.

Maxey delivered his best season yet in 2025-26, averaging career highs of 28.3 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 3.1 threes over 38.0 minutes across 70 regular-season games. He earned his second straight All-Star nod and cemented himself as Philadelphia's unquestioned engine, especially given the constant absences around him - Paul George missed time to suspension and injury, while Joel Embiid battled knee and oblique issues throughout. Maxey answered the call with career bests in usage, carrying stretches where he was averaging north of 30 points a night. He did miss time himself, most notably a 10-game absence with a tendon injury in his right pinkie finger, plus a brief illness stint. The playoffs were rockier. After a strong first round against Boston (26.9 points, 6.6 assists), Maxey and the Sixers were swept away by the Knicks in the second round, with visible fatigue setting in as he tried to shoulder the offense largely alone. Looking ahead to 2026-27, Maxey is expected to take a slight hit to his usage due to the acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, with George being sent to Boston. For all intents and purposes, Maxey should remain the team's No. 1 option, but his playmaking burden will probably be lessened, as could his need to play 37-plus minutes per game. As always in these types of situations, that could result in improved efficiency for Maxey. Ultimately, he still has plenty of potential to be a first-round fantasy value, but it's not as concrete now that Brown has been added to the mix.

Tatum ruptured his right Achilles in May during the 2025 playoffs, and rather than sitting out all of 2025-26 as expected, he returned in early March. Shockingly, he hardly faced any limitations, averaging 33.6 minutes per game across 22 appearances, postseason included. While he wasn't as efficient from the field as he usually is, Tatum was still very productive, averaging 22.2 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. However, he briefly left Game 6 of the opening-round playoff series against Philadelphia after appearing to tweak his knee, and while he downplayed the issue afterward, Tatum ended up missing Game 7, which Boston lost 109-100. The extent of the knee injury wasn't disclosed, but it's safe to assume the six-time All-Star was battling serious pain if the medical staff opted to shut him down. Presumably, Tatum will be 100 percent for training camp in 2026-27, though the team could proceed with caution throughout the year. Tatum's recent injury history isn't even the biggest storyline in Boston, as Jaylen Brown's relationship with the Celtics soured so badly that they had to flip him to an Eastern Conference rival, the Philadelphia 76ers. Newcomer Paul George should replace most of the missing production, but Brown averaged 19.3 shots per game over the past six seasons, opening up more opportunities for Tatum, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as well. Tatum is still only 28 years old and already proven to be one of the elite players in the league, giving him a top-10 fantasy upside when fully healthy. He's not as sure of a lock as he was a few years ago, but Tatum's track record of consistently producing superstar production is tough to match.

Cunningham, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, led the Pistons to the East's best regular-season record last year and their first No. 1 seed since 2007. He was also named to the All-NBA First Team, finished second in the league in assists and was even part of MVP conversations. The 6-foot-6 point guard plays a methodical, physical style, and he doesn't rely on explosive athleticism so much as size, craft and vision. He's the engine of everything Detroit does offensively, averaging 25.0 points and 9.5 assists on 47/35/83 shooting splits over the past two campaigns. While one of the best distributors in the league, Cunningham has struggled with turnovers in his career, never averaging fewer than 3.3 per game for a full season in his five-year career. Health concerns became a knock on Cunningham's profile after a shin surgery wiped out his second season, and he's yet to be fully healthy for an entire season, racking up 50 regular-season absences over the past three seasons, most recently due to a collapsed lung that he eventually played through during the Pistons' 2026 postseason run. The playoffs ended in disappointment, as Detroit couldn't cash in on its top seed and the Knicks stormed through the East. However, that shouldn't dent Cunningham's 2026-27 outlook, as he'll operate as the offensive fulcrum once again after the Pistons only made slight changes to their roster. In fantasy drafts, Cunningham belongs in the late first or early second round of points leagues, where his counting-stat volume shines brightest, and the second round of category formats, where turnovers and middling percentages knock him slightly. He's a foundational dynasty asset and one of the safest sources of assists in the league.

Edwards turned in another star-level campaign in 2025-26, posting career highs with 28.8 points to go with 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 3.4 threes, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks. He was named All-Star Game MVP, dropped a career-high 55 on the Spurs in January, and remained one of the league's most prolific volume three-point shooters. Though after playing at least 72 games in each of his first five seasons, Edwards appeared in just 61. A right foot issue cost him chunks of December and January, right knee inflammation sidelined him for stretches in March, and a knee bone bruise/hyperextension suffered in the first round hampered him throughout a second-round playoff exit against San Antonio. For a player whose fantasy appeal was long anchored by durability, that's a new wrinkle managers must weigh. Looking ahead, the biggest change is Minnesota's acquisition of LaMelo Ball, giving Edwards the high-end playmaking partner the franchise has lacked. Ball's arrival should reduce Edwards' on-ball creation burden, potentially boosting his scoring efficiency while trimming some of his assist volume, since he'll no longer be the sole initiator. Still, Edwards remains the clear centerpiece and No. 1 scoring option. Ball is also a shaky defender and injury risk himself, which could keep more defensive and closing responsibility on Edwards' plate. The floor here is still elite, and Edwards enters his age-25 season in his prime. The two real questions are whether the knee and foot maintenance become recurring, and how a new backcourt fit affects his assist and usage numbers. He's worth a late-first-round pick in all formats, but there's a bit more risk than in prior years.

Barnes earned his second All-Star nod in 2025-26 and was a stat-stuffing machine on both ends of the floor, as he was also named to the All-Defensive Second Team for the first time in his career. After playing in 65 or fewer regular-season games in each of the previous two seasons, Barnes appeared in a career-high 80 regular-season games in 2025-26, averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals in 33.5 minutes per contest. The star forward also recorded career-high marks from the field and the charity stripe, shooting 50.7 and 81.5 percent, respectively. The 25-year-old remained a below-average three-point shooter, knocking down 30.4 percent of his tries from downtown. However, it's worth noting that he started the year strong from outside, shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range over his first 21 games. He remained a skilled playmaker and tallied double-digit assists 12 times in the regular season, securing three triple-doubles. He also averaged at least 5.8 assists per game for a third straight year. Although Barnes should continue to facilitate offense for Toronto, he could see fewer shot attempts with seven-time All-Star Kawhi Leonard now in the mix. Still, Barnes' ability to produce across the stat sheet makes him a valuable asset in all fantasy formats. He's a viable early-round selection and has plenty of upside despite questions surrounding his usage alongside Leonard.

Mitchell continued to anchor Cleveland's core in 2025-26, averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3.2 three-pointers across 70 regular-season appearances while earning another All-NBA Second Team nod, finishing seventh in MVP voting and participating in the NBA All-Star Game for a seventh consecutive season. As the Cavaliers' unquestioned offensive leader, he remained one of the league's most explosive three-level scorers, combining elite shot creation with improved playmaking in a balanced offense. Entering 2026-27, Mitchell's fantasy outlook remains remarkably stable. He's a high-volume scorer who contributes across multiple categories without significantly hurting percentages, though occasional rest and minor injuries have become part of the equation as Cleveland prioritizes postseason success. His assist totals may fluctuate depending on backcourt usage, especially now that he shares the backcourt with James Harden, but his combination of points, threes and steals continues to make him a reliable early-round fantasy cornerstone. Managers should once again expect top-25 value with one of the safest floors among elite guards.

Leonard is fresh off one of the best statistical years of his career, averaging a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 triples and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc in 32.1 minutes per game across 65 regular-season appearances. The superstar also finished seventh in MVP voting and earned All-NBA Second Team honors, though his impressive campaign was overshadowed by the Clippers' Play-In Tournament loss and the NBA's salary-cap circumvention investigation. Following the investigation, the forward was officially traded back to Toronto, where he figures to form a formidable duo with fellow two-way star Scottie Barnes. A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Star, Leonard displayed last year that he still has plenty left in the tank. Although the Raptors boast strong depth and a talented roster, the 35-year-old is likely to serve as Toronto's primary option on the offensive end most nights. However, it wouldn't be surprising if Leonard's usage and minutes dipped a bit. Furthermore, the team could manage the veteran's availability, especially on back-to-back sets. Durability is always going to be a concern when drafting the aging star, but it's encouraging that he's played in at least 65 games in two of the last three regular seasons. There will be risk associated with Leonard given his injury history, age and new situation, but he's a solid pick in the early-to-middle rounds of fantasy drafts.

Curry remained elite when available in 2025-26, averaging 26.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from three and 92.3 percent from the line across 43 games. Availability is now the obvious concern entering his age-38 season, but there has been little evidence of a dramatic decline in his per-game scoring or shooting ability. Golden State continues to build around Curry, with Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford among the veterans on the roster, while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are expected to miss at least the first half of the season. That could leave Curry carrying another substantial offensive burden early, but don't be surprised if he misses time here and there due to workload management. The verdict is clear, though. If Curry is healthy, he's still an elite producer who delivers first-round or early second-round value depending on the format. His combination of elite three-point volume, scoring and free-throw percentage is still way above average. That said, managers drafting him must increasingly account for the likelihood that Curry will miss time at some point this season, as he has played 70 or more games just twice in the last nine campaigns.

Durant continues to defy Father Time. Despite turning 37, the veteran superstar was remarkably durable during his first season in Houston, appearing in 78 regular-season games while playing 36.4 minutes per contest. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.8 steals en route to All-NBA Second Team honors and another All-Star nod. He shot 52.0 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from deep and 87.4 percent from the line, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in a season and recording his fourth straight year of 25-plus points on 50/40 shooting. No other player in league history has more than three such seasons. The historically absurd efficiency keeps Durant in the early rounds of category leagues even as the rebounds decline. The playoff story was less rosy. Houston was bounced by the Lakers in six games in the first round, with Durant appearing in just one game of the series. For now, he remains under contract through 2027-28, but if the Rockets falter next season, a midseason relocation can't be ruled out for a player who's suited up for five teams over the past decade. Durant turns 38 in September, and while he continues to play heavy minutes, Houston could dial his workload back with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and a returning Fred VanVleet capable of carrying more of the load. With elite points, threes and percentages, Durant's floor remains extraordinary, and he shouldn't slip past the third round in any fantasy drafts.