As the 2025-26 NBA season looms, fantasy basketball managers are on the hunt for the perfect roster to dominate their leagues, and the “Do Draft List” is your guide to securing the players who can lead you to victory.
This year’s list spotlights a select group of athletes poised for breakout performances, undervalued gems, or consistent production that makes them must-haves in any draft. Whether it’s young stars ready to take the next step, veterans in prime situations, or hidden talents flying under the radar, these players offer the upside and reliability to elevate your fantasy squad. Dive in to discover the names you should prioritize to build a championship contender.
Notes: I will be using the current FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings to compile a Do Draft List. These rankings do change as the offseason progresses, so the numbers may not match later. I hope they are closer to mine.
Each of the following players is a green flag for me in either 8-cat or points formats, or both. You might not have to reach for these players, but there is a chance I will do this in drafts. The list should be good in either eight-category or points leagues unless indicated.
The brackets after a player’s name include: (Fantasy Pros Ranks vs. My Rank). I will release my full rankings soon. Here’s a link to my “Do Not Draft List.”
I’ll Siakam and Raise You to Round 3
Pascal Siakam (#28 vs. #37)
The fantasy community has caught up to SF Pascal Siakam in points, but hasn’t yet found him in categories. Let me move the dial a little. The Tyrese Halliburton injury left a void on the Indiana Pacers, especially in playmaking. This offseason, several Indiana players are being bandied as sleeper picks: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, and Aaron Nesmith.
But what if the guy who’s done it before does it again? Siakam used to average almost 6 assists and 8 boards per game as the centerpiece of Toronto. The team also shed their starting center, Myles Turner, so there’s rebounding space too. Siakam is one of the best non-centers in FG% and should raise his scoring a little bit.
Yes, he’s a negative in FT%. However, he’d make a spectacular third-round combo with Luka Doncic or Giannis Antetokounmpo in a punt FT% strategy. He has also averaged 79 games over the last two seasons, and hasn’t played fewer than 68 games in a season since the 2020-2021 campaign.
Would happily take Siakam in Round 3, regardless of format.
Deni All You Want – And Stay Sharpe
Deni Avidja (#48 vs. #62)
& Shaedon Sharpe (#85 vs. #98)
I’ve been beating the drums on Portland Trail Blazers SF Deni Avdija and SG Shaedon Sharpe all offseason. I don’t get it: who do people think will score on Portland? Jeremi Grant looked washed last year. Jrue Holiday is not that easy a contract to move, and he’s not a big scoring point guard. Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara are still developing their offensive game. Scoot Henderson will split time with Holiday.
I’m especially in on Avdija. He’s one of the best rebounding and shooting small forwards in the NBA. He’s a plus in every category but FT%, which might also be improving. He finished just inside the top 70 last year, so I’ve split the difference to put him 48th. However, I can imagine him finishing in the top 40 or even top 30 this year.
I think Avdija has untapped potential that will scale with more minutes. He averaged just 30 minutes per game last year and is entering Year 5, so he’s mature enough to handle a higher workload.
Sharpe gives you more than just scoring, too: he averaged almost three assists and two 3 pointers per game, is a decent rebounding guard, and could be a plus in FT%. Like Avdija, he had some very impressive lines down the stretch. Cheap as my ranking is, this is still above consensus. His upside makes him a target in points leagues and good in FG% punt builds. The investment in Sharpe is cheap enough (9th round or lower) that even if he doesn’t make the big leap, you’ll still get paid enough for keeping him.
Would happily take Avdija in Round 5 and Sharpe in Round 9.
Payton’s Place Is Not The 9th Round
PG Payton Pritchard (#66 vs. #88)
Celtics PG Payton Pritchard won the 6th Man of the Year Award last season. He also finished in the top 60 on ESPN’s Player Rater last year, and should not be going in Round 9. Pritchard was fifth on the Celtics last year in scoring, and he was in the top five in 3PG last year. Let’s put this another way: the only category in which point guard Pritchard went negative last year was blocked shots.
Besides, maybe the biggest offseason story was the Boston Celtics absolutely demolishing their depth chart in the wake of the Jayson Tatum injury. The subtractions total around 72 PPG out of the 116 PPG the team scored last year. The only other Boston player in the top seven in scoring to survive the carnage was Derrick White. I also have White above consensus, but not as much as Pritchard. That leaves a TON of scoring space for Pritchard. Boston added volume scorer Anfernee Simons, but they announced Pritchard would start over him.
Considering how weak their depth chart is in the frontcourt, Boston could lead the NBA in Pace Factor this year. There are enough playmakers in Boston to give Pritchard open looks. I think he could easily raise his scoring to 18-20 PPG and offset any possible loss of efficiency with his volume. Draft with confidence. Last year was his floor.
Would happily take Pritchard in Round 7. But it would probably be safe to wait until Round 8.
Late-Round Green Lights
All of these players have double-digit round consensus rankings. If any of these guys aren’t getting minutes, don’t hesitate to drop them and pick up the flavor of the month. But I think all of them will have positive value with your last few picks.
PG Kevin Porter, Jr., Milwaukee Bucks (#115 vs. #136)
Based on the consensus rankings, Porter is listed after Jeremi Grant and T.J.McConnell. I suspect some of this is distaste for a man convicted of reckless assault against his girlfriend. I will understand if you do not want to own Porter. For a green flag, he’s definitely a red flag, too. However, after a year in exile in Greece, Porter, Jr. came back last year and was traded to the Bucks midseason.
This year, Porter is expected to be the starting PG for the Bucks. The last time Porter had a starting position in the NBA was in Houston, where he averaged 17 PPG, six assists, and five boards per game with over a steal per game. This wasn’t one fluke year; those were his averages over three seasons starting for the Rockets.
Porter is still just 25 years old, and averaged 12 PPG with around 4 rebounds and assists per game last year with Milwaukee in just 20 minutes. That scales close to his Houston averages. There is room for a scoring point in this offense in a hole left by the Damian Lillard injury, then the buyout.
If he’s anywhere close to 30 minutes per game, he will easily outflank his double-digit round position. He won’t be a total zero even if he gets just 25 minutes. Better in points formats, Porter should also be a good late-round choice for FT% or especially FG% punt builds.
Would happily take Porter in Round 11, especially in points leagues.
SG/SF Norman Powell, Miami Heat (#87 vs. #103)
Powell made a huge leap last year, scoring almost 22 points a game on 48% shooting. One would suspect Miami acquired Powell to do the same thing for them. I understand why the Clippers traded Powell, as they were retooling their roster to add more big men. However, Powell was a huge boost for them last year. ESPN graded the deal an A for the Heat. I’d add the plus.
Powell doesn’t rebound well and isn’t a prolific passer, but he’s a big up in the FT% and FG% categories. It’s hard to find players this late who produce volume scoring and are pluses in the percentages. He’s also a good source of three pointers and could definitely lead the Heat in scoring. Powell finished 83rd on the Player Rater last year and should easily outpace his 11th-round status.
Would happily take Powell in Round 11, regardless of format.
SF Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks (#100 vs. #151)
The #1 pick in the 2024 Draft posted awesome efficiency numbers down the stretch, shooting almost 50% from the floor and over 40% from three-point range on good volume (5.5 shots per game). Risacher should have the starting small forward spot all to himself this year and should be counted on for offense. I also like Hawks players in general because they were near the top of the league in Pace Factor last year.
A 50%+ shooting year with 17-18 PPG, 2.5 threes per game, and 2 stocks (steals + blocks) is not out of the question. He’s probably better suited for categories than points right now, due to his shooting and stocks. But it’s nice to have a player in points formats with few minuses, and Risacher also seldom turns the ball over. In categories, he’s also a good late pick in an assists or FT% punt.
Would happily take Risacher in Round 11.
SG Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings (#133 vs. #163 in categories)
Categories only for Ellis, but if you weren’t aware of Ellis’ usefulness in 8-cat last year, let me educate you. Ellis finished 67th in the NBA on ESPN’s Player Rater, a notable achievement considering the 8-category tool, despite playing just 24.4 minutes per game for the entire season.
Yes, the Kings signed Dennis Schroeder, but there’s no reason Ellis can’t get 28 minutes per game this year. He did plenty with less last year. Ellis was 5th in the NBA in steals and 11th in steals per game. He’s also a good source of out-of-position blocks, finishing third among guards in the category. He was above-average in every category last year.
New Orleans’ Herbert Jones outkicks his draft position every year he stays healthy, and Ellis should, too. The guard is valuable enough that Golden State wanted him in Jonathan Kuminga trade talks, and Sacramento said no. He’ll never score a ton of points, but he’s a great, late glue guy for your rosters.
Would happily take Ellis in Round 12 or 13 in 8-cat, though skip in points formats.
