Second-Year Fantasy Basketball Breakouts for 2025-26

Fantasy Basketball draft season is all about finding value, and considerable value often comes from players making a Year 2 jump. Here's a deep dive into 10 key sophomores preparing to shatter expectations and become must-have fantasy basketball assets.

NBA Sophomore Breakouts

Bub Carrington, Wizards

Carrington was one of the most predominant rookies last season, taking on a significant role almost immediately, including starting in his first game and a total of 57 on the season. He also appeared in all 82 games. He averaged 9.8 points per outing but struggled to be efficient, hitting just 40.1 percent from the field. Nonetheless, he showed well-rounded capability with 4.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 0.7 steals per game. He is expected to pick up where he left off as the starting point guard for the Wizards, but he should derive additional benefit from the presence of veteran additions to the lineup CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton. 

Stephon Castle, Spurs

Castle did not take long to earn himself a starting role last season. He went on to start in 47 of his 81 appearances, averaging 16.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 0.9 steals over those games and finishing it off with the Rookie of the Year Award. He is set to begin the new campaign as the starting shooting guard for the Spurs, alongside De'Aaron Fox in the backcourt. With a great lineup surrounding him and a clear-cut role, Castle has the path laid out for him to flourish in his second season. He is likely to have plenty of room to work on offense, as Victor Wembanyama's gravity and Fox's drive-and-kick ability should open up plenty of driving lanes and open shots. 

Matas Buzelis, Bulls

Buzelis got off to a modest start to his NBA career but showed flashes of what he could do. By the midpoint of the season, the forward earned himself a starting role. He went on to average 12.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting, including 34.6 percent from deep as a starter through the final 32 games of the campaign. With the Bulls' commitment towards building around their young core, Buzelis has the green light to keep exploring his game and pushing for his potential. With his diverse skillset and size, he will surely continue to fill the boxscore with high-efficiency play and a solid defensive presence.  

Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers

Clingan began his rookie season on the bench but was able to make the most of a few opportunities due to injuries in the lineup. He made a big impression with a 17-point, 12-rebound, eight-block outing in early November. From there, he went back-and-forth from the bench to a starting role, also dealing with a period of injury trouble. However, after returning to action, he closed the season with an average of 8.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over 27 consecutive starts. He is in line to begin his second season as the starting center for a young Trail Blazers lineup. Clingan should continue to rack up the stats thanks to his imposing size, finishing ability and defensive awareness in the paint. 

Alex Sarr, Wizards

Sarr was the second overall pick last season and was given the go-ahead from the Wizards to take on as much as he could handle through his rookie season. Although he struggled with his efficiency, shooting just 39.4 percent from the field and averaging 13.0 points per game, he showed multi-faceted offensive ability and a knack for blocking shots. Meanwhile, the addition of a couple veterans to the lineup should help promote structure in the offense and contribute to better efficiency in the big man's game. He will certainly remain a critical presence on both ends of the floor and has the opportunity to maximize his production. 

Kel'el Ware, Heat

Ware got off to a slow start in his rookie season, largely limited by injury trouble. However, he found his groove and earned a permanent starting spot by the midpoint of the campaign. He averaged 10.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks through his final 44 games, where he started all but two outings, including playoffs. He brings great athleticism to his position, and lined up alongside Bam Adebayo, he helps form what can be one of the league's most impenetrable frontcourts. With one year under his belt, he can be expected to come back stronger and more savvy, which should help him compete for rebounds at a top-tier level. He is also likely to build on his reputation as a notable shot-blocker.  

Reed Sheppard, Rockets

Sheppard was largely not utilized and unimpressive through his rookie season, averaging just 4.4 points on 35.1 percent shooting in 12.6 minutes per game over 52 appearances. However, he could be in line to handle a much more significant role after the Rockets' starting point guard, Fred VanVleet, suffered a torn ACL that could keep him out for the season. Sheppard came into the league known for his three-point shooting and playmaking, while also being a pesky defender. He has a great chance to settle into his game with more playing time, and he should also benefit from having a player like Kevin Durant in the lineup, who can divert a lot of defensive attention and open up the floor. 

Isaiah Collier, Jazz

Collier stepped up to shine as a facilitator for the Jazz, as they struggled with injury trouble and continuity in the lineup for most of last season. Amidst the instability in his surroundings, Collier stuck to the essentials and proved to be a hard-nosed competitor that can shine in his role as a playmaker, averaging 6.3 assists in 25.9 minutes per game. He is in place to carry on as the starting point guard. With good strength for the position, Collier should continue to set the tone by putting pressure on the opponent and facilitating for his bigs that can finish in the paint. 

Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies

Wells was one of last season's most impressive rookies, seamlessly fitting his role to contribute to the Grizzlies' solid season despite constant lineup fluctuations. He excelled at the little things necessary for team success, showing discipline in rebounding, off-ball movement, and defense. Averaging 25.9 minutes per game, there's significant room to improve on his 10.4 points per game from last year. He should continue to thrive in this nuanced role, effectively filling gaps around the offensive talents of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson 

Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks

Risacher was last year's first overall draft pick, and the Hawks wasted no time in putting him to work. He came off the bench for just two games before starting for the rest of the season and averaged 12.6 points on 45.8 percent shooting in 24.6 minutes per game. He also logged eight games with at least 20 points, including a season high of 38. After handling such a significant amount of responsibility through his rookie season, he should feel the game slow down in year two and continue to emerge as a legitimate scoring threat from the wing. 

Honorable Mentions

Kyle Filipowski, Jazz

Ronald Holland, Pistons

Tristan da Silva, Magic

Ryan Dunn, Suns

Yves Missi, Pelicans

Jonathan Mogbo, Raptors

Kyshawn George, Wizards

Zach Edey, Grizzlies

Jared McCain, 76ers

Tidjane Salaun, Hornets