Fantasy Basketball Rankings 2025-26: Too-Early Player Tiers

Discover fantasy basketball's top players with our tiered guide. Identify league-winners, sleepers, and high-upside picks for your winning draft strategy!

July 3, 2025

Fantasy Basketball Rankings 2025-26: Too-Early Player Tiers

By:

Alex Barutha

July 3, 2025

NBA Draft Strategy

Fantasy Basketball: Top NBA Tiers & Draft Strategies

NBA free agency is wrapping up, which means we have a pretty good idea of how teams are looking ahead of the 2025-26 season. We're working on our initial set of 2025-26 fantasy basketball projections here at RotoWire, but before those are live, I wanted to publish a way-too-early fantasy basketball rankings.

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.

These aren't married to a specific league type -- be that points or categories -- but are rather broken down into tiers based on general fantasy value. Broadly considered are upside, floor, age, injury history, team context and the like. It's a subjective list that will need updating after free agency is completely over, after Summer League is concluded, as training camps begin, and as preseason is underway. But before the dust settles, this is what we have:

Tier 1: MVPs

Almost certainly one of the players you'll draft with a Top 5 pick, regardless of format. They provide elite, multi-category production with unmatched volume and efficiency, capable of carrying your weekly matchups and securing high rankings across the board. Drafting one of these players sets the foundation for a dominant season.

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Luka Doncic, Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks
- The free-throw percentage is an issue, but one that doesn't matter in points leagues and can be worked around in category formats. Given the Bucks' lack of other offensive options, we could see a massive year from Antetokounmpo.

Tier 2: Elite Contributors

High-end fantasy assets who consistently deliver top-tier numbers in multiple categories. They are often the best player on their real-life team and a strong candidate for your first or second-round pick, offering fantastic returns on investment.

Cade Cunningham, Pistons
Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves
Trae Young, Hawks
Domantas Sabonis, Kings
Anthony Davis, Mavericks
- Consider me always worried about AD's injury history, but he's going to run the show in Dallas and could have one of his best fantasy seasons to date.
James Harden, Clippers
Devin Booker, Suns

Tier 3: Potentially-Elite Building Blocks

This tier is a mix of high-upside and high-floor players, and where aging stars meet rising young players. Plenty of these players have Tier 2, or ever Tier 1, upside if everything breaks right. But some of them have injury issues and are better for some fantasy league types than others.

Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks
- Has recently had more injury issues, and with Tom Thibodeau gone, KAT could see his minutes reduced.
Tyrese Maxey, 76ers
Kevin Durant, Rockets
Stephen Curry, Warriors
LeBron James, Lakers
Jalen Johnson, Hawks
Jalen Williams, Thunder
LaMelo Ball, Hornets
- Will this be the year he stays healthy?
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
Scottie Barnes, Raptors
- How will usage be distributed on this Toronto team?
Bam Adebayo, Heat
Jaylen Brown, Celtics
- How much will Boston be Jaylen Brown's show? Or will Jayson Tatum's usage be more evenly distributed?
De'Aaron Fox, Spurs
Josh Giddey, Bulls
- The Bulls are heading full speed toward mediocrity, but Giddey is driving the car.
Paolo Banchero, Magic
Chet Holmgren, Thunder
Alperen Sengun, Rockets
Jalen Brunson, Knicks
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers
Franz Wagner, Magic
Pascal Siakam, Pacers
- Siakam should lead Indiana in usage with Tyrese Haliburton injured.
Derrick White, Celtics

Tier 4: All-Star Talent, With a Catch

Players in this tier are highly talented but also often come with a catch. This is where you'll find Joel Embiid, Ja Morant and Zion Williamson, for example. Can they stay healthy? Safer options are available here, too, but come with less upside.

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Tier 5: Quality Starters and Specialists

These players can put up fringe All-Star numbers or are specialists for category-based leagues. Most fantasy managers start taking bigger gambles after this tier.

Walker Kessler, Jazz
- Trade rumors are flying. What would his role be if he got dealt?
Trey Murphy, Pelicans
Jalen Duren, Pistons
Jarrett Allen, Cavaliers
Coby White, Bulls
Jimmy Butler, Warriors
Myles Turner, Bucks
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
- Has upside to be Dallas' No. 2 offense option if he's ready, at least before Kyrie Irving returns
Jakob Poeltl, Raptors
Paul George, 76ers
Mark Williams, Suns

Tier 6: Starters with Unpredictable Production

This is where fantasy drafts start to get uncomfortable. Many guys in this tier are glorified role players whose team context is wildly variable. In addition, they're typically old or injury-prone.

Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves
Malik Monk, Kings
- Seems like the Kings are interested in trading him, which would likely be bad for his fantasy value
Jalen Green, Suns
Brandon Ingram, Raptors
Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder
Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers
- With Deandre Ayton on the Lakers, can Clingan improve enough as a player and athlete to see close to 30 minutes per game?
Julius Randle, Timberwolves
DeMar DeRozan, Kings
Jordan Poole, Pelicans
Miles Bridges, Hornets
John Collins, Jazz
- Please don't ask me to predict anything happening with the Jazz.
Fred VanVleet, Rockets
Cam Thomas, Nets
Cameron Johnson, Nuggets
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
Nic Claxton, Nets
CJ McCollum, Wizards
- Please don't ask me to predict anything happening with the Wizards.
Michael Porter, Nets
- Will life away from Nikola Jokic be brutal?

Tier 7: Fliers, Sleepers & Others Receiving Votes

Players here have value heavily tied to league type, and many of them play in confusing team contexts where they could boom or bust. Some names are high-floor options more suited for deep leagues. We might have to wait until preseason to sort a lot of this out.