2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Late-Round Lottery Tickets

The NBA season tips off in less than a week, and if you haven't finalized your fantasy basketball draft strategy, the clock is ticking! Finding hidden fantasy gems or high-upside late-round sleepers is the key to winning your league. While many managers focus on the top 100 players, true value often lies beyond that.

Fear not, because this in-depth fantasy basketball guide uncovers a number of players with an Average Draft Position (ADP) outside the top 100 who are poised to deliver sustainable fantasy value and become league-winning draft picks this season. Get ready to find your secret weapons and dominate your category leagues with these expert picks for fantasy basketball 2025-2026.

Fantasy Basketball Late-Round Sleepers

Zach Edey, Grizzlies (ADP: 118)

The obvious concern when it comes to Edey is the fact that he underwent offseason surgery, likely costing him at least the first few weeks of the season. While this drags his ADP down, it does not make him someone you need to avoid altogether. After a strong finish to his rookie season, it appears as though he is locked in as the starting center and, perhaps more importantly, will play closer to starter's minutes than he did for much of last season. If he can get to 28 minutes per night, his elite blocks upside, coupled with efficient scoring and strong rebounding numbers, could see him flirt with top-50 value on a per-game basis.

Dereck Lively, Mavericks (ADP: 110.6)

Despite the continued presence of Daniel Gafford, Lively is clearly the center the Mavericks want to prioritize alongside Anthony Davis. While he is coming off surgery himself, Lively has little competition for minutes at the moment, with Gafford sidelined due to an ankle injury. A lack of offensive versatility does limit his overall upside, as does the fact that he will be sharing the floor with multiple rebounding options, namely Davis, Cooper Flagg and PJ Washington. However, if he can stay healthy and continue to develop, playing 26 minutes per night is not out of the question, putting him firmly in the discussion to be a top 80 player when all is said and done.

Tari Eason, Rockets (ADP: 116.2)

It's much easier to make a case for Eason, given his proven per-minute upside. He finished the 2024-25 season as the 65th-ranked player in category leagues, in just 24.9 minutes per game. While the Rockets have increased the top-end talent, bringing in Kevin Durant, Eason should still feature prominently on a nightly basis. Fred VanVleet is likely to miss the entire season due to an ACL injury, meaning everyone on the roster will be doing a little more. Factoring in a slight increase in playing time for Eason, simple math would tell us that he could once again be a solid top-70 asset, typically available in the 10th round of many drafts.

Reed Sheppard, Rockets (ADP: 117)

Another beneficiary of the injury to VanVleet, it appears as though Sheppard will be the starting point guard come Opening Night. It will be a massive step up for the sophomore after averaging just 12.6 minutes per game during his rookie season, suiting up on 52 occasions. With such a small sample size, it's hard to get a good read on what he might be able to do in starter's minutes. With that said, he is a noted defender who has demonstrated the ability to run an offense. At this point in any category league draft, the reward typically outweighs the risk. Conservatively, Sheppard should be viewed as a potential top-80 player this season, with the upside to finish even higher, should his skill set translate better than expected.

Cason Wallace, Thunder (ADP: 124.9)

Wallace ended his second season in the NBA as a top-100 player in category leagues, albeit only just. He closed as the 99th-ranked player, thanks largely to the fact that he averaged 1.8 steals per game. Had it not been for the historic season laid down by Dyson Daniels, Wallace would likely have received more attention for his defensive exploits. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and we have a situation where the lack of media attention could work in the favor of fantasy managers. The Thunder roster remains basically unchanged this season, running it back after a memorable 2024-25 campaign. With that said, Wallace is probably the one player who could see an uptick in playing time, which can only help his overall appeal. Even with just two extra minutes, he could hypothetically flirt with top-70 value, making him a somewhat safe target outside the top 100.

Kyshawn George, Wizards (ADP: 140.1)

There is certainly an element of risk when it comes to considering George, if not only for the fact that he plays for the Wizards. Coming off a solid rookie season, George looks set to be handed a starting role this season, at least until Bilal Coulibaly returns to the court. He followed up his rookie campaign with a strong showing in the recent Summer League, as well as a promising preseason. Offense remains a big question mark, one that could make or break his season. He has the defensive chops to play a key role, but if he can't develop his scoring, his opportunities could remain limited. With that said, at pick 143, there is almost no risk involved, making him one of my favorite late-round targets.

Brice Sensabaugh, Jazz (ADP: 138.5)

Sensabaugh is another player who comes with risk, with Utah running one of the more unpredictable rotations in the league. Now in his third season, Sensabaugh has yet to establish himself as a key piece for the Jazz. In 20.2 minutes per game last season, he averaged 10.9 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. However, through six preseason games, he has shown far more aggression, averaging 22.0 points, 1.0 steals and 3.7 three-pointers in 24.3 minutes per game. Given the lack of peripheral stats, it's going to be a fine line when it comes to Sensabaugh as a sustainable fantasy asset. But once again, taking someone this late in drafts eliminates all the risk.