Gaining an advantage in fantasy basketball often requires foresight, as demonstrated by unexpected breakthroughs like Tyler Herro`s No. 13 Player Rater finish or Ivica Zubac`s 16.8 PPG and 12.6 RPG last season. Few anticipated these performances, yet those who did secured a significant edge in their leagues.
To help you prepare for the upcoming season, we`ve consulted our panel of fantasy basketball experts – André Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick, and Steve Alexander – for their most audacious predictions for the 2025-26 season.
Brandon Miller will finish in the top 40 on the Player Rater
Despite an average draft position of 85th in current ESPN live drafts, Miller is already a trusted offensive option for his coaching staff, and his playmaking skills are steadily improving. With the potential to sink a high volume of three-pointers and his talent for accumulating defensive stats, he could emerge as a premier `3-and-D` fantasy wing this season, similar to Trey Murphy III`s trajectory. Miller`s unique combination of slashing and shooting for a player of his build sets him apart at his position. — Jim McCormick
Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard will both finish top 50 in fantasy points this season, and at least one of them will finish in the top 20
Joel Embiid and Kawhi Leonard are consistently top-tier fantasy basketball assets when healthy, but they are notorious for significant time missed due to injuries. Last season, they collectively sat out 108 of a potential 164 games. However, I anticipate a resurgent season for both. Entering the season in relatively good health, they would only need to play 60-65 games at their usual high level to achieve these targets. — André Snellings
Four Celtics will finish among the top 10 in made 3-pointers this season, even with Tatum out
The Boston Celtics led the league in both attempted and made three-pointers last season, a trend I believe will persist despite star Jayson Tatum`s absence for much, if not all, of the season. I predict four Celtics players – Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Anfer Simons, and Sam Hauser – will rank among the top 10 in made three-pointers this season, with Jaylen Brown, the team`s primary scorer, also coming very close. — Eric Karabell
Matas Buzelis will be a top-25 fantasy player
I envision the Bulls integrating Matas Buzelis into their starting lineup, allocating him approximately 30 minutes per game. His diverse skill set is perfectly suited for fantasy production, offering a valuable combination of blocks, steals, three-pointers, and rebounds. Despite his underwhelming statistics from last season, leading to him being overlooked in later draft rounds, Buzelis possesses immense upside, comparable to nearly any player in this year`s draft class. I am targeting him in all my leagues. — Steve Alexander
LaMelo Ball plays more than 70 games
LaMelo Ball`s elite fantasy potential is undeniable whenever he steps onto the court. Last season, he demonstrated his comprehensive impact with averages of 25.2 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.9 RPG, and 3.8 three-pointers. His persistent health issues, however, have limited him to just 105 games over the last three seasons. I predict that this season, Ball will finally surpass 70 games played. At only 24 years old, he has fully recovered from his ankle and wrist surgeries, and Charlotte`s improved roster depth should aid in managing his playing time. If he remains healthy, he possesses legitimate top-15 fantasy value. — Eric Moody
