The 2026-27 NBA season officially tips off on Tuesday, October 20, and that means it's the last call to draft your fantasy basketball teams. Landing stat-sheet-stuffers like Nuggets C Nikola Jokic are always at the forefront, but fantasy managers can get true league winners by finding value in the later rounds.
That could come via rookies, sleepers, and breakout seasons. Fantasy basketball sleepers are always a focus, as managers hope to land undervalued players who can help fuel a fantasy title.
Let’s highlight 5 sleepers to target for your fantasy basketball drafts, with stats, roles, and NBASZN projections on PrizePicks pointing to potential breakouts ahead.
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5 Sleeper Players to Target in Your Fantasy Basketball Drafts
Fantasy basketball sleepers are always focused on value. Which players can surpass their average draft position (ADP), even potentially becoming a star player in a breakout season?
Let’s break down 5 NBA players to target for your fantasy basketball drafts this weekend, with each target including ADP from Hashtag Basketball and NBASZN projections via PrizePicks. We’ll only focus on players surpassing a 40.0 ADP.
On PrizePicks, you can predict More or Less for an NBA player’s per-game averages for the 2026-27 season — including points per game, assists per game, and more. For some of the league’s brightest stars, users can take More or Less for how many 50+ or 40+ point games a player records in the upcoming season.
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Lakers C Walker Kessler
Fantasy Basketball Draft ADP: 52.5
NBASZN Projections via PrizePicks: 11.7 Rebounds Per Game
The Lakers' completion of a sign-and-trade with the Jazz to land C Walker Kessler was one of the most notable moves of the offseason.
For fantasy purposes, why could Kessler become a steal? His bread and butter is racking up boards and blocks, proven by 9.3 rebounds per game (RPG) and 2.4 blocks per game (BPG) over his four-year career.
Plus, Kessler has shown progress in the scoring department, going from 8.1 PPG to 11.1 PPG in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Before suffering a season-ending torn labrum last season, Kessler was recording 14.4 PPG over five contests.
His season-ending injury from last season is likely making Kessler fall a little under the radar, but his 11.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.4 BPG, and 32.7 fantasy points per game (FPPG) from 2024-25 catches the eye.
That per-game fantasy point total was on pace to finish as the sixth-best mark among centers, but 58 games played led to a C15 finish. He appeared in 74 and 64 games in his first two seasons, providing some comfort for availability.
Of course, Kessler needs an increased role to become valuable with his 52.5 ADP, and the Lakers offer just that. Los Angeles C Kevon Looney is the main big man competing for minutes, and he’s 30 and hasn’t surpassed 15.0 minutes per game (MPG) since 2023-24.
The former Auburn big posted 30.0 MPG in 2024-25, followed by 30.8 MPG over five games last year. This kind of workload could even increase in L.A., and the Lakers have plenty of shot attempts open alongside G Luka Doncic and G Austin Reaves.
Kessler is as efficient as they come with an elite 68.8% career effective field goal percentage (eFG%). The 7-foot-2 center usually stays parked around the rim, as his 5.5 rim attempts per game were in the 90th percentile of 2024-25, per databallr.
With Kessler healthy and an increased role likely ahead, he has a shot to break out as one of the Association’s top centers, providing true value in fantasy basketball.
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Hornets PF/C Naz Reid
Fantasy Basketball Draft ADP: 62.9
NBASZN Projections via PrizePicks: 16.0 Points Per Game | 6.6 Rebounds Per Game
Unlike Walker Kessler, Naz Reid brings a more versatile offensive game, potentially scoring more fantasy points thanks to 3-point shots.
Over Reid’s final three seasons in Minnesota, he averaged 5.5 3-point shots per game, shooting 41.4%, 37.9%, and 36.2% from beyond the arc. In the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Reid’s 62.1% and 56.8% true 3-point shooting percentages finished in the 93rd and 85th percentiles.
Further, Reid can add some positional versatility to your lineup, filling the power forward or center spot. Additionally, Reid is headed for an elevated role as a starter on the Hornets; he’s never started more than 17 games in a season.
We’ve seen enough of Reid — proven by 25.9 MPG, 11.1 field goal attempts per game (FGA), and 13.8 PPG since 2023-24 — to know he’s efficient. With his usage likely increasing across the board, especially with G LaMelo Ball no longer in Charlotte, Reid could have a breakout year on hand.
He’s not limited to just scoring with 5.8 RPG and 1.9 assists per game (APG) since the 2023-24 season. Plus, his 0.9 BPG from the split adds another wrinkle to his fantasy output.
How often Charlotte puts Reid on the ball is something to watch. He’s got rare handle for a big, and that leads to more opportunities to hunt his shot or dish out assists.
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Bulls F Caleb Wilson
Fantasy Basketball Draft ADP: 81.0
NBASZN Projections via PrizePicks: 16.6 Points Per Game | 7.9 Rebounds Per Game
Now we’re getting into this absurd rookie class. Of course we have to circle a couple for your fantasy basketball drafts. The obvious answer is Caleb Wilson, who has the second-shortest payout to win Rookie of the Year (3.84x) on PrizePicks.
Rookies are always tricky. We don’t have a sample size to know their role, and it’s always a guessing game on a first-year player’s efficiency transitioning to the pros.
However, Wilson not only showcased a new trait that has the league clamoring, but he’s also on a Bulls team with a boatload of shots available.
Let’s get a couple of things out of the way; Wilson will get boards, as seen by 9.4 RPG in 31.3 MPG at North Carolina. At the Summer League, Wilson tallied 7.3 RPG over four games with 27.5 MPG.
His ability to chase down blocks thanks to elite athleticism is another area to watch, as Wilson posted 1.4 BPG in college and produced 2.5 BPG at the Summer League.
His scoring is what’s driving the preseason hype. He totaled 23.5 PPG at the Summer League, and his 41.9% 3-point percentage was a revelation. He shot 25.9% from deep with 1.1 attempts per game in college.
Wilson fell back to Earth in the preseason, knocking down only 7 of 24 3-point looks (29.2%). However, he still managed 15.8 PPG over 27.5 MPG. We saw shades of Wilson’s ability to create off dribble at UNC, and he’s consistently displayed that throughout the offseason as a Bull.
On a Chicago team led by G Josh Giddey, G Normal Powell, and F Matas Buzelis, plenty of shots should be ahead for the rookie. If he maintains solid 3-point efficiency, watch out; we could be looking at a 20.0+ PPG rook.
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Kings PG Darius Acuff Jr.
Fantasy Basketball Draft ADP: 113.0
NBASZN Projections via PrizePicks: 20.0 Points Per Game (Demon) | 5.0 Assists Per Game (Demon)
Darius Acuff Jr. was one of the nation’s most efficient players at Arkansas, tallying 23.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 3.1 RPG with a 56.1% eFG% and 44.0% mark from 3-point land. Further, he maintained a strong 2.9 assist-to-turnover ratio with 2.2 turnovers per game.
While Acuff totaled 20.6 PPG at the Summer League, he sported a brutal 40.0% eFG% (25th percentile), via The 5th Factor, while knocking down only 27.0% of 3-point attempts. His 3.8 turnovers per game finished in the third percentile.
I won’t sugarcoat it; the turnovers are a major concern, as he posted 4.0 per game over three preseason games. However, he continued to showcase high volume by taking 15.7 shots per game in the preseason.
With a 2.22x payout to reach 25+ wins this season, the Kings should be one of the league’s worst teams this season. The offense is spearheaded by G Zach LaVine, G Ben Simmons, F Keegan Murray, and C Domantas Sabonis.
Simmons is mostly Acuff’s only threat to take point guard duties, and I’ll take my chances there. With that said, Acuff should be on the ball a ton this season, providing chances to score and assist.
For Acuff to reach true fantasy value, his efficiency and turnovers must improve. He’s a rookie; maybe it’ll take some time, but from what I saw in college, once again, I’ll take my chances.
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Jazz F Ace Bailey
Fantasy Basketball Draft ADP: 129.9
With Ace Bailey, we’re simply projecting a breakout. His 2025-26 rookie season wasn’t anything to write home about, totaling 13.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 23.8 FPPG (142).
However, he started in 61 of 72 appearances, logging a healthy 27.6 MPG. Plus, we have a sample size of what a breakout could look like.
The former #5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft displayed his scoring potential with 20.0 PPG on 31.5 MPG over the final 13 games of last season. His efficiency was meh, shooting 43.5% from the floor and 33.3% from deep in the split.
But Bailey finished his overall rookie campaign shooting 46.1% and 36.0% on triples. If his efficiency is solid, plenty of catch-and-shoot opportunities should be ahead around Jazz G Keyonte George and G Darryn Peterson.
According to databallr, Bailey had a low 8.7% on-ball rate (19th), proving how he could be utilized in 2026-27. Further, Utah’s playmaking for finding open shooters should improve after we saw Peterson in a point guard role with a 29.5% assist rate (90th percentile) at the Summer League.
Frankly, this one’s a swing, but we don’t need a ton considering Bailey’s 129.9 ADP. The Jazz roster has amassed talent, and in a potential quality starting lineup alongside George, Peterson, PF Lauri Markkanen, and C Jaren Jackson Jr., a ton of open shots may come Bailey’s way.
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Make NBA Picks and Predictions on PrizePicks
From NBASZN projections to awards, you can utilize these fantasy basketball sleepers for picks on PrizePicks. Rookies Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff Jr. could be headed for busy roles, while Naz Reid and Walker Kessler hunt breakout seasons.
Don’t wait until opening night — make your 2026-27 NBA predictions on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.
Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.
Plus, you can make your NBA predictions for the 2026-27 season, including the NBA Finals winner, win totals, the MVP winner, and more all on PrizePicks.
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