Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Guards - Draft Values for 2025-2026

Aidin's fantasy basketball sleepers for guards and 2025-2026 drafts. His four favorite guard sleepers that are draft bargains and value picks.

Don't blink, because you might just miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA preseason! Yes, while we might be distracted by the NFL season for now, the NBA season is coming fast, and fantasy enthusiasts are already preparing for their upcoming drafts.

Of course, they all want to find a few sleepers, those guys who outperform their ADPs and help them win their fantasy leagues. Last year, I covered four guards as potential 2024-25 sleepers: Jaden Ivey, Keyonte George, Dyson Daniels, and Gradey Dick. George and Dick, respectively, outperformed and underperformed their ADPs by a slight margin, while Ivey struggled with injuries. However, Daniels was a massive home run, as he went from a virtual unknown to the winner of the 2025 Most Improved Player award. This year, I will try to include a couple of seasoned vets, as you can check out my third-year breakouts article for some younger options.

Without further ado, let's look at four guards who can outperform their ADPs in the 2025-26 season.

VJ Edgecombe, SG - Philadelphia 76ers

This section was originally supposed to be about Jared McCain, who put up 21.7 PPG while shooting 46.9% from the field and 39.8% from three in a 13-game stretch, as he established a huge lead in the 2025 Rookie of the Year voting before suffering a devastating meniscus tear in mid-December.

"I like his background, he kind of reminds me of myself coming from another country... he's an amazing kid."

Joel Embiid on No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe! pic.twitter.com/sW6HD3AHqP

— NBA (@NBA) September 26, 2025

Unfortunately for McCain, the injury bug has struck him once again, as he suffered a UCL injury on September 25, which could keep him out for some time.

With McCain's UCL injury, Paul George's recent knee surgery, and Joel Embiid's infamous injury problems, the Sixers need someone to step up alongside Tyrese Maxey.

They didn't make any groundbreaking moves this offseason, and their biggest addition was VJ Edgecombe. Maxey and Edgecombe's games complement each other very well, as Maxey's perimeter-heavy playstyle can create space for Edgecombe to drive to the rim.

Edgecombe's background and humble beginnings in the Bahamas have taught him well, and he has already chosen Maxey as his mentor.

"He's a great human being," Edgecombe said when asked about Maxey. "We've been working out early mornings. [He's] someone to help me learn and help me get better."

Edgecombe's ADP is similar to veterans such as Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, but his situation is far more favorable. McCain is out, George and Embiid are ageing and injury-prone, and Quentin Grimes still hasn't reached an agreement with the Sixers.

Taking all these factors into account, Edgecombe can potentially finish the year as one of the best fantasy players on this team.

Bradley Beal, SG - Los Angeles Clippers

Bradley Beal was very clear on his intention to sign with the Clippers. He needs a ring. However, it might not be super easy for him to do that due to the uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers' organisation at this point.

"I need a ring."

Bradley Beal speaks about signing with the @LAClippers, his connection to teammate CP3, and why he gives to the next generation of St. Louis talent with @BradBealElite.

Catch the full interview tonight on Sports Sunday after @KMOV at 10. pic.twitter.com/BWCEq6yA9w

— Tamar Sher (@tamar_sher) August 11, 2025

Controversy aside, the Clippers have a solid team full of playmaking ability. James Harden and Chris Paul are two of the best playmakers in NBA history, which will be huge for Beal.

He is not a natural playmaker, but had to perform that role to some extent in Phoenix and his final two years in Washington. The Suns as a whole did not have a natural playmaker while Beal was on the team, as Devin Booker has led the team in assists since Chris Paul's departure.

Despite being often lambasted by Suns fans for his inconsistent play, Beal still averaged 17.6 points a night while shooting 50.5% from the floor and 40.7% from deep in his stint with the team.

Now, Beal will have two of the best playmakers ever, and he can be an efficient third option. And if the worst-case scenario happens (Kawhi getting a lengthy suspension, or even getting his contract voided), Beal can step up as the team's second-most reliable scorer.

Compared to some of the other vets with similar ADPs, such as Andrew Wiggins, CJ McCollum, and Tobias Harris, his situation seems more favorable.

If Kawhi plays, expect Beal to put up around 17 points with high efficiency and potentially more consistency now that he has elite playmakers around him. And if he doesn't, expect him to up his scoring numbers with slightly less efficiency.

Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF - Indiana Pacers

It is now or never for Bennedict Mathurin. Mathurin came into the league with high expectations, not just from others, but from himself. He famously said that LeBron James would have to prove he was a better player than him, and backed up his words by dropping 23 points and winning in his first career game against LeBron.

#Pacers training camp opens next week.

GM Chad Buchanan on the upcoming year for Bennedict Mathurin: pic.twitter.com/AVIzxL2Orz

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) September 25, 2025

However, Mathurin has failed to take the next step since his rookie year, as the Pacers went from a fun, middle-of-the-pack team to legitimate title contenders.

With Tyrese Haliburton as the team's "quarterback", the playstyle of the team shifted away from shot creators like Mathurin to a high-efficiency style with lots of ball movement.

However, now that Haliburton is out for the season after suffering perhaps the most heartbreaking injury in NBA history, they have to change their identity, at least in the short term.

TJ McConnell is an elite role player who I rate very highly, but he'll never be able to fully replace Haliburton. This is the perfect opportunity for Rick Carlisle to experiment with Mathurin and determine whether he's worthy of a big extension in the upcoming offseason.

In 87 career games with 30+ minutes played, Mathurin has averaged 20.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a night with 47.2/38.2/82.4 shooting splits. He has shown that he can handle a big offensive load and is looking to go from a wildcard on a well-oiled machine to a scoring leader.

Gary Trent Jr., SG - Milwaukee Bucks

Fantasy analysts are all-in on Kevin Porter Jr., but there's a less volatile and more reliable option on the same team this year. The Bucks are going through a transitional period, and they need a secondary scorer to step up next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who might not even finish the season as a Bucks player.

"This is one of the most confident players that I've played with."

Dame wasn't surprised by GTJ's performance. pic.twitter.com/utBs0DrBzE

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2025

There is a lot of uncertainty around this roster, and they will likely rely heavily on Porter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. to generate some offense. Trent Jr.'s start to life in Milwaukee was tough, but he put up 13.3 PPG on 41.4% three-point shooting in his last 31 games of the campaign.

When the team needed him the most, Trent stepped up with two 30-point performances in the Bucks' five-game loss to the Pacers in the playoffs.

The same cannot be said about Porter Jr., who shot 39.6% from the field in that series, with only one game with over 20 points. It's undeniable that Porter Jr. is a better passer and playmaker.

However, Trent Jr. is a more consistent shooter and a more efficient scorer who can fill those roles now that Damian Lillard has departed. The thing that gives Trent Jr. the definitive advantage over Porter Jr. is his lack of off-court drama.

Porter Jr. is an extremely volatile character, and it's only a matter of time until he gets in trouble with the law again. In contrast, Trent Jr. is a low-controversy player, and you can count on his availability. He has played in 70+ games in three of the last four seasons.

Unlike Porter Jr., who has only ever been a key player on losing teams, Trent Jr. has the experience of being an important player on winning teams. He averaged 18.3 points a night on a 48-win Raptors team in 2021-22.

Throughout his career, he has scored 19.1 points a night on 40.0% three-point shooting in games with over 30 minutes (197 career games). That's a very large sample size, proving that he's capable of handling a large offensive load.

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