🦃 BLACK FRIDAY - TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Five Under the Radar Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Cody Walizer talks up five undervalued NBA sleepers to take in the mid-to-late rounds of your fantasy basketball draft.

This NBA season is an especially hard one to predict. So many stars have changed teams and changed roles. We don't even know what first round fantasy superstars like Russell Westbrook and James Harden are going to do, much less second tier guys like Carmelo Anthony. In all the uncertainty in the earlier rounds, it is easy to forget about the less flashy producers around the league.

Here is a list of five solid, spooky, sleeper candidates, ranging from a reliable veteran combo guard, to a young and up-and-coming star, to a 30-year-old "rookie" who's already a household name in Europe.

The list is in no particular order.

Black Friday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice for NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL from proven winners! Dan Palyo leads the team with exclusive picks for DFS picks, Props, betting. Enhance your game with industry-leading tools like our Lineup Optimizers, Team Sync Platform, DFS Cheat Sheets and more. GAIN ACCESS

 

Five Under the Radar Fantasy Sleepers

Jeremy Lin

Team: Brooklyn Nets

Projected Role: Starting Combo Guard

Why Draft Lin?: Jeremy Lin, aka "Linsanity," is the closest thing to a franchise player in Brooklyn after the departure of center Brook Lopez. Many would say that the Nets returning player in the Lopez trade, D'Angelo Russell, is the real future of the franchise. However, it remains to be seen whether Russell can even consistently produce in this league. Lin is going into his eighth year in the league, and he represents a solid veteran guard presence for a young team. He ought to get the lion's share of looks, and the ball will be in his hands most of the time that he is on the court. You can count on Lin to provide you a great value in most drafts.  Lin is no stranger to doubters, so hate at your own risk! "Overlooked" should probably be his middle name at this point.

 

Patrick Patterson

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Projected Role: 6th Man

Why Draft Patterson?: Patrick Patterson, aka "Pat Patt," is going to fit into so many funky lineups with the new-look Thunder this year. You just have to draft this guy. He has been completely forgotten about in the scope of the Thunder's offseason. That isn't a bad thing for Patterson, as opposing defenses are going to be forced to forget about him when they are being pressed by Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul George this season. Pat Patt can really shoot the three, is a solid defender, and relishes coming of the bench. Look for him to be an excellent value in any draft type and in any league.

 

Lou Williams

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Projected Role: 6th Man

Why Draft Williams?: Lou Williams has a lot of sweet nicknames, but his jumper is sweeter. He's another one of those guys who changed jerseys and was forgotten about. Moving from Houston back to L.A., but this time to the Clippers, might be the best thing that has happened to Williams in his career. Well, at least since he got traded from the tanking Lakers to a playoff Rockets team last year. And since he was moved for Chris Paul, he figures to slot into a role in which he can garner a great deal of minutes at either guard spot of the bench. Williams will do well fitting into a new-look motion offensive approach from head coach Doc Rivers. Fellow backcourt acquisition Milos Teodosic also made this list, and will be fun to watch alongside Lou this year.

 

Milos Teodosic

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Projected Role: Backup Point Guard

Why Draft Teodosic?: If Teodosic has nicknames, I don't know them (they're probably Serbian), but damn this guy can pass the basketball. He's basically a small version of his fellow Serbian Nikola Jokic in the way that he can operate an offense. Teodosic is going to have every opportunity to prove that a veteran guard who has played in Europe for longer than expected can adjust to the NBA. He figures to slot in behind Patrick Beverly on the depth chart, at about twenty to twenty-five minutes a game. He will be charged with running the bench units offense and controlling the tempo. He is a part of the new lob city and has demonstrated that he fits right in several times during the preseason.

 

Brandon Ingram

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Projected Role: Starting Small Forward

Why Draft Ingram?: Some might say it's a stretch to call Brandon Ingram a sleeper. I say: Lonzo Ball. So much has been made of the young point guard that it has been awfully easy for Ingram - and newly acquired shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for that matter - to fall by the wayside. Nonetheless, Ingram is poised for a breakout season. He will have the greenest of lights on a bottom-feeding team in the West that appears to be looking ahead to next off-season. I expect Ingram to take major steps forward in his second year, and to especially to find his stroke from deep.

 

More Fantasy Basketball Draft Sleepers


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.



POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Alvin Kamara

Doesn't Practice on Wednesday
Lukas Dostal

Out Wednesday Night
Sean Durzi

Available Against Canadiens
Thomas Chabot

to Remain Out Wednesday
Jared McCann

Expected to Rejoin Kraken Lineup Wednesday
Andre Burakovsky

a Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Zach Edey

Good to Go Versus New Orleans
Mikko Rantanen

Returns to Stars Lineup Wednesday
J.K. Dobbins

Could Return Later This Season
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Available on Wednesday
Mark Stone

Ready to Return Wednesday
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Good to go on Wednesday
Dylan Cease

Agrees With Blue Jays on Seven-Year, $210 Million Deal
Norman Powell

Back in Action Wednesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Ruled Out on Wednesday Evening
Andrew Wiggins

Will Suit Up Against Milwaukee
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

a Game-Time Decision on Wednesday
Terry McLaurin

Plans to Play on Sunday Night
Dru Smith

Available Versus Bucks
Miami Heat

Jamie Jaquez Jr. Available for Wednesday's Matchup With Milwaukee
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Upgraded to Probable Against Bucks
Pat Connaughton

Sidelined on Wednesday
Dylan Harper

Set to Suit Up Wednesday
Jonathan Kuminga

Sent to G League on Wednesday
Landry Shamet

Sidelined at Least Four Weeks
Anthony Rendon

Angels Could Buy Out Final Year of Anthony Rendon's Contract
Brandon Aiyuk

49ers Won't Open Brandon Aiyuk's Practice Window This Week
Joe Burrow

Bengals Officially Activate Joe Burrow for a Return on Thanksgiving
C.J. Stroud

Practicing Wednesday
Trey Benson

Spotted at Practice on Wednesday
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Back at Practice Wednesday
DeVonta Smith

Missing From Practice Again on Wednesday
Josh Hader

Says his Shoulder is "Back to Normal"
Ketel Marte

Diamondbacks "Actively Listening" on Ketel Marte
Jaxson Dart

to be a Full Participant at Wednesday's Practice
Dalton Kincaid

has "a Chance" to Play in Week 13
Drake London

"Doubtful" to Return from Knee Injury in Week 13
Jayden Daniels

Could Return in Week 14
Aaron Rodgers

Slated to Return in Week 13
Baker Mayfield

Could Play This Week
Josh Jacobs

"Good to Go" in Pivotal NFC North Matchup on Thanksgiving
Steven Adams

Ruled Out Wednesday Against Warriors
George Pickens

Expected to Play Thursday Against the Chiefs
J.J. McCarthy

Not Expected to Play Sunday in Seattle
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Questionable With Hip Soreness On Wednesday
Grayson Allen

Sidelined For Sixth Straight Game
Dylan Harper

Nearing Return From Calf Strain
Josh Norris

Nearing Return
Kevin Lankinen

Not Traveling With Canucks
Zach Edey

Status in Doubt Ahead of Pelicans Matchup
Zach Werenski

Escapes Serious Injury, May Play Wednesday
Auston Matthews

Could Be an Option Wednesday
Neemias Queta

Ruled Out For Wednesday's Contest
Jason Robertson

Scores in Seventh Consecutive Game
Wyatt Johnston

Ends Dry Spell With Four-Point Performance
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

May Skip Wednesday's Contest
DeVonta Smith

Listed as DNP on Tuesday
Vinnie Hinostroza

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
Pyotr Kochetkov

Dealing With Undisclosed Injury
Tristan Jarry

Expected to Be Available Wednesday
Evgenii Dadonov

Doubtful for Wednesday
J.T. Miller

Joins Team for Road Trip
Joel Kiviranta

Ready to Return Wednesday
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Expected to Return on Saturday
Jauan Jennings

Won't be Suspended
Omarion Hampton

Chargers Open Omarion Hampton's Practice Window
J.T. Realmuto

Red Sox Showing Interest in J.T. Realmuto
Sonny Gray

Red Sox Acquire Sonny Gray From the Cardinals
CFB

Jeremiah Smith, Makai Lemon, Skyler Bell Named Biletnikoff Award Finalists
Sam Reinhart

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Shohei Ohtani

to Play for Team Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Colorado Rockies

Warren Schaeffer to Stick Around as Rockies Manager in 2026
CFB

Chris Bell Out for Rivalry Matchup Against Kentucky
Ryan Helsley

Tigers Eyeing Ryan Helsley as a Starter
Dan Hooker

Suffers Second-Round Submission Loss
Marcus Semien

Shipped to the Mets on Sunday
Arman Tsarukyan

Gets Submission Win
Brandon Nimmo

Traded to Texas
Belal Muhammad

Loses Back-to-Back Fights
Belal Muhammad

Ian Machado Garry Outpoints Belal Muhammad
Alonzo Menifield

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Volkan Oezdemir

Gets Back In The Win Column
Jack Hermansson

Gets Knocked Out
Jack Hermansson

Myktybek Orolbai Knocks Out Jack Hermansson
Shamil Gaziev

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Waldo Cortes-Acosta

Shines At UFC Qatar
Tagir Ulanbekov

Suffers Third-Round Submission Loss
Kyoji Horiguchi

Makes Triumphant UFC Return
Adolis García

Rangers Non-Tender Adolis Garcia on Friday
CFB

Beau Pribula Expected to Start Against Oklahoma
Dan Hooker

An Underdog At UFC Qatar
Arman Tsarukyan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Ian Machado Garry

A Favorite At UFC Qatar
Belal Muhammad

Looks To Bounce Back
Alonzo Menifield

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Volkan Oezdemir

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Myktybek Orolbai

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Jack Hermansson

Makes His Welterweight Debut
Kyoji Horiguchi

Returns To The UFC

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP