TAP FOR 6 MONTHS OF PREMIUM FREE 💰
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

Rookie Guards to Avoid in Fantasy Basketball

As much as the NBA Draft is a time to get excited about certain players, it's also a time to be skeptical from a fantasy perspective. Before a player can even get to the stage to shake Adam Silver's hand, the impacts of that player are already thought about by fantasy enthusiasts. Lets be honest; as much excitement that is derived from a player, that player is more likely to be a "bust" than an NBA lifer.

The following guards should be avoided in your draft. These guards don't lack talent, but for multiple reasons, the situations in which they find themselves aren't exactly ideal for immediate fantasy production.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NBA Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, Sleepers List, Late-Round Fliers, Early-Round Avoids, DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 6 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Leave Them Alone on Draft Day

Kris Dunn, Minnesota Timberwolves

Kris Dunn was selected fifth by the Timberwolves and is a popular pick by many to be a dark horse for Rookie of the Year. As talented and as explosive as Dunn is, people need to pump the brakes a bit. While Dunn has the talent and three years of college experience to be able to contribute right away, he finds himself in a situation that might not lend itself to producing numbers.

The Timberwolves fully believe they’re poised to make a run, and they feel they have the personnel and the coach to do it. Many believed Dunn would supplant Ricky Rubio as the team’s point guard, and would contribute towards that playoff goal immediately. The problem with all that is that Rubio appears firmly entrenched in his role, and Dunn looks like he will be backing up for the foreseeable future.

When you add Zach LaVine’s ability to run the point, plus the overall talent on the Minnesota roster, Dunn won’t find a whole lot of opportunities to contribute right away. While he may eventually turn into a key contributor this season, it’s going to take a lot more than initially thought for him to be able to do that out of the gates. Stay away for now.

 

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

Like Dunn, Caris LeVert doesn’t find himself on this list because of a lack of talent. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The Michigan product has one of the best overall skill sets of anyone to come out of this draft, and has a chance to be a very solid pro player for a Nets team desperate for young talent. He can do a variety of things on the basketball court; all of which will help him stick around and contribute to an NBA team. That is if he can stay healthy. LeVert missed extended periods of time at Michigan, playing in only 33 of 68 games in his last two years.

LeVert should be able to work his way into that talentless Brooklyn rotation this season, but he hasn’t stepped on the court yet. Expect the Nets to ease him in when he is ready to play, and that alone will cost the rookie a lot of opportunities for production. When he does play, he can be a do-it-all type of player who will defend, score, and put up numbers in a lot of categories. It’s just likely that won’t happen this season.

Monitor his workload to see how he looks, but don't buy into him hoping he'll be an instant fantasy producer just because the Nets don't have much other talent their rotation.

 

Denzel Valentine, Chicago Bulls

Denzel Valentine had himself quite the career at Michigan State University. Valentine improved every year, and he turned what was once a limited game into being arguably the best player in college basketball and a first-round draft pick. The Bulls think the Tom Izzo favorite has a chance to become a solid rotation player and they probably won’t be wrong... in the long term.

Despite all the positives, Valentine is still rather limited for the pro game. He’s not the most athletic guy, and a lot of his value will come from the intangibles he brings. Intangibles unfortunately are not a fantasy basketball stat, so he likely won’t help your fantasy team as much as he’ll help the Bulls in real life.

Valentine could eventually develop into a good performer, but with the likes of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler in the mix, Valentine will have a very difficult time finding the minutes and touches he needs to make a real fantasy impact this season.

 


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

Aaron Gordon

Won't Suit up on Sunday
Moussa Diabaté

Moussa Diabate Available to Play on Sunday
Jalen Green

Holds Questionable Tag for Monday
Tyler Herro

Not Traveling with Team
Jaxson Hayes

Returning on Sunday
Deandre Ayton

Active on Sunday
Patrick Williams

Won't Face the Nets
Tari Eason

to Miss Fifth Straight Game
Josh Giddey

Ruled Out on Sunday
Darius Garland

Diagnosed with a Great Toe Sprain
Carson Soucy

Expected Back on Monday
Teuvo Teravainen

to Remain Out Monday
Matthew Tkachuk

"Close" to Season Debut
Rodrigo Abols

Flyers Place Rodrigo Abols on Injured Reserve
Alex Lyon

Practices on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Returns in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Josh Norris

Out Week-to-Week
Dylan Holloway

Set to Return Sunday
Ha-Seong Kim

has Finger Surgery, Out 4-5 Months
Rhamondre Stevenson

Questionable to Return on Sunday With Eye Injury
Woody Marks

Returns Following Brief Exit on Sunday
Dalton Schultz

Won't Return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Aaron Rodgers Returning in 2026?
Kawhi Leonard

to Miss Final Two Games of Road Trip
Jarrett Stidham

to Start AFC Championship Game
Zach Charbonnet

Questionable to Return Against 49ers
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Hiring Kevin Stefanski as Head Coach
Jalen Williams

Ruled Out for Remainder of Meeting with Miami
Naz Reid

Won't Return on Saturday Night
Bo Nix

Suffers Broken Bone in Ankle, Done for Playoffs
Jalen Suggs

Out on Sunday Against Grizzlies
Santi Aldama

Questionable for Sunday's Matchup
Ja Morant

Listed as Probable for Sunday
Tari Eason

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Herbert Jones

Ruled Out for Sunday
Rudy Gobert

Won't Play Saturday
Paul Reed

Available Saturday
Stephon Castle

is Available on Saturday
Green Bay Packers

Packers Sign Head Coach Matt LaFleur to Multi-Year Extension
Ricky Pearsall

Active for Divisional Round
Sam Darnold

Officially Active for Saturday's Divisional Round Game vs. 49ers
William Carrier

Misses Fourth Consecutive Game
Shayne Gostisbehere

Remains Out Saturday
Jake Evans

Available Saturday
Teuvo Teravainen

Misses Second Straight Game
William Nylander

Out Against Jets
Pat Bryant

Won't Return on Saturday, Ruled Out with a Concussion
Tom Wilson

Could Be an Option Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Out for 3-5 Weeks After Thigh Procedure
Leon Draisaitl

Takes Leave of Absence
New York Giants

John Harbaugh, Giants Finalize Five-Year Deal
Aaron Rodgers

Not Expected to Return to Steelers in 2026
Atlanta Falcons

Kevin Stefanski the Favorite for Falcons Head-Coaching Job
Matt Boldy

Placed on Injured Reserve
Ross Colton

Good to Go Friday
Will Smith

Returns Against Red Wings
Shayne Gostisbehere

Out Friday
Brad Marchand

Remains Out Friday
Joel Armia

Returns From Five-Game Absence
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
Sam Darnold

Seahawks "Optimistic" That Sam Darnold Will Play on Saturday
Nico Collins

Officially Ruled Out for Divisional Round
Rome Odunze

Questionable for Divisional Round
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies
Bo Bichette

Agrees to Three-Year Contract With Mets
CFB

Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
Bo Bichette

Phillies the "Overwhelming" Favorite to Sign Bo Bichette
Josh Lowe

Angels Acquire Josh Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Kyle Tucker

Signs Four-Year Contract With Dodgers
Ricky Pearsall

Questionable to Play on Saturday Night
Sam Darnold

Questionable With Oblique Injury, Expected to Play
Clayton Kershaw

to Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
CFB

Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
CFB

Oregon QB Transfer Bryson Beaver Linked to Georgia, Kentucky
CFB

Jake Merklinger Commits to UConn
Ben Griffin

Looks To Stay Hot In 2026
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Agrees to Five-Year Deal With Red Sox
CFB

Dante Moore Not Entering 2026 NFL Draft, Will Return to Oregon
CFB

FBS Coaches Unanimously Vote to Expand Redshirt Eligibility to Nine Games
CFB

Ohio State Transfer Mylan Graham Signs with Notre Dame
CFB

Caden Durham Withdraws from Transfer Portal, Will Stay at LSU
Jordan Spieth

Perhaps the Most Intriguing Player at Sony Open
Aaron Rai

Looking For Putting Confidence at Waialae Country Club
Collin Morikawa

Isn't The Safe Play He Used to Be Ahead of Sony Open
Kurt Kitayama

Needs His Putting to Turn Around For Success at Year's First Event
Ryan Weathers

Yankees Add Rotation Depth, Acquire Ryan Weathers in Four-Player Deal
CFB

Georgia Tech the Favorite to Land Justice Haynes?
Nolan Arenado

Cardinals Trade Nolan Arenado to Diamondbacks
Tom Kim

Desperately Needs a Solid Week at Sony Open
Billy Horschel

Hoping For a Fast Start to New Season at Sony Open
Corey Conners

Looks to Have a Return to Form in 2026
PGA

Chris Gotterup a Decent Play at Sony Open
Gary Woodland

Could Prosper at the Sony Open
Keith Mitchell

Unlikely to Contend at Sony Open
Robert MacIntyre

Looking for a Good Performance at the Sony Open
Michael Kim

Hopes to Start Sony Open Better This Week
Tom Hoge

Tries to Erase Poor 2025 Second Half in Hawaii
Brian Harman

Seeks Fresh Start in Hawaii
Eric Cole

Looks to Last Year for Success at Sony Open
Daniel Berger

Starts Off 2026 at Sony Open

RANKINGS

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