👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
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


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.

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Alec Pierce

Dynasty Hype May Be Creating a Sell-High Opportunity
Drake London

Quarterback Uncertainty Creating a Buy-Low Window for Drake London?
Davante Adams

: Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Entering Age-34 Season
Rhamondre Stevenson

Dynasty Outlook Clouded by Crowded New England Backfield
Bo Nix

Is Bo Nix Currently Undervalued in Dynasty Formats?
Rico Dowdle

Dynasty Value Fading Ahead of First Season in Pittsburgh?
Deiveson Figueiredo

Set For UFC Macau Main Event
MMA

Yadong Song Returns At UFC Macau
Alonzo Menifield

An Underdog At UFC Macau
Zhang Mingyang

Set For UFC Macau Co-Main Event
Tallison Teixeira

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Sergei Pavlovich

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Cameron Smotherman

Looks To Bounce Back
Kai Asakura

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
CFB

Faizon Brandon In Position to Start Week 1
CFB

Dane Weber Commits to Cal
CFB

Joey McGuire Attempts to Add Texas to Schedule
CFB

Mike Leach on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
CFB

Maryland, Baylor Schedule Home-and-Home
Cooper Kupp

Is Cooper Kupp Still Roster-Worthy in Dynasty Formats?
CFB

Taron Dickens Decommits From North Carolina
Christian McCaffrey

Should Dynasty Managers Be Looking to Sell High on Christian McCaffrey?
Braelon Allen

Does Braelon Allen Still Carry Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal Following Jets' Offseason Moves?
Kyler Murray

Offers Clear Dynasty Buy-Low Appeal After Offseason Change of Scenery
Rachaad White

: Prime Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Ahead of Possible Bounce-Back Campaign
Jake Tonges

Is Jake Tonges Currently Undervalued in Dynasty Formats?
Chig Okonkwo

Can Chig Okonkwo Become a TE1 in Dynasty Leagues?
Aaron Jones Sr.

Trending Down in Dynasty Leagues
Romeo Doubs

Offers Dynasty Upside Even as the No. 2 Receiver
Pat Bryant

Dynasty Managers Have to be Patient with Pat Bryant
Isiah Pacheco

Will a Change of Scenery Re-Ignite Isiah Pacheco's Dynasty Value?
Rashid Shaheed

an Underpriced Dynasty Buy Heading into First Full Season with Seattle
Najee Harris

Is Najee Harris the Top Free Agent Back Left on the Market?
Jimmy Horn Jr.

A Dynasty Non-Factor After Quiet Rookie Season
Nick Chubb

Former Pro Bowler Nick Chubb No Longer a Player Worth Holding in Dynasty Leagues
Jalen Williams

Limited in Game 6 Return
Jared McCain

Provides Bench Spark in Game 6 Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Posts Lowest-Scoring Night of His MVP Season
De'Aaron Fox

Struggles From the Field Thursday
Stephon Castle

Controls the Spurs Offense in Game 6 Win
Dylan Harper

Finds His Rhythm Thursday
Victor Wembanyama

Drops 28 to Force a Winner-Take-All Game 7
Jalen Williams

is Active for Game 6
Thomas Sorber

is Optimistic About Playing in Summer League
NBA

Terry Rozier Gets Hit with New Charges
NBA

NBA Approves New Anti-Tanking Rules
Mitchell Robinson

Suffers Broken Pinky, Remains Without a Timetable
MLB

MLB Proposes Hard Salary Cap as Part of Next CBA
Kenley Jansen

Tigers Place Kenley Jansen on Injured List With Pelvic Inflammation
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Cedric Coward

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Ability
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Attracting Interest From Europe
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Celtics Reportedly Not Interested in Giannis Antetokounmpo
LeBron James

Reportedly Waiting for Lakers Approach
MON

Lane Hutson Struggles in Game 4 Loss
CAR

Logan Stankoven Nets Eighth Postseason Goal
CAR

Sebastian Aho Pots Game-Winner on Power Play
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Tallies Two Helpers in Impressive Road Win
CAR

Shayne Gostisbehere Records Two Assists in Game 4 Win
CAR

Frederik Andersen Establishes Hurricanes New Postseason Shutout Record
Yordan Alvarez

Continues Homer Barrage With Two More Long Balls on Wednesday
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Makes History With Seven More Shutout Innings Against Padres
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Lifted From Wednesday's Game Early With Hamstring Strain
Kenley Jansen

Exits Relief Appearance on Wednesday With Groin Injury
Mason Plumlee

NBA Upgrades Mason Plumlee's Foul to a Flagrant 1
Victor Wembanyama

Receives Warning From NBA
Atlanta Hawks

Hawks Promote Onsi Saleh to President of Basketball Operations
Jalen Williams

Listed as Questionable for Game 6
Ajay Mitchell

Ruled Out for Game 6
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez Pulled Early on Wednesday With Hamstring Issue
CFB

Drew Mestemaker a Top Big 12 Quarterback Right Away?
PGA

Sungjae Im Remains Boom-or-Bust at Colonial
PGA

Michael Thorbjornsen Trending in Wrong Direction Entering Colonial
Russell Henley

a Top Option at Colonial
Harry Hall

Hoping Putter Carries Him at Colonial
Rickie Fowler

Looks to Regain Momentum at Colonial
Pierceson Coody

Looking to Stay Hot at Colonial
Martin Necas

Collects an Assist in Game 4 Loss to Golden Knights
Gabriel Landeskog

Scores Only Avalanche Goal in Season-Ending Loss
Carter Hart

Finishes Series-Clincher With 20 Saves
Dylan Coghlan

Continues Unlikely Success Story
Cole Smith

Scores Series-Clincher Tuesday Night
Mark Stone

Nets Another Goal as Golden Knights Finish Off Avalanche
Ludvig Aberg

Looking to Exchange Momentum for a Victory in Fort Worth
Stephan Jaeger

Trending Upward as PGA Heads to Fort Worth
Max Homa

Comes Off Awful Putting Performance at PGA Championship
Tony Finau

Faces Different Test at the Colonial
Robert MacIntyre

Seeks Better Beginning in Fort Worth
Tom Hoge

Ups and Downs Could Continue at Colonial
Brian Harman

Not Having the Best Golf Season in 2026
Austin Eckroat

Struggling Too Often Heading to Charles Schwab Challenge
Zach Bauchou

Tries to Keep Momentum Rolling at Colonial
Keegan Bradley

Looking to Rebound at Colonial
Claude Giroux

Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Carter Hart

Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Mackenzie Blackwood

in Net for Game 4 Against Golden Knights
Valeri Nichushkin

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Nathan MacKinnon

Will Suit Up Tuesday
Ben Griffin

Looking to Repeat This Week at Colonial
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
CFB

DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
CFB

Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
CFB

Braylon Staley the Next 1,000-Yard Tennessee Receiver?
CFB

Ahmad Hardy's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
Ivan Demidov

Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort
Lane Hutson

Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss
Frederik Andersen

Enjoys Another Easy Night at the Office in Game 3
Gage Jump

Athletics to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Gage Jump to Major Leagues
Tatsuya Imai

Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
Dylan Cease

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Daniel Suarez

Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Winning and Places Third at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

Places Fourth After Leading Laps at Charlotte
Kyle Larson

Strong and Consistent Day Ends in Fifth at Charlotte
Dylan Cease

Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Exits Sunday's Game Early with Elbow Contusion
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Sunday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Place Edward Cabrera on the 15-Day Injured List
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

on Pole for Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Could Break Out of Slump
Kyle Larson

May have A Solid Day at Charlotte
Ryan Blaney

Is A DFS Risk for Charlotte Lineups
William Byron

Could have A Great DFS Performance at Charlotte
Chase Briscoe

Is A Solid Tournament Option for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs

May not be Worth his Salary for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Chris Buescher

May be a Sneaky Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has Favorable Upside for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ross Chastain

Is A Strong Addition for DFS Lineups at Charlotte
Austin Dillon

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Austin Dillon for Charlotte DFS Lineups?
Chase Elliott

Should Be Strong at Charlotte
Carson Hocevar

Confident for Coca-Cola 600
Corey Heim

a Chalk DFS Pick at Charlotte
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell A Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups?
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF