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

Fantasy Basketball Rookies To Target - Which NBA Rookies Should You Draft in 2024-2025?

Alex's fantasy basketball rookie draft sleepers and targets for 2024-2025 drafts. He names some of the best NBA rookies to pick for fantasy basketball drafts.

One of the riskiest strategies in any fantasy sport is to rely on rookies in redraft leagues. There have been a handful of superstar rookies to come through the league, but for every rookie that saves a fantasy team, there are many that get dropped to waivers or never make it to a roster.

Usually, what fantasy managers want to see most in a valuable rookie is that they have a clear path to playing time and opportunities throughout the season. After that, they need some sort of mixture of real-life draft capital, roster fit, hype, and a translatable game from college or international ball to the NBA.

So, when it comes to a draft class that many experts are calling weak, which rookies are even worth drafting? Are there any rookies that could be diamonds in the rough, and are they worth drafting at their ADP? Well, let's take a look at a handful of rookies that we think could be real assets!

Upgrade To VIP: Win more with our NBA and DFS Premium Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! Jamie Calandro and Dan Palyo lead the RotoBaller team in 2024-25 with exclusive DFS picks, Prop picks and more. Gain VIP access to our Lineup Optimizer, Research Station, DFS Cheat Sheets and VIP Chat Rooms. Go Premium, Win More!

 

Zach Edey, C - Memphis Grizzlies

Yahoo ADP: 114

Last season, the Grizzlies were hit the hardest by the injury bug and we all saw a revolving door of players that may not even be heard from in this new season. They moved on from Steven Adams, and they didn't add any other veteran big men in his place. Enter Zach Edey through the NBA Draft.

There weren't any true centers on the Grizzlies before Edey came into the picture. Jaren Jackson Jr. played a good bit of center the past couple of seasons due to the fact that Steven Adams was the only other person on the roster big enough to play center. Santi Aldama and Brandon Clarke are more fit for the power forward spot, so Edey should be getting plenty of minutes at the five.

The 7'4 Purdue product was a huge presence in the paint as he averaged 12.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game during his senior season. He also shot 62.3% from the field which consisted of a steady diet of post and putback scoring. The Grizzlies will want him to play the same role, so his biggest hurdle will be adjusting to the size and speed of the NBA.

If fantasy managers are looking for rebounds, efficiency, and some blocks thrown in, Edey is a solid selection for the late rounds of fantasy drafts.

 

Alexandre Sarr, C - Washington Wizards

Yahoo ADP: 138

If you happen to miss out on Zach Edey, might I interest you in Alexandre Sarr? The same big man prospect that many originally believed to be the top in the draft class will be featured on a Washington Wizards team that is in search of anything remotely helpful on the court. Sarr provides the size of a center but the versatility on defense to be able to play power forward as well.

His biggest question mark comes on the offensive side of the ball, but he's shown the willingness to try to stretch the floor even if it's not very efficient. Sarr is going to provide solid rebounding, defensive stats, and shooting efficiency, and could even pepper in some threes if the Wizards are willing to let him take his lumps as he develops throughout his rookie year. During his only season in the NBL, Sarr averaged 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks across 17.2 minutes per game while shooting 50.2% from the floor.

Even though Washington brought in Jonas Valanciunas, Sarr will likely see minutes at the four and five, while going back and forth from starting to coming off of the bench. Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III are the only other competition for playing time, so as long as Sarr shows improvement, he should remain a solid contributor in big-man stats.

 

Reed Sheppard, SG - Houston Rockets

Yahoo ADP: 141

The Houston Rockets are the luckiest team in the lottery after taking Reed Sheppard at third overall while they have one of the best up-and-coming rosters in the league. They ended the season at .500 and finished just five games back of a play-in spot behind the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings. They added a couple of veteran leaders on both sides of the ball in Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks and saw an increase of 19 wins.

Now, Sheppard enters a situation that will require a lot of work to get big minutes in the beginning, but will likely result in some excellent numbers when it comes to shooting and distributing. Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in his lone year at Kentucky while shooting a red-hot 52.1% from beyond the arc on 144 attempts. He even added 2.5 steals across 28.9 minutes per contest. While he may not start right away, that kind of shooting efficiency, combined with assist and steal numbers, will make him one of the top role players in fantasy basketball.

Add in the fact that he's getting drafted around the 141st pick on average, and fantasy managers can get some very nice value throughout the season.

 

Stephon Castle, PG/SG - San Antonio Spurs

Yahoo ADP: 142

If we're going to be completely honest, it's rarely a bad idea to draft a rookie under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich. Especially if that rookie is a lottery pick who's coming into the league after playing for a highly respected college coach. Stephon Castle was one of the top guards in all of college basketball as a freshman while he helped UCONN to their second national championship in a row. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 27 minutes per game with shooting splits of .472/.267/.755.

Castle's biggest knock on his game was his three-point shooting which is still a work in progress. Outside of that, he's proven to have a great feel for the flow of the game, a very good ability to get to his scoring spots, and was a top perimeter defender. Combine all of that with playing alongside Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul, and Devin Vassell. Speaking of Chris Paul, the "point gawd" already has been giving Castle some very high praise and will serve as a second mentor for the young guard.

Popovich loves players who work hard, play both sides of the ball, and accept criticism and coaching. Castle has all three traits and is sure to rise through the depth chart with some added minutes at the beginning of the season since Vassell is out until at least November 1. Jump on the Castle train before it leaves the station!

 

Yves Missi, C - New Orleans Pelicans

Yahoo ADP: 147

Another big man makes the list! This draft class may not have boasted the same type of superstar talent as the last few drafts, but there is some very good defensive and rebounding potential for this crop of bigs. Yves Missi joins the New Orleans Pelicans with defensive prowess combined with crazy athleticism. While there have been a few reports suggesting that Zion Williamson may get some minutes at center, there are still plenty of opportunities on the table for Missi while he competes with Daniel Theis in training camp.

The Baylor product was named to the Big 12 All-Defense and All-Freshman teams in his lone season with the Bears. His efficiency on offense as the cleanup man and rim runner was on full display with a field goal percentage of 61.4%. He also averaged 1.5 blocks and 5.6 rebounds across 22.9 minutes per contest. He boasted a player efficiency rating of 24.7 (second in the Big 12) and contributed 3.7 win shares.

Head coach Willie Green said that starting lineups and minute distributions are all still to be decided through training camp and preseason. He also mentioned that he wants Missi to compete every time he hits the floor and block every shot he can while mentioning that he's already doing as much so far. With an ADP of 147, that's some great value getting a center with those tools and the potential to even grab a starting spot as the season progresses.

 

Bub Carrington, PG/SG - Washington Wizards

Yahoo ADP: Undrafted

Let's touch on a big-time sleeper to wrap things up. If you're looking to use very little draft capital on a high-potential rookie, then look no further than Bub Carrington out of the University of Pittsburgh. Right now, he's going undrafted in most fantasy leagues even though he's in line to at least see a healthy chunk of minutes as the backup guard in Washington.

Carrington posted some impressive performances as a freshman at Pitt, like a triple-double in his very first game. He finished the year with 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 threes, and 1.9 turnovers per game with shooting splits of .412/.322/.785. He was one the best scorers off of screens in all of college basketball and he ranked second in the nation points per game from pull-up jumpers with 7.4. He also ranked fifth in made pull-up jumpers and knocked down 50.9% of them. Despite being a skinnier guard, he was able to use his body well and was even great at pull-up threes.

His passing ability was top-notch for someone as young as he is (turned 19 this summer), and can play well out of iso or spot-up situations. Even though Malcolm Brogdon has joined the Wizards, Carrington will likely receive the first shot at backup minutes behind Jordan Poole. He has a chance to play his way into a starting role depending on how Corey Kispert develops as well. For no draft capital at all, Carrington presents a ton of value heading into any fantasy format.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis




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

Diego Ferreira

Suffers Second-Round TKO
Alexander Hernandez

Extends His Win Streak With A Brutal TKO
Quang Le

Suffers First-Round Knockout
Santiago Luna

Shines In His UFC Debut
Christopher Bell

Earns his First Bristol Cup Series Victory
Alex Bowman

Falls Short of Advancing Through Cup Series Playoffs
Chase Briscoe

Collects his Third Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Ryan Blaney

Strong Top-Five Bristol Performance Advances him to the Playoffs
Corey Heim

Earns his First Career Cup Series Top-10 Finish at Bristol
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Leads Greece to Bronze Medal
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Drops 28 Points in EuroBasket Finals
CFB

Indiana's Lee Beebe Jr. Out for Season with Knee Injury
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder Named EuroBasket MVP
Bryce Eldridge

Giants to Promote Bryce Eldridge
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Progressing in Recovery
Jonathan Kuminga

Receives New Offer From Warriors
Kenneth Walker III

Bounces Back with Big Week 2 Performance
Bijan Robinson

Rushes for 143 Yards in Week 2
Justin Fields

Currently in Concussion Protocol
Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Calling Around to Available Free-Agent Quarterbacks
Joe Burrow

to Undergo Surgery, Out at Least Three Months
Emil Heineman

Aiming to Take the "Next Step" This Season
Braeden Cootes

Good to Go for Camp
Ivan Fedotov

Blue Jackets Acquire Ivan Fedotov From Flyers
Aaron Jones Sr.

Injures Hamstring During Sunday Night Football
Darren Waller

Not Expected to Play in Week 3
Garrett Crochet

Punches Out 12 in Win
Cole Ragans

to Return on Wednesday
Jameson Williams

Records Long Touchdown in Week 2, Still Limited to Downfield Role?
George Kirby

Strikes Out 14 in Win
Jayden Daniels

Considered "Day-to-Day" with Knee Injury
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Exits with Back Tightness
Jonathan Taylor

Tops 200 Yards From Scrimmage in Week 2 Win
Joe Burrow

Could Miss Three Months if he Requires Toe Surgery
Davante Adams

Headlines Rams Receiving Corps Sunday
Wan'Dale Robinson

Explodes for 142 Yards, Touchdown in Overtime Thriller
Joe Flacco

Browns Not Considering Benching Joe Flacco After Week 2
Quentin Grimes

Still Not Close to a New Contract Agreement
Lamar Jackson

Throws for Four Touchdowns in Week 2 Win
James Cook

Scores Two Touchdowns in Rout of Jets
Joel Embiid

"Looking Slender, Spry and in Positive Spirits"
Rome Odunze

Scores Twice in Loss
Ja'Marr Chase

Snags 14 Receptions, Finds End Zone in Week 2
Russell Wilson

Throws for 450 Yards, Three Touchdowns in Loss
Jared Goff

Throws Five Touchdowns
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Scores Three Touchdowns
Ty Gibbs

Has Arguably his Best Career Drive, but Only Finishes 10th
Chase Elliott

Despite Crashing Out at Bristol, Chase Elliott Advances to Round of 12
Austin Dillon

Misses Round of 12 After Extremely Mediocre Bristol Run
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Fails to Advance to Round of 12
Josh Berry

Finishes Last in All Three Round of 16 Races to Fail to Advance
Luis Arraez

Takes a Seat on Sunday With Head Injury
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Activated, Starting on Sunday
CFB

Ryan Williams Explodes In Return To Field
CFB

Drew Allar Plays Mediocre Game In Blowout Win
CFB

LaNorris Sellers Exits Game In Blowout Loss
CFB

DJ Lagway Tosses Five Interceptions In Loss
CFB

Garrett Nussmeier Plays Game Manager in Saturday's Win
CFB

CJ Carr Remains Poised In Narrow Loss
CFB

John Mateer Leads Oklahoma In Rout
CFB

Arch Manning Struggles Against UTEP
CFB

Jeremiah Smith Impresses In Win
Bryan Woo

Records Career-High 13 Strikeouts
Max Muncy

Exits Early on Saturday
CFB

Sam Leavitt Shines As Arizona State Rebounds From Week 2 Loss
Salvador Perez

Reaches 300 Home Runs, 1,000 RBI
Jose Altuve

Exits Early With Foot Discomfort
Trey Yesavage

Heading to Big Leagues
Will Smith

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Ivan Demidov

Turning Heads in Rookie Camp
NHL

Calvin de Haan Signs With Swedish Team
Samuel Girard

Skates With Non-Contact Jersey
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dealing With Injury Ahead of Training Camp
Spencer Knight

Signs Three-Year Extension With Blackhawks
Chris Buescher

May have Another Solid Run at Bristol
Corey Perry

Out 6-8 Weeks Following Surgery
Kyle Busch

Should DFS Managers Roster Kyle Busch at Bristol?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Is Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Too Risky to Consider Rostering at Bristol?
Michael McDowell

Could be A Solid Value Option For Bristol DFS Lineups
Chase Elliott

Probably Won't Factor in for Bristol Win
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Not as Strong at Bristol as Other Short Tracks
Alex Bowman

Needs to Win to Make Round of 12
Ross Chastain

has Never Led at Bristol but Has Been Pretty Consistent
Austin Dillon

Richmond Speed Unlikely to Carry Over to Bristol
Josh Berry

Might Run Well at Bristol, but Almost Certainly Won't Win to Advance
Justin Haley

Bristol One of Justin Haley's Few Recent Bright Spots
Tarik Skubal

Avoids Serious Injury, Expected to Make Next Start
CFB

Austin Simmons Listed As Game-Time Decision Against Arkansas
CFB

Nico Iamaleava Struggles In Fourth Straight Loss
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

Dealing With a "Tweak"
BUF

Alexandar Georgiev Joins Sabres on One-Year Deal
Corey Perry

Injured During Pre-Camp Skate
Tanner Bibee

Fans 10 in Two-Hit Shutout
Zach Neto

Dealing With Wrist Soreness
Masyn Winn

Shut Down for Rest of Season
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Imaging on Saturday
Tyler Soderstrom

Scratched on Friday With Groin Tightness
Tarik Skubal

Exits with Side Tightness
CFB

Antonio Williams Out Against Georgia Tech
Ketel Marte

Scratched From Friday's Lineup
CFB

CJ Bailey Flashes Again in Win Over Wake Forest
CFB

Jaxson Moi a Game-Time Decision for Tennessee on Saturday
Jean Silva

A Favorite At Noche UFC 3
Diego Lopes

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Event
Rob Font

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
David Martinez

Set For Noche UFC 3 Co-Main Event
Rafa Garcia

An Underdog At Noche UFC 3
Jared Gordon

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Dustin Stoltzfus

Looks To Return To The Win Column
Kelvin Gastelum

In Dire Need Of Victory
Diego Ferreira

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Alexander Hernandez

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Quang Le

Set For Noche UFC 3 Main Card Opener
Santiago Luna

Set For His Debut At Noche UFC 3
Malcolm Brogdon

Heading to Knicks on One-Year Deal
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Won't Play Against Georgia
Landry Shamet

Staying with the Knicks
CFB

Dylan Edwards Slated to Return on Friday
Adam Lowry

Aims for Early-Season Return
Charles Oliveira

Not Eyeing Retirement
CFB

Ryan Williams Expected to Play Against Wisconsin
CFB

Billy Edwards Jr. Unlikely to Play on Saturday
P.J. Washington

Officially Signs Contract Extension
CFB

David Sanders Jr. Questionable to Make Debut Against Georgia
Lauri Markkanen

Big at Both Ends as Finland Books Place in EuroBasket Semis
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Notches 39 Points in Losing Effort
NBA

Cam Reddish Expected to Move to Europe
NBA

Trey Lyles Joins Real Madrid
Charles Bassey

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hawks
Sacramento Kings

Terence Davis Waived by Kings
Matthew Knies

Ready for Bigger Role With Maple Leafs
Jack Eichel

Unbothered by Lack of Extension
Sidney Crosby

Not Thinking About Leaving Pittsburgh
SJ

Michael Misa Signs Entry-Level Contract With Sharks
Rutger McGroarty

Nursing an Injury
Cameron Champ

the Ultimate Wild Card at Procore
Cameron Young

Looks to Extend Momentum in Napa
Davis Thompson

Searching for a Spark at Procore
Sahith Theegala

Looking to Reignite Form at Procore
Mackenzie Hughes

Aims for Another Strong Showing at Procore
Luke Clanton

Brings Ball-Striking Upside to Napa
Seamus Power

Looking to Overcome Poor Course History at Procore
Joe Highsmith

Hoping to Find Form in Napa
Kristaps Porzingis

Reportedly Still Not Completely Healthy
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Reportedly on the Trade Block
Andre Drummond

Future in Philadelphia in Doubt
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Helps Greece Reach Semis at EuroBasket
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Posts Historic Triple-Double
Joel Dahmen

Finishes Tied For 15 at Wyndham Championship
Bud Cauley

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Justin Thomas

Finishes Tied for Seventh at Tour Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 25th at Tour Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 19th at Tour Championship
Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied for 10th at Tour Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for Second at Tour Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent

RANKINGS

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