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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
Austin Cindric

Remains an Overrated Road Racer
Brad Keselowski

Likely to Brush Past Chicago Street Course to Focus on Daytona
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek One of the Best Underdog Options After Strong Runs at Mexico City and Last Year
Cole Custer

Strong Mexico City Run and Xfinity Series Chicago Win Make Him a Solid DFS Option
Erik Jones

Likely Not Good Enough on Road Courses for DFS Consideration Despite Poor Qualifying Result
Noah Gragson

May Be Better Than Other Cheap DFS Options
Riley Herbst

Despite Decent Mexico City Run, Don't Expect Riley Herbst to Contend at Chicago
Cody Ware

Is a Road Course Veteran, but It's Rarely Helped Him in NASCAR
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Is The Heavy Favorite to Win at Chicago Street Course
Christopher Bell

Should Be Strong Despite Practice Struggles at Chicago Street Course
Cam Ward

"Not Expecting" to be handed Starting Job
Chase Claypool

Eager to Get Back on the Field
Wyatt Langford

Activated, Playing on Saturday
Jay Huff

on the Move to Indiana
Cam Whitmore

Wizards Acquire Cam Whitmore from the Rockets
LaJohntay Wester

Stands out on Special Teams
Clarke Schmidt

Likely to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Nolan Arenado

Scratched from Saturday's Lineup
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Starting on Saturday
Corbin Carroll

Activated from 10-Day Injured List
Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, Bengals Continue Contract Talks, No Progress Made
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade may not Happen Until "August, September"
Ha-Seong Kim

Removed Early During Season Debut
ARI

Christian Fischer Retires From NHL at 28
NHL

Spencer Martin Moves to Russia
WAS

Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals for Two Years
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Sitting Out With Foot Issue
Isaiah Neyor

Impresses at Minicamp
Houston Rockets

Jock Landale Waived by Rockets
Bo Bichette

Back in Blue Jays Lineup
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Considering Returning to Europe
Miles Sanders

Works With Starters During Mandatory Minicamp
Jabari Walker

Signs Two-Way Deal With Sixers
Chimere Dike

Titans Could Move Chimere Dike Inside
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith not Guaranteed Roster Spot
Anthony Bradford

Working Hard to Win Back Starting Job
Byron Young

Still Improving?
Cody Simon

Jonathan Gannon has Been Impressed With Cody Simon
SirVocea Dennis

has Impressive Offseason
Trevor Penning

Could Still Have a Role in New Orleans
Jonathan Kuminga

Warriors Decline Recent Offer for Jonathan Kuminga
Orlando Magic

Moritz Wagner, Magic Agree to One-Year Deal
Clarke Schmidt

Placed on Injured List
José Soriano

Jose Soriano Throws Gem Against Braves
Robbie Ray

Earns Ninth Win in Complete Game
T.J. Watt

Likely to Reset the Edge-Rush Market
George Springer

Blasts Two Homers, Drives in Four
James Wood

Goes Yard in Five-Hit Night
Bradley Beal

Suns Discussing Potential Buyout
Los Angeles Lakers

Jaxson Hayes Staying with the Lakers
NBA

Damian Lillard "Open" to Signing With a Team This Offseason
Max Muncy

Out at Least Six Weeks
Clarke Schmidt

Leaves Start with Forearm Tightness
Colson Montgomery

Promoted to the Major Leagues
Pittsburgh Steelers

Omar Khan, Steelers Agree to Three-Year Contract
Max Muncy

Goes on Injured List With Knee Bruise
Max Muncy

Out of Thursday's Lineup
James Wood

Joining Home Run Derby
SJ

Sharks Claim Nick Leddy Off Waivers
Max Scherzer

Cleared to Start on Saturday
SJ

Sharks Sign Dmitry Orlov to Two-Year, $13 Million Contract
CAR

Nikolaj Ehlers Joins Hurricanes on Six-Year Contract
Kodai Senga

Could be "in Play" to Return Before All-Star Break
Chau Smith-Wade

Having Stellar Offseason
Ace Bailey

Inks Rookie Contract With Jazz
Divine Deablo

Could be the Quarterback of the Defense
Isaiah Rodgers

a Likely Starter for the Vikings
Jacob Monk

Sees Plenty of Work With Starters
Avonte Maddox

has Impressed Dan Campbell
Boston Celtics

Josh Minott Inks Deal With Celtics
Chicago Bears

Ruben Hyppolite Shows Notable Improvement
Sandro Mamukelashvili

Heading to Toronto
Jared McCain

Not on 76ers Summer League Roster
Dylan Harper

Unavailable for California Classic
COL

Brent Burns Inks One-Year Deal with Avalanche
STL

Blues Land Pius Suter on Two-Year Deal
Morgan Frost

Agrees to Two-Year Extension with Flames
WPG

Gustav Nyquist Moves to Winnipeg
Cody Glass

Devils Re-Sign Cody Glass to Two-Year Deal
PIT

Anthony Mantha Joins Penguins
Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs with Islanders for Two Years
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal with Mammoth
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF