2024-25 Fantasy Basketball: Prime 10 Rookies

Yearly, a brand new class of rookies enter the NBA able to make a reputation for themselves and assist fantasy hoops managers within the course of. Final season, Victor Wembanyama completed sixth in per-game fantasy worth, whereas Chet Holmgren completed thirty second. Jalen Williams completed inside the highest 75 for the 2022-23 season, whereas Paolo Banchero got here in at 136. For the 2021-22 marketing campaign, rookies Cade Cunningham (forty eighth) and Evan Mobley (eightieth) made quick impacts for fantasy managers. The 2024 rookie class is crammed with gifted gamers, and whereas I don’t have any projected to crack the highest 100, there are a number of guys value rostering in 12-team leagues and much more value grabbing in deeper leagues.

Listed here are my high 10 fantasy rookies for the 2024-25 marketing campaign.

Be aware: Stats listed are projections from Yahoo.

Zach Edey, C, Grizzlies

Rookie Rank: 1 
Total Rank: 117

With Steven Adams gone, Memphis’ middle rotation is razor-thin, and the Grizzlies’ entrance workplace made a concerted effort to handle that positional want by grabbing Purdue’s massive man within the lottery. Edey led Purdue to the NCAA Championship recreation behind gaudy counting stats and his second straight Nationwide Participant of the Yr award. Our projections rank him simply inside the highest 120 in per-game worth, making him an attention-grabbing, late-round middle choose because of his sturdy rebounding and shot-blocking talents.

Reed Sheppard, SG, Rockets

Rookie Rank: 2 
Total Rank: 130

Houston’s roster doesn’t current the simplest path for Sheppard to see vital minutes, and in contrast to Edey, he’ll face competitors for enjoying time. Sheppard received’t begin over Fred VanVleet or Jalen Inexperienced, however he might be Houston’s first guard off the bench. Sheppard boasts sturdy capturing from a number of ranges, and he can rebound and get teammates concerned whereas compiling helpful defensive numbers within the course of.

Donovan Clingan, C, Path Blazers

Rookie Rank: 3 
Total Rank: 137

The 2-time defending NCAA champion is aware of a factor or two about successful basketball, and his measurement and age make him the proper addition to Portland’s younger, rebuilding roster. Robert Williams sustained a season-ending damage simply six video games into his Portland tenure, and Clingan’s arrival might imply the tip of his transient stint within the Pacific Northwest. Deandre Ayton performed effectively to finish the season, however his debut marketing campaign as a Blazer was rocky, and there are questions on his longterm match with this roster. The Blazers have loads of depth and youth at guard and ahead, and Clingan doubtless represents their beginning middle of the long run. He might change into the staff’s starter before later, and there’s an opportunity he opens the season because the Blazers’ high backup massive.

Matas Buzelis, SF, Bulls

Rookie Rank: 4 
Total Rank: 148

Buzelis performed stable ball within the G League final season, averaging 14.1 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.9 blocks, and 0.9 triples throughout 34 appearances. He wasn’t an environment friendly shooter by any measure of the metric (.455/.261/.696 capturing splits), however he nonetheless flashed upside as a scorer all through the season. With DeMar DeRozan gone and the futures of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic unsure within the Windy Metropolis, the 6-foot-10 Buzelis is an intriguing fantasy choice because of his potential to deal with the ball, rating, rebound, facilitate, and rack up defensive stats. He ought to earn rotational minutes proper out of the gate.

Alex Sarr, PF, Wizards

Rookie Rank: 5 
Total Rank: 157

The 7-1 French middle was broadly thought to be the highest choose within the 2024 draft by many analysts, and Washington was in a position to land him second after Atlanta took Zaccharie Rissacher No. 1. Sarr wasn’t an exceptional scoring choice, however he was large as a defender in 30 video games for Perth (NBL) final season. His athleticism and elite defensive talents give him upside from a fantasy perspective, and his touchdown spot in Washington means he ought to push for 30-plus minutes instantly. If he can discover success as a scorer, that will likely be an added bonus for fantasy managers who take an opportunity on him.

Kel’El Ware, C, Warmth

Rookie Rank: 6
Total Rank: 180

After taking part in a muted position for Oregon as a freshman, Ware transferred to Indiana and loved a breakout season. He averaged 15.9 factors, 9.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.9 blocks in 32.1 minutes per recreation, bringing dwelling a number of Huge Ten honors. The 7-footer knocked down 42.5% of his 3-pointers, although he solely tried 1.3 per contest. If Ware continues to develop as a shooter, he can change into an elite fantasy middle because of his scoring, rebounding, protection, and long-range capturing. Ware ought to function as Bam Adebayo’s high backup, that means he ought to see loads of minutes out of the gate.

Zaccharie Rissacher, SF, Hawks

Rookie Rank: 7
Total Rank: 182

In 65 appearances for JL Bourg final season, Rissacher averaged 11.1 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, 0.9 blocks, and 1.4 triples in 23.3 minutes per contest. His world-class bounce shot was a giant cause why he was chosen No. 1 general within the 2024 NBA Draft, however there are a number of query marks, corresponding to his rebounding, facilitating, and general scoring talents. He ought to instantly compete for an everyday spot in Atlanta’s rotation, although the Hawks have a variety of expertise on the ahead place.

Yves Missi, C, Pelicans

Rookie Rank: 8
Total Rank: 183

Missi is a basic rim-running middle, and due to New Orleans’ dearth of frontcourt choices, he ought to have a stable alternative in Yr 1. The 20-year-old 7-footer performed 34 video games throughout his freshman season at Baylor, averaging 10.7 factors, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks whereas capturing 61.4% from the ground throughout 23 minutes per recreation. He was removed from elite as a rebounder, however he ought to be capable to contribute meaningfully on offense as a lob menace on choose and rolls. As a defender, he ought to be capable to rack up blocks at a excessive clip, making him an thrilling, late-round middle choice in 2024-25 fantasy drafts. He’s acquired large upside and will crack the highest 100 if every thing goes his manner.

Kyle Filipowski, PF, Jazz

Rookie Rank: 9
Total Rank: 189

Filipowski averaged 16.4 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 triples per recreation in his second season with the Blue Devils. He’s acquired vital upside on the subsequent degree not solely due to his scoring, rebounding, and defensive prowess but in addition due to his passing talents as a giant man. Continued enhancements as a scorer might make him an outstanding frontcourt choice within the Affiliation, although he’ll face a ton of competitors for enjoying time in Utah’s loaded frontcourt.

Dalton Knecht, SG, Lakers

Rookie Rank: 10
Total Rank: 232

Knecht started his collegiate profession on the JUCO degree, logged two seasons at Northern Colorado, and performed his fifth yr at Tennessee. He blossomed with the Volunteers, successful the SEC Participant of the Yr Award whereas main his staff to the Elite Eight. In 36 video games, Knecht averaged 21.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.6 blocks, and a pair of.6 3-pointers whereas recording capturing splits of 45.8% from the sphere, 39.7% from past the arc, and 77.2% from the foul line. As we’ve seen in latest seasons, Los Angeles’ roster outdoors of LeBron James and Anthony Davis is topic to alter at any time. Knecht might see significant rotational minutes by season’s finish, although he’ll doubtless start his rookie marketing campaign taking part in a restricted position.