Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokić top the fantasy basketball rankings for the 2026-27 season, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander completing the elite trio according to Basketball Monster’s latest projections. These three players are set to dominate nine-category fantasy leagues, regardless of whether managers choose to punt specific statistical categories.
In points scoring, Jokić, Wembanyama, and Gilgeous-Alexander are the safest first-round picks. Last season, seven of the eight players with first-round average draft positions (ADPs) in 12-team leagues who played at least 60 games scored at least 23.9 points per game. Karl–Anthony Towns was the only exception, averaging 20.1 points. While elite scorers are generally found early, fantasy managers who deprioritize points might find value in wings and big men like Houston’s Amen Thompson, Portland’s Donovan Clingan, Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson in later rounds. Amen Thompson is considered a second-round candidate, whereas Clingan, Daniels, and Ausar Thompson are more realistic picks after round three.
For managers who decide to punt rebounds, guards become more valuable despite their lower rebounding numbers. Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey are among the first-round targets under this strategy, especially when paired with another guard. Middle-round picks include Kevin Durant, Scottie Barnes, Jamal Murray, and Amen Thompson. Further down the draft, players like LaMelo Ball, Derrick White, Desmond Bane, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker gain appeal in punt-rebound builds. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the rebound rankings, followed by Maxey, Jokić, and Wembanyama, demonstrating their all-around fantasy value.
Punting assists shifts the advantage to frontcourt players, with Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard standing out in this category. Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg appears as a promising option as well, especially if Kyrie Irving’s return stabilizes the Mavericks' offense. Leonard’s injury history raises some caution despite his third-round ADP. Other frontcourt players like Chet Holmgren, Donovan Clingan, and Jalen Duren are expected to be drafted within the first 50 picks in 12-team leagues. Leonard joins Wembanyama and Flagg as early targets for those punting assists. The top assist scorers include Wembanyama, Leonard, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jokić.
Steals production tends to benefit perimeter players, but punting this category can enhance the value of post players who contribute in other areas. Centers like Chet Holmgren, Evan Mobley, and Joel Embiid remain valuable despite lower steals totals. Guards Jamal Murray and Lauri Markkanen also offer enough versatility to maintain high overall fantasy value, though Markkanen’s availability is a concern. Embiid’s injury history also factors into managers’ decisions.
The overall top 12 fantasy players from last season, based on at least 60 games played, feature a mix of scoring, rebounding, and assist leaders. Jokić, Wembanyama, and Gilgeous-Alexander lead the list, followed by Kawhi Leonard, Tyrese Maxey, Scottie Barnes, Luka Dončić, Trey Murphy, Chet Holmgren, Jamal Murray, Donovan Mitchell, and Donovan Clingan.
These rankings and draft strategies reflect the evolving landscape of fantasy basketball, where managers weigh the risks and rewards of punting categories to maximize roster potential. The trio of Wembanyama, Jokić, and Gilgeous-Alexander remains the cornerstone for most builds heading into the 2026-27 season.
According to Yahoo Sports.
