Every year, fantasy managers scour through different sites to find THE breakout player that is going to win them their league. That guy in Round 4 who will provide top-five value, or the one you can select in the second half of the draft who will be a second-round producer (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lauri Markkanen last season).
I can’t promise all these players will be league winners, but I’m confident they’ll raise their dynasty value quickly. For some, this is the lowest they’ll ever be valued, so if you want in, do it now. For others, they’ll start the season very well but may not be able to sustain it. That makes this a great time to buy in, since you should be able to flip them for better value later.
Tyrese Maxey 76ers
The situation is perfect for a Maxey breakout. James Harden refuses to play for the 76ers, but a trade has yet to come. We’ve seen Daryl Morey be patient in the past with a disgruntled star (i.e., Ben Simmons), so it wouldn’t be shocking if he held onto Harden until another All-Star player demands a trade.
With no help on the way, Maxey will be the No. 2 scoring option in Philly. In 13 games without Harden last year, Maxey averaged 24.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 3.2 triples. A mid-season trade could hurt his value, but if Philly falls short of their expectations again this season, Joel Embiid COULD ask out, which would leave this as Maxey’s team.
Devin Vassell, Spurs
Vassell is a favorite of many fantasy analysts, but if you weren’t paying attention, you may have been confused by his four-year, $146 million extension. The former lottery pick has taken a large step forward in each of his first three seasons, and this next one should be no different. He’s healthy, he has more help, and he has another year of experience under his belt.
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While Victor Wembanyama is the future of the franchise, Vassell is the Spurs’ second-best player. He can contribute value across the board, but he still has room to improve. He’s nowhere near his ceiling, but his rise should start this season. Buy in before he blossoms.
Anfernee Simons, Trail Blazers
Sure, there’s only one basketball in Portland, but Simons may be the best scorer on this team full of scorers. He turned 24 in June, but he’s one of the most lethal shooters in the league. In 11 games without Dame last season, Simons averaged 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 4.6 triples per game.
Simons won’t reach that volume over the course of a full season, but he’ll still return solid value in those categories. He doesn’t offer much defensively, but that won’t keep him off the floor. This is Scoot Henderson’s team, but Simons will look like the star next season.
Zach Collins, Spurs
Collins just signed a two-year, $35 million extension Sunday, which means they want him to be the center next to Wemby until 2026. Collins has been solid in the preseason, but he was incredible to finish last season. Over the final two months, he averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.6 triples. He may produce to that level during the season, but he’ll provide well-rounded value from the center spot for the next few years.
Onyeka Okongwu, Hawks
Okongwu is so close to taking over the starting center spot in Atlanta. It is surprising that Clint Capela has lasted this long, but when OO takes over, he’s going to boom in fantasy. He shot 5-for-13 from deep in four preseason games, and while he may not shoot quite that many during the regular season, he’ll provide way more spacing for Trae Young to operate than Capela ever has.
Plus, Okongwu was nearly a top-75 player in 9-cat leagues last season with averages of 9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 1.3 blocks while shooting 63.8% from the field in 23.1 minutes. He also shot 78.1% from the line, which is much better than Capela. Seriously, trade for this guy before he gets a permanent starting job.
Jalen Duren
“Detroit has too many centers! There aren’t enough minutes for Duren, Isaiah Stewart, James Wiseman AND Marvin Bagley! I’m just staying away from that poverty franchise.” Let’s make something clear: Duren is the center of the future in Detroit. He’s the best big they have, and he’s going to start this season.
Check out all of our NBA preseason videos!
He’s a walking double-double that will shoot a high field goal percentage and provide defensive stats. Traditional center stuff, but he hasn’t even turned 20 yet! Plus, he showcased some shooting range and ball handling during Summer League.
The sky's the limit for this kid, and he’s going to grow alongside their young core. Grab him now before your league mates figure out that he is far and away the best big in Detroit.
Jalen Johnson, Hawks
Much like with Okongwu, Johnson is close to a starting role. A changing of the guard is happening in Atlanta’s frontcourt, albeit very slowly. Since their Eastern Conference Finals run a few years ago, they’ve traded away Kevin Huerter and John Collins, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Clint Capela, Saddiq Bey and De’Andre Hunter were also moved within the next few seasons (some sooner than others).
As those trades happen (or even before if Johnson simply takes the starting role), minutes will open up. Johnson is the starting power forward of the future in Atlanta and has shown the upside to provide value across the board. He had an exciting preseason, and it’s only a matter of time before he soars to new heights.
Dyson Daniels, Pelicans
Daniels isn’t on the cusp of a breakout, but he is still a player to buy now. Daniels should see a larger role to start the season with Jose Alvarado out, but it will still be limited. He played well in the preseason and showcased an ability to get both steals and assists while also displaying an improved 3-point shot.
As C.J. McCollum ages, Daniels will play a larger role, and there will come a time when Daniels is the starting point guard and providing top-50 value. Make sure he’s on your roster before that happens!
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