2026-27 fantasy basketball · Rookies

2026-27 rookie rankings

Rookies haven't played an NBA game yet, so we project them from where they were drafted: what players picked near the same spot in the last two drafts did as rookies. Then they're ranked on the same scale as everyone else.

The short version for redraft leagues: rookies usually cost more than they return in year one, especially in category leagues, where low shooting percentages and turnovers hurt. The "Upside" column shows the better-case outcome, which matters most in dynasty and keeper leagues.

Draft home Draft rankings Live draft assistant Rookies

Tap any column header to sort.

Pick	Rookie	College	9-cat rank	Upside	Pts rank	G	Min	Pts	Reb	Ast	FP/g
1	AJ Dybantsa F · WSH · 19	–	238	56	135	70	26.2	13.8	5.1	2.4	26.7
2	Darryn Peterson G · UTAH · 19	–	264	66	158	69	26.1	13.4	3.9	3.2	25.0
3	Cameron Boozer F · MEM · 19	–	259	66	174	68	24.3	12.0	4.8	2.1	23.8
4	Caleb Wilson F · CHI · 20	–	283	183	195	67	23.1	10.9	4.6	1.9	22.0
5	Keaton Wagler G · LAC · 19	–	271	169	169	65	25.6	13.1	3.7	3.0	24.0
6	Mikel Brown Jr. G · BKN · 20	–	256	203	179	62	25.1	12.7	3.6	2.9	23.3
7	Darius Acuff Jr. G · SAC · 19	–	239	190	193	59	24.4	12.2	3.5	2.8	22.3
8	Kingston Flemings G · ATL · 19	–	300	182	213	56	23.6	11.4	3.3	2.7	21.1
9	Morez Johnson Jr. F · DAL · 20	–	274	157	257	54	20.4	8.7	4.3	1.6	18.7
10	Brayden Burries G · MIL · 21	–	270	172	268	51	22.2	9.5	3.0	2.5	18.4
11	Yaxel Lendeborg F · GS · 24	–	265	148	272	50	19.8	8.7	4.1	1.5	18.3
12	Aday Mara C · OKC · 21	–	201	135	210	49	19.1	8.1	6.1	1.7	21.3
13	Nate Ament F · MIL · 19	–	257	146	313	49	18.7	8.2	3.7	1.3	16.6
14	Hannes Steinbach F · CHA · 20	–	323	146	339	49	18.4	8.0	3.5	1.2	15.7
15	Dailyn Swain G · CHI · 21	–	328	203	293	50	22.0	8.3	2.8	2.9	17.3
16	Bennett Stirtz G · OKC · 23	–	332	245	304	51	21.5	8.2	2.7	2.8	16.9
17	Ebuka Okorie G · DET · 19	–	338	248	317	52	21.0	8.1	2.6	2.7	16.5
18	Christian Anderson Jr. G · CHA · 20	–	339	259	323	52	20.7	7.9	2.6	2.6	16.2
19	Allen Graves F · TOR · 20	–	344	274	368	52	18.0	7.2	3.1	1.1	13.9
20	Jayden Quaintance F · SA · 19	–	358	274	372	52	17.6	7.0	3.1	1.1	13.8
21	Karim Lopez F · MEM · 19	–	359	274	377	52	17.3	6.8	3.1	1.1	13.7
22	Labaron Philon Jr. G · PHI · 20	–	388	286	343	52	19.8	7.3	2.6	2.3	15.3
23	Zuby Ejiofor F · ATL · 22	–	351	274	378	51	16.9	6.4	3.3	1.2	13.7
24	Cameron Carr G · LAL · 21	–	389	284	349	51	19.3	6.9	2.6	2.2	14.8
25	Sergio De Larrea F · DAL · 20	–	390	284	353	51	19.0	6.8	2.6	2.2	14.6
26	Tarris Reed Jr. C · SA · 23	–	372	256	266	50	19.2	6.8	5.4	1.2	18.4
27	Chris Cenac Jr. F · BOS · 19	–	371	268	376	50	16.6	6.0	3.4	1.2	13.7
28	Joshua Jefferson F · BKN · 22	–	375	261	379	49	16.6	5.9	3.4	1.2	13.6
29	Alex Karaban F · SAC · 23	–	374	261	380	49	16.5	5.9	3.5	1.2	13.6
30	Koa Peat F · PHX · 19	–	364	256	383	48	16.5	5.8	3.5	1.2	13.5
31	Bruce Thornton G · HOU · 23	–	366	266	390	47	17.2	6.0	2.4	2.0	13.2
33	Isaiah Evans F · MIN · 20	–	354	248	393	45	16.9	5.9	2.3	2.0	12.9
34	Meleek Thomas G · CLE · 20	–	341	245	394	44	16.8	5.8	2.3	2.0	12.9
35	Trevon Brazile F · DEN · 23	–	320	233	399	43	15.9	5.3	3.3	1.2	12.8
36	Baba Miller F · LAC · 22	–	313	229	406	42	15.7	5.2	3.3	1.2	12.6
37	Ryan Conwell G · MIA · 22	–	325	221	400	41	16.7	5.9	2.2	1.9	12.8
38	Braden Smith G · IND · 23	–	316	214	402	40	16.6	5.9	2.2	1.9	12.8
40	Dillon Mitchell F · BOS · 23	–	307	212	419	39	14.8	4.7	3.1	1.1	11.7
41	Otega Oweh G · OKC · 23	–	301	206	398	38	16.6	5.9	2.1	1.9	12.8
42	Ja'Kobi Gillespie G · SA · 22	–	297	203	397	37	16.6	6.0	2.1	1.9	12.8
43	Tyler Bilodeau F · BKN · 22	–	286	201	432	36	14.0	4.4	2.9	1.1	11.0
44	Maliq Brown F · SA · 22	–	284	193	433	35	13.7	4.3	2.8	1.0	10.7
45	Emanuel Sharp G · SAC · 22	–	275	189	401	35	16.5	6.0	2.1	1.9	12.8
46	Felix Okpara F · WSH · 22	–	277	187	439	34	13.2	4.2	2.7	1.0	10.3
47	Tyler Nickel F · NY · 23	–	276	187	440	34	13.0	4.1	2.7	1.0	10.1
48	Tobi Lawal F · DAL · 23	–	266	183	441	33	12.8	4.0	2.6	1.0	10.0
49	Bryce Hopkins F · DEN · 24	–	254	180	443	32	12.6	3.9	2.6	1.0	9.8
50	Jaden Bradley G · TOR · 23	–	244	176	404	32	16.4	6.0	2.0	1.8	12.7
51	Izaiyah Nelson F · ORL · 23	–	255	180	445	32	12.3	3.8	2.5	1.0	9.5
52	Henri Veesaar C · ATL · 22	–	216	172	322	31	17.3	7.1	4.5	1.0	16.3
53	Ugonna Onyenso C · DET · 22	–	215	172	324	31	17.2	7.0	4.5	1.0	16.2
55	Nick Martinelli F · LAC · 22	–	236	174	451	30	11.8	3.7	2.4	0.9	9.1
58	Jaron Pierre Jr. G · NO · 24	–	219	166	405	29	16.3	5.9	2.0	1.8	12.6

How rookie projections work

For each rookie, we look at the rookie seasons of players drafted near the same pick in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 classes, giving the closest picks and players at the same position (guard, forward, center) the most weight. The 9-cat rank uses the typical (median) outcome; "Upside" is where a better-case outcome (80th percentile of similar rookies) would rank. Last year's top five picks finished their rookie seasons 35th, 297th, 56th, 67th and 282nd, so the spread is real. Projected games come from how often rookies at that slot actually played. Rookies vary far more than veterans: a top-3 pick can be an instant starter or a slow developer. Treat these as a starting point, and in dynasty leagues weigh the upside more than year-one numbers. Projections update to real results once the season starts.