Dan Titus Fantasy analyst Tue, October 13, 2026 at 6:03 PM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone loves a sleeper, but finding one who actually delivers is easier said than done. By now, most fantasy basketball managers know the popular breakout candidates , so the real value comes from identifying players whose opportunities, roles or upside aren't fully reflected in their draft price.
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To make sure you don't get caught snoozing late in your drafts, keep the names below in mind.
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Memphis has a good amount of bodies in the backcourt of its rebuild, but I'm buying Jerome's efficiency more than I'm chasing some massive jump in usage. He's shown he can shoot at a high level, handle secondary creation and generate useful per-minute production. If he stays healthy, he's a cheap option who can complement your roster's efficiency. We only saw him in 15 games last year, but almost 20 ppg and 6 assists in under 25 minutes is nothing to sleep on.
Yes, a good chunk of Mitchell's production came with Jalen Williams out, but I'm not dismissing what we saw. Mitchell averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals in just 25.8 minutes while shooting 48.5% from the field and 87% from the line with only 1.4 turnovers. Injuries interrupted what looked like a mini-breakout, but when he was healthy, the efficiency, playmaking and steals made him a must-add off waivers. Oklahoma City's depth will always make the minutes a concern, but Mitchell doesn't need 32 minutes to be useful. If his role grows at all, I think he can smash his ADP.
Murray-Boyles is one of my favorite Year 2 targets after showing how much his defensive versatility could help Toronto as a rookie. Jakob Poeltl's health remains a concern, which could open more time at the 5, while CMB's ability to defend across positions makes him an intriguing fit alongside Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. He's also spent the offseason extending his range, an important development for a Toronto frontcourt that has plenty of size and length. The stocks, rebounds and efficiency already play in fantasy, and any progress as a shooter only raises his ceiling at an affordable draft price.
Grimes quietly checks a lot of boxes for a late-round pick. He can score, knock down 3s and chip in across rebounds, assists and steals, giving him a draftable fantasy profile. He played with Luka Dončić in Dallas, shooting 39.4% on 3s with a 124.5 Offensive Rating with Luka on the floor. There's rapport there. I'm not expecting him to suddenly become a featured option on this Lakers team, but he doesn't have to be. There's enough category coverage here to make him a useful 9-cat target without paying for a breakout.
Maluach is one of my favorite upside swings at center because the defensive tools should translate before the rest of his game catches up. Mark Williams' untimely (but honestly expected) shoulder injury will cost him months, catapulting Maluach onto the fantasy basketball scene earlier than anticipated. The presumed starter's minutes, along with the rebounding, length and rim protection, give him an obvious path to fantasy relevance. If what we saw at Summer League was in any way real, he could be one of the most underrated bigs available.
Hachimura isn't going to give you a ton of assists or defensive stats, but there's value in a forward who can score efficiently, hit 3s and rebound without hurting you anywhere. His fantasy ceiling will depend on how much offensive responsibility he gets, but what better way to make an impression than getting a starting gig for the down-bad Clippers squad? He's looked great with Japan's national team this summer and is poised to have his best opportunity to shine in fantasy.
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