Fantasy Basketball 2025 Deep NBA Sleepers After Preseason
There's a general opinion in the hoops world that nothing seen during the NBA preseason actually matters.
And while the standings and statistics don't technically carry over to the real campaign, there can still be meaning behind them.
Fantasy basketball managers should be paying attention to all of the preseason happenings, at least. Because while some of these hot starts may well fizzle out, others could be remembered with hindsight as the start of true breakthrough seasons.
It's tricky, of course, to understand in real-time which category specific contributions fall into, but that's why you came here, right? Because you're searching for expert opinions, and we've got plenty to share, particularly in this case regarding three deep sleepers who popped in the preseason and, in our eyes, could have fantasy utility when the actual season tips.
Brice Sensabaugh, SF/PF, Utah Jazz
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An afterthought in most fantasy leagues at this point, Sensabaugh could be a surprise focal point in Salt Lake City. While he'll trail former All-Star Lauri Markkanen and No. 5 pick Ace Bailey in the point-production pecking order, Sensabaugh, Utah's leading scorer this preseason, could make a real push for third-scorer status.
Remember, the Jazz should be in full-scale development mode. Beyond having a slew of young players in need of seasoning, they also have a top-eight-protected 2026 first-round pick to...well, protect. They figure to lean on their young players as hard as possible, both to further their acclimation to the Association and to let the losses stockpile.
Sensabaugh, who only turns 22 later this month, should be a big part of this plan. He looks like the current favorite to handle sixth man duties, meaning he could have the ball in his hands a lot and should be playing with a neon-green light to attack.
While there aren't a ton of layers to his game, he could be a sneaky good source of scoring and three-point shooting. He scored 22-plus points in Utah's final three games last season and averaged 19.5 this preseason. He also saw dramatic improvements in his shooting rates as a sophomore, posting huge spikes in his field-goal (39 to 45.9) and three-point (29.6 to 42.2) percentages.
Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Houston Rockets
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Don't take Sheppard's limited role and usage as a rookie as an ability to contribute. Rather, it all seemed situational, as Houston was set in the backcourt and fully focused on contention—a less than ideal setup for an incoming rookie guard.
While the win-right-now intentions remain, the backcourt congestion is gone. Jalen Green was shipped out in the deal for Kevin Durant, and Fred VanVleet was subsequently lost to a torn ACL. Suddenly, the Rockets not only have an opening for Sheppard, but a legitimate need for him to fill it.
His preseason suggests he's up for the challenge. He averaged 15 points across four games (three starts) while posting a pristine 51.2/40.7/83.3 shooting slash. He also filled out his stat line with 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocks.
The blocks probably won't carry over, but the steals should, and the shooting almost certainly will. And while it's tough to tell exactly how Houston will split its playmaking reps, Sheppard should have a chance to prove himself as a passer, so that category could climb, too.
Kel'el Ware, PF/C, Miami Heat
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The Heat enter this season with a lot of holes. They could look Ware's direction to plug plenty of them up.
Scoring has long been a challenge in South Beach, and the difficulty level ramped up once Tyler Herro underwent ankle surgery in mid-September. If the preseason was any indication, Ware might pick up a lot of that slack. He netted a team-high 17.8 points per game, while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from three.
Rebounding is another weakness for coach Erik Spoelstra's club, and is also another area where Ware makes his presence felt. His 11.5 boards per preseason contest not only paced Miami, it was the highest average in the league.
If his activity on the glass has earned him a bigger role than last season (36 starts in 64 games, 22.2 minutes per outing), he has a non-zero chance of being one of basketball's best breakouts. In fantasy terms, he should be an asset in rebounds and blocks at the very least while also being a standout (at least among centers) with his scoring and range shooting, too.
