Fantasy basketball: Late-round sleepers to target this draft season

As fantasy basketball managers round out their rosters in the final stages of the draft, analyst Jim McCormick has pointed to a handful of lesser-known players who could offer outsized value relative to their draft cost heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.

Among the names highlighted are Ajay Mitchell and Ayo Dosunmu, two players whose per-minute production and expanding roles have made them appealing targets for managers looking to fill out the back end of their rosters without spending premium draft capital.

Why late-round targets matter

In fantasy formats, the difference between a competitive roster and a mediocre one is often decided not by the stars taken in the first few rounds, but by the value unearthed in the middle and late rounds. Identifying players who are likely to see increased opportunity can be the deciding factor over a full season.

Mitchell and Dosunmu fall into that category, according to the analysis, as both players enter the season in positions to potentially outproduce their current average draft position if given consistent minutes.

A draft strategy consideration

For managers still finalizing their draft boards, the guidance underscores a broader strategic principle: rather than reaching for name recognition in the closing rounds, targeting players with a clear path to increased usage can pay dividends over the course of an 82-game season.

With training camps underway and rotations still being finalized across the league, fantasy analysts note that player values in these late rounds remain fluid, and managers are encouraged to monitor preseason reports before locking in their final draft strategies.