2026-27 Fantasy Basketball: 10 First-round Rookies To Target In Drafts

The 2026 NBA Draft delivered one of the deepest rookie classes in years, and fantasy basketball managers should take notice. With the Knicks' championship celebration in the rearview mirror, rebuilding teams like the Wizards, Jazz and Grizzlies added franchise-altering talent at the top of the first round.

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For fantasy purposes, rookie value comes down to talent, opportunity and pace, and several of these first-year players check all three boxes. Below, we break down 10 first-round picks worth targeting in redraft, dynasty and keeper leagues.

AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards

Selected No. 1 overall

As is fitting for the first overall pick, Dybantsa has a chance to make a sizable impact right out of the gate. The Wizards will surround him with a solid mix of talent. Trae Young has had a full offseason to acclimate following his midseason arrival last winter, and Kyshawn George is set to take the next step in his third season. Washington also boasts a deep and accomplished frontcourt spearheaded by Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr.

Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals on 51.0% shooting during his lone college season at BYU. He has the versatility to blend in seamlessly with that group, and his new teammates should go a long way toward drawing defensive attention away from him. Washington should also continue to play at one of the league's fastest paces under head coach Brian Keefe, which will only further boost Dybantsa's already robust prospects.

Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

Selected No. 2 overall

Peterson is in a similar situation to Dybantsa, as he heads to a Jazz team that has more incumbent talent than last season's 22-60 record suggests. Keyonte George will serve as Peterson's backcourt running mate, while Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić round out the starting five. The track record of that supporting cast underscores that Peterson should have plenty of one-on-one opportunities as his rookie season unfolds.

Peterson is already a proven outside shooter who drained an impressive 38.2% of his 3-point attempts during his one season at Kansas, a year in which his defensive skills also stood out in the form of 1.5 steals per contest. Like Dybantsa, Peterson lands on a squad that's expected to push the pace after averaging a Western Conference-high 106.6 possessions per game a season ago. The rookie's athleticism should enable him to wreak plenty of havoc in that environment.

Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies

Selected No. 3 overall

The 19-year-old Boozer has only one year of college experience, but the dynamic forward was stellar at Duke. He has now landed on a Grizzlies squad expected to put plenty on his shoulders from the onset of his career. The departures of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. within the last year essentially set the table for such a scenario, and Boozer's vast talent locks him into a sizable role from the opening tip of his first game.

Boozer should immediately serve as Memphis' primary scoring option. Scotty Pippen Jr., Cedric Coward, Jerami Grant and Zach Edey project to round out the starting five, and none of them is expected to challenge him for that mantle on many nights. Boozer pulled down an impressive 10.2 boards per contest with the Blue Devils a season ago, so he should be an ideal complement to Edey on the glass. He also has the talent to pile up points in a hurry thanks to his elite floor-spacing skills, as evidenced by his 39.1% 3-point shooting in college.

Caleb Wilson, Chicago Bulls

Selected No. 4 overall

Wilson is penciled in as the starting power forward in the Windy City after an outstanding lone season at North Carolina. He shot 57.8% from the field and averaged a well-rounded 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 31.2 minutes per contest, adding 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks. Chicago has been down this exact road before with Patrick Williams, the player Wilson is expected to replace. Even so, Wilson should get plenty of opportunities to flash his versatility despite a veteran-laden first unit.

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The presence of an elite distributor at the point in Josh Giddey will help Wilson's cause, while the wing duo of Norman Powell and Matas Buzelis will give opposing defenses plenty to be concerned with. The scouting report on the 6-foot-10 Wilson is that he still has room for improvement as an outside shooter, but his size, energetic style of play and starting role set him up for a fruitful rookie season.

Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers

Selected No. 5 overall

Wagler is another precocious 19-year-old who'd be preparing for his sophomore season in college had he not entered the draft. However, the Illinois product made a strong case that he was ready for the pro ranks by averaging 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from 3-point range during his lone season with the Fighting Illini.

The Clippers' decision to part ways with Kawhi Leonard this offseason brought another high-usage option to town in Brandon Ingram (who is dealing with injury). However, with Darius Garland, Derrick Jones Jr. and Brook Lopez expected to round out the starting five, the competition for usage shouldn't be inordinately high. Wagler's ability to create opportunities for both himself and his teammates will naturally benefit his fantasy production, and he profiles as a key piece of a Clippers team in transition.

Mikel Brown, Brooklyn Nets

Selected No. 6 overall

Brown wasn't the most efficient shooter during his lone season at Louisville, but he still averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds for the Cardinals. He also added 1.2 steals across 29.0 minutes per contest. Brown now joins a first unit that boasts an interesting mix of young and veteran talent, and the starting point guard role he's expected to fill should enable him to rack up solid production.

The Nets finished a dismal 20-62 a season ago, and Jordi Fernandez's squad may still have a long way to go before reaching respectability. However, that also means minutes should be abundant for Brown as long as he stays healthy, since he's expected to be a key component of any future success. As the primary ball handler feeding the likes of Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle, Brown should have plenty of opportunity to build a well-rounded fantasy profile that benefits managers in all formats.

Darius Acuff, Sacramento Kings

Selected No. 7 overall

Acuff averaged 23.5 points on a blistering 48.4% shooting, including 44% from 3-point range, during his lone college season at Arkansas. The dynamic guard also dished out an impressive 6.4 assists per game, and that skill set should be put right to use as a frequent ball handler in a veteran Kings starting five. Playing alongside that group could help accelerate his learning curve.

Acuff projects to slide into the starting point guard role from Day 1, where he'll be dishing to the accomplished quartet of Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis when he's not putting up his own shots. Acuff was lauded for his shot-creation ability during his time with the Razorbacks. If that carries over consistently early in his pro career, fantasy managers will be rewarded with a high-usage asset who can especially boost the scoring and assist categories.

Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks

Selected No. 8 overall

Flemings is the first player on this list who isn't penciled into a starting role heading into training camp, but that has a negligible impact on his outlook. The Houston product can be a force at both ends of the court, and his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, coupled with his suffocating defense, could help him crack the first unit before long.

Flemings enters his rookie season projected to serve as CJ McCollum's primary backup at point guard, a role that should net the first-year talent a solid amount of playing time each night. That's especially true given his defensive prowess, as he recorded 1.5 steals per game for the Cougars in his lone college campaign. It isn't inconceivable that Flemings, Atlanta's presumptive point guard of the future, eventually eats into McCollum's minutes. The talent elsewhere on the Hawks' roster also stands to benefit Flemings, with the likes of Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels among those who could support his production in a number of ways.

Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

Selected No. 11 overall

Lendeborg is one of the more seasoned first-round selections in this year's class, having spent three seasons at the college level and having just won a national title with the Wolverines. In head coach Steve Kerr's own words, Lendeborg is "clearly going to play a ton" as a rookie. The recent news that Kristaps Porziņģis will once again miss an indefinite period due to an undisclosed issue only brightens the rookie's outlook.

Across his three college campaigns, Lendeborg averaged 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest, along with 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals. He also shot an efficient 51.7% from the field and flashed impressive floor-spacing ability by hitting 36.4% from deep. At 6-foot-9, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year has the athleticism and presence on the boards to fill in at center if Porzingis is unavailable for the start of the regular season. That's especially true under Kerr, who has never shied away from playing small.

Hannes Steinbach, Charlotte Hornets

Selected No. 14 overall

Steinbach is another big man poised for early-career success, as he's expected to play a key role in the Hornets' revamped frontcourt. The Washington product regularly filled up the stat sheet during his lone college campaign, averaging 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He added 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field and a solid 34.0% from distance.

Charlotte parted ways with high-usage pieces LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges this offseason, and the starting center job appears to be Steinbach's to lose. At 6-foot-11, the former Husky was the nation's most prolific rebounder last season. He also brings an abundance of offensive upside, along with the size to contribute above-average defensive stats. Steinbach should have ample opportunity to make an impact on a squad trying to take the next step after a 44-38 finish, making him a very draftable rookie in all formats.