🌟 Finding Your Fantasy Edge: Sleeper Guards for 2025-26
In fantasy basketball, winning often comes down to finding those hidden gems – players who are underestimated but deliver big results. These “sleeper guards” can be incredibly valuable because they often contribute in many statistical areas, get more playing time due to new team roles, or benefit from changes in their team’s roster or coaching. While everyone knows the league’s biggest stars, smart managers look for an advantage by discovering players who can perform much better than their draft position suggests. This article looks at some top sleeper guards for the upcoming 2025-26 season, focusing on players who have a strong chance to excel, are in good team situations, and could provide consistent value far beyond what you’d expect.
🔥 Key Takeaways for Your Draft
This season, several guards are poised to take on significantly larger roles, often due to teammate injuries or major roster shake-ups. Many of these players have shown flashes of great potential in the past and are now in a position to truly shine, offering excellent value in your fantasy draft. Their increased usage, improved efficiency, or clearer path to starting minutes make them exciting picks who could easily outperform their average draft cost. Keep an eye on these players as they could be game-changers for your team.
☘️ Payton Pritchard Steps Up for the Celtics
Payton Pritchard is someone to watch closely. With Jayson Tatum expected to miss the entire season due to an Achilles injury, Pritchard is set to get a lot more responsibility on offense. In the 2024-25 season, his usage rate was almost 3% higher whenever Tatum was off the court. Additionally, the Celtics have had to let go of key players like Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday due to salary cap concerns, which further opens up opportunities. While the Celtics brought in Anfernee Simons as a potential sixth man, there are already whispers that he might be traded. This clearly sets up Pritchard and Derrick White as the main backcourt duo. Pritchard has already shown what he can do when given a starting role, averaging an impressive 21.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers in his three starts last season.
🔥 Jaden Ivey and Kevin Porter Jr. Aim for Bigger Roles
Jaden Ivey from the Pistons feels like a player many might have forgotten, especially after he missed time since January 1st with a broken left fibula. Before his injury, he was on track for a breakout season, averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in about 30 minutes over 30 games. His three-point shooting improved significantly, hitting 40.9% from long range after shooting under 34% in his previous two years. He also showed better defensive instincts with a 1.5% steal rate. The Pistons didn’t make major changes this offseason, allowing Ivey to pick up right where he left off, which is exciting for his fantasy outlook.
Kevin Porter Jr. is another interesting pick for the Bucks. Milwaukee made big changes by trading Damian Lillard and bringing in Myles Turner. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to return, and much of the rest of the team looks familiar. Porter Jr. signed a two-year deal to return and is positioned to be the starting point guard, with Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins as backups. Porter Jr. had a 26.2% usage rate when Lillard was off the court last season, indicating he’ll be very involved. In his 30 games, he averaged career highs per 36 minutes with 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, shooting an excellent 49.4% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range. He appears to be a great value pick in drafts.
🌱 Young Talent Poised for High Usage: Keyonte George and Stephon Castle
The Jazz have cleared out their veteran guards, waiving Jordan Clarkson and trading Collin Sexton, leaving them with one of the youngest rosters in the NBA. This means their young players, especially Keyonte George, are going to get a lot of playing time right away. While George’s efficiency needs work (shooting 39.1% from the field for two straight years and averaging 2.7 turnovers per game), his potential for high usage is undeniable. When both Clarkson and Sexton were off the court in 2024-25, George’s usage rate was nearly 28% – for context, Damian Lillard’s usage rate last season was 27%. The only player potentially standing in his way is Isaiah Collier, who started over George at the end of last season.
Stephon Castle, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and the reigning Kia Rookie of the Year, isn’t getting much attention in the fantasy community. While his rookie stats weren’t spectacular, the learning curve for NBA point guards is tough, and Castle showed great promise. With his mentor Chris Paul gone, Castle is now set to share the backcourt with De’Aaron Fox, while No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper will come off the bench. Castle started the Spurs’ final 18 games last season, and during that period, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in over 30 minutes per game. Targeting second and third-year players like Castle, especially at his current low draft cost, has proven to be a successful strategy for finding hidden value.
