Every fantasy basketball season presents an opportunity to find the next group of players ready to break out. Whether it’s second-year guys on the verge of earning a bigger role, an unproven talent looking to establish himself, or a late-round sleeper with untapped potential, these are the players who could emerge as valuable fantasy assets in the 2026-27 season.
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2026-27 Fantasy Basketball All-Breakout Team
Guard — Brandin Podziemski, Warriors (Yahoo ADP: 116.5)
Podziemski already does some things I love from a fantasy guard, particularly rebounding and secondary playmaking. Now, I want to see what happens if the offensive volume increases. The Warriors notably struck out on most prominent free agents and did nothing to fortify their backcourt alongside Stephen Curry. So, it’s a chance for Podz to prove his worth. Golden State clearly believes he’s ready, signing Podziemski to a five-year, $110 million extension.
Guard — Dylan Harper, Spurs (Yahoo ADP: 82.2)
Harper is talented enough that I’m willing to live with the crowded backcourt. The question isn’t whether he’ll start, it’s whether his minutes will rise after an impressive rookie year and playoff run that ended in the NBA Finals. I think they will; with his size, expect the Spurs to tinker with more three-guard sets to ensure their best players are on the floor, especially in crunch time. There is some real potential as a stat-stuffer across categories and I’m projecting Harper to score 46.1 FPPG in High Score. Sometimes the simplest breakout case is just betting on talent. Anyone with eyes sees he’s got that “it” factor.
Forward — Brandon Miller, Hornets (Yahoo ADP: 44.6)
LaMelo Ball’s departure opens the door for Miller to become Charlotte’s primary scorer, and that’s the breakout I’m betting on. He’s already shown he can handle significant shot volume and be a high-end source of 3s, but now there’s an opportunity to take another step as a playmaker and rebounder while moving to the top of the offensive hierarchy. The biggest concern for 9-cat remains FG%, especially if the shot attempts spike. But entering Year 4 with the green light to lead this offense, Miller has the setup to put together his best fantasy season yet.
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Forward — Ausar Thompson, Pistons (Yahoo ADP: 82.6)
Detroit signed Thompson to a lucrative extension without making any major additions to the starting lineup, so the money says they’re banking on an offensive leap. He’s arguably already one of the best perimeter defenders in the game, and the rebounds, stocks and low-key assists give him a strong fantasy base. The most he’s averaged is 26 minutes per game, so imagine what happens if that number pushes into the 30s. The hype train has already left the station and it’ll likely cost a mid-round pick to get him, but any meaningful growth as a scorer could be enough for Thompson to meet his rising ADP. He’s going to do numbers if the minutes finally match the talent.
Center — Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets (Yahoo ADP: 93.8)
Nic Claxton’s departure finally gives Sharpe the opportunity fantasy managers have been waiting for. The rebounding and steals have always popped on a per-minute basis, and now Brooklyn can give him the runway to prove those numbers translate as a starter. He’s also shown enough touch around the basket and passing ability to offer more than boards alone. There’s some risk in paying for production we haven’t seen over a full season, but this is the clearest path Sharpe has had to becoming a legitimate standard-league center.
UTIL — Matas Buzelis, Bulls (Yahoo ADP: 64.9)
Buzelis is climbing draft boards, and it’s easy to understand why. He could legitimately challenge Norman Powell as Chicago’s leading scorer while also bringing the rebounds, 3s and stocks that make his fantasy profile so appealing. He played 77 games last season and established career bests across nearly every category outside of FT% and turnovers, giving us more than just projection to work with entering Year 3. Fantasy analysts are expecting the next step, and I’m there with them. The draft price is rising, but so is the ceiling.