NBA Fantasy Breakout Players to Target for 2024-25

Matas Buzelis is positioning himself as a prime fantasy basketball breakout candidate heading into his third NBA season with the Chicago Bulls, according to recent player projections and analysis. After a strong sophomore campaign where his playing time fluctuated, Buzelis finished the year averaging 16.3 points and 74th overall in standard leagues, with draft analysts pointing to an increased role under a new head coach as the catalyst for his next-stage development.

Matas Buzelis Projections and Fantasy Outlook

According to league analysts, Buzelis put together an impressive sophomore season despite an inconsistent role. Throughout the 2025-26 schedule, he placed as the 74th overall performer in standard formats, posting per-game marks of 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.2 three-pointers, and 2.2 combined steals and blocks across 29.2 minutes. Statistical tracking indicates that during his final 22 outings of that year, Buzelis functioned near top-45 status, elevating his production to 19.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.7 three-pointers, and 2.5 combined steals and blocks while logging 31.5 minutes per contest.

Entering his third year with a Yahoo Average Draft Position (ADP) of 58, Buzelis could see his playing time increase past 32.0 minutes per game under a new head coach, according to draft assessments. Analysts note that Chicago’s fast-paced offensive scheme aligns with Buzelis’s playing style, offering across-the-board contributions and rare out-of-position block numbers for a wing player. If projections hold, experts suggest he can flirt with third-round value, providing a high return on investment for fantasy managers navigating the Eastern Conference landscape.

Pro Tip for High Score Leagues: Buzelis’s 2.7 three-pointers carry less value in formats without a dedicated three-point category, where a make equals any other field goal. However, his block rate—averaging 2.2 to 2.5 combined steals and blocks—pays three points per occurrence and translates directly to high-scoring scoring structures.

Kel’el Ware Switches to Milwaukee Bucks

Following a clunky sophomore campaign in Miami, Kel’el Ware was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks during the offseason as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, according to league transaction reports. Ware played 77 games last season, averaging 11.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.2 three-pointers in 22.1 minutes per contest. Despite securing top-60 value in nine-category leagues, his minutes and starting lineup status fluctuated as Miami experimented with lineups featuring Ware alongside Bam Adebayo before shifting strategies late in the year.

With an ADP of 75, Ware enters Milwaukee with a clearer path to playing time as the franchise pivots following the Antetokounmpo trade. While he must compete with Myles Turner at the center position, analysts indicate that Ware’s versatility could allow him to share the floor with Turner. If Ware secures roughly 26 minutes per game, projections place him as a potential top-50 asset, making his current draft position a notable bargain in both standard and High Score formats.

Day’Ron Sharpe Eyes Starter Role With Brooklyn Nets

Day’Ron Sharpe is positioned for the most significant opportunity of his career following Nic Claxton’s offseason trade to Chicago, according to roster tracking. Across the 2025-26 schedule, Sharpe appeared in 62 contests backing up Claxton, registering averages of 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 combined steals and blocks through 18.7 minutes nightly. With Claxton out of Brooklyn, Sharpe and Danny Wolf emerge as the primary candidates for the starting center spot.

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Analysts project Sharpe as a defensive-minded fit for the starting unit, with a safe floor of 24 minutes per night pointing toward top-100 fantasy value. Selected around an ADP of 92, Sharpe represents a late-round target with upside if he commands a 30-minute role. In High Score formats, his dense defensive output—averaging 1.5 combined steals and blocks—translates into steady point spikes despite the risk of foul trouble limiting his floor time.

Collin Murray-Boyles Set for Sophomore Jump With Toronto Raptors

Collin Murray-Boyles finished his rookie campaign strongly, averaging 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.0 combined steals and blocks over his final 23 appearances while shooting 63.0 percent from the floor, according to performance tracking. Although Jakob Poeltl missed significant time during the season, opening up center minutes for Murray-Boyles, the departure of Sandro Mamukelashvili to Los Angeles clears a path for extended minutes at the power forward position.

With an ADP of 121, Murray-Boyles is projected to see his playing time rise from 23.6 minutes toward 26 minutes per game in his sophomore season. Analysts compare his defensive utility and secondary playmaking upside to a player profile resembling Draymond Green. At current draft costs, maintaining his defensive production could push him inside the top 70 overall fantasy assets.

Did You Know?

Matas Buzelis closed out the final two months of the 2025-26 NBA season operating as a borderline top-45 fantasy player, showcasing a high-ceiling scoring and defensive profile that has driven his Yahoo ADP up to 58 heading into draft season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Matas Buzelis’s projected fantasy value for the upcoming season?

Draft analysts project Matas Buzelis as a potential third-round value, with a Yahoo ADP of 58, driven by expectations of increased minutes under a new Chicago Bulls head coach.

How does the trade to the Milwaukee Bucks impact Kel’el Ware’s fantasy outlook?

Following a trade from Miami, Kel’el Ware joins a rebuilding Milwaukee squad where a clearer path to minutes—either alongside or behind Myles Turner—positions him as a potential top-50 asset with an ADP of 75.

What makes Day’Ron Sharpe a strong late-round fantasy target?

With Nic Claxton traded to Chicago, Day’Ron Sharpe is competing for the starting center role in Brooklyn, offering high defensive stats in steals and blocks that provide strong value relative to his 92 ADP.

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Can Collin Murray-Boyles improve on his rookie campaign in Toronto?

Yes, following the departure of Sandro Mamukelashvili and a strong finish to his rookie year, Murray-Boyles is projected to see increased minutes at power forward, targeting a top-70 finish in fantasy rankings.

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