When it comes to finding an edge in fantasy basketball, you must be willing to go against the grain. Employing a seldom-seen team-building strategy can present a high-risk, high-reward roster that you have to maximize all season.
One such strategy is collecting high-upside young players; proverbial lottery tickets. It’s not so much about finding a diamond in the rough as it is finding one where no one else was looking.
Below we’ll discuss four players in the early stages of their careers who can pay off huge dividends in the upcoming fantasy season.
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High-Upside Fantasy Basketball Players to Target
Cedric Coward (G – MEM)
Because of the Grizzlies’ struggles last season, Cedric Coward’s All-Rookie first team campaign largely went unnoticed. The 22-year-old Washington State product averaged 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists, good enough for 26.3 fantasy points per game as a rookie. Coward provided more than enough evidence that a productive fantasy career is in the cards.
Coward will enter his sophomore season as a projected starter for a team keen on developing its young talent. Memphis has shipped out veterans Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant within the last calendar year and brought in Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart, whose usage pales in comparison to the departees. The fantasy situation for Memphis’ young core from top to bottom is positive, and even more so for Coward after those key losses.
Assuming his role as an all-around offensive threat and gifted defender, Coward is poised to make even greater strides next to Cameron Boozer and Zach Edey.
Collin Murray-Boyles (F – TOR)
Unlike the majority of his fellow 2025 lottery picks, Collin Murray-Boyles’ best moments came deep into last season. A strong, toolsy forward, Murray-Boyles became a trusted part of Toronto’s playoff rotation. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and an impressive 2.4 stocks (steals plus blocks) during the Raptors’ seven-game postseason stint.
While not official, we can assume that Kawhi Leonard will be suiting up for the Raptors in the fall. Though Sandro Mamukelashvili, Murray-Boyles’ primary competition for minutes, will not. The Georgian big man signed with the Lakers in July and leaves behind 21.9 minutes and 11.2 points per game.
Even with a limited shooting and scoring game, the only thing keeping Murray-Boyles from noteworthy fantasy production is playing time. He’s just that good at everything else. Think Draymond Green-esque numbers as a reasonable comparison for Murray-Boyles.
Darius Acuff Jr. (G – SAC)
Darius Acuff Jr.’s path to fantasy relevance has everything to do with him having an abundance of room to make mistakes. The seventh overall pick in June’s draft is joining a Kings organization that is placing all of its hopes — for now, anyway — in him. That opportunity probably won’t look pretty in the box score every night, but it’ll certainly create some fantasy points.
Considering Acuff’s usage and production in college and Sacramento’s shaky roster, it’s easy to envision him becoming the greatest fantasy asset in Sacramento. Honestly, it’s not that hard to picture him coming away with Rookie of the Year honors either.
With Devin Carter, DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook out, a considerable amount of volume is up for grabs. Will Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis take advantage? Probably. But both are involved in monthly trade rumors and very clearly not part of Sacramento’s future plans.
Expect Acuff to take full advantage of his lenient, low-stakes situation and develop into a high-volume guard you can roster with confidence next season.
Matas Buzelis (F – CHI)
Due to a remade roster with new vision, Matas Buzelis is suddenly one of the longest-tenured Bulls. With that in mind, Buzelis is precisely the type of player to buy stock in. He possesses a special blend of athleticism and hustle, has shown improvement from his rookie season and is part of an up-and-coming squad.
The 6-foot-8, 21-year-old became the youngest player ever to record at least 100 blocks and 150 threes in a season in 2025. That type of activity on both ends should communicate nothing but positive things about what type of fantasy player Buzelis can become.
The additions of Nic Claxton, Norman Powell and Caleb Wilson do provide competition for Buzelis’ production, but there’s always something to be said for how external improvements can benefit the individual player. Productive players on bad teams aren’t exactly the best archetype to chase.
