Fantasy Basketball Rankings 2024-25: Top sleepers, breakouts and busts by proven NBA model

After winning MVP honors at the 2024 Olympics, LeBron James will return for his 22nd NBA season in 2024-25 and he’ll turn 40 later this year. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will also have a chance to become part of the first father-son duo in NBA history after the Lakers drafted Bronny James in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. With Olympic gold and a chance to play with his son serving as motivation, many Fantasy basketball managers are hoping they can extract some value out of James slipping into the second round of many 2024 Fantasy basketball drafts.

So what kind of production can you expect from the four-time NBA MVP this season and what sort of minutes restrictions might he face early after a busy summer? A reliable set of live-updated 2024 Fantasy basketball rankings can help you figure out exactly how to handle James and also to identify potential 2024 Fantasy basketball sleepers, breakouts and busts as NBA news unfolds such as the Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle trade on Friday. Before making any 2024-25 Fantasy basketball picks, be sure to check out the 2024 Fantasy basketball rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

SportsLine’s proven model simulates each season 10,0000 times. This model is powered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy sites. These cheat sheets and rankings, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day. Any time an injury occurs or there’s a change on a roster, the team at SportsLine updates its cheat sheets.

Last year the model called Thunder G/F Josh Giddey a bust, predicting that he would never live up to his sixth-round ADP. The result: Giddey had his minutes reduced significantly with Oklahoma City’s roster improving and saw corresponding drops in points (16.6 to 12.3), rebounds (7.9 to 6.4) assists (6.2 to 4.8) and steals (0.8 to 0.6). The Thunder ultimately decided to trade him to the Bulls for Alex Caruso this offseason and Fantasy basketball managers who avoided the headache last season were better off for it.

The model also nailed DeMar DeRozan as a sleeper in 2021-22 before he averaged a career-best 27.9 points per game and called Paolo Banchero’s and Victor Wembanyama’s breakout seasons before they went on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors the last two seasons. Anyone who followed the model’s Fantasy basketball advice on them was well on their way to making a deep postseason run.

Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NBA season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy basketball rankings 2024-25, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see these 2024-25 Fantasy basketball rankings. 

Top 2024 Fantasy basketball sleepers 

One of the top 2024 Fantasy basketball sleepers the model is predicting: Clippers point guard James Harden. At his peak, the three-time scoring champion was one of the best isolation players in NBA history but the 35-year-old has embraced playing as a primary distributor later in his career and he’s coming off his healthiest season in years in Los Angeles.

Harden played in 72 games and averaged 34.3 minutes per contest in 2023-24. He scored 16.6 points per game while dishing 8.5 assists per night and grabbing 5.1 rebounds on average. Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were all left off Team USA this summer and, as disappointing as that may have been, they should all be healthier for it. That’s why the model ranks Harden as a top-five guard in 2024-25. See more Fantasy basketball sleepers 2024 here.

Top 2024 Fantasy basketball breakouts 

One of the 2024 Fantasy basketball breakouts the model has identified: Rockets guard Reed Sheppard. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft only spent one season at Kentucky and made just five starts, but he turned heads among NBA scouts with better-than-expected athleticism, great instincts and incredible scoring touch.

Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game over 28.9 minutes per contest with Kentucky. He also shot 53.6% from the floor and a staggering 52.1% from the 3-point line, and that efficiency should earn him a big role in Houston out of the gates. However, don’t sleep on his ability to contribute defensively by getting out into the passing lanes and blocking shots, which is a big reason why the model ranks him as a top-45 guard despite the fact that he’s the 79th guard drafted on average. Identify other Fantasy basketball breakouts 2024 here.

Top 2024 Fantasy basketball busts

As for players to avoid, the model lists Lakers guard Austin Reaves as one of its top 2024 Fantasy basketball busts. Undrafted out of Oklahoma, Reaves earned a spot on the Lakers’ roster in 2021-22 and has seen his role steadily expanded over the years. Last year, he averaged 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 48.6% from the floor and 36.7% from the 3-point line.

However, the Lakers drafted Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and the similarities in their respective games might make it difficult for the two to share the floor. Both are defensive liabilities, so Reaves might be in for fewer minutes in 2024-25, which is why the model ranks him outside its top 50 guards despite the fact that he’s been the 33rd guard selected on average. Avoid these 2024 Fantasy basketball busts as well.

How to find proven 2024-25 Fantasy basketball rankings

SportsLine is also has a shocking prediction for one of the league’s biggest names and advises avoiding him in 2024 Fantasy basketball drafts at his current ADP. This bust fails to live up to his first-round ADP, ranking behind players available in the third round or later like Damian Lillard and James Harden. You can only see who it is, and the 2024 Fantasy basketball rankings for every player, at SportsLine.

So which 2024-25 Fantasy basketball sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade, and which huge name should you avoid? Visit SportsLine now to get 2024-25 Fantasy basketball cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that’s nailed its Fantasy basketball picks, and find out.

Consensus Top 100 Fantasy Basketball ADP 2024-25

1. Nikola Jokic (DEN – C)
2. Victor Wembanyama (SAS – C,PF)
3. Luka Doncic (DAL – PG,SG)
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL – PF,C)
5. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – PG,SG)
6. Jayson Tatum (BOS – SF,PF)
7. Tyrese Haliburton (IND – PG,SG)
8. Joel Embiid (PHI – C)
9. Anthony Edwards (MIN – SG,SF)
10. Anthony Davis (LAL – PF,C)
11. Stephen Curry (GSW – PG,SG)
12. Domantas Sabonis (SAC – PF,C)
13. Trae Young (ATL – PG)
14. Devin Booker (PHO – PG,SF,SG)
15. LeBron James (LAL – PF,SF)
16. Kevin Durant (PHO – SF,PF)
17. Donovan Mitchell (CLE – PG,SG)
18. Jalen Brunson (NYK – PG,SG)
19. Scottie Barnes (TOR – PF,SF,SG)
20. Chet Holmgren (OKC – C,PF)
21. Kyrie Irving (DAL – PG,SG)
22. De’Aaron Fox (SAC – PG)
23. Alperen Sengun (HOU – C)
24. Damian Lillard (MIL – PG)
25. Ja Morant (MEM – PG)
26. Dejounte Murray (NOR – PG,SG)
27. Tyrese Maxey (PHI – PG,SG)
28. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,SF)
29. LaMelo Ball (CHA – PG,SG)
30. Bam Adebayo (MIA – C)
31. James Harden (LAC – PG,SG)
32. Kawhi Leonard (LAC – PF,SF,SG)
33. Paul George (PHI – SF,PF,SG)
34. Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN – C,PF)
35. Lauri Markkanen (UTH – PF,SF)
36. Jaylen Brown (BOS – SG,SF)
37. Desmond Bane (MEM – SF,SG)
38. Evan Mobley (CLE – C,PF)
39. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM – PF,C)
40. Cade Cunningham (DET – PG,SG)
41. DeMar DeRozan (SAC – PF,SF,SG)
42. Pascal Siakam (IND – C,PF,SF)
43. Jalen Williams (OKC – PF,SF,SG)
44. Nikola Vucevic (CHI – C,PF)
45. Jamal Murray (DEN – PG,SG)
46. Zion Williamson (NOR – C,PF)
47. Franz Wagner (ORL – PF,SF,SG)
48. Mikal Bridges (NYK – PF,SF,SG)
49. Jimmy Butler (MIA – PF,SF)
50. Rudy Gobert (MIN – C)
51. Derrick White (BOS – PG,SG)
52. Brandon Ingram (NOR – PF,SF,SG)
53. Myles Turner (IND – C)
54. Jarrett Allen (CLE – C)
55. Deandre Ayton (POR – C)
56. Fred VanVleet (HOU – PG)
57. Darius Garland (CLE – PG)
58. Jalen Green (HOU – PG,SG)
59. Nic Claxton (BKN – C,PF)
60. Josh Giddey (CHI – PG,SF,SG)
61. Zach LaVine (CHI – SG,SF)
62. Julius Randle (NYK – PF)
63. Keegan Murray (SAC – PF,SF)
64. Immanuel Quickley (TOR – PG,SG)
65. Kristaps Porzingis (BOS – PF,C) OUT
66. Brandon Miller (CHA – SF,SG)
67. Austin Reaves (LAL – PG,SF,SG)
68. Miles Bridges (CHA – SF,PF)
69. D’Angelo Russell (LAL – PG,SG)
70. Jalen Duren (DET – C)
71. CJ McCollum (NOR – PG,SG)
72. Devin Vassell (SAS – SG,SF)
73. Kyle Kuzma (WAS – SF,PF)
74. Michael Porter Jr. (DEN – PF,SF)
75. Tobias Harris (DET – SF,PF)
76. Jrue Holiday (BOS – PG,SG)
77. Tyler Herro (MIA – PG,SG)
78. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU – C,PF)
79. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG)
80. Jalen Johnson (ATL – PF,SF)
81. Brook Lopez (MIL – C)
82. Bradley Beal (PHO – PG,SG)
83. Jusuf Nurkic (PHO – C)
84. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – PF)
85. Jonas Valanciunas (WAS – C)
86. Coby White (CHI – PG,SG)
87. Jordan Poole (WAS – PG,SG)
88. Walker Kessler (UTH – C)
89. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)
90. RJ Barrett (TOR – PF,SF,SG)
91. Anfernee Simons (POR – PG,SG)
92. Mark Williams (CHA – C)
93. Clint Capela (ATL – C)
94. Khris Middleton (MIL – SF,SG)
95. Terry Rozier (MIA – PG,SG)
96. OG Anunoby (NYK – PF,SF)
97. Klay Thompson (DAL – SG,SF)
98. Tyus Jones (PHO – PG)
99. Chris Paul (SAS – PG)
100. John Collins (UTH – C,PF)