Fantasy Basketball: Dynasty Sleepers 2024-25

Every year, managers try to squeeze out every little advantage. Usually everyone’s favorite catchphrase is “sleeper.” Essentially, what they’re asking for is a player that no one else knows about, who they can acquire cheaply and who will get them promoted up the league. Full disclosure: It’s usually next to impossible to find a true sleeper.

However, there are often many players who have the potential to be a sleeper. Either a leap in development or an increase in opportunities can allow players to see additional minutes and take advantage of the situation.

The 11 players listed below are either primed for a breakout season that will lead to long-term fantasy success, or they are talented players who will hide behind other veterans early in the year, making this a good time, cheap to shop. Chances are, most of these won’t catch on immediately (if at all). So find the two or three that you like the most and go for it.

Keon Ellis

If you paid attention on the track last season, Ellis may not be a sleeper for you. However, I think he’s in for a tremendous season. He began the year in a small reserve role and saw some starts when De’Aaron Fox was injured. However, he took over the starting shooting guard position when Kevin Huerter was out at the end of the year and thrived. He went on to be a top-100 player with averages of 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.2 triples in 27.0 minutes per game. There’s a real chance that Ellis will be part of the team’s starting unit this year to give them more defense on the perimeter. If that happens, he should have a top-100 season.

Julian Strawther

During media day, Mike Malone said that Strawther and Christian Braun will take over the starting shooting guard duties and it will depend on who “compliments” the starters the most. He had some solid three-point games as a rookie and was dominant in the last two Summer Leagues. Even if Malone brings Strawther off the bench, he will still play an important role. However, if he starts providing some floor spacing, he could make a huge leap this season. Shop now before it’s too late.

Leonard Miller

Miller had an excellent performance in Summer League, although he doesn’t see much opportunity as a rookie. However, he played well in the G-League after spending the previous season with G-League Ignite. In 12 appearances for the Iowa Wolves last year, he averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers in 26.7 minutes per game. Miller could potentially play a bigger role with the Timberwolves this season with Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyle Anderson gone, but he hasn’t even turned 21 yet. He still has time to carve out a role for himself. So be patient if things don’t work out this season.

Karlo Matkovic

Matkovic was drafted No. 52 back in 2022, but he has a chance to carve out a big role for New Orleans in his first NBA season this year. The focus was on Yves Missi, whom the Pelicans took in the first round last summer. However, Matkovic fits much better next to Zion Williamson in advance. His averages were limited by an early exit, but he posted 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 blocks in 18.0 minutes per game during Summer League, a 25/5/1/1/3 line included two 3-pointers in one game. He may not pick a role right away, but be patient.

Ryan Dunn

Dunn is one of my favorite players from this year’s rookie class and he landed in a great situation. Before the Suns drafted him with the No. 28 pick last summer, Dunn averaged 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks in just 27.5 minutes per game for Virginia. Now he will join a team that has plenty of scorers and needs some defensive help. Dunn’s current offensive game is limited, to say the least. He needs to find a way to be more effective in that regard, to play enough to make his presence felt on defense. As a rookie, he has a chance to make a big impact in minutes, and if he continues to develop, he can become a fantasy star.

Kobe Bufkin

Atlanta didn’t play a big role for Bukfin in his rookie year, but that’s no reason to write him off. The Hawks have had success of late by using their G League team as a true farm system, with Jalen Johnson and (to a lesser extent) Vit Krejci as success stories. Bufkin averaged 23.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.6 triples per game for the College Park Skyhawks last season, and he should get more time with Atlanta next season have since Dejounte Murray is gone.

Craig Porter Jr.

Despite going undrafted last season, Porter Jr. was able to put together some solid games as Cleveland struggled with injuries in the backcourt. In six starts last season, he averaged 9.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks in 27.9 minutes per game. It may take a few years for him to establish a consistent role, whether with Cleveland or with someone else. However, he has a fantasy-friendly game, as he showed last season when he played a big role.

Jaden Springer

In his first three years in the league, Springer was little more than a strong player. However, the uptrend is still there. Over the final three games of the regular season, Springer averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.7 steals in just 19.3 minutes per game. It’s a small sample size that doesn’t mean much, but if he ever gets into a situation where he plays a larger role, he should be well versed in fantasy.

Dariq Whitehead

Whitehead only played a total of 24 minutes in his rookie year and had battled numerous injury issues up to this point in his career. Still, his ceiling is incredibly high. He was one of the best high school players in the class of 2022, and if he can overcome the injuries that plagued him in his freshman and rookie years, he can end up being an incredible player.

Ricky Council IV

He may not have played much, but the undrafted rookie had some big games for the 76ers last season. He followed that up with a dominant Summer League in which he averaged 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game. Don’t expect him to play a big role for Philly early this year, but he’s worth keeping hidden. Last year he was forced to play extra minutes due to injuries, and that could happen again this year given the many aging veterans on his team.

Olivier Maxence Prosper

O-Max didn’t play much after Dallas drafted him in the first round, but he still has tremendous potential. He didn’t shoot the ball well during Summer League, but averaged 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 triples per game. The Mavs have some veteran depth ahead of them that will be a priority on a contending team. That makes this a great time to shop cheaply at Prosper.