The 2025 NBA Draft sparked conversations about fantasy basketball dynasty rankings for the 2025-26 season. One of the rookies from that class even headlines this list. He joins 11 other young and talented stars who should be taken in the first round of dynasty drafts.
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Dynasty Rankings: Round 1
1. Victor Wembanyama
The first overall pick in every dynasty draft has to be Victor Wembanyama. He’s 21, a top-two fantasy player and extremely well-rounded. It doesn’t get much better than that. There’s plenty of hype around the Frenchman’s future, and he probably won’t be dethroned anytime soon. The seven-foot-three big man is an excellent source of defensive stats with an evolving offensive game. Wembanyama’s only flaw is turnovers, which many managers will happily overlook. Also, his deep vein thrombosis doesn’t appear to be a cause for concern.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is fresh off an NBA championship with plenty of gas left in the tank. He also finally won MVP after being a candidate for the past two seasons. At nearly 27 years old, he’ll continue to be a frontrunner in the race for years to come and add many more accolades to his collection. Gilgeous-Alexander is an elite two-way contributor and a reliable source of production. The guard can provide scoring, efficient shooting, playmaking and stocks.
3. Luka Doncic
A trade to the Los Angeles Lakers doesn’t change the fact that Luka Doncic will dominate in the NBA for a long time. The 26-year-old appears to be in excellent shape and holds the keys to the future of the franchise. Doncic’s name is constantly in MVP talks as his numbers in several areas rank among the top in the league. He offers fantastic value in the three main categories, steals and threes. The five-time All-Star is an offensive stud, but his weaknesses lie in turnovers and field goal percentage.
4. Nikola Jokic
In redraft leagues, Nikola Jokic is a surefire top-two pick. His stock only slightly falls in dynasty formats due to his age. At 30 years old, he doesn’t have as much time left as the players ranked above him. But what he does have is three MVPs in the past five seasons, as well as remarkable versatility, consistency and durability. The big man is one of the most dominant players in real life and fantasy, with few holes in his game. Aside from turnovers, Jokic makes a positive impact everywhere else.
5. Cade Cunningham
Managers waited three seasons for 2021 first-overall pick Cade Cunningham to break out, and in 2024-25, he finally did. The guard blossomed into a top 15 fantasy player and was the focal point of the Detroit Pistons’ revival and success. His offensive leadership was evident through his potent scoring and playmaking. Cunningham is also a solid contributor on the other end of the court and is a great shot-blocker thanks to his size. At 23, he has more room to grow and exciting potential.
6. Cooper Flagg
2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is a generational talent expected to be a top fantasy player for years to come. He’s a prized dynasty asset as he’s only 18 and already a very polished player. The small forward’s best asset is his impressive versatility, but the former Blue Devil also touts a high basketball IQ and excellent defensive traits. There are no notable red flags to his game aside from some struggles with taking care of the ball. Flagg has all the tools to become a franchise cornerstone for the Dallas Mavericks.
7. Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards has a habit of being picked much higher than he should be in redraft leagues. However, he has continuously raised his fantasy ranking each season and still has so much more to accomplish at 23, justifying his high ranking in dynasty. The guard/forward made a major leap this past year as he took his three-point shooting to another level. Edwards can do a bit of everything on both ends of the court, but he’s not the most efficient shooter and is prone to turnovers.
8. Jalen Williams
In just his third season, Jalen Williams has already emerged as a star. He’s coming off his first All-Star appearance and was named to the 2024-25 All-NBA Third Team. The fact that the 24-year-old developed so quickly on a stacked Oklahoma City Thunder squad signals great potential. Williams makes a positive impact across the board, and his multi-position eligibility is also a huge benefit. He doesn’t lack in any area (aside from turnovers) and should continue to improve his numbers.
9. Chet Holmgren
Another key piece of the Thunder’s title team and an attractive player for dynasty managers is Chet Holmgren. The seven-foot-one 23-year-old is a double-double threat and shot-blocking machine. Although some managers are worried about potential injuries, considering he missed the entire 2022-23 season and was out for a significant portion of 2024-25. However, Holmgren’s young age, defensive contributions and star potential outweigh the concerns.
10. Trae Young
Trae Young is only 26, yet has already become the Atlanta Hawks’ franchise leader in multiple stats and still has plenty of prime years left to break even more records. Looking past his horrid field goal percentage and league-leading turnovers, managers are getting one of the best playmakers in the NBA, fulfilling one of the scarcest areas. When punting his worst categories, Young is easily a top fantasy producer. The guard is also an offensive spark who can knock down threes and uses his active hands defensively to swipe steals.
11. Evan Mobley
2021-22 Rookie of the Year runner-up Evan Mobley has made significant strides in his development, especially offensively. This past season, he upgraded his toolbox to include a three-point shot and increased his accuracy at the line. But the power forward/center shines most on the other end, earning Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. Each year, the 24-year-old surpasses his previous season’s finish as he continues to fine-tune his game. Mobley can post double-doubles, drop some dimes and get stocks.
12. Giannis Antetokounmpo
There’s no doubt that Giannis Antetokounmpo is an elite fantasy player, but his category ranking doesn’t always reflect that. His abysmal free-throw percentage drags his overall value down, forcing managers to punt that stat. Aside from that and his lack of a three-point shot, he’s a dominant two-way player. Antetokounmpo’s athleticism allows him to easily score inside and control the boards while also compiling stocks and dishing out assists. His age of 30 is a yellow flag, but he still has so much left to give.
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