7. Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Don’t forget about Jabari Smith Jr. late in drafts.
So you mean to tell me that after slipping to No. 3 on draft night, Jabari Smith Jr. is falling outside of many fantasy drafts as well? This is a total oversight — particularly for anyone in a dynasty or keeper league that drafts not only for the present but the future as well. Smith Jr. has been outstanding in preseason, contributing with a ton of three-pointers, rebounds and some defensive stats while proving that he’ll be a primary scoring option for the rebuilding Rockets.
His case grows more compelling when considering that power forward is likely the most shallow position in basketball, so targeting some fantasy basketball sleepers who can play the four on a consistent basis is a recipe for success. For comparison, Paolo Banchero is going between the 60s and 70s while Keegan Murray the player who was picked fourth and just behind Smith Jr. in the 2022 NBA Draft, is being picked between the mid-80s and 90s.
Rookies tend to progress as they get through the year, which is perfect for fantasy basketball sleepers. These players need to be at their best toward the end of the season when Playoffs roll around. If Smith Jr. follows that same trajectory, he’s going to be a league-winner in 2023.
Average draft position is 116.8 on Yahoo, 126.2 on ESPN.