Trade Talk? TOP 50 Players || 2025-2026 NBA Fantasy Basketball
There are a ton of players you need to start evaluating long-term value for
Watch Here - Trade Talk? TOP 50 Players || 2025-2026 NBA Fantasy Basketball
The host of this episode of BLEAV In Basketball Fantasy Matty G challenges the fantasy-drafting obsession with “must-draft risers” and trendy breakout names, arguing that managers often overlook stable players who are slipping down rankings. The video highlights how many of the Top-50 players in fantasy so far are all names that you would see in your average Top-50 players in the league list. It is important to trust that great players find a way to be great. With that in mind, who are the best players in fantasy so far? Additionally, if you have any of these players who should you hold onto for dear life, who are the black sheep you need to sell fast, and who should you be using as bait to trade for even better players?
Using two-week data from Hashtag Basketball, he reveals that Luka Doncic has quietly been the No. 1 fantasy player, fueled by improved free-throw shooting (“+86% on 10.6 attempts… that’s game-changing”) and near-50% shooting from the field. He warns against overreacting to small samples—Luka has played only five games versus others with seven—and reminds viewers not to fall into “recency bias.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, and Anthony Edwards headline the recent top performers. Maxey, he insists, is playing at a “season-changing” level, while Edwards is producing first-round numbers thanks to massive scoring surges and elite efficiency. Despite praising Edwards, the host frames him as a sell-high opportunity, saying, “If you can package him for a real first-rounder like Shai, I’d do it every single day of the week.”
He highlights Austin Reaves as one of the most valuable fantasy assets due to rare multi-position eligibility and elite recent averages. “28-7-4 on 60% shooting with 90% at the line,” Matty G notes, are his current averages. Reaves’ explosion, including a “52-point Whataburger game,” makes him a potentially tradable piece for a star like Donovan Mitchell. Kevin Porter Jr. is called a clear sell-high due to unsustainable scoring and three-point volume after returning from injury. On the other hand, Anthony Davis looks fully back to elite form, and managers should either buy or demand full first-round value.
The mid-round analysis notes that big men are scarce among top performers—only Jokic and Davis consistently appear—while point guards dominate thanks to elite assist and scoring versatility. In the second-round value range, the host cites James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Evan Mobley, and Mikal Bridges, but recommends selling Kawhi and Harden due to the Clippers’ instability and potential late-season shutdown risks: “If their season goes sideways, I don’t know how much they end up playing.”
He views Kristaps Porziņģis as a buy-low target, despite the ongoing illness concerns, explaining that frustrated managers may be ready to move him. Tyler Herro’s fast return to form matches preseason expectations, making him a justified early-round pick. Conversely, Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s fantasy window is closing with Trae Young nearing return, making him a “must-trade-now” asset.
Matty G warns that managers pairing poor free-throw shooters like Josh Giddey and Evan Mobley can tank FT% unless balanced with elite shooters like SGA, Maxey, or Luka. Other sell-high names include Jalen Suggs (elite steals but unreliable health), Michael Porter Jr., and Josh Hart, who has gone from waiver drop to top-25 production but is unlikely to sustain it.
The host contrasts strong under-the-radar performers like Andrew Wiggins, Zach Edey, and Mark Williams, while identifying Jalen Johnson, Franz Wagner, Jalen Brunson, and Deni Avdija as players managers will be unwilling to trade. But he argues Deandre Ayton is undervalued, calling him a realistic trade target thanks to his career-long consistency: “He’s been a double-double guy every single year.”
Rising rookies like Cooper Flagg and Reed Sheppard appear in the top-60 over the last two weeks due to expanded roles, though Sheppard is labeled a sell-high with Tyrese Eason returning soon. Keyonte George, once a top-20 early-season breakout, has slipped to around 56th and may now be better traded for a more stable contributor.
Finally, the host closes with concerns about Giannis, noting injury uncertainty and trade rumors. In nine-category formats, he suggests managers consider selling high after a few good games: “If you can get a Giannis-for-Luka trade, that would be absolutely tasty.”
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