Fantasy Basketball Rookie Report: NBA Rising Stars Game

With another exciting All-Star break in the rearview mirror, it’s now time to go full speed ahead on the second half of the season. From the perspective of rookies, more than half of their first professional campaign is in the books.

That means they’ve gotten a lot of their adjustments out of the way. It doesn’t mean it will be truly smooth sailing, but things are moving in the right direction. As injuries begin to become season-ending and tanking truly takes hold, more opportunities for young players will present themselves.

As we look to see what rookies will have the biggest fantasy impact over the remainder of the season, let’s revert back to the 2026 NBA Rising Stars game. Let’s take a quick look at, who’s perceived as the best rookies so far this season, with their statistics at the time of the game (points/assists/rebounds). Additionally, they ranked in order of fantasy relevance over the remainder of the season.

2026 NBA Rising Stars – Rookies

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, 20.4 / 4.1 / 6.6

What more can we see about the number one overall pick? Cooper Flagg continues to improve this season, and the Dallas Mavericks are truly becoming his team. Yes, he’s had to deal with some injuries and a slow start, but Flagg is rolling and finding his groove. The Dallas Mavericks have become his team, and things are getting even better.

Flagg should be back from his foot injury, as he looks to finish the season strong. He’s still in position to win the Rookie of the Year, but it might not be as close as we once thought.

Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets, 18.9 / 3.6 / 5.5

Kon Kneuppel has proven that he was more than just Flagg’s sidekick last season. Kneuppel can also do more than shoot three-pointers, although he does happen to be pretty good at it.

VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers, 14.9 / 4.1 / 5.4

If the Philadelphia 76ers can keep them together, VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey will form a dynamic duo for years to come. When Edgecombe is in the zone, look out, as the rookie has the potential and ability to take over games. Now, if he can only improve on his 42.3% shooting from the field.

Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans, 12.2 / 4.1 / 7.2

As the New Orleans Pelicans get healthier, it is unfortunately leading to less playing time, and therefore production, for Derik Queen. That doesn’t mean Queen hasn’t been efficient or proven to be a well-rounded forward. As the season progresses, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Queen pick up more playing time.

Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies, 13.3 / 2.9 / 6.2

While he’s currently out with a knee injury, Cedric Coward previously took advantage of other injuries and trades in Memphis. The Grizzlies were committed to drafting Coward as they traded up to get him, and he’s certainly delivered. Initially, the thought is that it would take a little longer, but Coward’s development has been accelerated.

Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans, 13.2 / 3.1 / 3.7

Playing time hasn’t been consistent for Jeremiah Fears, and the return of Dejounte Murray doesn’t help. When given the chance, Fears can score, and he’s shown playmaking potential. Just like Queen, it will be interesting to see Fears’ playing time over the last stretch of the season.

Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz, 11.7 / 1.7 / 3.9

Ace Bailey got his wish in heading to a rebuilding team. His playing time has been a slow ramp, but Bailey is coming off a four-game stretch in which he averaged 16 points per game. There are still going to be some duds, but overall, Bailey is finding his footing even if we’d like him to be more well-rounded.

Egor Demin, Brooklyn Nets, 10.8 / 3.3 / 3.1

All anyone could talk about was the fact that the Brooklyn Nets reached to draft Egor Demin. While still raw, the narrative around Demin is changing. The Nets should give Demin every chance to continue developing over the course of the season. There will still be bumps, but Demin should continue to take steps forward, and that’s especially the case for next season.

Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards, 12.9 / 2.2 / 2.7

Being in the starting lineup is a good thing for Tre Johnson, but his minutes haven’t exactly followed. There are questions with Washington’s rotation, and until those are sorted out, it’s hard to rely on Johnson. I’d also like to see Johnson do more than just score.

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs, 10.9 / 3.7 / 3.4

While it has gone up slightly as of late, Dylan Harper is still averaging just 22 minutes per game. The biggest problem here is that the San Antonio Spurs are too good, and Harper has to come off the bench. That places a limit on his fantasy value.

Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors, 7.9 / 2.1 / 3

We have seen Collin Murray-Boyles move in and out of the starting lineup this season. When in the lineup, there’s a clear spike in Murray-Boyles’ production. Since the calendar turned to 2026, Murray-Boyles is averaging 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs, 3.4 / 0.3 / 2

Joining the Spurs was a great situation for Carter Bryant. After just one year of college, Bryant is loaded on potential and upside. He’s averaging just nine minutes per game, but when given the chance, we see flashes of what he’s capable of. Unless something really changes, Bryant isn’t someone who should be on our radars this season.