Jacob Dunne’s 2025 Fantasy Basketball Points League Top 250 Rankings

With just under a month left until NBA tip-off, it’s officially fantasy basketball season. Draft prep is in full swing, and I’m here to give you my early Top 250 points league rankings. Unlike traditional rankings, my rankings are built on a simple philosophy: availability is the best ability. I’m targeting players who can carry your fantasy team all season long without the constant fear of injuries, load management, or late-season shutdowns.

Sure, upside matters — especially when it comes to young stars on teams still fighting for a playoff spot. But for the most part, I want the players who give you consistent production night after night and will still be playing when it matters most in fantasy playoffs. That’s how you win points leagues.

At the Top: Jokić vs. Wembanyama

Last year, I went bold and ranked Victor Wembanyama ahead of Nikola Jokić, betting on the breakout. It looked good early — until Wemby’s season ended prematurely. Lesson learned.

This year, I’m not overthinking it. If I have the No. 1 pick, it’s Nikola Jokić 10 times out of 10. He’s the safest player in fantasy, still in his prime, and a walking triple-double who doesn’t miss games without reason.

At No. 2, though, the choice is just as easy. It’s Victor Wembanyama. He’s only scratching the surface of what he can do, and there’s a very real chance he improves across the board in Year 3. That should terrify opposing defenses — and excite fantasy managers.

Players I’m Avoiding at All Costs

You couldn’t pay me enough to draft Joel Embiid at his current ADP. The risk of missed time, combined with the constant threat of him sitting out late in the season, makes him a chemistry killer for your roster.

The same goes for Kawhi Leonard. In points leagues, you can’t afford to burn a premium pick on someone who might play 50 games (in a good year). When you’re investing early draft capital, you need bankable production. I’d much rather draft someone less flashy who will give me 65+ games than deal with the rollercoaster of hoping Kawhi suits up.

How These Rankings Work

My fantasy basketball rankings aren’t about name value — they’re about who will actually help you win a points league this season. If a player is on a contending team with little shutdown risk, they move up. If they’re on a tanking team but offer massive usage and upside, I’ll give them a bump too.

That’s why you’ll find a few “head-scratcher” placements. For example:

• Jrue Holiday comes in at 157, while rookies like Egor Demin, sophomore Tre Johnson, and Moses Moody are ranked slightly higher. Holiday might be the bigger name, but he’s also more likely to face shutdown or limited usage if the Blazers go full tank mode. Those younger guys, on the other hand, will be force-fed minutes and opportunities.

Remember: in points leagues, quantity often beats quality once you’re past the early rounds. Usage is everything.

The Bottom of the List

Veterans like Russell Westbrook and Al Horford find themselves near the bottom of my Top 250. That’s not because they lack talent, but because their situations are so uncertain. Neither has a team as of now, and until they sign somewhere, I can’t justify ranking them higher. If they land in good spots, I’ll adjust before the season tips off.

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

These rankings are my early edition, based on the standard scoring settings:

• Points Scored = 1

• Rebounds = 1.2

• Assists = 1.5

• Blocks = 3

• Steals = 3

• Turnovers = -1

Preseason reports, training camp buzz, and roster moves will shake things up in the coming weeks. And when that happens, I’ll update the rankings. But as of today, this is how I’m attacking points league drafts.

If there’s one thing to remember: usage and availability win championships.