Cameron Boozer And 3 Other NBA Prospects With Immediate Fantasy Basketball Upside

Here are four NBA prospects in the 2026 draft who offer immediate fantasy basketball upside for managers next season.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) grabs the ball in front of UConn Huskies forward Jaylin Stewart (3) in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The NBA playoff picture is taking shape, and teams outside of postseason contention are setting their sights on the offseason. The 2026 NBA Draft features a number of highly touted prospects who could make immediate impacts at the next level. This season, we’ve seen rookies like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel offer tremendous fantasy basketball value, which managers will look to replicate in 2026. This year’s rookie class is riddled with talent, presenting several high-end prospects who could leave an immense impact on fantasy basketball. Let’s look at four rookies who could offer immediate fantasy value:

G, Darryn Peterson - Kansas

Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) controls the ball against St. John's Red Storm forward Dillon Mitchell (1) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is one of the more highly regarded prospects of this class and is in contention to be selected No. 1 overall. He averaged 20.2 points and 4.2 rebounds this season, shooting 44% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. Peterson projects to take over a prototypical two-guard role at the next level, offering elite scoring production and encouraging defensive upside. Peterson’s consistent scoring output and defensive tools will help him contribute from the jump in fantasy, though I’d expect his playmaking production to remain somewhat limited early in his career. 

F, Cameron Boozer - Duke

Mar 26, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) shoots during a practice session ahead of the east regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Duke forward Cameron Boozer, another contender to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick, is arguably this year’s top fantasy prospect. Over 38 games, Boozer averaged 22.5 points, 10. 2 rebounds and 4.1 assists, adding 2.0 stocks per game on the defensive end. He’s an efficient scorer, willing rebounder and reliable playmaker on the offensive end, all tools that will help him carve out a significant on-ball role early in his NBA career. He’s also one of the top defenders in the class, posting steal and block production throughout his lone season in Durham.

F, AJ Dybansta - BYU

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots against Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images | Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

BYU wing AJ Dybansta enters the NBA offseason as the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick come June. The freshman forward dominated college basketball in his lone season, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists, shooting a remarkable 51% from the field. Dybansta is the top scorer among this year’s talented rookie class, which will help him contribute early in his career in whatever system he’s drafted to. The 6-foot-9 forward also flashed notable rebounding output, and his playmaking production was a pleasant surprise for potential suitors. He’s not an elite defender by any means, but he possesses the tools to develop and produce on that end of the floor consistently. 

G, Darius Acuff Jr. - Arkansas

Mar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) shoots past Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. is the next in a long line of star NBA guards to play their college ball under legendary coach John Calipari, joining the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker and others. Acuff possesses elite offensive tools, carving out 23.3 points and 6.5 assists per game this season. He also shot highly efficient 48.4/44.0/80.9 splits in his lone collegiate season, adding to his tremendous value. At 6-foot-3, Acuff isn’t a stellar defender by any means, but has shown willingness to sit in the chair on the defensive end. He’s projected to take over as a team’s primary ball-handler at the next level, offering immense fantasy value and efficient production.