Merriam-Webster defines sleeper as:

One that sleeps
A piece of timber, stone, or steel on or near the ground to support a superstructure, keep railroad rails in place, or receiver floor joists
Sleeping car
Someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value
Children’s pajamas usually with feet

Which one should we use for fantasy basketball?

If it’s finding players who are asleep or look asleep, then this piece would be 100,000 words. There are players chiseled like stone who support their respective teams. There are a select few who carry the sleepers on their backs. I think it’s safe to assume we can cross out the last one.

So, that leaves us with “unpromising or unnoticed” players who “suddenly” attain “prominence or value.” But that’s not what most fantasy basketball sleeper articles are about, as they just feature undervalued players according to ADP, but that is what the people want. And since I’m a Son of the people, that is what they shall get, but I will provide some players who are truly unnoticed and would pop if the stars align.

ADPs are via NFBKC.

Matas Buzelis (SF, PF), Chicago BullsADP: 76.75

Buzelis is a hot commodity in offseason drafts, but I still think there’s some meat on the bone. He’s being selected around the seventh round, and I’ve seen drafters reach for him if they want defensive stats. Buzelis is 6-foot-10, 210 pounds and possesses guard-like skills. What I most like about Buzelis, though, is his moxy. He oozes confidence, doesn’t back down and showed last season that the game wasn’t too big for him. It took him some time to get acclimated and earn the coaches’ trust, but he still played 80 games and started the final 31 contests. Over that span, Buzelis averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks and 1.7 treys while shooting 47% from the field, 34% from downtown and 80% from the line in 25.8 minutes per game. He played at least 30 minutes in nine of those contests, and I have him projected for 32 mpg.

Michael Porter (SF, PF), Brooklyn NetsADP: 82.94

Porter is also being drafted in or near the seventh round. Over the last three seasons, he’s returned around seventh-round value, but he’s in a totally different situation now. Playing in Denver alongside Nikola Jokic, the usage rate was in the 20% range, and he was more of a spot-up shooter, spacing the floor for Jamal Murray and Jokic. Now that he’s in Brooklyn, that usage rate should skyrocket, as he and Cam Thomas will likely take turns hucking and chucking to their heart’s delight. The defensive stats will never be there, and the shooting efficiency will likely take a hit, but the points should be robust, and he’s always been a good rebounder.

Jaden McDaniels (SF, PF), Minnesota TimberwolvesADP: 96.13

McDaniels is being drafted in the Round 9 neighborhood. For much of his career, McDaniels has been a low-usage player who is out there for his defense. At 6-foot-9, 190 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan and good agility, McDaniels can guard positions one through four. While the usage rate has been mired in the 16% range for much of his career, McDaniels attempted a career-high 10.2 shots per game last season and showed off his offensive bag at times, attacking closeouts, posting up smaller defenders and Euro-stepping for layups. He’s only 25 years old, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he takes an offensive leap at some point. Anthony Edwards is Batman, Julius Randle is Robin, and McDaniels is Alfred.

Kevin Porter (PG, SG), Milwaukee BucksADP: 101.25

Porter is and has been “My Guy” all offseason. The first NFBKC draft of the season in July is always fun because there is no ADP data. Porter was buried, but I still took him in the 10th round because I didn’t want to risk missing out. He is now being drafted in Round 8. There’s plenty of risk with Porter, as his early career was mired with offseason incidents that eventually led him to playing in Greece during the 2024 season. Here’s the thing, though: He’s still only 25 years old, and I did many idiotic things in my early 20s. Life definitely humbled me, and I like to think I’m mentally and emotionally more mature now. KPJ played 30 games with Milwaukee last season, and his minutes typically landed in the teens. In the final five games, though, he averaged 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.6 treys in 30.6 mpg while shooting 50% from the field, 44% from downtown and 81% from the line. Milwaukee rewarded him with a two-year, $11 million contract in July, and, with Damian Lillard gone, Porter is now the point guard, which was confirmed by Doc Rivers a few weeks ago. Porter is great on defense, can get his own bucket, break down defenses and set up his teammates for good looks and provide pace in transition. He has three career triple-doubles and once dropped 50 points in a game.

D’Angelo Russell (PG), Dallas MavericksADP: 118.69

Russell is being drafted in or around Round 10. He will start at point guard until Kyrie Irving is ready to return, which could be next season. Russell averaged only 25.5 mpg with the Lakers and Nets last season. In 29 starts with Brooklyn, he shot only 36% from the field and 29% from downtown. He still dished out 5.6 dimes, which is Russell’s main allure, especially late in drafts, because assists are valuable. I think the shooting efficiency improves this season due to the surrounding talent in Dallas. In addition, I could see the playing time getting closer to 30 mpg because Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively and Cooper Flagg should negate many of his defensive liabilities.

Neemias Queta (PF, C), Boston CelticsADP: 125.38

The center position is one of the question marks for Boston this season. I have the minutes split right down the middle between Queta and Luka Garza, but I think there’s a chance the pendulum swings more in Queta’s direction. Garza is more of an offensive player who can space the floor, but Queta is a better rebounder and provides a heftier defensive presence.

Jrue Holiday (PG, SG), Portland Trail BlazersADP: 127.88

Holiday is being drafted in or near the 12th round. In Milwaukee, the usage rate was in the 23% range. In Boston, that number plummeted to the 16% range. Despite being 35 years old, the usage rate will likely return to the 20% area in Portland, especially with Scoot Henderson injured.

Isaiah Jackson (C), Indiana PacersADP: 144 

Jackson is being drafted around Round 12 and is “My Other Guy” this offseason. Jackson tore his Achilles tendon last November, so that’s the big bugaboo. In offseason videos, though, he’s been flying through the air and flushing down ferocious dunks, so the athleticism looks to be back. With Myles Turner in Milwaukee, the center minutes are up for grabs, primarily between Jackson and Jay Huff. I think most people have Huff as the guy due to his ability to space the floor, which could very well be the outcome. I have Huff down for 20 mpg and Jackson at 28. I just feel that his defensive ability, along with the athleticism, will provide more minutes. Also, my momma said to always follow the money, and the Pacers signed Jackson for three years and $21 million in July.

Mitchell Robinson (C), New York KnicksADP: 146.13

Robinson has started alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in the preseason, so the double-big lineup will likely be employed during the regular season. How much remains to be seen, but it looks to be a significant part of the plan. Robinson played 17, 31 and 59 games, respectively, over the past three seasons and has never averaged more than 27 mpg in his career. But if he can stay healthy and play in the low-20s, the rebounds and blocks should be plentiful.

Kyshawn George (SG, SF), Washington WizardsADP: 149.81

George started 38 of 68 games last season. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, George displayed versatility at both ends of the court. The shooting efficiency was rough, as he converted only 37% from the field and 32% from downtown, but he chipped in 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.7 treys and 8.7 points in 26.5 mpg. He was too good for Summer League, and I think he starts, especially with Bilal Coulibaly injured.

Davion Mitchell (PG), Miami HeatADP: 152.31

With Tyler Herro out due to injury, Mitchell will likely start and play significant minutes early on. After being acquired by Miami last season, Mitchell averaged 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 treys in 31.6 mpg over 30 contests. He endeared himself to head coach Eric Spoelstra due to his defensive toughness and ability to get buckets on offense. In four playoff games, Mitchell averaged 15 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.8 treys in 35.5 mpg. The acquisition of Norman Powell could put a damper on some of the playing time once Herro returns, but Mitchell should still be a big part of the rotation.

Reed Sheppard (PG, SG), Houston RocketsADP: 161.06

The range of outcomes is wide for Sheppard, but the acquisition cost isn’t prohibitive, so the risk/reward seems fine. With Fred VanVleet out for the season, the path to significant playing time has opened up for Sheppard. He was expected to get most of the backup minutes at point guard, but now he could start. Or Amen Thompson could start at point guard while Tari Eason enters the starting lineup. There’s also the shooting efficiency and defensive concerns. Last season, Sheppard shot 35% from the field and 33% from downtown. At Kentucky, he shot 53% from the field and 52% from downtown, so we know he can tickle the twine. Defensively, Sheppard can rack up steals with the best of them, but he does gamble a lot at times and gets beaten backdoor often. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he can also get bullied on the ball.

Nikola Jović (PF), Miami HeatADP: 162.19

Jovic is 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds. He’s unique because he has guard skills and shot 37% from downtown last season. He’s slowly but surely been garnering the trust of Spoelstra, averaging 13.6 mph in his rookie season in only 15 games to 19.5 mpg in 46 games in 2023-24 to 25.1 mpg in 46 games last season. Jovic played well in EuroBasket, and Miami recently extended him for four years and $62.4 million. Jovic started the first preseason game, so he could get the starting nod with Kel’el Ware coming off the bench.

Late-round sleepers

Sam Hauser was 40th in three-pointers made (166) last season despite playing 21.7 mpg. I think he starts this season and sees a big uptick in playing time in Boston.

Brice Sensabaugh is a professional getter of buckets. In the final seven games of last season, Sensabaugh averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 4.3 treys while shooting 41% from the field, 34% from downtown and 88% from the line in 31.4 mpg. I have no idea how the Jazz rotations will shake out and who starts, but there’s a chance Sensabaugh sees a significant role.

Cedric Coward didn’t play in the Summer League, and his college season was cut short in November due to a rotator cuff injury. Despite that, he was selected 11th overall in the draft due to his versatility and ability at both ends of the court. The offseason chatter has been very positive, and Coward could be a part of Memphis’ rotation from the outset.

Baylor Schierman and  Jordan Walsh are both young players who could make an impact for a Celtics team that has many questions.