Midseason Fantasy Basketball Report: Knueppel and Adebayo Top List of Shocks and Letdowns
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Jan. 8, 2026 — A panel of ESPN fantasy basketball analysts has identified the players who have most exceeded – and fallen short of – expectations during the first half of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Biggest Surprises
Kon Knueppel, SG, Charlotte Hornets – Undrafted in most fantasy leagues, the rookie is averaging 19.4 points to lead all first-year players. He also tops the class in three-pointers attempted and made while shooting 47.9 percent from the field, placing him in the early Rookie of the Year conversation alongside former college teammate Cooper Flagg.
Keyonte George, PG/SG, Utah Jazz – Now in his third season, George has jumped from 16.8 to 24.3 points per game and raised his shooting to 45.2 percent from the floor and 90.2 percent at the line. Drafted outside the fantasy top 100, he is delivering career highs across every major category.
Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns – Previously a deep-bench option, Gillespie has seized the starting job in Phoenix and sits inside the overall top 50 in both points-based and roto formats, out-producing Ja Morant, Darius Garland and CJ McCollum in fantasy points per game.
Kel’el Ware, C, Miami Heat – One of only eight players grabbing at least 10 rebounds nightly, the 7-footer is 13th in total blocks and is hitting 43 percent on three-point attempts. He has climbed to No. 21 on ESPN’s Player Rater.
Biggest Disappointments
Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat – A perennial top-25 performer, Adebayo is averaging more than five fewer fantasy points per outing than last season. Both his scoring efficiency and playmaking have dipped to career lows, leaving managers frustrated after a top-30 draft investment.
Trae Young, PG, Washington Wizards – Limited to 10 games by a knee injury, Young’s scoring has fallen to 19.3 points per game, marking a fourth straight year of decline. Reduced foul-drawing under the new rules has further eroded his fantasy ceiling.
Myles Turner, C, Milwaukee Bucks – After moving from Indiana to Milwaukee, Turner is shooting a career-worst 41 percent from the field and averaging just 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Managers who spent a fourth-round pick have yet to see a return.
League-wide injury woes – Four of the preseason’s top five projected fantasy producers — Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Davis — have each missed extended time, leaving lineups thin at the top.
The assessments were compiled by ESPN fantasy analysts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Steve Alexander and Jim McCormick as the season reaches its midpoint.
Source: ESPN
