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# Erik's Elite 80
- URL: https://www.9catninja.com/eriks-elite-80-2/
- Published: 2026-10-06T09:00:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T23:18:02.000Z
- Author: Erik

Welcome to **Erik's Elite 80**, a collection of studs, breakouts, value picks, sleepers, and players who I have my eye on because they can pop in the second half of the season. These are players whom I personally see as winning plays, the players I find myself targeting in drafts. Think of it as an expanded **"My Guys"** list, along with the theses behind my preferences.

**This is not a traditional rankings list. It's a conviction or preference list.** The order reflects how strongly I believe in each player's fantasy value relative to the market, not simply where I project them to finish the season. ADP, projections, talent, role, risk, and 9-cat fit all matter, but ultimately, this is about the players I want on my fantasy teams.

**Disclaimer:** I do think every player in complete rankings lists *can* produce fantasy value, but that doesn't necessarily mean I like them at their current ADP. Do I think Steph Curry will be a "bad player" this season? No. But I **am fading him** because of his age, injury risk, and my concerns about the Warriors' competitiveness this season.

That's what this list is about: **context.**

A player's fantasy value isn't determined by talent alone. It's about his production, his situation, his risk, and what you're paying to get him.

## **How to Read the Elite 80**

The category beneath each player explains **why I’m buying them**, not simply what type of player they are.

- **NO-BRAINER:** Elite players I would take without hesitation.
- **SOLID PICK:** Established players I’m comfortable drafting at their current price.
- **VALUE:** Players whose ADP gives me more upside than the market is accounting for.
- **SLEEPER:** Players I believe the market is overlooking.
- **BREAKOUT:** Players I expect to take a significant leap in fantasy production.
- **BOUNCE-BACK:** Established players I expect to return to a previous level of production.
- **SECOND-HALF UNLOCK:** Players whose fantasy value could explode once opportunity opens up later in the season.

**These categories can overlap.** A player might technically be a breakout, but if the market is already paying for that breakout, I may categorize him differently. The category reflects the reason I'm targeting him.

---

**01**

**Nikola Jokic, C**

**NO-BRAINER**

*Elite in so many categories, Jokic makes the game unfair.*

---

**02**

**Victor Wembanyama, C**

**NO-BRAINER**

*Wemby is not the future. He’s the present, and the present is looking bright.*

---

**03**

**Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG**

**NO-BRAINER**

*High-volume scoring, elite %s, strong peripherals, and no drawbacks.*

---

**04**

**Luka Doncic, PG**

**NO-BRAINER**

*Luka is a basketball wizard, and the Lakers gave him a great supporting cast.*

---

**05**

**Cade Cunningham, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*Cade exploded last season. There’s likely a next level to his game.*

---

**06**

**Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C**

**SOLID PICK**

*Giannis is on a new team and should be motivated to win again.*

---

**07**

**Jayson Tatum, SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*Tatum is back from his Achilles injury and ready to lead the Celtics into a new era.*

---

**08**

**Jalen Johnson, SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*Johnson had a great breakout season, and now he’s a nightly triple-double threat.*

---

**09**

**Cooper Flagg, SG/SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*Flagg is primed for stardom. His time is now.*

---

**10**

**Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*Mitchell can score, hit 3s, and chip in 1.5 steals, balancing offense and defense.*

---

**11**

**Scottie Barnes, SF/PF/C**

**SOLID PICK**

*Barnes had a breakout season in 2025-26, and we’re ready for more.*

---

**12**

**Kevin Durant, SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*KD is an efficiency anchor, and his game has aged like a fine wine.*

---

**13**

**Jamal Murray, PG**

**SOLID PICK**

*Murray is coming off a career season. His fantasy floor is just money.*

---

**14**

**Austin Reaves, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*As the Lakers’ No. 2 option, Reaves should kill it every night.*

---

**15**

**Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C**

**SOLID PICK**

*KAT is an efficient-scoring double-double machine you can count on.*

---

**16**

**Trey Murphy III, SG/SF**

**SOLID PICK**

*Murphy is an easy 3s anchor who protects FG% while chipping in elsewhere.*

---

**17**

**Amen Thompson, PG/SG**

**BREAKOUT**

*Last season’s improvement was just a trailer for this season’s movie premiere.*

---

**18**

**James Harden, PG/SG**

**VALUE**

*Harden's decline is inevitable, but the market is over-correcting.*

---

**19**

**Anthony Davis, PF/C**

**VALUE**

*Finally, AD’s risk might just be properly priced into his ADP.*

---

**20**

**Jalen Williams, SF/PF**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*J-Dub has recovered from his hamstring issue and is in line for larger roles on both ends.*

---

**21**

**Chet Holmgren, PF/C**

**VALUE**

*People have stopped reaching for Chet. At his current price, he’s unlikely to disappoint.*

---

**22**

**Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*The Jazz are expected to compete this season; no more shutting Lauri down.*

---

**23**

**Darius Garland, PG**

**SLEEPER**

*Garland’s toe injury is fully healed. He’s going to go bonkers leading the Clippers.*

---

**24**

**Evan Mobley, PF/C**

**SOLID PICK**

*Mobley's defense is dependable. We just need to see him grow offensively.*

---

**25**

**Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*Jackson is a perfect fit for the Jazz and should thrive now that they’re competitive.*

---

**26**

**Walker Kessler, C**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*Injury derailed last season’s breakout. Kessler should shine as the Lakers’ primary big man.*

---

**27**

**Jalen Duren, C**

**SOLID PICK**

*The contract drama was just noise; Duren should take another step in the right direction.*

---

**28**

**Dejounte Murray, PG**

**SLEEPER**

*Dejounte is coming back with a vengeance this season, and no one sees it coming.*

---

**29**

**Bam Adebayo, C**

**SOLID PICK**

*Pairing Bam with Giannis is more positive than anything. As a duo, they're scary on both ends.*

---

**30**

**Brandon Miller, SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*Miller’s recovered from offseason surgery and is ready to lead the Hornets post-LaMelo.*

---

**31**

**Matas Buzelis, SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*A larger offensive role is in the cards, and his stat versatility is fantasy gold.*

---

**32**

**Kyrie Irving, PG**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*Kyrie is healthy and could post near his top-10 value form, a value pick at his ADP.*

---

**33**

**Franz Wagner, SF/PF**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*Wagner had an injury-plagued 2025-26, but is now healthy.*

---

**34**

**Nickeil Alexander-Walker, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*That MIP breakout was legit. Expect it to be the new normal.*

---

**35**

**OG Anunoby, SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*OG found a new gear last season and became a lethal assassin. Don’t sleep on him.*

---

**36**

**Kel’el Ware, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*Ware is too good to rot on the Bucks’ bench. The minutes should come.*

---

**37**

**Cameron Boozer, PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*Boozer’s game is tailor-made for 9-cat fantasy. ROY is his to lose.*

---

**38**

**Onyeka Okongwu, C**

**SOLID PICK**

*The Hawks unleashed Okongwu last season, and the result was marvelous.*

---

**39**

**Donovan Clingan, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*After a slow start last season, Clingan found his groove, and that's the tip of his fantasy iceberg.*

---

**40**

**Ryan Rollins, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*Rollins was a stellar breakout player last season. Now, he’s earned fantasy darling status.*

---

**41**

**Dyson Daniels, SG/SF**

**SOLID PICK**

*The market prices him at his floor, but playmaking and shooting growth are possibilities.*

---

**42**

**Naz Reid, PF/C**

**BREAKOUT**

*Reid should thrive as a starter for the Hornets. Period.*

---

**43**

**Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*Always underrated, often over-delivers.*

---

**44**

**Ivica Zubac, C**

**SLEEPER**

*He will bounce back playing alongside Haliburton, but the market is behind.*

---

**45**

**Kon Knueppel, SG/SF**

**BREAKOUT**

*The preseason injury sucks, but he should still see a breakout season overall.*

---

**46**

**Keyonte George, PG/SG**

**SOLID PICK**

*George maintains some upward trajectory despite usage concerns.*

---

**47**

**Zach Edey, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*Health is the only roadblock. Edey has the per-game profile to be a beast in 9-cat.*

---

**48**

**Michael Porter Jr., SF/PF**

**SOLID PICK**

*Yes, some regression from last season is expected, but that’s already priced into his ADP.*

---

**49**

**Ty Jerome, PG/SG**

**SLEEPER**

*The Grizzlies’ backcourt is crowded, but Jerome has the chops to separate himself from that pack.*

---

**50**

**Damian Lillard, PG**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*Lillard still has it. Well, most of it. The discount is worth what he’s got left.*

---

**51**

**Caleb Wilson, SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*The stats, opportunity, and work ethic all make a perfect storm for fantasy stardom.*

---

**52**

**Paul George, SF/PF**

**VALUE**

*The gap between his per-game value and his ADP is too wide.*

---

**53**

**Ausar Thompson, SG/SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*His steals and blocks carry his value, so improvements anywhere else will be gravy.*

---

**54**

**Payton Pritchard, PG**

**SOLID PICK**

*People overreached for him last season. The market has learned its lesson.*

---

**55**

**Immanuel Quickley, PG**

**VALUE**

*The market is almost sleeping on him at his ADP.*

---

**56**

**Cedric Coward, SG/SF**

**BREAKOUT**

*His profile screams superstar, but he has to live up to those expectations.*

---

**57**

**Keegan Murray, SF/PF**

**BOUNCE-BACK**

*DeRozan is gone, LaVine is on borrowed time, and Murray is about to get the opportunity we’ve been waiting for.*

---

**58**

**Dylan Harper, PG/SG**

**BREAKOUT**

*Harper is a star in the making. His arrow is pointing straight up.*

---

**59**

**Derik Queen, PF/C**

**BREAKOUT**

*The potential is there. Queen just needs the playing time.*

---

**60Ajay Mitchell, PG/SGSLEEPER** *He was a riser last season, but the Thunder cleaned house, and now he’s ready for more.*

---

**61**

**Day’Ron Sharpe, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*A per-minute monster has been unleashed and is now starting. Go figure.*

---

**62**

**Norman Powell, SG/SF**

**SLEEPER**

*The market overcorrected on Powell. His floor is way better than what his ADP suggests.*

---

**63**

**Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C**

**BREAKOUT**

*CMB is a perfect fit for the Raptors’ current setup; a versatile defender with two-way upside.*

---

**64**

**John Collins, PF/C**

**VALUE**

*He’s in a better spot than in LAC, and his role is guaranteed.*

---

**65**

**Peyton Watson, SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*Watson won’t score much, but his 3-and-D game will carry his value as a full-time starter.*

---

**66**

**Cason Wallace, PG/SG/SF**

**BREAKOUT**

*Wallace’s steals and low turnovers are already solid, but more 3s could make him pop this season.*

---

**67**

**Yaxel Lendeborg, SF/PF**

**SECOND-HALF UNLOCK**

*Lendeborg might start the season slow, but he will be crazy-good once the Warriors’ season is lost.*

---

**68**

**Darius Acuff Jr., PG**

**BREAKOUT**

*The Kings can’t hand this offensive dynamo the keys to their backcourt fast enough.*

---

**69**

**Reed Sheppard, PG/SG**

**BREAKOUT**

*Sheppard’s breakout has barriers, but his combo of 3s and steals is just too good.*

---

**70**

**Zach LaVine, PG/SG**

**VALUE**

*His injury risk is priced appropriately into his ADP.*

---

**71**

**Pelle Larsson, SG/SF**

**SLEEPER**

*Larsson is set for a leap, and the market is unprepared.*

---

**72**

**Jaime Jaquez Jr., SG/SF/PF**

**BREAKOUT**

*As a starter on a bad Bucks roster, Jaquez will surprise a lot of people.*

---

**73** 
**Khaman Maluach, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*He’s put in the work, and now, Mark Williams’ injury opens the door for Maluach.*

---

**74**

**Kyshawn George, SG/SF/PF**

**VALUE**

*Usage will be an issue, but George doesn’t need much to deliver value.*

---

**75**

**Joan Beringer, C**

**BREAKOUT**

*Naz Reid is gone; it's now Beringer's time to shine.*

---

**76**

**Keaton Wagler, SG**

**BREAKOUT**

*The Clippers are too bad and too injured for Wagler not to shine.*

---

**77**

**Cam Spencer, PG/SG**

**SLEEPER**

*Spencer’s stat set is too fantasy-friendly to ignore. Even the Grizzlies will see it.*

---

**78**

**Maxime Raynaud, C**

**SECOND-HALF UNLOCK**

*Raynaud needs Sabonis to be dealt to have value, but that’s hopefully the plan.*

---

**79**

**Hannes Steinbach, PF**

**SECOND-HALF UNLOCK**

*Steinbach has potential to be a great 9-cat player. The Hornets just need to let him play.*

---

**80**

**Brayden Burries, SG**

**SECOND-HALF UNLOCK**

*Burries is NBA-ready, but Milwaukee has a guard logjam at the moment.*

---

*That's the Elite 80\. These are my guys. Let's see what happens.*