Right off the bat, let’s be clear about what this is and what it isn’t. This is not a “do not draft” list. This is not a “I will never draft these players” list. This certainly is not a “this player stinks” list.
This is a fades list, meaning, at their current ADP, we would not draft these players. Some of them may only have to slip a few spots to be worth taking. Others may have to slip much further down the board. Winning your draft isn’t about magically getting a super team by taking the best player in each round. It isn’t about avoiding the “busts” that are going to be terrible this season. It’s about maximizing value. The following seven players aren’t worth taking where they’re going in drafts, so you likely won’t find these guys on many of our teams.
With that being said, you can absolutely have a good team with these players rostered. You’ll just maximize your team’s value by taking a different player where these players are going and getting these guys later on.
Hopefully that clears things up. With that established, here are the players the Rotoworld staff is fading this season, ordered by ADP.
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Tyrese Maxey - G, Philadelphia 76ers
After finishing 15th in per-game fantasy value in 2024-25, Maxey was even better last season as he finished fifth. Joel Embiid appeared in only 38 games, and Paul George played 37, forcing Maxey to step up in a big way. The All-Star guard led the league in minutes (38) and finished third in FGA (21.4) as the team’s unquestioned leader and best player. This season, Maxey will have Jaylen Brown and LeBron James to contend with for playing time and ball-handling responsibilities, and it’s unrealistic to expect him to see such heavy playing time or shot volume in 2026-27. Maxey is being drafted as a first-rounder, but I don’t think he has that upside, and I’ll avoid him unless he slips into the low-20’s. - Zak Hanshew
Jaylen Brown - G/F, Philadelphia 76ers
Brown is still going to be a really good piece for Philadelphia this season, but it isn’t going to show up for fantasy managers in the same way that it has in the past. He saw a boost in production and usage last season with Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the year, but now he’ll be splitting touches with Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and VJ Edgecombe. Brown will still get his fair share of opportunities, but it won’t be in excess. He’s never been known for efficiency, so if his volume is suppressed, Brown doesn’t hold the same appeal to me. - Noah Rubin
Brown’s trade to Philadelphia was one of the most shocking transactions of the offseason, and he joins a loaded rotation. But that isn’t the only reason why I’m not on board with his third-round ADP. Even at his best in Boston, Brown didn’t perform at that level. He’ll likely retain that third-round ADP, but I’d feel a lot better about getting Brown in the fourth round in 12-team leagues. That isn’t a huge gap, but I’m not buying the ceiling, given the history and Philadelphia’s rotation. - Raphielle Johnson
Paolo Banchero - F, Orlando Magic
Banchero finished the 2024-25 season with averages of 22.2 points, 5.2 assists and a career-high 8.4 rebounds. The 23-year-old has been a strong producer of points, rebounds and assists throughout his career, but he’s got some glaring weaknesses in his game, including three-pointers, defensive stats, FG% and FT%. Banchero can certainly improve in these categories, but can he improve enough to be worth a third-round pick? I’m skeptical, and I’m not willing to pony up an early-round pick for a guy who will be strong in only three categories but not elite in any of them. - ZH
Jalen Duren - C, Detroit Pistons
It’s tough to trust a guy who became virtually unplayable in the postseason and just wrapped up an ugly contract negotiation. Duren finished as a third-rounder in 2025-26 fantasy hoops, and he’s being drafted in that range for the upcoming season. Detroit brought in John Collins to play the four, but Collins can also stretch the floor as a small-ball five, which may mean less playing time for Duren. I don’t see a scenario in which Duren improves on last season’s production, so I won’t be drafting him in the third round at his absolute ceiling. There are far better picks in this range. - ZH
Stephon Castle - G, San Antonio Spurs
If you’re looking for assists, Castle should be a big help. If you’re looking for much else, Castle probably isn’t your best bet. That’s why I think he’s going too early in drafts. He should have the ball in his hands a lot, just like he did last year. However, the emergence of Dylan Harper could reduce Castle’s touches. Plus, De’Aaron Fox may have struggled in the NBA Finals, but he’s still there! Castle’s a good defender, but he doesn’t get a ton of defensive stats, and he isn’t efficient. There’s too much reliance on volume that might not be there for me to be interested in Castle at his ADP. - NR
Cameron Boozer - F, Memphis Grizzlies
Boozer is well-positioned to be a marquee figure in Memphis as the Grizzlies embark on a rebuild. However, I’m not sure this situation will put him close to a top-50 fantasy player, which many seem to expect based on the ADP data. Also, as a frontcourt player, he’ll be at the mercy of the Grizzlies’ guards at times when it comes to touches. I like Boozer in both the short and long term, but not enough to select him in the first five rounds of 12-team drafts. - RJ
Derik Queen - F/C, New Orleans Pelicans
The price is starting to even out, but it’s still too high. Queen is a talented player and is going to be a fantasy star one day. However, with the way the roster is currently constructed, it isn’t going to happen this year. It seems like Yves Missi is going to start at center, and lineups that consisted of both Queen and Zion Williamson last season were awful. Again, Queen is going to be a fantasy star one day, but I don’t believe that’s going to happen this season, and with the way the rotations will likely shake out, we may only get a few glimpses of what he can be. - NR
I’m not on board with selecting Queen within the first 100 picks of any 12-team draft. He has offensive upside, but his defensive issues may limit his minutes under new head coach Jamahl Mosley. Yves Missi has started each of the Pelicans’ preseason games thus far, and his defense and rebounding make him a better fit next to Zion Williamson than Queen. Should Queen be selected in 12-team drafts? Yes. But projecting him to be a top 100 player, as some have? I can’t go that far - RJ
