Fantasy Basketball Rookie Check-In: Cooper Flagg and other rookies beginning to make their presence felt
The 2025 NBA Draft class arrived with generational expectations, and as we navigate the holiday season, the early returns suggest the hype was entirely justified. While the dreaded "rookie wall" typically looms for first-year players around late December, the league’s freshest faces are instead shifting into a higher gear, reshaping the fantasy basketball landscape in the process.
At the undisputed forefront is Cooper Flagg, who has seamlessly transitioned from collegiate phenom to legitimate NBA superstar with the Dallas Mavericks. Any preseason concerns regarding his usage rate alongside established stars have completely evaporated. Flagg recently etched his name in the history books, becoming the youngest player to score 40 points in a game—breaking a record long held by LeBron James—during a mesmerizing 42-point explosion against the Utah Jazz. Over his last 10 games, Flagg is averaging north of 24 points while contributing elite defensive numbers, including 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per night. He has evolved from a high-upside dynasty stash into a bona fide league-winner in standard redraft formats.
However, the class is far from a one-man show. Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets is quietly delivering one of the most efficient rookie campaigns in recent memory. Knueppel has established himself as a lethal perimeter weapon, providing elite three-point volume and field goal percentage that is exceptionally rare for a first-year wing. For fantasy managers in category leagues, his steady, mistake-free production has been a stabilizing force.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers have found an immediate contributor in VJ Edgecombe, whose elite athleticism has translated into a high floor of points and rebounds. In the Western Conference, Derik Queen has surged onto the scene for the New Orleans Pelicans, recently posting a massive 30-point triple-double that suggests he could be the waiver wire pickup of the year. With Ace Bailey also beginning to capitalize on heavy minutes for the rebuilding Jazz, this rookie class is proving to be deep, versatile, and ready to contribute immediately. If you are holding any of these names, stay the course; their breakouts are just beginning.
At the undisputed forefront is Cooper Flagg, who has seamlessly transitioned from collegiate phenom to legitimate NBA superstar with the Dallas Mavericks. Any preseason concerns regarding his usage rate alongside established stars have completely evaporated. Flagg recently etched his name in the history books, becoming the youngest player to score 40 points in a game—breaking a record long held by LeBron James—during a mesmerizing 42-point explosion against the Utah Jazz. Over his last 10 games, Flagg is averaging north of 24 points while contributing elite defensive numbers, including 1.3 blocks and 1.0 steals per night. He has evolved from a high-upside dynasty stash into a bona fide league-winner in standard redraft formats.
However, the class is far from a one-man show. Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets is quietly delivering one of the most efficient rookie campaigns in recent memory. Knueppel has established himself as a lethal perimeter weapon, providing elite three-point volume and field goal percentage that is exceptionally rare for a first-year wing. For fantasy managers in category leagues, his steady, mistake-free production has been a stabilizing force.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia 76ers have found an immediate contributor in VJ Edgecombe, whose elite athleticism has translated into a high floor of points and rebounds. In the Western Conference, Derik Queen has surged onto the scene for the New Orleans Pelicans, recently posting a massive 30-point triple-double that suggests he could be the waiver wire pickup of the year. With Ace Bailey also beginning to capitalize on heavy minutes for the rebuilding Jazz, this rookie class is proving to be deep, versatile, and ready to contribute immediately. If you are holding any of these names, stay the course; their breakouts are just beginning.
