Don’t Be Surprised if Anthony Edwards Isn’t Minnesota’s No. 1 Fantasy Pick: What’s Really Happening Behind the Fantasy Basketball Hype?

Every week in the NBA brings its own set of stories—full of surprises, both positive and negative—and fantasy managers have to decide what to trust and what to ignore as they move forward. Perhaps we can help with that. If any of the following thoughts come true… don’t be surprised!

Don’t Be Surprised if Anthony Edwards Isn’t Minnesota’s No. 1 Fantasy Pick

Anthony Edwards is widely regarded as one of the top players in the NBA, and certainly in the fantasy world, especially after his impressive showing at the Summer Olympics. Edwards finished last season as the 14th overall fantasy pick in ESPN’s points leagues and entered this season at the age of 23 as a full-fledged NBA star, a clear first-round pick in ESPN’s average fantasy drafts for the season, where he was selected 9th overall.

However, after just seven games and with the Timberwolves heading to Chicago to face the Bulls on Thursday, Edwards has not been playing at the same level for fantasy managers. Newcomer Julius Randle has closed the gap in fantasy points, and Randle himself has been a relative disappointment statistically. It seems unreasonable to give Edwards, who is averaging a career-high 27.3 points per game, any negative feedback, but here we are. ESPN’s Player Rater doesn’t even have Edwards in its top tier; C/PF Naz Reid, as of Wednesday, was ranked 45th, with Randle coming in at 47th, while Edwards was 51st.

Randle – A Serious Threat for Fantasy Dominance

Despite Edwards’ high scoring output, his performance in other areas has been lacking. For fantasy managers, this is especially concerning since Edwards was expected to take a leap in his fifth season. He’s still managing to hit a solid number of points and has been efficient in three-pointers—he’s ranked among the league leaders with 36 on the season. However, his 3-point shooting isn’t compensating for his shortcomings in other statistical areas, such as assists and free-throw percentage, where he’s struggling with just 63.9%, ranking 122nd out of 129 qualified players. In both roto and points leagues, this is a significant issue when he’s taking over five free throws per game.

Meanwhile, Randle is showing value as a sleeper in fantasy leagues. Though his scoring and rebounding numbers are down compared to past seasons, he has been more efficient in his new role with Minnesota. If he gets more minutes and an expanded role as he grows comfortable in his new environment, Randle could very well improve his fantasy numbers, making this a very interesting race for fantasy points on a team with a dominant player.

John Collins – A Name You Shouldn’t Ignore

John Collins was once a solid fantasy option early in his career, averaging 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019-20 season. But after that, his numbers started to dip, and the franchise was eager to trade him. Collins eventually ended up with the rebuilding Utah Jazz last season, where he provided a decent 30.3 ESPN fantasy points per game. Though he wasn’t a top pick in fantasy drafts, his numbers still make him a valuable asset.

As of Thursday, Collins is performing well, averaging 16.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 33.9 fantasy points per game. What’s particularly impressive is that Collins hasn’t started a single game this season, something he hasn’t done since his rookie year, but he’s still producing excellent fantasy stats. If the Jazz decide to give him more playing time—especially considering star Lauri Markkanen’s back issues—Collins could see a fantasy surge. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring him just because he isn’t starting. Historically, players in the Sixth Man of the Year race, like Naz Reid (last year’s winner), Malik Monk, and Bobby Portis, have been great fantasy contributors, and Collins could follow that trend.

Scoot Henderson – Continued Disappointment?

After a lackluster rookie season, Scoot Henderson has had a slow start to Year 2. Although many of us hoped for him to be a breakout star, his performance so far this season doesn’t show much promise. While he flashed some potential in the final games of his rookie year, averaging 18.9 points and 7.9 assists in his last 14 games, Henderson’s first few games this season have been disappointing.

He scored 22 points in his season opener, but heading into Thursday’s game against San Antonio, he had just 20 points in his last three games on 8-of-25 shooting, with 11 assists and eight turnovers. Henderson continues to struggle with shooting and turnovers, and though he’s only 20 years old, his lower minutes and the Portland Trail Blazers’ decision to play him less than last season suggest the team is not currently committed to his development. While the potential is there, it’s tough to see Henderson turning it around in the near future.

If you need a fill-in for the point guard position, players like Tre Mann (Hornets), Payton Pritchard (Celtics), and Scotty Pippen Jr. (Grizzlies) might be better fantasy options at this time. Check back on Henderson in a few months, but for now, his fantasy outlook remains shaky.

Fantasy Insights for Managers

With so many changes in the 2024-2025 season, fantasy basketball managers need to be flexible and ready to adjust their rosters. Don’t be surprised if players like Julius Randle, John Collins, or other under-the-radar options rise in value in fantasy leagues. At the same time, re-evaluating players like Anthony Edwards and Scoot Henderson will help you spot opportunities to improve your lineup.

The season is still young, and plenty of surprises remain. Keeping an eye on players who are performing well and showing signs of improvement will be key to success in fantasy basketball this year.