Fantasy basketball rankings don’t always tell a complete story. There are many lenses with which people can look at players’ production. Some NBA players make the most of their time on the basketball court. They provide meaningful, quality production despite limited playing time. Here is a finely curated list of players who could see improvement in their fantasy values if their minutes increase next season.
Minutes to Win It: Top Fantasy Basketball Players Per 36 Minutes
The criteria used in making this list are the following. A player should have played 50 games or more during the 2024-25 season and played an average of 25 minutes or less a night. These are players who ranked highly in terms of their per-36-minute production, outmatching their end-of-season rankings in 9-cat per-game and totals values.
Alex Caruso, OKC Thunder
P36 Rank:11 | 9cat Rank: 115 | 9cat Totals: 151
MPG: 19.3 | 54 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 13.2 PPG, 2.1 3PG, 5.5 RPG, 4.7 APG, 3.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 44.6% FG, 82.4% FT, 1.3 TO
Alex Caruso was meant to be a perfect fit with the already defensively competent Oklahoma City Thunder team. Unfortunately, the defensive-minded guard saw his 2024-25 season plagued by various injuries. He played 19.3 minutes per game on a stacked, up-and-coming young team, providing veteran leadership and a winning mentality. His ability to contribute both steals and threes makes Caruso one of the league’s most valued 3-and-D specialists. Now that he’s had a solid season under his belt, a hopefully healthier 2025-26 campaign should bode well for the guard’s fantasy value. He’s always been a perennial role player, so whether or not Caruso gets starter-level minutes or not, he will go out there and give it his all every night.
Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls
P36 Rank: 12 | 9cat Rank: 232 | 9cat Totals: 194
MPG: 15.0 | 64 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 13.4 PPG, 2.7 3PG, 13.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 46.6% FG, 80.9% FT, 1.4 TO
Jalen Smith mostly played backup center for Nikola Vucevic, who saw a resurgent season with the Bulls amid a rebuild. Smith’s lack of defensive impact on the court limited his playing time. He did, however, show that he could be an outside shooting threat for the Bulls. He will need to either improve on his offense or his defense, because neither aspect of his game is competitive with the rest of the league. Should the Bulls eventually decide to part ways with Vucevic, Smith could be in line for more playing time. Once he’s able to log 20 minutes or more, his statistical output should see a nice little uptick.
Ty Jerome, Cleveland Cavaliers
P36 Rank: 17 | 9cat Rank: 125 | 9cat Totals: 91
MPG: 22.7 | 70 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 22.7 PPG, 2.9 3PG, 4.5 RPG, 6.1 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 51.6% FG, 87.2% FT, 2.4 TO
Ty Jerome was an invaluable force off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers this season. He provided them with a reliable ball handler and offensive facilitator whose growing confidence became more evident with each passing game. The 27-year-old guard stepped up whenever either Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell missed games. For context, while Jerome was utilized mostly as a key reserve by head coach Kenny Atkinson, he thrived whenever he was given more leash. In the three games that he started and played an average of 27 minutes, Jerome averaged 25.7 points, 5.0 3-pointers, and 5.0 assists on 56.0% shooting from the field. Jerome is going to be late-round flier material in fantasy drafts in 2025-26.
Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
P36 Rank: 24 | 9cat Rank: 65 | 9cat Totals: 80
MPG: 24.9 | 57 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 17.4 PPG, 1.6 3PG, 9.2 RPG, 2.1 APG, 2.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 48.7% FG, 76.0% FT, 1.6 TO
Tari Eason brings a lot of intangibles to the table, especially on the defensive end of the floor. He does the dirty work that never earns him any accolades. That said, whenever Eason is on the floor, the Houston Rockets are better poised to win games. He was ranked inside the top 25 in per-36-minute production but managed to play in just 57 games due to various injuries. The emergence of Amen Thompson as a two-way weapon will serve to be a roadblock to Eason’s path to more minutes and increased fantasy basketball production. Still, Eason does enough in the rebounds and steals categories to warrant being drafted in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts next season.
Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets
P36 Rank: 49 | 9cat Rank: 168 | 9cat Totals: 208
MPG: 18.1 | 50 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 0.4 3PG, 13.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 52.1% FG, 75.7% FT, 2.5 TO
Day’Ron Sharpe was more than just a reliable backup center for the Nets this season. Sharpe was able to make waves in fantasy basketball as a serviceable streamer for his blocks. He finished 2024-25 outside of the top 150 but was a top-50 player when it came to per-36-minute production. As things stand, Nicolas Claxton serves as a gatekeeper to Sharpe’s fantasy upside. But should Sharpe find his way into playing time in the neighborhood of 25 MPG, then the big man should become a force on the glass while also being a source of steals and blocks.
Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic
P36 Rank: 70 | 9cat Rank: 141 | 9cat Totals: 102
MPG: 20.4 | 70 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 0.1 3PG, 11.7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 61.1% FG, 63.9% FT, 1.8 TO
When Wendell Carter Jr. missed games due to injuries this season, the Magic leaned on 25-year-old Goga Bitadze to be their starting center. The big man responded well and delivered a laudable effort as a rebounder and as a shot blocker. Unfortunately, Bitadze’s limitations on the offensive side of the ball keep the big man’s minutes low.
He was a hot pickup in fantasy basketball season, during his early-season run, where he provided top-75 value in category scoring formats. His above-60-percent shooting clip from the field makes him more than just a defensive threat. Down the stretch, the Magic leaned more on WCJ and even gave Jonathan Isaac some minutes as their backup center, limiting what Bitadze could bring to the fantasy basketball table. Goga is still young and has room to work on the other aspects of his still-promising game. He could be a fantasy force who could re-emerge at a moment’s notice, so keep him locked and loaded on those watch lists.
Obi Toppin, Indiana Pacers
P36 Rank: 81 | 9cat Rank: 190 | 9cat Totals: 107
MPG: 19.6 | 79 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 19.4 PPG, 2.6 3PG, 7.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 52.9% FG, 78.1% FT, 1.6 TO
Obi Toppin came into his own in 2024-25. He provided the Pacers with reliable scoring off the bench. He finished just outside the top 80 in per-36-minute rankings thanks to his ability to efficiently score the ball and hit those prized three-point shots. Toppin’s lack of defensive stats keeps his fantasy basketball ceiling hard-capped. It also does not help that he’s playing behind Pascal Siakam, who nightly earns the lion’s share of minutes at the PF position. While Toppin won’t be pinging on anyone’s radars next season, he could see another run as a streaming candidate.
Keon Ellis, Sacramento Kings
P36 Rank: 86 | 9cat Rank: 100 | 9cat Totals: 51
MPG: 24.4 | 80 Games Played
Per-36 Stats: 12.3 PPG, 2.6 3PG, 3.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 48.9% FG, 84.9% FT, 1.3 TO
Keon Ellis is more than just a talented perimeter defender. While he did showcase that this season, an improvement in his 3-point shooting buoyed his fantasy value. Missed games by an injured Malik Monk opened the door for Ellis to see a valuable uptick in minutes. He managed to start in 28 games for the Kings in 2024-25. During his run with the starting five, the guard logged an average of 31 minutes per game. He notched averages of 9.8 PPG, 2.0 3PG, 2.1 SPG and 0.9 BPG on 48.7% FG. He delivered both on and off the stat sheet time and again. At some point, Ellis could be too good not to receive over 25 minutes a night. When that happens, he should be a lock to provide top-100 fantasy value in category scoring leagues.
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