With fantasy football seasons nearly 25 per cent of the way through, it’s time to start looking at other sports in a never-ending pursuit of living out our dreams of being a professional sports general manager.
The Toronto Raptors aren’t the most prolific team in the NBA, but just like in other fantasy sports, players don’t necessarily have to be on elite teams to provide value. There are serviceable players to be found everywhere, and it is often mystery teams like the Raptors that should be combed
through for potential league winners.
Here’s what several Raptors can offer to your fantasy team.
This mini-guide assumes fantasy players are in a 12-team head-to-head nine-category league. It also incorporates FantasyPros’ consensus average draft position (ADP) and Hashtag Basketball’s rankings.
Scottie Barnes
2025-26 ADP: 26
2024-25 Ranking: 60
2023-24 Ranking: 21
Since entering the league in 2021-22, Barnes has helped win fantasy leagues as someone capable of stuffing stat sheets on any given night. Barnes was basically a fantasy cheat code in his first two seasons, especially if he was available in some of the later-to-middle rounds of drafts.
What hinders Barnes the most is his three-point shooting. He typically hurts fantasy owners more than the average poor shooter because of the freedom he’s given in Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic’s system. Barnes is averaging 30 per cent on 3.6 attempts from the perimeter.
Despite this, Barnes continues to be an attractive option at the beginning of the third round because of his triple-double potential and defensive stats. Barnes finished 12th in stocks (steals and blocks) last season. Out of the 11 players ranked ahead of him, only the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have the usage and playmaking chops that Barnes boasts.
Barnes is also a flexible player when building out a fantasy team in H2H nine-category leagues. He’s an elite complementary piece to any of the first-rounders in fantasy.
RJ Barrett
2025-26 ADP: 72
2024-25 Ranking: 115
2023-24 Ranking: 145
As gritty and improved as Barrett has been since playing for his hometown team, his playstyle historically doesn’t translate to fantasy basketball, particularly when in nine-category leagues. If Barretts falls deeper into the eighth and ninth rounds, it becomes slightly easier to draft him, but anything earlier than that is a bit of a trap.
Brandon Ingram’s health could also dramatically alter Barrett’s end-of-season outcomes. If Barrett’s numbers spike should Ingram get sidelined, he becomes an elite trading chip.
Brandon Ingram
2025-26 ADP: 74
2024-25 Ranking: 47
2023-24 Ranking: 57
Just like in reality, the best ability Ingram can bring to the Raptors this season is availability. Ingram averaged 50 games a season during his six years in New Orleans. But should Ingram remain healthy, he’s a near-guarantee to return tremendous value for where he’s currently going in drafts. Ingram boasts an ADP of 74, which slots him during the early portion of the seventh round. Even with the injuries, Ingram has finished as a top 60 player in the last five seasons.
Rounds 6-7 are a popular spot for the “centre-run” with options like Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Deandre Ayton (Los Angeles Lakers) and the Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl available, but if fantasy owners can address their big man earlier in drafts or through a sleeper option late, then Ingram is an intriguing pivot.
Ingram is known for his prolific scoring, but his assist numbers are elite for the small forward position. Ingram also boasts sneaky defensive numbers. It’s not a coincidence that the 76ers’ Paul George, who is similar in archetype, is ranked next to him in ADP.
Jakob Poeltl
2025-26 ADP: 73
2024-25 Ranking: 54
2023-24 Ranking: 89
There may not be a more reliable (and predictable) centre to take in some of the later rounds than Poeltl, and in fantasy, that makes the chase for a championship manageable. Poeltl provides top-tier production for those looking to bolster the following categories – field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks.
Poeltl’s optimal lineup archetype punts free-throw percentages, making him an ideal depth piece if fantasy owners select players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Domantas Sabonis and Barnes.
As previously mentioned, Poeltl is typically part of the panic run on centres that also includes Kristaps Porzingis, Alex Sarr, and Mark Williams. Out of the bigs available in that range, Poeltl has the clearest path to production, especially on a team like the Raptors that desperately depends on him.
Immanuel Quickley
2025-26 ADP: 85
2024-25 Ranking: 100
2023-24 Ranking: 106
While Barrett may be the least appealing starting Raptor in fantasy, Quickley could be the riskiest option. He burned teams who took him earlier than expected last season. Most of Quickley’s struggles stemmed from a plethora of injuries that made it difficult to develop a rhythm on the court.
Quickley is currently being drafted inside the top 100 – at the beginning of the 10th round – but there’s a realistic chance he either fails to return the investment or finishes where he’s expected to. In the double-digit rounds of the draft, fantasy players should prioritize high-upside over safe bets.
Out of the Raptors’ starters, Quickley’s role may end up changing the most with Ingram’s arrival. A more positive outlook could include Quickley settling into the role of a ‘catch-and-shoot guard who is also occasionally capable of creating their own look’. That’s something he thrived in during his tenure with the New York Knicks.
