Top 10 Fantasy Basketball Rookie Rankings – Week 5

Ranking the Top 10 Fantasy NBA Rookies for the 2022-2023 NBA Season

By admin | November 14, 2022

The 2022-23 NBA Season is red hot while the 2022 NBA Draft class is slowly taking center stage across NBA hardwoods across the country.

While most focus on top tier fantasy basketball options are turned to stars such as Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, an opportunity to cash in on NBA rookies is key for DFS basketball owners.

Some NBA rookies provide great salary cap relief while also delivering a huge fantasy upside based on their matchup.

As you look at the Top 10 Fantasy NBA Rookies to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, rankings list the list of rookies are solid for DFS owners.

One of those rookies that has taken a huge step forward is the Orlando Magic big man Paolo Banchero who continues to be strong to start the 2022-23 NBA schedule.

As Banchero headlines the tops of the 2022 NBA Draft class, other top NBA rookies have been strong for DFS owners this season.

This includes rookies Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers, Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons, and Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings.

Each of these rookie land on the top DFS NBA rookies to draft to consider starting this week in your DFS NBA lineups. Here is a look at the Top 10 Fantasy NBA Rookies to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, rankings:

Honorable Mention

MarJon Beauchamp

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Position: Guard

NBA Matchups: VS Cleveland Cavaliers (11/16/22), @ Philadelphia 76ers (11/18/22)

Just missing the Top 10 Fantasy NBA Rookies to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, is the Milwaukee Bucks guard MarJon Beauchamp. Beauchamp is an interesting option on a team that features one of the best players in the league.

Beauchamp would be a deep fantasy sleeper for DFS owners however he has shown at various times this season he can put together strong numbers when he sees minutes.

This includes two games over his past five posting at least 14 points to go with five rebounds. Consider monitoring the injury report for the Bucks before slotting him in as an option to reduce salary cap figures.

Jalen Williams

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: Forward

NBA Matchups: @ Washington Wizards (11/16/22), @ Memphis Grizzlies (11/18/22)

Another DFS basketball sleeper among NBA rookies is Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder forward has had an up and down star to the season over his first nine games of the season.

Nonetheless, Williams is averaging 7.8 points per game to go along with 2.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and one steal per game.

In the team’s 132-113 win over the Toronto Raptors on November 11th, 2022, Williams posted 10 points to go along with three rebounds, one steal, and 11 assists.

Top 10 Fantasy Basketball Rookie Rankings

10. Jeremy Sochan

Team: San Antonio Spurs

Position: Forward

NBA Matchups: @ Portland Trail Blazers (11/15/22), @ Sacramento Kings (11/17/22), VS Los Angeles Clippers (11/19/22), @ Los Angeles Lakers (11/20/22)

In at number 10 on the Top 10 Fantasy NBA Rookies to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, rankings list is the San Antonio Spurs rookie forward Jeremy Sochan.

Sochan has been solid of late for the Spurs as he has seen back-to-back games with at least 30 minutes heading into action on Monday November 14th, 2022.

The Spurs forward has reached double figures in each contest while adding nine rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and two steals over that two-game stretch.

The Spurs have a solid fantasy matchup for forwards against the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers who both rank in the top seven in fantasy points allowed to the position.

9. Walker Kessler

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: Center

NBA Matchups: VS New York Knicks (11/15/22), VS Phoenix Suns (11/18/22), @ Portland Trail Blazers (11/19/22)

While the hype was high after the Utah Jazz elected to ship Rudy Gobert off to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first-year rookie.

However, that hype has been slow to start for Walker Kessler as he is struggling to see minutes to start the season despite being a potential strong defender and rebounder down low.

The former Auburn Tigers star is averaging just 14.7 minutes to start the year while recording 1.7 blocks and 5.3 rebounds per game to go along with 5.4 points.

If Kessler can improve his scoring, he would be a solid budget DFS basketball option for someone looking to save some salary cap space.

8. Jalen Duren

Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: Center

NBA Matchups: @ Los Angeles Clippers (11/17/22), @ Los Angeles Lakers (11/18/22), @ Sacramento Kings (11/20/22)

The Detroit Pistons are loaded with young talent including the 2022 NBA Draft tandem of Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey. As the team looks to see growth with Cade Cunningham, the future is bright for this young nucleus while expectations are set high for the former Memphis Tigers star.

Duren has struggled to see consistent minutes to start the season but has shown his ability to stuff the stat sheet in limited minutes posting double digit rebounds in two of his last three games while also recording a double double over that stretch.

Duren will have a solid matchup against a Los Angeles Lakers team that ranks in the top seven in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to opposing centers.

7. Shaedon Sharpe

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Position: Shooting Guard

NBA Matchups: VS San Antonio Spurs (11/15/22), VS Brooklyn Nets (11/17/22), VS Utah Jazz (11/19/22)

If you are looking for a solid NBA Rookie for your DFS basketball lineup this week the Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe may be the option you are looking for.

While Sharpe may get looked past for a few of the top tier rookies from the 2022 NBA Draft, he is a solid contributor to start the season while averaging nine points per game to go along with 2.6 rebounds.

On Tuesday November 15th, 2022, Sharpe has a top seven showdown against a San Antonio Spurs team that ranks seventh in the NBA in defensive fantasy points allowed to opposing shooting guards.

Heading into play this week, Sharpe had posted at least 10 points in three of his last five games for the Trail Blazers.

6. Jabari Smith Jr.

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: Power Forward

NBA Matchups: @ Dallas Mavericks (11/16/22), VS Indiana Pacers (11/18/22), VS Golden State Warriors (11/20/22)

When you are looking for DFS bargains and DFS fantasy sleepers you must find a player who can rack up stats outside of just points per game.

That player among the NBA rookies is Jabari Smith Jr. who has been strong on the glass while also being solid on the defensive end of the floor.

While the Houston Rockets continue to develop another young nucleus such as the Detroit Pistons, the wave of talent including Smith Jr is deep with talent.

Smith is one of five rookies to average double digit points to start the season. Smith Jr will face off against a Golden State Warriors team over the weekend that is allowing over 59 fantasy points per game to opposing centers.

In addition, the high scoring potential and three-point shooting may open additional rebounding opportunities.

5. Tari Eason

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: Forward

NBA Matchups: @ Dallas Mavericks (11/16/22), VS Indiana Pacers (11/18/22), VS Golden State Warriors (11/20/22)

Landing in at number five on the Top 10 Fantasy Basketball Rookies to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, rankings list is a teammate of Jabari Smith Jr, Tari Eason.

Eason, who was also selected by the Houston Rockets during the 2022 NBA Draft is putting together a strong season as well.

As Smith Jr is strong on the glass, Eason can grab 5-8 rebounds per game to go along with 3-5 assists for his DFS owners while providing DFS salary cap relief.

Eason has posted double digits in two of his last five contests while grabbing at least five rebounds in four of his last five overall games.

4. Keegan Murray

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: Small Forward

NBA Matchups: VS Brooklyn Nets (11/15/22), VS San Antonio Spurs (11/17/22), VS Detroit Pistons (11/20/22)

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star is slowly emerging as a strong option among the Sacramento Kings despite the log jam of similar players within the team’s roster.

Keegan Murray entered play Monday November 14th, 2022, ranked 4th in the NBA among 2022 NBA Draft picks in scoring averaging 12.7 points per game.

To go along with the points, Murray is averaging 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, nearly one blocked shot (.8), and 1.1 steals per contest. As Murray continues to develop, look for him to continue to see his production increase.

3. Jaden Ivey

Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: Point Guard

NBA Matchups: @ Los Angeles Clippers (11/17/22), @ Los Angeles Lakers (11/18/22), @ Sacramento Kings (11/20/22)

The youth movement has arrived in Detroit as Jaden Ivey and company have a huge upside as the season moves along.

For Ivey he is a strong fantasy basketball option for DFS owners looking for a player with a huge upside but with a lower salary cap figure.

Ivey is currently averaging 15.8 points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. As the Pistons continue to develop as a team, the former Purdue Boilermakers point guard has shown his ability to be a top tier guard in the NBA.

Over his past five games, Ivey has posted two double doubles, while recording at least three assists and three rebounds in each contest.

2. Bennedict Mathurin

Team: Indiana Pacers

Position: Shooting Guard

NBA Matchups: @ Charlotte Hornets (11/16/22), @ Houston Rockets (11/18/22), VS Orlando Magic (11/19/22)

The expectations were set high for Bennedict Mathurin who many slotted in as a potential top overall pick during the 2022 NBA Draft.

The former Arizona Wildcats star has yet to disappoint on a very young Indiana Pacers roster to start the season. Through 12 games to start the season Mathurin is averaging 19.9 points per game to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Mathurin entered play on Monday November 14th, 2022, having posted double digit points in 11 of his first 12 games in the NBA while recording two 30 plus point performances, and three additional games with at least 23 points scored.

One matchup for DFS owners to watch this week is on Friday November 18th, 2022, against a Houston Rockets team allowing the most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

1. Paolo Banchero

Team: Orlando Magic

Position: Center

NBA Matchups: VS Minnesota Timberwolves (11/16/22), @ Chicago Bulls (11/18/22), @ Indiana Pacers (11/19/22)

Lastly landing as the top Fantasy Rookie to Start Week Ending November 20th, 2022, rankings list is the Orlando Magic first round NBA Draft Pick Paola Banchero.

The former Duke Blue Devils star currently leads all rookies in scoring averaging 23.5 points per game to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

The first-year star currently ranks 20th in the NBA in scoring among all NBA players while also ranking 29th in rebounds per game with 8.3 per game.

One concern is to monitor his health status this week as he battles an ankle injury. If Banchero is a go, the Magic star has a few key matchups this week including a showdown with Bennedict Mathurin on Saturday November 19th, 2022.

How would you rank these NBA player projections going into Week 5 of the 2022-23 NBA Season Rankings? Rank below to be added in the NBA Power Rankings.