2026 NBA draft fantasy outlooks: Breaking down which rookies you should roster - ESPN

The 2026 NBA draft has been tabbed as perhaps one of the best in league history. It is already being mentioned in the same breath with the 2003 draft that produced LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and the 1996 draft headlined by Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury.

This year's draft features both high-end talent at the top and excellent depth, with prospects who could earn starting gigs as rookies, even beyond the first round.

Let's take a closer look at the first round of this draft class to identify which players are most likely to make fantasy contributions as rookies.

Dybantsa led the nation in scoring last season at 25.5 PPG, the first freshman to do so since Trae Young (his new teammate) in 2017-18. He mixes elite scoring skill with outstanding physical traits, measuring at 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan and the fourth-best vertical (42 inches) at the combine. Dybantsa is the prototype modern wing with the physical tools to grow into a strong defender as well, but he should be able to score immediately as a rookie. He slots in as the presumptive starting small forward on a Wizards team with playoff aspirations, next to All-Stars Young and Anthony Davis. Dybantsa is the centerpiece for the team, though, and he should benefit from playing next to Young, whose playmaking helped showcase and develop young forwards like Jalen Johnson during his time with the Hawks. I see Dybantsa as a top-50 fantasy prospect right away as a primary scorer and contributor for the Wizards.

Peterson is considered by many to have the highest upside in this class. According to ESPN's Jay Bilas, he is the most talented scorer as a combo guard that can create offense on and off the