Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg led the fantasy basketball rankings entering the final week of the 2024-25 NBA regular season. The San Antonio Spurs' star and the Dallas Mavericks' rookie delivered standout performances, with Wembanyama averaging a mind-blowing 78.6 fantasy points per game and Flagg not far behind at 56.7. Both players are must-starts for fantasy managers with crucial games ahead.
Wembanyama’s Week 23 was nothing short of historic. The 7-foot-3 center averaged 38.7 points 17.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 blocks per game, shooting 62.1% from the floor. He recorded three double-doubles, including a game with 16 rebounds and five blocks against the Denver Nuggets. His 93.1% free-throw rate was also a key factor in his dominance. Fantasy managers who have Wembanyama on their rosters should keep him as their top priority.
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg made a splash with back-to-back 40-point games. He became the youngest player in NBA history to score 50+ points in a game and the first rookie since Allen Iverson to score 40+ in consecutive contests. Flagg shot 33-for-57 from the field and 22-for-24 from the free-throw line over two games. His 96 combined points were the most by a rookie in back-to-back games since Wilt Chamberlain in 1961-62.
Fantasy managers should also consider adding Jayson Tatum and Nikola Jokić, who both delivered elite performances last week. Tatum averaged 23.7 points, 14.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 2.7 steals in three games, leading the Celtics to two blowout wins. Jokić put up a triple-double against the Jazz and a 40-point game against the Spurs, proving he can carry the Nuggets in high-pressure matchups.
Looking ahead, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are top options for fantasy managers needing production. Both averaged over 49 fantasy points per game and face favorable matchups against the Grizzlies, Hawks, and Wizards. Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard also remain high-impact players, with Durant averaging 46.0 fantasy points per game and Leonard at 48.4.
With the playoffs just days away, fantasy managers should lock in Wembanyama and Flagg and consider streaming Tatum, Jokić, and Leonard for the final week.
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