We’re four and a half weeks into the 2025-26 NBA season, and the separation between mirages and meaningful improvement is becoming clear. This is when savvy fantasy basketball managers look beyond box scores — because not all breakouts are built the same.
I took a look at the fantasy landscape to identify the most improved players in High Score. Every player in this top-10 group had an ADP outside the top 50, and every one of them is now outperforming expectations. These aren’t flukes — they’re signs of real, measurable development.
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How the Improvement Score works
To quantify growth, the Improvement Score blends three weighted metrics:
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70% Fantasy Points Per Game (Δ FPPG) — a direct measure of fantasy production.
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20% Fantasy Points Per Minute (Δ FPPM) — efficiency gains independent of playing time.
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10% Usage Rate Change (Δ Usage %) — identifying players with larger offensive roles.
Only players with ≥ 250 minutes this season are included. By recalculating all stats under High Score scoring, we identify not just who’s putting up numbers — but who’s becoming more complete from 2024-25 to this season.
Thanks to RotoWire and PbP stats for the data!
Ryan Rollins — G, Milwaukee Bucks
Rollins’ jump from the fringes to the forefront defines this list. With +22.4 FPPG growth (now averaging 37.4 FPPG) and improved efficiency (+0.18 FPPM), he’s transformed into a nightly lock for production. He could push for over 40 FPPG while Giannis Antetokounmpo (groin) is out. Rollins is really come into his own since taking over for Kevin Porter Jr. at point guard, emerging as a reliable scorer and playmaker. For a player who went undrafted in 98% of Yahoo leagues, Rollins has become one of the best early-season pickups in fantasy.
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Jrue Holiday — G, Portland Trail Blazers
Holiday’s late-career revival has been great to watch. I had him outside of my top-100 rankings after his numbers declined over the past two seasons in Boston. However, his resurgence in Portland is real, seeing a +16.4 FPPG jump and a +0.42 FPPM spike mark his return to top-30 fantasy status. Portland’s pace and floor spacing have reignited his offensive efficiency, while his two-way impact remains elite. In the High Score format, where steals and assists are gold, his balanced line — 17-5-8 with nearly 2 stocks per game — makes him one of the most valuable veterans in fantasy, despite an ADP outside of the top 100.
Ajay Mitchell — G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Mitchell’s rise is textbook player development. He’s up +19.2 FPPG, improving his efficiency (0.86 → 1.19 FPPM) while handling a massive usage increase (+8.7%). Mitchell’s ability to get downhill and attack the rim has been his specialty, and a great complement to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, constantly applying pressure to opposing defenses. Mitchell is breaking out and has been a top-80 player in High Score, despite going undrafted in 100% of leagues.
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Kyshawn George — G/FC, Washington Wizards
George’s improvement — +14.6 FPPG, +0.35 FPPM, +6.5 Usage% — is as real as it gets. In just one season, he’s evolved from a low-usage 3-and-D role player into a potential face of the franchise. George’s maturation as a scoring threat, along with his effort as a rebounder and willing passer who generates stocks, is perfectly suited for fantasy. Drafted around the 140 range, George has become a fixture in top-100 rankings — and a cornerstone for anyone who believed early.
Lauri Markkanen — FC, Utah Jazz
The Finnish wing broke out a few years ago, but he’s unlocked another level. Markkanen’s growth has primarily come from his scoring. The shooting volume and efficiency are pacing at career highs, showing a vast improvement from last season. Markkanen is averaging 45.4 FPPG (+14.3 YoY) and his synergy with Keyonte George has paid dividends. His 5.3% usage bump shows more trust in his hands, and his +0.28 FPPM growth cements him as one of the league’s most efficient high-volume scorers. That’s how an established name becomes an elite one. He’s a top-25 player in High Score.
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What about the others?
Since we’re talking High Score, Jaylon Tyson and Reed Sheppard aren’t producing more than 30 fantasy points per game. While they’ve certainly improved from last season, they’re not producing at a level that warrants being on every High Score roster. Their value is better suited for 12-team points or 9-cat formats.
Grayson Allen, Tre Jones and Stephon Castle are all injured at the moment. Of those three, Castle’s development is the most real for fantasy purposes. Allen and Jones are having great seasons, but I trust Castle’s role on the Spurs and his cross-categorial skillset more in High Score.
The Takeaway
Every player on this list was drafted outside the top 50, meaning their improvement represents not just growth, but value. In a fantasy landscape dominated by volume scorers, most of these players are thriving in other areas, earning expanded roles that are allowing them to flourish. With the wave of injuries hitting the NBA right now, it wouldn’t surprise me to see more players taking a significant leap this season compared to last year.
