Cade Cunningham and Jalen Johnson emerge as first‑round picks in the latest fantasy basketball points‑league rankings, joining a slate of elite talent such as Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander.
ESPN’s newest points‑league rankings place Cade Cunningham and Jalen Johnson among the first‑round selections for the 2026‑27 fantasy season, highlighting their scoring upside and consistency in a format that rewards pure point production[3]. The list also features a mix of established stars and rising prospects, underscoring the depth of talent available to managers.
Rotoballer’s top‑150 points‑league projection corroborates ESPN’s view, ranking Cunningham and Johnson within the top tier of draft targets and noting that their usage rates and offensive roles position them for high‑volume scoring[2]. The outlet’s rankings, built on Yahoo! default scoring settings, also flag several other players—Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander—as elite fantasy assets across all categories[1].
For managers considering a punt strategy, NBC Sports’ punt guide advises that even when de‑emphasizing categories like rebounds, players such as Cunningham remain valuable first‑round options due to their scoring contributions[1]. The guide further recommends targeting versatile guards who can fill multiple statistical needs, a principle that aligns with the emphasis on points‑heavy lineups.
ESPN’s offseason preview reinforces the importance of these guards, noting that both Cunningham and Johnson have expanded offensive responsibilities this year, translating into higher projected point totals[4]. Community chatter on Reddit’s fantasy basketball forum echoes this sentiment, with users highlighting Cunningham, Jalen Johnson, Anthony Edwards and Kevin Durant as must‑draft picks for points leagues[6]. As the NBA’s offensive output climbs to its highest rebounding rate since 2012‑13, the surge in scoring opportunities only amplifies the value of these top‑ranked guards[7].