ESPN's André Snellings has released a speculative, way-too-early ranking list for the 2026-27 Head-to-Head Points fantasy basketball season. The early top tier is dominated by established elite talent, with Nikola Jokic securing the top spot heading into the next cycle. This exercise attempts to sort through current stars and emerging youngsters alike.

Younger players who impressed recently, like Jalen Johnson, are factoring heavily into these projections, despite his age. The list forces fantasy managers to immediately weigh the diminishing returns of aging superstars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry against ascending talents like Victor Wembanyama, who slots in at number two.

Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, two players returning from injury or adjusting to new roles, find themselves ranked lower than some might expect, suggesting concerns about their near-future production ceilings. The rankings will certainly shift following the 2026 NBA draft.

Sorting through these initial baselines gives an early indication of perceived value, placing players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander firmly in the top three slots. These projections serve as a speculative starting point before the true offseason reshuffles begin.