Fantasy Basketball Draft Steals 2026-27: Reed Sheppard, Naz Reid & Overlooked Players

Fantasy drafts aren’t won early. They’re won later. Everyone can spot NBA stars. That part’s easy. This is about finding the guys no one is talking about. The ones sitting there in rounds eight through twelve. The ones who end up deciding everything. Here are a few: Sheppard won’t win headlines but ...

by Sam Amico

Mar 25, 2026

Top Draft Steals Being Overlooked Right Now

Reed Sheppard (Rockets)

Sheppard won’t win headlines but he is quietly becoming a problem for opponents. He’ll win you games. The numbers already tell you that. Efficient. Smart. Low mistakes. Now the role is growing.

Houston is starting to lean into him more. More minutes. More touches. More trust. He’s not going to dominate usage, but he doesn’t have to. He’ll give you points, threes, assists, and strong percentages without hurting you anywhere. That’s gold in fantasy, especially late in drafts.

Naz Reid (Timberwolves)

Naz Reid’s stretch skill set produces points, rebounds, threes, and blocks with consistent low-usage efficiency.
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Reid is not a secret anymore, but he’s still undervalued. He fits today’s game and particularly today’s fantasy game. Stretch. Rebound. Block shots. It’s all there.

What people miss is how clean his production is. He doesn’t need plays called for him. He produces within the flow. That usually leads to consistency. And consistency often wins leagues. If his minutes climb even a little, you’re looking at a guy who gives you points, boards, threes and blocks from a big spot. That’s rare.

Payton Pritchard (Celtics)

Payton Pritchard’s scoring and threes spike with increased minutes, outperforming draft position through consistent bench production.
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Pritchard does one thing really well — namely, instant offense. He scores, and this season, he’s doing more than that. More minutes. More responsibility. More confidence. Boston trusts him. That shows up in the rotation. He can swing a week with threes alone. Add in some secondary playmaking and suddenly you’re looking at a guard who outperforms his draft spot pretty easily. Flashy? No. Effective? You’d better believe it.

Ausar Thompson (Pistons)

Ausar Thompson’s defensive stats and energy generate steals, blocks, and category value independent of offensive usage.
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This is where it gets interesting. Thompson doesn’t need the ball. He doesn’t need plays. He just needs minutes.
That’s because the defensive stats are real. Steals. Blocks. Energy. Every night. That translates, particularly in category leagues. He’s one of those guys who fills in gaps you didn’t even realize you had. If the offense comes along even a little, you’re looking at a major jump. If it doesn’t? He still helps you win.

Bennedict Mathurin (Clippers)

Bennedict Mathurin’s scoring upside and renewed opportunity create late-round value tied directly to usage and volume.
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This one is simple: Mathurin can score. We’ve seen it. The question has always been everything else. Now he’s in a spot where the opportunity is there again. That’s what you’re betting on. Not perfection. Opportunity. Usage. Volume. He’s the type of late-round swing that can pay off in a big way if things break right. And if they don’t? You move on. That’s part of the game.

Why These Steals Outperform ADP in 2026-27

Why These Guys Matter

Fantasy drafts aren’t about avoiding mistakes. They’re about creating advantages. These are advantage players. They come cheap. They produce across categories. And most importantly, their roles are trending up. That’s the whole equation. Minutes plus opportunity equals value. It’s as simple as that.

Fantasy Draft Targets & Steals for 2026-27 Season Managers

The Strategy

Don’t overthink it. Take your stars early. Then start hunting. Look for guys with expanding roles. Look for efficiency. Look for players whose teams trust them. That is truly often where the edge is — not in the obvious picks. In the overlooked ones.

Conclusion: Grab Those Late Difference Makers

Everyone leaves the draft thinking they did well. A lot are wrong. The difference usually comes down to a handful of players. The ones you grabbed late. The ones no one else prioritized. Sheppard, Reid, Pritchard, Thompson, Mathurin — those are the types that can make a difference that few notice. And those are the players who quietly win leagues.