Fantasy Basketball: 2026 NBA playoff risers in High Score

With the Knicks and Spurs set for the NBA Finals, here’s a quick look at the top breakout players from teams that have already been eliminated. Using Yahoo’s High Score Fantasy format, these five put up the biggest jumps in production and turned heads in the postseason.

Barnes and the Raptors pushed the Cavs to seven games in the first round, fueling Toronto’s offense and excelling defensively. Snubbed from the All-NBA team, he averaged 55.8 High Score fantasy points per game (FPPG) — second only to Nikola Jokić. With Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram hurt, Barnes delivered as a true point-forward and looked every part of a future early-to-mid-second-round fantasy pick.

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He averaged 24.1 points. 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.1 3s, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks on 56% shooting from the field during the playoffs. He turned the ball over more than usual, but that doesn’t matter for High Score. It’s all about the assists and stocks, and that’s what Barnes provided. A 12-plus point increase in fantasy performance didn’t go unnoticed.

I almost forgot about the Suns after they were swept by OKC. Jalen Green stood out, playing like a star shooting guard. Injuries cost him much of the season, but in the postseason, he averaged 26-5-3 on 46% shooting with three 3s per game. Green scored at all three levels and showed defensive improvement with 1.7 steals per game, adding value to his fantasy profile (and a rarity). I’m not overreacting to his strong postseason, but his play showed real potential if he can stay healthy and replicate his 2026 playoffs. A 14-point fantasy jump is impressive.

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Tari Eason looked like himself again in the opening series against the Lakers, especially after Kevin Durant went down following Game 1. Eason posted 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.7 3s per game. His 2.5 steals led all playoff players, and with 0.8 blocks, he averaged over three stocks — a huge boost in High Score Fantasy. Eason wanted a bigger role and made the most of it, even with the Rockets falling in six games to the Lakers. As a restricted free agent, his two-way game should have plenty of teams interested.

Collin Murray-Boyles is my sleeper riser. The rookie forward looked poised all postseason, outplaying Jakob Pöeltl and making Toronto’s decision to invest in Pöeltl look questionable. In just 27 minutes per game, CMB averaged 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks on a stellar 65.6% from the field. Over 32 fantasy points per game and 1.22 fantasy points per minute across seven games are surprisingly good numbers.

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His play alongside Barnes was a difference-maker and, even as an undersized center, he showed he’s ready for a bigger role. The future is bright for CMB, and this postseason proved it.

The Pistons need to get another creator in the worst way. The area they won’t need to address is their perimeter defense because Ausar Thompson has that on lock. The scoring is still a work in progress, but across 14 postseason games, he averaged 8.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game. The 3.8 stocks are special. Now it’s just a matter of how long, if ever, it will take for Ausar to develop the confidence and accuracy to knock down 3s.

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Otherwise, he’ll have to find ways to be more impactful as a slasher or roamer in the dunker spot to stay on the court. He’s about to get a lofty extension and I’m sure working on his shot is a key element to the negotiations. That said, I still view him as a top-100 player because he’s one of the best defenders in the league.