Fantasy Basketball Week 25 Start/Sit: Reliable Options to Trust in Season's Final Stretch

Set your Week 25 fantasy basketball lineup with start/sit advice, schedule breakdowns, and more

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:04pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp planes of teal, orange, and violet colors overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.The chaotic final stretch of the fantasy basketball season requires managers to navigate a fractured landscape of player rest and reduced minutes.Denver Today

With just seven days remaining in the regular season, fantasy managers face peak uncertainty as teams at the top and bottom of the standings openly give players the night off. Week 25 delivers a loaded schedule, with all but four teams playing four times. The Hornets, Pelicans, Kings, and Jazz are the only teams with three games. Sitting players who only go one or two times has its advantages, but fantasy managers still have to make smart decisions when figuring out who to play, especially with so many teams now sitting players due to injury management.

Why it matters

This is a critical time for fantasy basketball managers as the regular season winds down. Navigating the uncertainty around player rest and minutes can make or break a fantasy team's chances in the final stretch. Making the right start/sit decisions is crucial to maximizing points and securing a playoff spot or championship.

The details

Five teams - the Hawks, Nets, Celtics, Bulls, and Cavaliers - have four games this week. Meanwhile, the Hornets, Pelicans, Kings, and Jazz only have three games. Being aware of back-to-back sets is also a key factor, especially with so many teams now sitting players due to injury management. The article provides start/sit advice for key guards, forwards, and centers to help fantasy managers make the best lineup decisions.

  • The 2025-26 NBA regular season has just seven days remaining.

The players

Ayo Dosunmu

A guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves who has averaged 15.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.9 3-pointers over his past 12 games, making him a must-start player.

Collin Sexton

A guard for the Chicago Bulls who has been a top 50 fantasy player over the past month, averaging 19.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3 3-pointers.

Andrew Nembhard

A guard for the Indiana Pacers who has missed the last three games due to 'back management', raising concerns that the Pacers may be shutting him down for the season.

Kobe Brown

A forward for the Indiana Pacers who has averaged 11.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 3-pointers over the past two weeks, benefiting from increased playing time as the Pacers rest key players.

Tobias Harris

A forward for the Detroit Pistons who has been productive lately but could see reduced minutes as the Pistons have already locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

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What they’re saying

“When he plays 30 minutes, he generally has to be considered a must-add player.”

— Adam King, Fantasy Basketball Analyst

“At this point, the Bulls have very little to play for, meaning Sexton's current role could remain largely unchanged for the final week.”

— Adam King, Fantasy Basketball Analyst

What’s next

Fantasy managers will need to closely monitor injury reports and lineup changes as teams rest players in the final week of the regular season. Staying on top of the latest news and updates will be crucial for making the right start/sit decisions.

The takeaway

With so much uncertainty surrounding playing time and minutes in the final week of the fantasy basketball season, it's important for managers to focus on players who are guaranteed to see substantial court time, even if they are on teams with little to play for. Identifying reliable options who will get consistent minutes is key to navigating the chaos of Week 25.