StrategyPro

James Harden is a reach in points leagues and a bargain in ESPN categories

Harden re-signed with Cleveland for three years, and with Donovan Mitchell leading the offense his shots fall, which costs him in points leagues and barely matters in ESPN's eight categories.

By · 2 min read

James Harden turned down a $42.3 million option and re-signed with Cleveland on a three-year, $97 million deal this summer, as Yahoo Sports and Sports Illustrated reported, and the Cavaliers kept the core that reached the Eastern Conference finals together around him and Donovan Mitchell. His role, as NBA.com described it, is to make plays for Mitchell and take some of the creating off him.

Ranks from our projections board and the analysts' consensus, updated nightly.

That role is good for the Cavaliers and mixed for fantasy. Harden averaged 23.6 points on 16 shots a night last season, and our projection drops him to 19.6 points on 13.8 shots while keeping almost all of his assists. In early October ESPN drafters were taking him around 28th, which is too early in a points league and too late in an ESPN categories league, and the difference between the two is turnovers.

Keep reading with Pro

This story is for Pro members. Pro is $4 a month or $20 for the season, and opens every story in the Newsroom along with the full projections and every analyst's rankings.

Every player in this story is on the fantasy basketball rankings and the 2026-27 projections, and the NBA depth charts show where each one stands in his team’s rotation tonight.

All stories in the NewsroomOctober 11, 2026

More from the Newsroom

Strategy

Double-double bonuses favor Josh Giddey and the rebounding centers

Adding two points for a double-double and four for a triple-double moves Josh Giddey from 22nd to 16th on our ESPN points board and Donovan Clingan from 61st to 53rd.

James · October 13, 2026 · 3 min read
Strategy

The first month's schedule, where Denver plays 11 games and 13 teams play 14

Over the first four fantasy weeks, from October 19 to November 15, thirteen teams play 14 games, Denver plays 11 with no back-to-backs, and Philadelphia opens with four games in week one.

Matt · October 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Strategy

The fantasy playoff schedule favors Phoenix and Dallas, and punishes New Orleans

Over ESPN's default fantasy playoff weeks, from March 8 to April 4, Phoenix and Dallas play 16 games while five teams play 13, and New Orleans plays only five in the final fortnight.

James · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read