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WEEK ANALYSIS
ELFantasy Forwards Preview 2025-26
Breaking down the forwards position ahead of the new EuroLeague Fantasy season
Published: 28/09/2025 22:03
After the Centers Preview, where we looked at some of the most interesting big men options for the start of this year’s Euroleague Fantasy, it’s time to move on to the forwards—a position that, once again, is overflowing with quality choices at every price level, from budget picks to premium stars.
In fact, at the top tier the reliability may even be greater than any other positions' top choices, since there’s a clear group of forwards who rarely disappoint. The real challenge is not whether they’ll deliver, but which one will bring the highest return compared to the rest.
That immediately raises the key question: how many premium forwards can you fit into your roster—one or two—depending, of course, on the rest of your squad-building strategy. At the same time, the lower tiers also feature a good number of candidates worth serious consideration. Forwards priced between 6–9 credits may be able to contribute right away, bring you extra credits, and free up valuable budget for bigger moves elsewhere.
Unlike guards or centers, the “new entries” among forwards are noticeably fewer—a trend we’ve seen in recent years. Most of the big names are familiar from last season, with Nigel Hayes-Davis the only real exception, leaving for the NBA and the Phoenix Suns after lifting the Euroleague trophy last year. Still, several stars have made smaller distance moves within Europe: Nikola Mirotic (15.5 credits) headed to Monaco, Toko Shengelia (15.5 credits) returned to Spain to join Barcelona, and Chima Moneke (15.2 credits) left Baskonia after two dominant seasons to test himself in a team with potential deeper rotation. All three remain fantasy cornerstones, though the increased internal competition in their new teams puts a small asterisk next to their names. That said, when you’re talking about someone like Mirotic, who averaged a fantasy score of 23.2 last season in (the really high 27.5 minutes), a 15.5 price tag hardly looks problematic—even on James’s Monaco.
Of course there are the steady headliners too, like Zach Leday (15.2 credits) — since we’re on Milan — who will likely slide more to the 4 this year with Mirotic gone and Nebo/Booker at the 5. If we recall the numbers he put up whenever Mirotic was out last season, his starting price also looks very appealing, provided he keeps the upper hand over strong competition. In the same vein, Jaylen Hoard (14.3 credits) made an excellent debut in the competition last year (17.5 PIR), while a bit further down we find the “star” names Juancho Hernangomez (14 credits) and Mario Hezonja (13.9 credits), who will face, especially the latter, stiffer internal competition this season. Finally, there’s Jabari Parker at 12.1 credits; he may not sit among the absolute elite at the position, but perhaps Partizan can showcase him more this year.
In the category of promising “black boxes,” we could include Jordan Nwora (10.3 credits), who has the tools to become a pleasant surprise at Crvena Zvezda (preseason was boom-or-bust at times, but clearly with a more primary role than at Efes), as well as NBAer Lamar Stevens (10 credits) in a Paris side that, in any case, is a big unknown after its full makeover.
Naturally, the undisputed No. 1 at the position — and in the entire game — is Sasha Vezenkov, opening at a friendly 16 credits (call it “pre-VAT pricing,” so to speak). He’ll likely be the most popular luxury buy at the start of the season. With a realistic bar in the 20–22 credit range, the sensible play is to grab him “on the cheap” and focus on the rest of your roster — where we can immediately look at some candidate solutions in detail.
Last year with Real wasn’t exactly ideal, but the Bosnian had already shown his Fantasy credentials in the two seasons before that (he generally sat above 13.2 credits). He now changes scenery to lead Dubai in its maiden Euroleague campaign. The roster has quality — far from lacking — but there isn’t a true counterweight to limit the former Madrid man’s usage. With a likely increase in minutes (he didn’t exceed 22’ at Real) and a somewhat more prominent, lead role, we expect Musa to sit in the top performance group at the position this season.
If Musa is the dominant presence on Dubai’s crowded perimeter, Petrusev is the one who stands out inside for the newcomers — and they’re not short of options there either. Still, the Serbian forward is the one who maintains and promises the highest Fantasy value. His opening price isn’t prohibitive; on the contrary, he should meet — and why not exceed — this level comfortably, depending on Golemac’s rotation. Last season he climbed from 6.5 credits to a …double score (13.2) by the end of his year, so we expect him to be one of the position’s protagonists again.
The Turk showcased his strengths mainly in the second half of last season; still, he didn’t consistently hit the Fantasy standards he’s capable of — see, for example, his recent EuroBasket displays. Now, though, Osman looks ready to help the Greens from day one in Euroleague play, and the 12.1-credit starting tag is intriguing: you’re weighing his upside against Panathinaikos’ massive depth, which will inevitably hurt many players’ week-to-week Fantasy stability.
A key figure in Monaco’s excellent campaign last year — particularly in the clutch — Diallo isn’t the textbook Fantasy player (relative to his on court impact), or at least he doesn’t always need to show it, flanked by teammates with outstanding Fantasy profiles. Even so, his starting price this year catches the eye. The 10.8 credits — likely reflecting Mirotic’s arrival and the potential ripple effect at the 3–4 with Blossomgame — sit well within his range. Don’t expect him to crash the top-tier names at the position, but you can feel confident he’ll live in double-digit scores (in four Euroleague seasons he’s averaged between 11.8 and 13 PIR).
After leaving a respectable mark in the NBA, the American lands in Europe for the first time — and on a team that can highlight his strengths — to stand out in Fantasy. With a well-rounded profile, Diallo can post some truly big lines this year, as preseason already hinted. His approachable cost is mainly due to his lack of Euroleague experience and Baskonia’s still-uncertain rotation under Galbiati (not everyone has joined up in preseason yet). The bar looks high regardless, and Sedekerskis’ (10.7 credits) season will also be very interesting — especially with Moneke gone — after last year’s more modest numbers from a Fantasy standpoint.
Another player priced a touch below his actual value. Sorkin has shown steady progress in recent seasons, becoming more and more important both for his team and in Fantasy. Whether at the 4 or the 5, his touch around the rim brings the occasional high-end performance. With Maccabi again featuring several rookies, Sorkin projects as a pillar who can also justify his double-digit acquisition cost.
After a full ACB season with Manresa (15.9 PIR, but with 16.9 points in 25.5 minutes), the American is asked to step into Shengelia’s shoes and keep Virtus competitive through the Euroleague marathon. With Edwards the clear alpha dog, Alston Jr. could be the team’s No. 2 given the lack of serious internal competition on the frontline (the backcourt seems deeper). At 9.8 credits he looks quite shiny — at least in the longer run, since investing in a rookie from day one always carries its own risk.
One concern with this year’s Valencia is how minutes will be distributed on such a full roster. If there’s a spot that looks a bit “lighter” in numbers, it’s the 3 — where the experienced American could be penciled in for 20+ minutes and thus return Fantasy value. That’s what the early games suggest (althought with some teammates absences), and that’s also what Taylor showed with Málaga the last two ACB seasons (11.9 PIR in 20.5’). Martinez's team is fascinating this year from several angles and, even though the rotation is still taking shape, Taylor appears to be one of the early constants — making the 9.1 tag reasonable.
It’s hard to set a clear bar for Jantunen this year, but the Finn has been a genuine revelation — both with Paris last season and with his national team at the recent EuroBasket. At 25, another impressive and meaningful level-up can’t be ruled out. Nine credits aren’t nothing to start with, but if he successfully slips into Hayes-Davis’ role and adapts to Saras’ style (why not?), he can remain a viable option on the Fantasy radar.
His name doesn’t glitter in Fantasy quite like in years past, but no one can deny the Serbian’s quality both on court and Fantasy-wise. Whether as a lead or support piece, he always leaves a mark. With last year’s Bayern headliners Booker and Edwards now in Italy, one might have expected Lucic to start in double digits this season in the game, so seeing 8.4 credits should whet managers’ that "trust the guy they know" appetite. The only caveats are the nagging injuries and his age; otherwise there’s no universe where Lucic sits below his opening price in the long run.
We’re not reinventing the wheel by saying we expect (even) more from Biberovic this season — partly due to age/experience, partly due to Hayes-Davis’ departure from Fener, which will inevitably “spread” ranking across his former teammates. With his shooting prowess, the Turk will again share the 3 with Colson and occasionally slide to the 4 for Saras’ team, and 8.2 credits aligns even with the most grounded expectations for his year.
Looking ready from day one, Rogkavopoulos has started hot for the Greens, leaning on his shot-making and (offensive) rebounding. Panathinaikos is stacked across all positions, but with some players currently dealing with injuries, the Greek forward looks capable not only of holding a live spot and respectable time/role in the rotation, but also of meeting the challenge of being Fantasy-relevant and contributing right away. With Baskonia last year he averaged 9.6 PIR in 18:43, so 7.7 credits at Panathinaikos is a price you can discuss.
One of EuroBasket’s revelations, the young forward displayed his well-rounded talent on both ends for Italy. From a Fantasy perspective, there’s still a long way to go — his EuroCup average with Trento last year was only 7.3 — but at just 21, the growth runway for Virtus’ new signing looks significant. He should be in the rotation immediately and could gradually scale his box-score and Fantasy impact.
The former NBAer’s first Euroleague season was largely forgettable — he never really entered the wider Fantasy radar (4.4 PIR average). This year, however, things might change: with a full season of experience, Harrison was the main protagonist of the team’s preseason. There’s no Maledon at ASVEL, and while De Colo, Heurtel, and Watson will dominate on-ball duties, the French side hasn’t seen dramatic reinforcement overall. We’ll see if Harrison’s striking preseason form carries over to official games — if it does, he could become a from-nowhere opportunity for Fantasy squads.
In the second half of last season, the Spaniard emerged as one of injury-hit Barcelona’s leaders, and a 6.8-credit start is a pleasant surprise. Beyond the Euroleague stars Shengelia and Clyburn dominating the forward spots (and certainly absorbing plenty of ranking) for the Blaugrana, there isn’t a ton of quantitative competition at his position. If one of the “old hands” suffers an injury, Parra’s appeal skyrockets.
No surprise to Euroleague die-hards for the Turkish forward’s excellent display against Greece in the EuroBasket semifinal. Osmani made a not-so-flashy but meaningful level-up last year in Euroleague as a key 4 for Efes (39.2% from three). Nothing should get worse for him this season — the team reinforced primarily at the 5 (and in the backcourt) — so Osmani should keep the same or an even bigger role, having already shown his credentials. At 6.5 credits he’s interesting, though don’t forget Efes’ wealth of quality, especially at 1–3, which will soak up ranking; also, his final PIR often hinges heavily on his start to a game.
Everyone agrees the talented forward needs minutes this year at Panathinaikos to “cultivate” and showcase his unquestioned gifts. The question is how that happens on such a loaded roster. For now, Lessort is injured at the 5 (so Mitoglou can more easily pick up time there), and in games where the Greens control things comfortably, Samodurov might get a bigger runway. Those would be your thoughts if he started at 6 credits; however, since the international big opens at the minimum price — where you need to shop anyway — he’s one of the most obvious picks, with very little to agonize over.
Coming up next: the guards...
In fact, at the top tier the reliability may even be greater than any other positions' top choices, since there’s a clear group of forwards who rarely disappoint. The real challenge is not whether they’ll deliver, but which one will bring the highest return compared to the rest.
That immediately raises the key question: how many premium forwards can you fit into your roster—one or two—depending, of course, on the rest of your squad-building strategy. At the same time, the lower tiers also feature a good number of candidates worth serious consideration. Forwards priced between 6–9 credits may be able to contribute right away, bring you extra credits, and free up valuable budget for bigger moves elsewhere.
Unlike guards or centers, the “new entries” among forwards are noticeably fewer—a trend we’ve seen in recent years. Most of the big names are familiar from last season, with Nigel Hayes-Davis the only real exception, leaving for the NBA and the Phoenix Suns after lifting the Euroleague trophy last year. Still, several stars have made smaller distance moves within Europe: Nikola Mirotic (15.5 credits) headed to Monaco, Toko Shengelia (15.5 credits) returned to Spain to join Barcelona, and Chima Moneke (15.2 credits) left Baskonia after two dominant seasons to test himself in a team with potential deeper rotation. All three remain fantasy cornerstones, though the increased internal competition in their new teams puts a small asterisk next to their names. That said, when you’re talking about someone like Mirotic, who averaged a fantasy score of 23.2 last season in (the really high 27.5 minutes), a 15.5 price tag hardly looks problematic—even on James’s Monaco.
Of course there are the steady headliners too, like Zach Leday (15.2 credits) — since we’re on Milan — who will likely slide more to the 4 this year with Mirotic gone and Nebo/Booker at the 5. If we recall the numbers he put up whenever Mirotic was out last season, his starting price also looks very appealing, provided he keeps the upper hand over strong competition. In the same vein, Jaylen Hoard (14.3 credits) made an excellent debut in the competition last year (17.5 PIR), while a bit further down we find the “star” names Juancho Hernangomez (14 credits) and Mario Hezonja (13.9 credits), who will face, especially the latter, stiffer internal competition this season. Finally, there’s Jabari Parker at 12.1 credits; he may not sit among the absolute elite at the position, but perhaps Partizan can showcase him more this year.
In the category of promising “black boxes,” we could include Jordan Nwora (10.3 credits), who has the tools to become a pleasant surprise at Crvena Zvezda (preseason was boom-or-bust at times, but clearly with a more primary role than at Efes), as well as NBAer Lamar Stevens (10 credits) in a Paris side that, in any case, is a big unknown after its full makeover.
Naturally, the undisputed No. 1 at the position — and in the entire game — is Sasha Vezenkov, opening at a friendly 16 credits (call it “pre-VAT pricing,” so to speak). He’ll likely be the most popular luxury buy at the start of the season. With a realistic bar in the 20–22 credit range, the sensible play is to grab him “on the cheap” and focus on the rest of your roster — where we can immediately look at some candidate solutions in detail.
Dzanan Musa (Dubai) - 13.2
Last year with Real wasn’t exactly ideal, but the Bosnian had already shown his Fantasy credentials in the two seasons before that (he generally sat above 13.2 credits). He now changes scenery to lead Dubai in its maiden Euroleague campaign. The roster has quality — far from lacking — but there isn’t a true counterweight to limit the former Madrid man’s usage. With a likely increase in minutes (he didn’t exceed 22’ at Real) and a somewhat more prominent, lead role, we expect Musa to sit in the top performance group at the position this season.
Filip Petrusev (Dubai) - 12.3
If Musa is the dominant presence on Dubai’s crowded perimeter, Petrusev is the one who stands out inside for the newcomers — and they’re not short of options there either. Still, the Serbian forward is the one who maintains and promises the highest Fantasy value. His opening price isn’t prohibitive; on the contrary, he should meet — and why not exceed — this level comfortably, depending on Golemac’s rotation. Last season he climbed from 6.5 credits to a …double score (13.2) by the end of his year, so we expect him to be one of the position’s protagonists again.
Cedi Osman (Panathinaikos) - 12.1
The Turk showcased his strengths mainly in the second half of last season; still, he didn’t consistently hit the Fantasy standards he’s capable of — see, for example, his recent EuroBasket displays. Now, though, Osman looks ready to help the Greens from day one in Euroleague play, and the 12.1-credit starting tag is intriguing: you’re weighing his upside against Panathinaikos’ massive depth, which will inevitably hurt many players’ week-to-week Fantasy stability.
Alpha Diallo (Monaco) - 10.8
A key figure in Monaco’s excellent campaign last year — particularly in the clutch — Diallo isn’t the textbook Fantasy player (relative to his on court impact), or at least he doesn’t always need to show it, flanked by teammates with outstanding Fantasy profiles. Even so, his starting price this year catches the eye. The 10.8 credits — likely reflecting Mirotic’s arrival and the potential ripple effect at the 3–4 with Blossomgame — sit well within his range. Don’t expect him to crash the top-tier names at the position, but you can feel confident he’ll live in double-digit scores (in four Euroleague seasons he’s averaged between 11.8 and 13 PIR).
Hamidou Diallo (Baskonia) - 10.5
After leaving a respectable mark in the NBA, the American lands in Europe for the first time — and on a team that can highlight his strengths — to stand out in Fantasy. With a well-rounded profile, Diallo can post some truly big lines this year, as preseason already hinted. His approachable cost is mainly due to his lack of Euroleague experience and Baskonia’s still-uncertain rotation under Galbiati (not everyone has joined up in preseason yet). The bar looks high regardless, and Sedekerskis’ (10.7 credits) season will also be very interesting — especially with Moneke gone — after last year’s more modest numbers from a Fantasy standpoint.
Roman Sorkin (Maccabi) - 10.2
Another player priced a touch below his actual value. Sorkin has shown steady progress in recent seasons, becoming more and more important both for his team and in Fantasy. Whether at the 4 or the 5, his touch around the rim brings the occasional high-end performance. With Maccabi again featuring several rookies, Sorkin projects as a pillar who can also justify his double-digit acquisition cost.
Derrick Alston Jr (Virtus) - 9.8
After a full ACB season with Manresa (15.9 PIR, but with 16.9 points in 25.5 minutes), the American is asked to step into Shengelia’s shoes and keep Virtus competitive through the Euroleague marathon. With Edwards the clear alpha dog, Alston Jr. could be the team’s No. 2 given the lack of serious internal competition on the frontline (the backcourt seems deeper). At 9.8 credits he looks quite shiny — at least in the longer run, since investing in a rookie from day one always carries its own risk.
Kameron Taylor (Valencia) - 9.1
One concern with this year’s Valencia is how minutes will be distributed on such a full roster. If there’s a spot that looks a bit “lighter” in numbers, it’s the 3 — where the experienced American could be penciled in for 20+ minutes and thus return Fantasy value. That’s what the early games suggest (althought with some teammates absences), and that’s also what Taylor showed with Málaga the last two ACB seasons (11.9 PIR in 20.5’). Martinez's team is fascinating this year from several angles and, even though the rotation is still taking shape, Taylor appears to be one of the early constants — making the 9.1 tag reasonable.
Mikael Jantunen (Fenerbahce) - 9
It’s hard to set a clear bar for Jantunen this year, but the Finn has been a genuine revelation — both with Paris last season and with his national team at the recent EuroBasket. At 25, another impressive and meaningful level-up can’t be ruled out. Nine credits aren’t nothing to start with, but if he successfully slips into Hayes-Davis’ role and adapts to Saras’ style (why not?), he can remain a viable option on the Fantasy radar.
Vladimir Lucic (Bayern) - 8.4
His name doesn’t glitter in Fantasy quite like in years past, but no one can deny the Serbian’s quality both on court and Fantasy-wise. Whether as a lead or support piece, he always leaves a mark. With last year’s Bayern headliners Booker and Edwards now in Italy, one might have expected Lucic to start in double digits this season in the game, so seeing 8.4 credits should whet managers’ that "trust the guy they know" appetite. The only caveats are the nagging injuries and his age; otherwise there’s no universe where Lucic sits below his opening price in the long run.
Tarik Biberovic (Fenerbahce) - 8.2
We’re not reinventing the wheel by saying we expect (even) more from Biberovic this season — partly due to age/experience, partly due to Hayes-Davis’ departure from Fener, which will inevitably “spread” ranking across his former teammates. With his shooting prowess, the Turk will again share the 3 with Colson and occasionally slide to the 4 for Saras’ team, and 8.2 credits aligns even with the most grounded expectations for his year.
Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos (Panathinaikos) - 7.7
Looking ready from day one, Rogkavopoulos has started hot for the Greens, leaning on his shot-making and (offensive) rebounding. Panathinaikos is stacked across all positions, but with some players currently dealing with injuries, the Greek forward looks capable not only of holding a live spot and respectable time/role in the rotation, but also of meeting the challenge of being Fantasy-relevant and contributing right away. With Baskonia last year he averaged 9.6 PIR in 18:43, so 7.7 credits at Panathinaikos is a price you can discuss.
Salou Niang (Virtus) - 7.4
One of EuroBasket’s revelations, the young forward displayed his well-rounded talent on both ends for Italy. From a Fantasy perspective, there’s still a long way to go — his EuroCup average with Trento last year was only 7.3 — but at just 21, the growth runway for Virtus’ new signing looks significant. He should be in the rotation immediately and could gradually scale his box-score and Fantasy impact.
Shaquille Harrison (ASVEL) - 6.9
The former NBAer’s first Euroleague season was largely forgettable — he never really entered the wider Fantasy radar (4.4 PIR average). This year, however, things might change: with a full season of experience, Harrison was the main protagonist of the team’s preseason. There’s no Maledon at ASVEL, and while De Colo, Heurtel, and Watson will dominate on-ball duties, the French side hasn’t seen dramatic reinforcement overall. We’ll see if Harrison’s striking preseason form carries over to official games — if it does, he could become a from-nowhere opportunity for Fantasy squads.
Joel Parra (Barcelona) - 6.8
In the second half of last season, the Spaniard emerged as one of injury-hit Barcelona’s leaders, and a 6.8-credit start is a pleasant surprise. Beyond the Euroleague stars Shengelia and Clyburn dominating the forward spots (and certainly absorbing plenty of ranking) for the Blaugrana, there isn’t a ton of quantitative competition at his position. If one of the “old hands” suffers an injury, Parra’s appeal skyrockets.
Ercan Osmani (Efes) - 6.5
No surprise to Euroleague die-hards for the Turkish forward’s excellent display against Greece in the EuroBasket semifinal. Osmani made a not-so-flashy but meaningful level-up last year in Euroleague as a key 4 for Efes (39.2% from three). Nothing should get worse for him this season — the team reinforced primarily at the 5 (and in the backcourt) — so Osmani should keep the same or an even bigger role, having already shown his credentials. At 6.5 credits he’s interesting, though don’t forget Efes’ wealth of quality, especially at 1–3, which will soak up ranking; also, his final PIR often hinges heavily on his start to a game.
Alexandros Samodurov (Panathinaikos) - 4
Everyone agrees the talented forward needs minutes this year at Panathinaikos to “cultivate” and showcase his unquestioned gifts. The question is how that happens on such a loaded roster. For now, Lessort is injured at the 5 (so Mitoglou can more easily pick up time there), and in games where the Greens control things comfortably, Samodurov might get a bigger runway. Those would be your thoughts if he started at 6 credits; however, since the international big opens at the minimum price — where you need to shop anyway — he’s one of the most obvious picks, with very little to agonize over.
Coming up next: the guards...
