It’s the final weekend before the NBA regular season begins, which means you’re coming here for your fantasy basketball drafts.
Should you draft Jimmy Butler III this season? Here’s the latest outlook, projections, and rankings for the GS Small Forward.
Should You Draft Jimmy Butler III in Fantasy Basketball?
Jimmy Butler III’s offensive production dipped last season, with him settling into a complementary role alongside Stephen Curry after being traded to Golden State at the trade deadline. Still, the 36-year-old remains an impactful two-way forward, having averaged 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 47.6% from the field over his initial 30-game Warriors stint.
While Golden State is looking to contend in 2026, Butler and the rest of the team’s veteran core could have their regular-season minutes managed to preserve their long-term health. Butler has appeared in fewer than 65 outings in six consecutive campaigns, making him a fairly risky fantasy selection as he enters Year 15.
That said, the six-time All-Star should be more comfortable with the Warriors after participating in his first training camp with the franchise. That familiarity could make him a value pick in the 50s in standard leagues despite his lack of a reliable 3-point shot (0.6 3pg post-trade).
Looking for more fantasy basketball outlooks? Head over to our NBA landing page for analysis on 200 players.
What Are Butler’s Fantasy Basketball Projections This Season?
Based on our proprietary metrics here at PFSN, we project Butler to score 2,846.8 fantasy points this season, with him averaging 18.3 points per game.
This includes 5.6 field goals per game, 0.8 three-pointers per game, 6.2 free throws per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 5.8 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 0.4 blocks per game.
Where Does Jimmy Butler III Rank in the Upcoming Fantasy Basketball Season?
Butler is ranked 33rd overall and fifth at his position. The five players ranked ahead of him overall include Miles Bridges, De’Aaron Fox, Evan Mobley, Zion Williamson, and Kevin Durant.
The five players ranked behind him overall include Jalen Williams, Nikola Vučević, Derrick White, DeMar DeRozan, and Josh Giddey.
The four players ranked ahead of him at his position include LeBron James, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner, and Bridges.
The five players ranked behind him at his position include Williams, DeRozan, Deni Avdija, Michael Porter Jr., and Trey Murphy III.
