March Madness 2026: 4 late-round dynasty targets you need to watch during the tourney

You probably already know about Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa. But while the national media is tripping over themselves to tell you about the obvious lottery picks, there’s a second tier of players heading into this tournament that deserves your attention for dynasty.

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Here are four projected mid-to-late-round players who I expect to make some noise in the tournament.

Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State | Forward, Senior

Jefferson might be one of the most underrated players in the tournament. At 6-9, 240 pounds, he’s been making an impact on both ends of the floor, initiating offense efficiently while also locking up on defense. Heading into the tourney, here is how he stacks up among the best in the country (data via CBBAnalytics):

scoring/40 minutes = 94th percentile

assists/40 minutes = 99th percentile

defensive rebounds/40 minutes = 84th percentile

steals/40 minutes = 96th percentile

FT attempts/40 minutes = 95th percentile

All of those areas translate well to identifying potential fantasy impact. He’s an efficient scorer near the rim and has vastly improved his 3-point shooting for Iowa State this season. However, what stands out most for me is his playmaking. He plays within the flow of the offense and while he can be turnover-prone at times, the intent to get his teammates involved never wavers. His plus/minus is +529 this season, third in the country behind Cam Boozer and Yaxel Lendeborg. His offensive skill, ability to jump passing lanes and guard multiple positions make him an intriguing prospect whose draft stock could soar if he leads Iowa State past the Sweet 16.

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Aday Mara – Michigan I Center, Junior

Many people expect Michigan to make a deep run in the tournament. They’ve been one of the top teams in the country all year long. If they’re able to do so, it’ll be impossible to overlook the 7-foot-3 big man, Aday Mara. While a couple of his teammates are projected to go higher than him in the draft (Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr.) I liken Mara’s fantasy potential to Donovan Clingan or…

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Author : Dan Titus

Publish date : 2026-03-18 18:00:00

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