PrizePicks data reveals that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Christian McCaffrey, and Shohei Ohtani are the most picked athletes in their respective leagues across the United States, with SGA dominating 31 states, McCaffrey leading in 19, and Ohtani topping every state.
NBA: SGA’s Nationwide Dominance
When the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured the NBA MVP award and led his team to the 2025 championship, he didn’t just win over fans in Oklahoma—he won over the entire country. According to data from PrizePicks, which tracks millions of user picks across its platform, SGA was the most popular NBA player in 31 of the 36 states (plus Washington, D.C.) where the app operates. The only states that chose someone else were California and New York (Luka Doncic), Minnesota and North Dakota (Anthony Edwards), and Colorado (Nikola Jokic). This near-sweep underscores both SGA’s transcendent season and the Thunder’s national appeal, as they played a full 82-game schedule plus a deep postseason run.
What’s particularly striking is that SGA’s dominance didn’t come at the expense of other stars—it came because he was simply the most consistent and valuable player in the league. His ability to score, facilitate, and defend at an elite level made him a safe and profitable pick for users every night. The fact that he won states from coast to coast, including traditional basketball hotbeds like Texas, Florida, and California, shows that his appeal transcends regional loyalties.
The full list of states by NBA player:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- Luka Doncic: California, New York
- Nikola Jokic: Colorado
- Anthony Edwards: Minnesota, North Dakota
In states where SGA wasn’t the top pick, local favorites emerged: Chet Holmgren ranked second in Oklahoma, Giannis Antetokounmpo was third in Wisconsin, and Jaylen Brown was third in Maine and New Hampshire.
NFL: McCaffrey’s Cross-Country Appeal
In the NFL, the most popular pick was not a quarterback but a running back: Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers. According to the same PrizePicks data, McCaffrey was the top pick in 19 of the 35 states (excluding New York) where the app operates. What makes this remarkable is that every other player who topped a state was a quarterback. McCaffrey’s dual-threat ability as both a rusher and receiver made him a weekly must-start, and his 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl gave users plenty of games to back him.
The NFL data also revealed stronger regional ties than in the NBA. While SGA won states everywhere, the football picks were more fragmented:
- Drake Maye (New England Patriots) dominated his home region, winning all five New England states: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) took six states, primarily in the South (Alabama, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Kentucky, West Virginia) and his alma mater Wyoming.
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) split the Kansas City market, winning both Kansas and Missouri.
- Quarterbacks also won their home states: Bo Nix (Denver Broncos) in Colorado, Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) in Delaware, Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) in Illinois, and Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers) in Wisconsin.
This pattern suggests that for NFL fans, team loyalty and local ties often override national MVP candidates—except when that candidate is as versatile and productive as McCaffrey.
MLB: Ohtani’s Unanimous Selection
In Major League Baseball, there was no debate: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was the most picked player in every single state. Ohtani’s unique two-way role as both a pitcher and hitter gave users multiple ways to select him, and the Dodgers’ deep postseason run provided ample opportunities. According to FanGraphs, Ohtani posted a 9.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025, the second-highest in the league, on his way to a third consecutive MVP award.
Ohtani’s dominance was so complete that he was the only non-NBA player to crack the top three in total pick volume in any state, ranking third in his home state of California behind SGA and Luka Doncic. Otherwise, the MLB podium was rounded out by mostly home-state favorites: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays) was the third most popular in most states, with regional picks like Freddie Freeman (California), Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas), Elly De La Cruz (Kentucky), Cal Raleigh (Oregon), and Christian Yelich (Wisconsin) rounding out the top three in their respective areas.
Why These Players? Fan Favorites and Statistical Dominance
What ties these three athletes together is a combination of individual excellence and narrative appeal. SGA’s ascension to MVP and champion, McCaffrey’s rare dual-threat production as a running back, and Ohtani’s historic two-way impact all translate to daily fantasy value. Users are drawn to players who can contribute in multiple statistical categories, and these three excel in that regard.
Equally important is the storylines that surround them. SGA’s Thunder were the feel-good story of the NBA season. McCaffrey’s 49ers were a powerhouse, and his injury history made his return a compelling narrative. Ohtani’s pursuit of MVP and the Dodgers’ star-studded roster made him a constant spotlight. Fantasy sports data reflects not just who is good, but who fans are talking about.
The regional patterns also tell a story about sports fandom. In the NBA, the top picks were mostly the league’s best players regardless of geography. In the NFL, home-state quarterbacks and regional heroes took hold in many markets, suggesting that football fandom is more tied to team affiliation. In MLB, Ohtani’s universal appeal broke through even the strongest local loyalties, a testament to his once-in-a-generation talent.
Methodology: How the Data Was Collected
The findings are based on an analysis of user picks on the PrizePicks platform from February 24, 2025, to February 24, 2026. PrizePicks operates in 36 states and Washington, D.C., with New York joining in February 2026 (hence its small data set). The data measured total picks on each player, as well as total entry fees, and was aggregated by the state where the entry was placed. The NBA’s 82-game regular season and extended postseason make it the most popular sport on the platform, which is why the NBA players also top the overall athlete rankings.
It’s important to note that these figures represent only PrizePicks users and may not reflect broader fan sentiment. However, with millions of picks analyzed, the data offers a robust snapshot of which athletes are generating the most fantasy interest across the country.
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