Yahooâ€s High Score format changes how we view fantasy basketball sleepers. Since only your best game of the week counts, consistency matters less, and upside matters more. Guards who can spike in assists (2 points each) and steals (3 points each) with turnovers not being a factor gain significant value compared to standard points or category leagues.
[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]
Below are five sleeper guards outside the top 100 in ADP who could become difference-makers in High Score.
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Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
Current ADP: 121
High Score Impact
KPJ thrives in volatility, which is exactly what High Score rewards. Last season, he averaged 1.24 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) in High Score compared to 1.10 in standard points leagues. That’s a meaningful 13% value boost thanks to his assists, defense and the absence of turnovers. Playing 30+ minutes per game, Porter has a 40-50 fantasy-point ceiling in a given week, with a safe 30+ floor, making him a steal late in drafts.
Standard Points Outlook
I’m bullish on KPJ in standard points leagues because when he starts, he puts up numbers. In 150 career starts, KPJ averaged 17.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. The turnovers (-1 in standard points leagues) may suppress his value on occasion, but he’s an easy candidate to outperform his ADP and ball out across formats.
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Category League Fit
Porter is a strong add for points, assists and steals in punt-turnover or guard-heavy builds. He remains streaky in percentages, but the cross-category production plus high minutes and usage make him a prime late-round target.
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Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets
Current ADP: 124
High Score Impact
As a rookie, Sheppard was quietly efficient, posting 0.94 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) in High Score versus 0.85 in standard points leagues in just 12.6 minutes per game. With Fred VanVleet sidelined for the season, Sheppard’s role is expected to expand to 30 minutes per game; that would amount to nearly 30 fantasy points (FPTS) per contest in High Score. His defensive instincts, combined with the increased playmaking opportunities, make him a perfect fit for the format. Just be patient if the heavy minutes don’t come right away.
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Standard Points Outlook
There were a few instances where Sheppard showed glimpses of being a potential third or fourth scoring option for the Rockets. Still, at 0.85 FPPM, heâ€s more of a deep-league, late-round stash unless he gets a significant bump in shot volume — which initially, may be hard to come by.
Category League Fit
His mix of assists, stocks and efficiency without turnovers makes him a value buy for 9-cat builds, especially for managers punting points.
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Current ADP: 116
High Score Impact
A broken fibula ended Ivey’s third-year breakout campaign. However, he’s back and at a depressed value that fantasy managers should act on. He averaged 1.12 FPPM in High Score last season, compared to 0.98 in standard points leagues, demonstrating how his assists and defensive flashes enhance his scoring under this metric. With 30-point scoring upside coupled with his ascension as a playmaker, he’s going to do well in this format.
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Standard Points Outlook
Ivey was on pace to have a career year before suffering a season-ending injury. He increased his scoring, rebounding and assist rate and now that he’s fully healthy, he’ll comfortably average over 30 FPPG for a burgeoning Pistons squad.
Category League Fit
Zero qualms with taking Ivey in category leagues. There is some room for improvement with his FT percentage, efficiency and turnovers, but his usage will be over 25% and he’ll be a positive asset for scoring, 3s, assists and rebounds at his position.
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Current ADP: 128.5
High Score Impact
The NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year posted a strong 1.13 High Score FPPM vs. 1.00 in standard points leagues across 81 games last season. His production (14.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG) fits High Score perfectly, as defensive contributions and secondary playmaking can fuel his game even on average scoring nights. De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, leaving Castle with a sizable opportunity to do work once the season tips off.
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Standard Points Outlook
Castle has a more muted impact in standard points leagues since heâ€s not a high-volume scorer, but nearly 1.0 FPPM makes him a viable late-round option in deep leagues.
Category League Fit
I don’t love Castle’s category profile because of his inefficiencies from the field and charity stripe, plus a low volume of 3s. If you need steals and assists in the short term, he’ll be an asset as long as Fox is in street clothes.
Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
Current ADP: 136.1
High Score Impact
Collierâ€s rookie year efficiency makes him one of the most intriguing second-year guards in High Score. At 1.08 FPPM, his facilitating (446 assists in 71 games) and defensive upside (66 steals) give him a well-rounded profile that benefits directly from the weighted scoring in High Score. With more experience and potentially more minutes, Collier could push toward 30 FPTS per game in Year 2, making him a strong upside pick outside the top 120.
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Standard Points Outlook
At 0.87 FPPM, Collier was less efficient in standard formats. His main drawback in fantasy is his inefficiency, which doesn’t significantly impact most point-scoring formats. With low-end double-double potential in points and assists, I’d be targeting Collier in all points leagues.
Category League Fit
Collier, like many young point guards, struggles with turnovers and efficiency. His 3-ball is also a work in progress. That said, he is an inexpensive source of assists who could finish in the top 10 in the league in that category. He also offers some value in steals and rebounding at his position. He’s undervalued in the market and can fit in a few different roster builds.
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Other High Score sleeper guards
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Kyshawn George – G/F, Washington Wizards
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Dennis Schröder, Sacramento Kings
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Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker – G/F, Atlanta Hawks
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Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat
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