Fantasy Basketball: 5 last-minute tips to help you crush your draft

It’s crunch time. With the 2025‑26 NBA season tipping off Tuesday, this is your last chance to fine-tune your fantasy basketball draft strategy. A few smart moves now can be the difference between a middling roster and a championship run.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]

1. Revisit format nuances

Know your scoring system inside and out depending on the format — High Score, Categories or Points. Yahoo’s new High Score format, for instance, rewards big single-game performances more heavily — so boom-or-bust players carry extra allure.

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Meanwhile, in category or Roto leagues, balance across stats is still paramount.

Even knowing how many injured list or IL+ spots are beneficial, as you may be able to stash players who can become more valuable by mid-season.

2. Get “Your Guys”

As your draft heads into the middle and late rounds, stop playing it safe — start swinging for ceiling outcomes. In High Score leagues especially, week-winning upside is what matters most. Don’t be afraid to reach for breakout candidates or buzzy preseason risers.

Players like Ausar Thompson, Matas Buzelis or Tari Eason all have the raw explosiveness to spike 40+ fantasy point games or offer a ceiling high enough to outperform their respective ADPs. These are the picks that can win you a week — and a championship.

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3. Pay attention to the risers and fallers

Monitoring player and team news can be daunting. Check out my latest rankings, tiers and cheatsheet, so you know when to target players — backups elevated in camp, players missing early preseason or final injury reports. For example, Jaren Jackson Jr. (toe) made his preseason debut on Thursday, scoring 17 points against the Hornets. His return to the lineup downgrades popular sleeper Santi Aldama.

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Don’t be afraid to flip your mid-to-late picks for sleepers who are climbing up draft boards, like Shaedon Sharpe. You can also view which players’ ADPs are trending up or down to give you a perspective of how the market is viewing each player heading into the final draft weekend.

4. Know your league, not just the NBA

Success in fantasy basketball isn’t just about player skill — it’s about league dynamics. Study your draft room: Are managers reaching? Ignoring older vets? Are they punt categories or chasing names? Understanding how your league-mates draft lets you zig when they zag. Adjust in real time. Drafting isn’t just about sticking to rankings — it’s about recognizing how others are picking and finding value where they aren’t looking.

5. Use schedule awareness & playoff matters

Regardless of your league format, the schedule always plays an integral role in how you manage your lineups. I use the Hashtag Basketball’s Advanced Schedule Grid to organize and plan out my moves throughout the week.

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Also, be sure to look downstream to see which teams may not be as valuable come playoff time. For instance, the Nuggets and the Knicks play two games during Yahoo’s default championship in Week 23. An extra game in March or April can tilt a head-to-head matchup or a title run.

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