Browsing: Fantasy

Fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus reveals all the players he hopes will be on his rosters after Draft Day. For more fantasy basketball draft tips,check out his Blueprint.

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

Guards

Amen Thompson – G/F, Houston Rockets:Amen flashed elite rebounding and defensive instincts last season, averaging roughly 1.15 fantasy points per minute. Playing alongside Kevin Durant should open up lanes for drives and assist opportunities. The lack of 3s and forgettable FT percentage are the only two knocks on an otherwise elite fantasy profile. No Fred VanVleet means Amen and Reed Sheppard will be running the show.

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Tyrese Maxey – G, Philadelphia 76ers:The undisputed No. 1 option in Philadelphia, Maxeyâ€s efficiency and scoring volume make him a safe bet in all formats. His usage spike ensures multiple 40-plus-point fantasy nights, even with the health concerns surrounding the Sixers’ roster.

Jalen Green – G, Phoenix Suns:Greenâ€s move to Phoenix gives him the green light to score at will. With Devin Booker drawing defensive gravity, he’s always available and has a clean slate to fire away — the exact kind of highly explosive player you’ll want for High Score.

Kyshawn George – G/F, Washington Wizards:One of the more intriguing deep sleepers, Georgeâ€s size and floor spacing give him multi-position upside. If he cracks the starting lineup, his length and shooting could push him into must-roster territory.

Shaedon Sharpe – G, Portland Trail Blazers:With Anfernee Simons gone, Sharpe steps into a larger offensive role after averaging 27.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 10 games without him last year. Although he averaged under 1.0 FPPM in 2024-25 (0.93), he looks primed to anchor Portland’s scoring alongside Deni Avdija. With high usage and expanding playmaking, Sharpe’s a breakout bet who will eclipse the 30+ fantasy-point mark per game in High Score and points leagues.

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Isaiah Collier – G, Utah Jazz:Now Utah’s starting point guard, Collier has averaged 6.3 assists and 0.9 steals per game through his first 71 games, solidifying his role as the team’s primary facilitator. He’s my prime late-round selection for High Score and he could finish top-10 in assists this season.

Jaden Ivey – G, Detroit Pistons:Ivey’s return from injury has reignited his breakout path. He averaged 17/4/4 last year and he’ll be the secondary scoring and facilitating option alongside Cade Cunningham. His blend of pace, scoring and playmaking makes him a High Score steal outside the top 100. With increased usage and a 30-point floor when hot, Ivey’s poised to deliver the breakout season Detroit’s been waiting for.

Forwards

Paolo Banchero – F, Orlando Magic:The Magic finally have spacing, and that means more playmaking for Banchero. I’m in the minority, but I think we’ll see the best version of Paolo yet. With Desmond Bane in town, expect upticks in assists and field-goal efficiency with fewer turnovers. I still prefer him in points over 9-cat leagues, but I’d still get him in 9-cat.

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Trey Murphy III, F, New Orleans Pelicans:Murphy is one of the leagueâ€s best breakout bets for 2025–26. When healthy last season, he averaged 0.98 fantasy points per minute. His combination of athleticism, 3-point volume, and efficiency gives him a real shot at making an All-Star-like leap — both in real life and fantasy.

Deni Avdija – F, Portland Trail Blazers:Avdijaâ€s game has always hinted at versatility, and in Portland, heâ€ll finally be unleashed. After the All-Star break last year, Avdija averaged 23-10-5. Handling the ball more and attacking mismatches, heâ€s a glue guy with the stat diversity to post strong all-around lines.

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Bennedict Mathurin – G/F, Indiana Pacers:Mathurinâ€s aggressiveness is finally being matched with opportunity. He can get hot quickly, and as long as he locks in on defense, he’ll be one of those boom players who’s ideal for High Score. He’ll also be solid for 9-cat leagues.

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Zion Williamson – F, New Orleans Pelicans:Zion enters 2025-26 in the best shape of his career, motivated by a contract fitness clause and New Orleans’ push to compete before their 2026 pick goes to Atlanta. He averaged 1.56 FPPM in 30 games last year and remains one of the league’s most efficient interior scorers, producing elite per-minute output. Since turnovers don’t count and ceiling games are the north star in High Score, Zion’s a top-15 lock whenever he’s active.

Brandon Miller – F, Charlotte Hornets:Before his wrist injury, Miller averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while commanding a larger offensive load. His 1.01 FPPM pace shows growth as a shot-creator and secondary playmaker next to LaMelo Ball. He profiles as a multi-category wing with top-60 upside across all formats, especially High Score.

Tari Eason – F, Houston Rockets:Eason ranked in the 91st percentile in fantasy points per minute among frontcourt players. His energy translates directly into rebounds, steals and buckets. If his minutes climb, heâ€s one of the most efficient stat-stuffers available after Round 10.

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Centers

Jalen Duren – C, Detroit Pistons:Durenâ€s double-double consistency anchors Detroitâ€s frontcourt. He’s in a contract year and has shown growth as a short-roll playmaker. He averaged an impressive 1.23 fantasy points per minute last season, and as his rim protection improves, that number should only climb in his fourth season.

Santi Aldama – C, Memphis Grizzlies:Aldama remains under the radar but continues to produce whenever given minutes. His shooting and rebounding profile make him a sneaky floor-spacer who can hit double-digit points and boards in under 25 minutes. Aldama will play heavy minutes to start the year and is still being picked outside of the top 100 on Yahoo.

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Isaiah Hartenstein – C, Oklahoma City Thunder:Always a per-minute beast (~1.10 fantasy points per minute), Hartenstein is being undervalued in the market across formats. He does everything but shoot 3s and make free throws at a high clip. However, I love him as a sixth- or seventh-round pick if I don’t nab bigs earlier in the draft.

Kelâ€el Ware – C, Miami Heat:Nikola Jović’s hype is building, but I’m still targeting more shares of Ware. He averaged over 1.0 fantasy points per minute last season and has so much potential as a rim runner. His ADP is falling because he came off the bench in the Heat’s past two preseason games; I would buy the dip.

Dereck Lively II – C, Dallas Mavericks:Daniel Gafford is already hurt and Lively’s ADP is at a very affordable price at 116th overall. With 30 minutes a night potentially on the horizon, Dallas’ primary defensive anchor is trending up after a season where he posted 1.19 FPPM. Although his usage is low, he’s a cheap double-double big man with boom potential on the defensive end.

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Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs. CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]

Love barely ranks inside the top-15 fantasy quarterbacks in points per game, but he’s coming off his best statistical effort of the season—337 passing yards and three scores two weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (at NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Maye is quietly having a solid season for fantasy managers—the second-year pro is seventh in fantasy points among quarterbacks after five weeks. The Saints have been a plus matchup for the position—New Orleans is surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points per game to signal-callers.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (vs, ARI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Writing anything negative about the Golden God that is Daniel Jones is a fantasy felony in 2025—he’s eighth in fantasy points among quarterbacks. But the Cardinals have been a surprisingly poor fantasy matchup for quarterbacks this season, giving up the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]

Prescott has been a productive fantasy asset, at least in part because the Dallas defense can’t stop anyone, so Prescott has to try to win shootouts every week. That’s probably not going to be the case in Carolina this week, so Prescott’s passing stats likely won’t be as gaudy in Week 6.

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,800]

Young is a tough player to start in fantasy right now—he’s had one fantasy-relevant outing in five games. But the Dallas “defense” has made every quarterback they have played look good—the Cowboys are allowing a whopping 284.6 passing yards per game, far and away the most in the league.

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Lakers star LeBron James could not take the court to begin the preseason due to a right glute issue, and apparently, the injury is more serious than initially believed.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James will miss at least three to four weeks due to sciatica in his right side. Due to the timeframe, he won’t be available for Opening Night for the first time in his 23-year NBA career.

After failing to play at least 60 games in three consecutive seasons, James appeared in 71 and 70 games the past two. His absence opens up a spot within the Lakers’ starting lineup, raising the fantasy ceilings of Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

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Who will start with LeBron sidelined? Lakers head coach JJ Redick has multiple options at his disposal, but regardless of who he selects, that player will likely be more impactful defensively than offensively. Holdover Jarred Vanderbilt and offseason addition Marcus Smart are two possibilities, with each bringing more consistent production to the table on the defensive end of the floor. While Smart has been the better scorer of the two throughout their careers, he hasn’t always been a consistent shooter.

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers-Media Day

Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: LeBron James, Paolo Banchero among players to avoid in drafts

Early ADP data shows that some players are potentially being overvalued by fantasy managers.

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Another option is offseason addition Jake LaRavia, who has started the Lakers’ first two preseason games. While not the defender that Vanderbilt or Smart is, LaRavia’s versatility makes him an intriguing deep-league option if he’s allowed to start in James’ place.

As for the remaining starters, Luka DonÄić is the Laker whose draft outlook will be impacted the least, as he already boasts a top-5 ADP. He’ll have even more responsibility to begin the year, so fantasy managers who land DonÄić will hope his efficiency does not take a hit with LeBron unavailable.

Reaves, Ayton and Rui Hachimura should all move up draft boards, with the former being the safest option to reach for. Last season, Reaves provided fourth-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Hachimura was a late-round option a season ago, and he remains a player who should be selected just outside the first 100 picks.

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers-Media Day

2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Draft Prep Guide: Rankings, strategy, sleepers, mock draft results, and more

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Ayton is the wild card, especially considering his play in the Lakers’ first two preseason games. After a listless effort in the team’s opener, the center was better in Sunday’s exhibition loss to the Warriors. The former first-overall pick doesn’t lack talent, but inconsistent effort is why the Lakers signed him on a relatively cheap deal this summer.

Ayton totaled 95 appearances in his two seasons with the Trail Blazers, including 40 during the 2024-25 campaign.

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Fantasy basketball season is here, and the best way to prep for your drafts is to mock, mock again and mock some more!

Drafting out of the No. 12 spot in a 12-team league offers the benefit of back-to-back picks to start your build, but it comes with its own set of challenges. The top-tier players have been selected, and your two picks will be the only ones you have until your next two picks nearly two full rounds later.

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I completed a mock drafting from this spot to show how it might play out. Here are the results and brief analysis.

Round 1

1. Nikola Jokić (DEN – C)

2. Victor Wembanyama (SAS – C)

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL – PF,C)

4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC – PG)

5. Luka DonÄić (LAL – PG,SG)

6. Cade Cunningham (DET – PG,SG)

7. Anthony Davis (DAL – PF,C)

8. Karl-Anthony Towns (NYK – PF,C)

9. Anthony Edwards (MIN – PG,SG)

10. Devin Booker (PHX – PG,SG)

11. Trae Young (ATL – PG)

12. Amen Thompson (HOU – PG,SG,SF)

Round 2

13. Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

14. James Harden (LAC – PG,SG)

15. Domantas Sabonis (SAC – C)

16. Kevin Durant (HOU – SF,PF)

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17. Donovan Mitchell (CLE – PG,SG)

18. Stephen Curry (GSW – PG)

19. Evan Mobley (CLE – PF,C)

20. Tyrese Maxey (PHI – PG)

21. Jalen Brunson (NYK – PG)

22. Alperen Sengun (HOU – C)

23. Chet Holmgren (OKC – PF,C)

24. Jalen Johnson (ATL – SF,PF)

Drafting from the 12 spot with back-to-back picks, my options are wide open, but there is some strategy involved here.

With the clear-cut top options off the board, I turned my attention to the slew of quality second-rounders. Having the 12th pick means I get two players and donâ€t get to draft again for 23 more picks. Taking Thompson and J-Dub here may look like a slight reach, but I value them more highly than any of the other players taken in the same range, and neither would have gotten back to me at Pick 36.

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My first two picks lean into a build thatâ€s punting three-pointers, but I try to make up some ground in that category later in the draft. Iâ€m already off to a solid start with rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and FG%. Iâ€m not too shabby in the scoring department with this duo, but points wonâ€t be at a premium after my selections in Rounds 3-4.

Round 3

25. LeBron James (LAL – SF,PF)

26. LaMelo Ball (CHA – PG,SG)

27. Scottie Barnes (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

28. Jaylen Brown (BOS – SG,SF)

29. Josh Giddey (CHI – PG,SG)

30. Pascal Siakam (IND – PF,C)

31. Jamal Murray (DEN – PG,SG)

32. Bam Adebayo (MIA – PF,C)

33. Derrick White (BOS – PG,SG)

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34. Franz Wagner (ORL – SF,PF)

35. Ivica Zubac (LAC – C)

36. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

Round 4

37. Cooper Flagg (DAL – SF)

38. De’Aaron Fox (SAS – PG,SG)

39. Desmond Bane (ORL – SG,SF)

40. Trey Murphy III (NOP – SF,PF)

41. Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM – PF,C)

42. Kawhi Leonard (LAC – SF,PF)

43. Dyson Daniels (ATL – PG,SG,SF)

44. Deni Avdija (POR – SF,PF)

45. Jimmy Butler III (GSW – SF,PF)

46. Ja Morant (MEM – PG)

47. Zion Williamson (NOP – SF,PF)

48. Myles Turner (MIL – C)

Banchero is expected to take another step forward in Year 4 after a tremendous 2024-25 campaign in which he averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocked shots and 1.9 three-pointers. His shooting percentages werenâ€t elite (45.2 FG%, 72.7 FT%), but Banchero offered a ton of value as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator. His dual eligibility as a PF and C makes him an excellent and versatile selection, but he will need to improve his percentages and defensive contributions to pay off his Round 3-4 ADP.

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The first rookie comes off the board at 37, and he goes to me. Flagg is expected to take on a sizeable role in Year 1, and he could be utilized even more on offense while Kyrie Irving is out. Flagg represents an elite, two-way talent who can rack up points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. Taking him at 37 is a bit of a reach, and Iâ€m probably grabbing him at his ceiling. Nevertheless, I want to get him on my team for the tremendous upside, and he wonâ€t be available when itâ€s my turn to pick at the 5-6 turn.

Round 5

49. Kristaps Porziņģis (ATL – PF,C)

50. Joel Embiid (PHI – C)

51. Brandon Miller (CHA – SF,PF)

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52. Austin Reaves (LAL – PG,SG)

53. Lauri Markkanen (UTA – SF,PF)

54. Miles Bridges (CHA – SF,PF)

55. Nikola VuÄević (CHI – C)

56. DeMar DeRozan (SAC – SF)

57. Josh Hart (NYK – SG,SF,PF)

58. Jalen Duren (DET – C)

59. Walker Kessler (UTA – C)

60. Deandre Ayton (LAL – C)

Round 6

61. Ausar Thompson (DET – SF,PF)

62. Jarrett Allen (CLE – C)

63. Zach LaVine (SAC – PG,SG)

64. Darius Garland (CLE – PG)

65. Coby White (CHI – PG,SG)

66. Paul George (PHI – SG,SF,PF)

67. Payton Pritchard (BOS – PG)

68. OG Anunoby (NYK – SF,PF)

69. Brandon Ingram (TOR – SG,SF,PF)

70. Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC – C)

71. Rudy Gobert (MIN – C)

72. Immanuel Quickley (TOR – PG,SG)

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The purpose of mock drafts is to learn. Trial-and-error is the name of the game, and admittedly, this is a bit of an error. While there is nothing inherently wrong with selecting Ayton at 60, I didnâ€t need to grab him. Paolo Banchero is eligible at Center, meaning I could have pivoted to a player with PG eligibility – a position with which this team is scarce on depth. I addressed Center depth later in the draft with Jakob Poeltl, who is a fine pick a couple rounds later. Live and learn.

Iâ€m happy to grab Thompson at 61, but he is far riskier than his “breakout†moniker implies. Like his brother, Detroitâ€s Thompson is an athletic phenom, capable of scoring in transition and elevating at the rim on offense and adept at disrupting opponents on the defensive end. He doesnâ€t have an outside shot, and playing time is still questionable given how many minutes heâ€s played in his first two seasons. A bump in court time and additional usage as a playmaker would do wonders for his fantasy value.

Round 7

73. Andrew Nembhard (IND – PG,SG)

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74. Jordan Poole (NOP – PG,SG)

75. Tyler Herro (MIA – PG,SG)

76. Julius Randle (MIN – PF,C)

77. Michael Porter Jr. (BKN – SF,PF)

78. Norman Powell (MIA – SG,SF)

79. Anfernee Simons (BOS – PG,SG)

80. Bradley Beal (LAC – SG,SF)

81. Jrue Holiday (POR – PG,SG)

82. Jalen Suggs (ORL – PG)

83. Jalen Green (PHX – PG,SG)

84. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

Round 8

85. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)

86. Christian Braun (DEN – SG,SF)

87. Donovan Clingan (POR – C)

88. Matas Buzelis (CHI – SF,PF)

89. Mark Williams (PHX – C)

90. Bennedict Mathurin (IND – SG,SF)

91. Cameron Johnson (DEN – SF,PF)

92. John Collins (LAC – PF,C)

93. RJ Barrett (TOR – SF,PF)

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94. Kel’el Ware (MIA – PF,C)

95. Onyeka Okongwu (ATL – C)

96. Shaedon Sharpe (POR – SG,SF)

Thomas is my favorite player in fantasy basketball this season. Heâ€s a certified bucket coming off the best statistical season of his career. Thomas†would-be breakout campaign was hampered by injuries, and heâ€ll surely be hungry to get back on the court in 2025-26. Thomas should also have some additional motivation after going through lengthy contract negotiations with Brooklyn that ultimately led to him accepting a qualifying offer. Heâ€ll be playing for pride and for a new contract. Watch out.

As mentioned earlier, I didnâ€t need to reach for Ayton at the end of the fifth round. I had Banchero, and Poeltl was available three rounds later as a strong, later-round center option. Heâ€s coming off the best season of his career and just inked a big extension with the Raptors. Torontoâ€s center depth is bare, so fantasy managers should expect big minutes and solid production with a discount price tag on draft day.

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Round 9

97. Mikal Bridges (NYK – SF,PF)

98. Devin Vassell (SAS – SG,SF)

99. Santi Aldama (MEM – PF,C)

100. D’Angelo Russell (DAL – PG)

101. Tobias Harris (DET – PF)

102. Herbert Jones (NOP – SF,PF)

103. Andrew Wiggins (MIA – SG,SF)

104. Nic Claxton (BKN – C)

105. Alex Sarr (WAS – C)

106. Naz Reid (MIN – PF,C)

107. Draymond Green (GSW – PF,C)

108. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – PG,SG)

Round 10

109. Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

110. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL – SG,SF)

111. Keegan Murray (SAC – SF,PF)

112. Dereck Lively II (DAL – C)

113. CJ McCollum (WAS – PG,SG)

114. Zach Edey (MEM – C)

115. Aaron Gordon (DEN – PF,C)

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116. Wendell Carter Jr. (ORL – C)

117. Jeremy Sochan (SAS – PF,C)

118. Jaden Ivey (DET – PG,SG)

119. Jaden McDaniels (MIN – SF,PF)

120. Bobby Portis (MIL – PF,C)

KPJ is penciled in as Milwaukeeâ€s starting PG, and weâ€ve seen his tremendous upside in flashes throughout his career. Porter Jr. had some good moments in Cleveland before moving to Houston and breaking out at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Injuries and off-court issues have prevented him from being on the court more during his NBA tenure, but if he can stay healthy and out of trouble in 2025-26, he should be able to post respectable numbers. KPJ averaged 17.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.7 steals across five starts between the Clippers and Bucks last season.

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George is one of the players I highlighted in Rotoworldâ€s Staff Favorites article. The young and athletic George is a versatile wing with the ability to get hot from downtown and make a major impact on defense. He played solid minutes for Washington a season ago, but his playing time could increase in Year 2 as the team continues its rebuild. Bilal Coulibaly is dealing with a thumb injury and will miss time early in the season. That opens the door for George to be a starter on opening night. If he can build momentum from the jump, he could parlay early-season success into a quality campaign.

Round 11

121. Donte DiVincenzo (MIN – PG,SG)

122. Dennis Schr̦der (SAC РPG,SG)

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123. Keyonte George (UTA – PG,SG)

124. Jaylen Wells (MEM – SG,SF)

125. Lonzo Ball (CLE – PG,SG)

126. Quentin Grimes (PHI – SG,SF)

127. Brandin Podziemski (GSW – PG,SG)

128. Reed Sheppard (HOU – PG,SG)

129. Toumani Camara (POR – SF,PF)

130. Klay Thompson (DAL – SG,SF)

131. Malik Monk (SAC – SG)

132. Kon Knueppel (CHA – SF)

Round 12

133. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

134. Cason Wallace (OKC – PG,SG)

135. Stephon Castle (SAS – PG,SG)

136. Chris Paul (LAC – PG)

137. Aaron Nesmith (IND – SF)

138. Jabari Smith Jr. (HOU – PF,C)

139. Davion Mitchell (MIA – PG)

140. Ty Jerome (MEM – SG)

141. Yves Missi (NOP – C)

142. Tari Eason (HOU – SF,PF)

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143. Kyle Kuzma (MIL – SF,PF)

144. Brook Lopez (LAC – C)

Another rookie comes off the board as I grab Charlotteâ€s Kon Knueppel. The Summer League MVP is poised to see big minutes for the Hornets in Year 1. Elite, long-range shooting is his calling card, but heâ€s a hound on defense and a guy able to get teammates involved with his quality, playmaking abilities.

No player had a more tumultuous offseason than Kuminga. After a bizarre 2024-25 season in which he was taken in and out of Golden Stateâ€s lineups for reasons that still arenâ€t inherently clear, Kuminga dealt with trade rumors and contract disputes with the team for months. He finally agreed on a two-year deal, but the prevailing thought is that the Warriors will use him as a trade piece after heâ€s eligible to be traded in early 2026. Heâ€s playing for his next deal, and the Dubs may look to give him ample playing time as an audition. Heâ€s a risky pickup here, but there is plenty of upside.

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Round 13

145. Daniel Gafford (DAL – C)

146. P.J. Washington (DAL – SF,PF)

147. Kyle Filipowski (UTA – PF,C)

148. Isaiah Collier (UTA – PG,SG)

149. Zaccharie Risacher (ATL – SF,PF)

150. T.J. McConnell (IND – PG)

151. Scoot Henderson (POR – PG)

152. Ace Bailey (UTA – SF)

153. VJ Edgecombe (PHI – SG)

154. Dejounte Murray (NOP – PG,SG)

155. Jay Huff (IND – C)

156. Dylan Harper (SAS – SG)

I debated grabbing Kyrie Irving here but opted to go for a player who could be an immediate contributor. Harperâ€s path to meaningful minutes isnâ€t clear given the competition for playing time at guard with Deâ€Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, but the No. 2 pick surely wonâ€t spend the entirety of his rookie season on the bench. Thereâ€s upside here, and thatâ€s what the final round of fantasy drafts is all about. If Ace Bailey hadnâ€t been taken four picks earlier, he would have been my selection. Given how good heâ€s looked in the preseason, I highly doubt heâ€ll be available this late again.

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My team

1. Amen Thompson (HOU – PG,SG,SF)

2. Jalen Williams (OKC – SF,PF)

3. Paolo Banchero (ORL – PF,C)

4. Cooper Flagg (DAL – SF)

5. Deandre Ayton (LAL – C)

6. Ausar Thompson (DET – SF,PF)

7. Cam Thomas (BKN – SG,SF)

8. Jakob Poeltl (TOR – C)

9. Kevin Porter Jr. (MIL – PG,SG)

10. Kyshawn George (WAS – SG,SF)

11. Kon Knueppel (CHA – SF)

12. Jonathan Kuminga (GSW – SF,PF)

13. Dylan Harper (SAS – SG)

Strengths: Defense, rebounding, FG%

Weaknesses: Three-pointers

I grabbed several quality defenders here, so my team is good to go with steals, blocks, rebounds and FG%. Three-pointers have been punted, though we may have a few surprisingly competitive weeks in that category if Cam Thomas, Kyshawn George and Kon Knueppel go off.

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Ultimately, this is a risk/reward build. Jalen Williams is a safe selection, but there are question marks everywhere across this roster. Will the Thompson twins break out? Will Paolo Banchero improve his percentages and defensive numbers enough to make his early-round selection worth the cost? Rookies are always an unknown, and despite the buzz around Cooper Flagg, his early success is far from a guarantee.

Picks 7-13 are full of big swings, but they could all be home run selections. Safe picks have never been my forte, so this final roster is certainly indicative of my draft style.

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For every player a fantasy manager deems worthy of reaching for in fantasy drafts, thereâ€s another theyâ€ll actively look to avoid, especially if their average draft position (ADP) is too high.

With that in mind, Rotoworld basketball analysts Cole Huff, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew each picked two players they are fading at ADP for this season. Check it out below.

On a more positive note, you can see some of our staff favorites for 2025-26 here.

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Cole Huffâ€s picks: G James Harden (LA Clippers) and C Ivica Zubac (LA Clippers)

This is not meant to be a knock on Harden — I trust that he will continue to lead the Clippers and could record one of his more efficient seasons shooting the basketball in quite some time, due to a presumably lighter load throughout the season. Given Kawhi Leonardâ€s good health to start the season, the additions of John Collins and Bradley Beal as potential scoring boosts to the starting lineup, and an actual reliable point guard in Chris Paul now on the roster to prevent Harden from being overworked, the scoring and overall usage should probably come down a bit for the former league MVP.

This could all change quickly if age is a factor for this veteran team and Harden is forced to shoulder the load again out of necessity. But if health is not a concern, Iâ€d expect The Beard to finish more closely to a top-10 point guard finish than a top-5.

As for Zubac, Iâ€m not as high on him this season from a fantasy standpoint; Iâ€m expecting his production to dip a bit, like Harden. He cracked 30.0 minutes per game for the first time in his career last season and set career-bests in points, rebounds, and assists per game by a comfortable margin. But context is essential — Zubac missed only two games all season and saw increased opportunities (which he took advantage of) due to the rosterâ€s clear lack of a second reliable big.

With Brook Lopez backing him up as arguably one of the best reserve centers in the NBA, and John Collins able to offer small-ball center looks, thereâ€s a good chance we see Zubac on the court less throughout the 82-game slate.

Noah Rubinâ€s picks: G Jalen Green (Phoenix Suns) and F DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento Kings)

Iâ€m happy Green is getting the opportunity to start fresh in Phoenix. I think it is the best thing for his career. However, I donâ€t know why anyone would expect a dramatic change in production in his first year away from Houston. According to NBA.com, Greenâ€s usage rate last season was 26.7, the highest mark on the Rockets. Sure, Devin Booker (28.5) and Kevin Durant (28.3) both boasted higher usage rates, and Green is set to replace Durantâ€s touches, but do we really expect Green to get the same opportunities as KD? And even if he does see a bump in usage, does that mean he will magically get more efficient or impact the game in new ways?

Iâ€m not saying Green is going to take a step back, but the idea that heâ€s worth a top-75 pick just because heâ€s in Phoenix isnâ€t something Iâ€m on board with. He certainly has a stronger case in points leagues, but Iâ€m not expecting a dramatic jump in production, and he finished 79th in Yahoo! standard scoring last season.

It might just be time for DeMar. Heâ€s been one of the more consistently available players in the league for the past decade, but his athleticism isnâ€t where it used to be. Thatâ€s entirely understandable for a 36-year-old, but it just means he isnâ€t as effective as he used to be, and heâ€s on a team with multiple ball-dominant players. One stat that showcases athleticism is rim attempts, and he only took 9.3 percent of his shots last year in the restricted area after being at 22.2 percent the year before and at least 18 percent each of the three years before that.

DeRozan is typically a player who creates most of his shots on his own. Still, he created his fewest shots per possession since 2015 and took more shots off passes from his teammates per possession than he has in any individual season for the past decade. Thatâ€s basically nerdspeak for “DeRozan is getting old.†I donâ€t see a world where heâ€s better than last season, especially with the lack of changes the Kings made, other than bringing in Dennis Schröder to take even more touches away from DeMar.

Early ADP data shows that some players are potentially being overvalued by fantasy managers.

Raphielle Johnsonâ€s picks: C Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings) and F RJ Barrett (Toronto Raptors)

Average draft position analysis can be tricky this time of year, as there isnâ€t much data to rely on. However, Sabonisâ€s first-round ADP in 12-team leagues is a bit concerning. While heâ€s undoubtedly been a fantasy stud in the past, I think his value will take another hit this season. After last seasonâ€s trade deadline, Sabonis averaged 16.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.5 three-pointers per game. While the Kings have addressed the point guard position by adding Dennis Schröder, Sabonis will still have to exist in a lineup that includes two ball-dominant perimeter players in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan. The Kings†centerâ€s rebounding production may not suffer, but the scoring is a concern.

As for my other pick, there are also ADP concerns regarding Barrett. As of Tuesday night, he had an ADP of 82.4 in Yahoo! leagues. Barrett has never been a top-100 fantasy player in totals or per-game value, and heâ€s had just one top-150 season in his NBA career. For him to have an ADP comfortably within the top 100 at this juncture is wild. And even though Barrett looked good in Torontoâ€s preseason opener on Monday, heâ€s in a starting lineup that will include three other players who need to have the ball in their hands in Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Will there be enough touches available for Barrett to threaten top-100 value, much less finish within that threshold? I say no.

Zak Hanshewâ€s picks: C Alperen Åžengün (Houston Rockets) and G Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)

Şengün finished with 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks and 0.3 triples while shooting 49.6% from the floor and 69.2% from the charity stripe. Despite productive numbers as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator, the points, assists, steals and shooting percentages were all steps down from his 2023-24 numbers. With Amen Thompson expected to continue his ascension as a playmaker, Kevin Durant ready to come on board as a scorer and rebounder and guys like newcomer Clint Capela and breakout candidate Tari Eason on track to eat up minutes and usage, how can Sengun be expected to take a step forward in 2025-26?

Heâ€s Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis lite, but he doesnâ€t rebound as effectively as Sabonis, score as prolifically as Jokic, and pass as well as either. Sengun is being overvalued and overdrafted, and I wonâ€t be rostering him anywhere.

Brunson enjoyed another productive season in 2024-25, finishing with averages of 26 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 2.3 triples across 34.5 minutes. The superstar guard has offered elite scoring and strong playmaking in his time with the Knicks, though his big numbers have come at the cost of heavy minutes and high usage. With Tom Thibodeau out in New York and Mike Brown in, expect the Knicks to limit minutes across the board consciously.

Brunson finished 50th in per-game fantasy value a season ago, but thereâ€s no way he approaches that production level moving forward. With a new game plan and additional role players – Guerschon Yabusele, Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon – look for Brunsonâ€s playing time and statistical output to decrease.

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• Steve Alexander

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  Steve Alexander is a contributing writer for men’s fantasy basketball at ESPN. Steve is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame.

Oct 8, 2025, 12:39 PM ET

Using a high draft pick on an injury-prone player, or any player who misses a lot of games, can ruin a fantasy season in a hurry.

The same is true of using a high pick on a player who is set to see their minutes decrease from last season.

Savvy fantasy managers are able to sniff these type of situations out in advance, and stay away from those players on draft day.

Here are five big names to avoid in your drafts this season.

Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid has averaged just 50 games played over nine seasons and he appeared in only 19 games last year. He’s never played more than 68 games in a season and he’s reached 60 games just four times. Yes, Embiid is a dominant fantasy player when healthy, but most reports over the summer were not encouraging. Maybe he’ll shock the world and play in 70 games, but the chances of that happening are extremely slim. I’m avoiding Embiid altogether but if I were somehow forced to draft him, I’d definitely be using the final pick of my draft to get Adem Bona, who will take over on nights Embiid is watching in street clothes.

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Anthony Davis, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks

Like Embiid, Davis has a lengthy history of missing games due to injury, and like we saw last season that didn’t change when he was traded to the Mavericks. This season, Cooper Flagg has been handed the keys to the car in Dallas, Kyrie Irving (Achilles) will miss much of the campaign, and the Mavs aren’t expected to be very good. It won’t take much for Davis to be sidelined for substantial time whenever he is injured and an early shut down isn’t out of the question, either. He made it through 76 games in the 2023-24 season, but that was an outlier. He’s an incredibly risky first-round pick.

Paul George, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers

George, who is 35 years old, was a fantasy disaster last season, playing in just 41 games. He had offseason knee surgery in July and his availability is questionable for the start of the season. Games played are always an issue with George, and the Sixers are serious tank candidates in hopes of keeping this summer’s draft pick. On top of that, Embiid’s future is murky due to his health problems. Tyrese Maxey was shut down last season and it’s hard to see the Sixers not trying to protect their draft pick again for this campaign. I will not be drafting George, regardless of how far he may fall.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Ivica Zubac, C, LA Clippers

Zubac is coming off a fantastic season in which he posted averages of 16.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in a whopping 32.8 minutes per game. The points, rebounds and minutes were all easily career highs and the Clippers simply didn’t have anyone to relieve the big man. They signed Brook Lopez over the summer, who has been a starter throughout his career, and that means there’s absolutely no reason for Zubac to play big minutes again this year. Right around 25 minutes per game sounds like a reasonable expectation for Zubac in 2025-26, which means a reduction of eight minutes per game. While I don’t expect a true timeshare between the two big men, Zubac’s numbers simply have to come down. Zubac averaged just 11.7 points and 9.2 rebounds in his previous season.

Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks

Porzingis is great when he plays, but he hasn’t played in back-to-backs over most of his career and the Celtics used him as an every-other-game center last year. He’s now with the Hawks, who have an excellent young prospect in Onyeka Okongwu, and while that they could start Porzingis at power forward and Okongwu at center, it’s tough to envision Porzingis playing much more than half the season. His games-played log speaks for itself: 42, 57, 65, 51, 43, 57, 0, 48, 66 and 72. He’s appeared in at least 60 games just three times over his 10-year career and I’d be shocked if he plays in more than 55 games in this one.

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With the 2025 MLB regular season behind us, itâ€s time to review what we learned from a fantasy perspective and how we can apply it to next year.

In the coming days throughout October, weâ€ll be breaking down the standout seasons, the breakout candidates, the prospects to know, and our early 2026 rankings. We started with catcher last week, and now we’ll head over to first base.

MLB: Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves

Way-Too-Early 2026 Fantasy Baseball Top 300 Rankings

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Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani at the top? Our early 2026 Top 300 rankings highlight key fantasy storylines heading into the MLB offseason.

2025 POSITION BREAKDOWN: FIRST BASE

ï¸ STATE OF THE POSITION

There were 17 first basemen who earned at least $10 of value this season, according to Fangraph’s Player Rater. That was the most for any infield position, which hints at the depth we have at the first base position. Some of that is the old stalwarts like Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, Bryce Harper, Vladimir Guerrero, Pete Alonso, and Yandy Diaz. However, we also had young players like Nick Kurtz, Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Busch, and Tyler Soderstrom emerge as consistent producers this season. Whenyou add to that, players like Rafael Devers and Willson Contreras gaining first base eligibility, this is probably the deepest the position has ever been, and we haven’t yet talked about Christian Walker, who is coming off of a down year, Spencer Torkelson, who made the most of his second chance, and Ben Rice, who may actually get a chance to be the every day first baseman next year if the Yankees move on from Paul Goldschmidt.

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As it stands, all is well with the first base landscape, and while it’s tempting to try and lock in one of the elite bats at the position, this might be the best position to wait on in drafts and still find value with a middle-round starter.

2025â€s Top Ten First Basemen

1. Pete Alonso (Free Agent)

.272/.347/.524, 38 HR, 87 R, 126 RBI, 1 SB

The Polar Bear had his best season yet after signing a two-year deal to return to the Mets, and played so well that he will almost certainly opt out of the final year of his contract and test the free agent waters again. Alonso set career highs in batting average, plate appearances, and barrel rate while posting his sixth straight full season with at least 34 home runs. In non-COVID seasons, Alonso averages 41.3 home runs per game, which is tremendous consistency and value from a power standpoint. The big reason why his fantasy value jumped this year, in addition to hitting behind Juan Soto and driving in 126 runs, was that Alonso went to a more all-fields approach and trusted his power to play regardless. He had the lowest pull rate of his career and the lowest fly ball rate of his career, instead focusing on hard line drives. He was also more aggressive in the zone than he had been since 2022, which allowed him to improve his quality of contact overall despite swinging and missing a bit more. Oh, and he also set the Mets franchise record for home runs. Not a bad season.

2. Josh Naylor (Free Agent)

.295.353/.462, 20 HR, 81 R, 92 RBI, 30 SB

What a wild season for Josh Naylor. We kinda knew his 31 home run season in 2024 was a bit of a fluke, but he found new ways to produce fantasy value by improving his batting average and shattering his career-high in stolen bases. Without making a drastic change in approach, Naylor saw a huge increase in his batting average, which sounded a few alarm bells. He was a bit more aggressive outside of the zone, but his contact rate was identical to last year. He did see more pitches in the zone, so perhaps being in a deeper lineup helped him, but his pull rates and fly ball rates were all pretty similar to 2024, while he also posted his lowest full-season barrel rate since his rookie year. It’s hard to see Naylor keeping up this .290-plus batting average, and his previous career-high in steals was 10, so stealing 19 bases in just 54 games with the Mariners is doing a lot of heavy lifting with his fantasy value this year. He seems like a clear regression candidate, but we’ll have to see where he signs.

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3. Cody Bellinger (Yankees)

.272/.334/.480, 29 HR, 89 R, 98 RBI, 13 SB

Sadly, Bellinger will not be first base eligible in 2026 because he only played seven games there for the Yankees this season. However, the park was as good for him as everybody expected. Bellinger’s barrel rate was only 7.5% and his 38% hard hit rate was the highest he’s had since 2022, but still below most first basemen. Still, he increased his pull rate by 3% and his flyball rate by 2% and that helped lead to 29 home runs. He also made some adjustments to the pitches he was swinging at on the fringes of the strike zone, cutting his chase rate marginally but increasing his contact outside of the zone by a significant amount. That led to a solid batting average and the lowest strikeout rate of his career. All of this feels repeatable for Bellinger, but he’ll just be doing it as an OF-only fantasy player.

4. Nick Kurtz (Athletics)

.290/.383/.619 36 HR, 90 R, 86 RBI, 2 SB

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Kurtz was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft and had played just 12 minor league games before the Athletics sent him to Triple-A to begin the 2025 season. It seemed like an incredibly aggressive promotion, but Kurtz responded by crushing Triple-A pitching for 20 games and forcing his way into a promotion. He didn’t adjust to MLB pitching that quickly. Up until June 1st, he was hitting .245/.315/.447 with five home runs and a 33.3% strikeout rate in 28 games. It wasn’t a terrible start, but it certainly didn’t indicate that he would catch fire as quickly as he did. From June 1st on, Kurtz hit .304/.403/.669 with 31 home runs and 71 RBI in 89 games. Yes, he did still strike out 30% of the time, but that’s always going to be a little bit a part of his game. He’s still just 22 years old and will play another season in hitter-friendly Sacramento with a young and improving lineup around him. It’s hard not to get excited about his future.

5. Rafael Devers (Giants)

.252/.372/.479 35 HR, 99 R, 109 RBI, 1 SB

Yes, after all that drama, Devers is now first base eligible. The veteran took issue with the way the Red Sox handled signing Alex Bregman this offseason and then had no desire to patch things up with the front office, so he was shipped out of town mid-season to San Francisco where he slowly worked himself into a role as the team’s first baseman. That’s a role he figures to occupy for much of the 2026 season, but the bigger question is what impact Oracle Park will have on him. Devers was somebody who went to the opposite field often in Boston, using the Green Monster to his advantage, so he struggled initially when he had to change his approach in San Francisco. Overall, Devers hit .236/.347/.460 with 20 home runs in 90 games with the Giants, striking out 29.4% of the time and pulling the ball 45% of the time, which is 8% higher than his career average. He did make tons of hard contact, but there are some questions about whether or not the 29-year-old can shift his approach so drastically and maintain his .276 career batting average while playing in San Francisco.

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6. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays): .292, 23 HR, 96 R, 84 RBI, 6 SB

7. Matt Olson (Braves): .272, 29 HR, 98 R, 95 RBI, 1 SB

8. Freddie Freeman (Dodgers): .295, 24 HR, 81 R, 90 RBI, 6 SB

9. Yandy Diaz (Rays): .300, 25 HR, 79 R, 83 RBI, 3 SB

10. Vinnie Pasquantino (Royals): .264, 32 HR, 72 R, 113 RBI, 1 SB

2026 Breakouts

Ben Rice (Yankees)

Matthew Pouliot covered Rice in his catcher’s article, so check that out here.I will just add that, from June 1st on, Ben Rice had the third-best Process+ score in all of baseball, behind only Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. That’s certainly the company you want, and the Yankees need to just give this kid at-bats.

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Andrew Vaughn (Brewers)

I don’t know if the Brewers are going to let Vaughn be their starting first baseman in 2026, but they should. In 64 games with Milwaukee, he hit .308/.375/.493 with nine home runs, 46 RBI, and a 14.6% strikeout rate. He had an 11.1% barrel rate and 91.7 mph average exit velocity over that span, but also put up a Process+ score of 126, when 100 is league average. From July 7th on, when Vaughn was called up by the Brewers, his Process+ score was in line with Roman Anthony, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Stowers, and Julio Rodriguez. So we have the results and we have the metrics to suggest that his approach and process support the results. I’m excited to see what a full season can bring.

Kyle Manzardo (Guardians)

With Carlos Santana out of town, Kyle Manzardo should head into the 2026 season as the everyday first baseman in Cleveland. The 25-year-old dealt with some off-season hardship this season, with his mother undergoing major surgery in the middle of the year, which also led to him missing a few games. Baseball players are human too, so that undoubtedly weighed on his mind, but Manzardo seemed to turn a corner on the field in the second half of the season. He hit .256/.338/.473 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in 60 games to end the season. That’s in line with the player we think Manzardo can be. He’s just 25 years old and has an MLB career barrel rate of 11.2%, so there is plenty of quality contact being made. In a full season, could he hit .260 with 25+ home runs while batting in the middle of Cleveland’s lineup? That could bring lots of fantasy value.

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Troy Johnston (Marlins)

Johnston is a 28-year-old who just made his MLB debut this season, so think of this as a late-career breakout. Still, he hit .277/.331/.420 in 28 games with the Marlins with four home runs, a 9.3% barrel rate, and a 21% strikeout rate. He also stole 31 bases in 84 games at Triple-A this season and has another 24-steal campaign on his resume from back in 2023. So we have a guy with solid 15 home run power who can also steal 20 bases and hit .281 in his career in the minor leagues. Johnston also posted a solid 114 Process+ score during his time in the big leagues, which was the same as Kerry Carpenter, Bo Bichette, Ian Happ, and Vinnie Pasquantino. That means the swing decisions and contact metrics also support the results we got. Johnston is going to be 1B/OF eligible next season, and getting late shares of him seems like a solid plan.

2026 Prospects To Know

Bryce Eldridge (Giants)

Bryce Eldridge was called up by the Giants at the end of the season and struggled in his 37 MLB plate appearances; however, he showed legit power in the minors with 25 home runs in 102 games. He did have a 14.6% swinging strike rate in the minors, so swing-and-miss will always be part of his game, but the quality of contact is elite, and he posted a 95.6 mph average exit velocity in his very brief MLB sample size, but also a 95.7 mph average exit velocity in his 66 games at Triple-A. I expect Eldridge and Rafael Devers to split 1B/DH reps in San Francisco next season, and Eldridge could prove to be a great source of power.

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Charlie Condon (Rockies)

We say the Rockies hate to promote their prospects, but the Rockies are also finally going to hire a general manager from outside of their organization this offseason, so maybe that all changes. Condon is the 61st-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, but is 14th on Keith Law’s list. He struggled a bit in 55 games at Double-A this season, but he has impressive tools that helped make him the 3rd overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He showed great contact ability in college and flashed that same ability at High-A to start the season. I expect Condon to begin 2026 at Double-A, but a hot start to the season will move him to Triple-A, at least. The Rockies have nobody really blocking him at first base, so if Condon were to get hot, they could give him a shot at big league at-bats, where his power would be tantalizing in Coors Field.

Abimelec Ortiz (Rangers)

A little bit off the radar here, but Ortiz had a great season in 2025, hitting .257/.356/.479 with 25 home runs and 89 RBU in 130 games. Oddly enough, his batting average was actually much better in his 41 games at Triple-A, hitting .283/.388/.565. The 22-year-old is only 5’10” but 230 pounds and swings the hell out of the bat. He has elite bat speed and began to make more contact as he quieted his approach. He’s an average defender at first base, so he’s not a DH-only, but Texas was playing Rowdy Tellez at the end of the season because Jake Burger couldn’t stay healthy. With a DH spot likely opening and Joc Pederson leaving, the Rangers could keep Burger as the primary DH and give Ortiz a chance to claim reps at 1B, or the two could switch off. The upper levels of the Rangers’ farm system are not deep with first base options, so if they don’t make a big splash in free agency, expect Ortiz to be in the mix.

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2026 Top 12 First Baseman

1. Nick Kurtz: Given his home park and the growth we saw. He has the highest upside of this group.
2. Pete Alonso: A lot is going to depend on where he ends up, but I believe in the approach shift and the consistency.
3. Matt Olson: This Braves offense is going to be better in 2026, and Olson has continued to produce.
4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: An elite hitter, but I think we can expect him to hit around 25 home runs, which limits his ceiling a bit at a position where you need power.
5. Freddie Freeman: Will age ever catch up with him? The team context is great, and the results have been there.
6. Rafael Devers: He’s been one of the best, but what will the new park do to his batting average and power upside?
7. Bryce Harper: Are we seeing a moderate decline? Will be 33, and his batting average has fallen each of the last three years.
8. Vinnie Pasquantino: We finally saw some power come with the batting average. I’m buying into it being repeatable.
9. Josh Naylor: Where he signs will be huge. So much of his value came from those late steals. Will they return?
10. Michael Busch: Put together a great season in Chicago, and has gotten his strikeout rate under control. Power is very real.
11. Tyler Soderstrom: A bit of a rollercoaster, but the results were there. Power is great, and the home ballpark is tremendous.
12. Willson Contreras: Aging but safe. He’s probably a 20 HR bat with a .260 average on a decent team, but you know you’re getting his consistency.

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Part of the draft process for fantasy managers is to identify their “guys,†players they may be higher on than the consensus.

With that in mind, Rotoworld basketball staffers Cole Huff, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew have decided to identify their guys, picking two players each that theyâ€re high on for the 2025-26 season.

Weâ€ll be doing a similar exercise with players weâ€re fading this season, so stay tuned.

Your one-stop-shop for Rotoworldâ€s fantasy basketball draft coverage.

🀠Cole Huffâ€s picks: C Myles Turner (Milwaukee Bucks) and F Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)

In his 11th NBA season, Turner will be playing for an organization that isnâ€t the Indiana Pacers for the first time in his career. While he thrived as a floor-spacing center alongside Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam in the Pacers†recent deep postseason run, those same opportunities to flourish should present themselves with Giannis Antetokounmpo consistently attracting multiple defenders and finding open shooters. Heâ€ll essentially play the Brook Lopez role for the Bucks this year. With his sustained abilities to shoot near 50.0 percent from the field, make threes on high volume, and consistently erase shots at the rim, I think Turner will perform even better than where heâ€s being projected as a top 45-50 fantasy player in nine-category leagues.

As for Zion, this isnâ€t so much about me buying into his physical transformation during training camp as it is about me understanding that heâ€s an elite talent when heâ€s on the court, regardless. The former first-overall pick saw his points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals per game all increase from the 2023-24 season to the 2024-25 campaign, despite averaging fewer than 30.0 minutes for the first time since his rookie season. Iâ€d expect the numbers to climb once again as Williamson presumably logs more minutes per game than he did a season ago, which leaves me incredibly optimistic on how high he could rank come seasonâ€s end, if healthy. There has to be some good injury luck at some point, right?

🀠Noah Rubinâ€s picks: F Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons) and G Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors)

Iâ€m all aboard the hype train for an Ausar breakout season. Last year, we enjoyed his brother Amen Thompsonâ€s breakout, and when comparing the twins†per-possession stats, Amen got the slight edge in most categories, but Ausar was a much better source of steals. The difference is that Ausar only played 22.5 minutes per game, while Amen got 32.3. Ausar is now locked in as a starter and should see a bump in minutes. Foul trouble was an issue for him last season, which could be a frustrating factor at times, but I think his production when he is on the floor will outweigh that. The shot will likely continue to be an issue, but he does more than enough as a defender, passer and cutter to compensate for it.

Podziemski was in and out of the starting lineup early last season and struggled to find his footing while battling injuries. However, he became a fixture of the starting unit in February and averaged 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.7 three-pointers per game over the rest of the season. Golden State took a while to fill out the rest of the roster, but they didnâ€t add anyone who should impact Podzâ€s place in the rotation. The Warriors have a ton of old guys on their roster, so the spry 22-year-old should be relied on often to help keep the veterans fresh.

Nikola Jokić headlines Rotoworldâ€s Preseason Top 200, but key injuries across the league make this one of the most unpredictable fantasy seasons in years.

🀠Raphielle Johnsonâ€s picks: F Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic) and F OG Anunoby (New York Knicks)

While Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been tabbed by many as a breakout candidate this season, I think thereâ€s a better fantasy option on his teamâ€s roster. That would be Wagner, who offered top-40 per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats last season. In 60 games, he averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 three-pointers, posting career-high marks in each category. If thereâ€s a concern regarding Wagner, who shot 46.3 percent from the field and 87.1 percent from the foul line, itâ€s the three-point shooting. He only made 29.5 percent of his attempts last season and has shot below 30 percent each of the last two years. However, three-point percentage isnâ€t a scoring category in default fantasy leagues, so thereâ€s no need to lose sleep over this.

Anunoby is my other choice, due mainly to the change that brought in Mike Brown to serve as the Knicks†new head coach. In Brownâ€s two full seasons in Sacramento, the Kings were ranked in the top half of the NBA in offensive rating and pace, leading the league in the former category in 2022-23. While the Knicks were fifth in offensive rating last season, they were 26th in pace. Brown has vowed to speed things up, which may benefit a wing like Anunoby. A top-40 fantasy player last season, he averaged 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 74 appearances. If Brown successfully combined a faster pace with allowing his wings to make more plays on the ball, Anunoby should exceed his Yahoo! ADP (66.1) easily.

🀠Zak Hanshewâ€s picks: G Cam Thomas (Brooklyn Nets) and G/F Kyshawn George (Washington Wizards)

Come on, whatâ€s not to like about Cam Thomas? Over the final 18 games of the 2023-24 season, he broke out with averages of 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 triples on 45/37/89 shooting splits. He got off to a blistering start in 2024-25 before injuries derailed a promising season. Coming off a shortened campaign in which he averaged 24 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 triples, Thomas will look to continue his ascension. After lengthy contract negotiations, he ultimately took a qualifying offer from Brooklyn, so heâ€ll be playing for pride and a new contract. Expect a monster season from a guy still looking to prove that heâ€s more than just “empty stats.†Heâ€s my favorite fantasy player for the 2025-26 campaign, and Iâ€ll be looking to roster him wherever I can.

As for George, he played solid rotation minutes for Washington as a rookie, logging 26.5 per night and starting 38 of 68 appearances. He took only eight shots a night, but 5.2 came from beyond the arc, highlighting his love of the deep ball. At 6-foot-9, George can play on the wing and at either forward position, and heâ€s equally versatile on the defensive end. His stats got a noticeable bump in games where he played at least 30 minutes, and he could see plenty of those this season. The former Miami Hurricane could open the season as a starter due to Bilal Coulibalyâ€s thumb injury, but even as a reserve, George should be one of the first guys off the bench. He can provide meaningful stats in several categories, and improvements in shooting percentages would be huge for his fantasy value.

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Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

This is the easiest way to handle having the first pick, and maybe that means it’s simply the correct one, too. The three-time MVP is as reliable as anyone in fantasy, and he’s basically guaranteed to help you everywhere other than blocks. Over his last five seasons, he has averaged 26.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 72.8 games.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

For those who don’t take the Joker, there won’t be a greater temptation than Wembanyama, who seems capable of breaking the game of basketball at any moment. He’s already an elite in points (24.3), rebounds (11.0), blocks (3.8) and three-pointers (3.1), and there’s a hope he can become even more efficient (47.6 field-goal percentage), particularly with San Antonio having overloaded its roster with playmakers.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

The league’s reigning MVP is 27 years old, has complete control of his offense and leads a roster bursting at the seams with solid-to-borderline-spectacular support players. In other words, it’s possible we haven’t seen SGA at his best, and that’s saying something after the campaign he just delivered: 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 combined steals and blocks and 2.1 three-pointers.

Luka DonÄić, Los Angeles Lakers

Would it be a reach to take DonÄić first overall? Probably, if only because he sometimes has issues with availability and shooting efficiency. That said, he’s a 26-year-old who won a scoring title in 2023-24, flirts with triple-doubles on a nightly basis and has recently come within arm’s reach of both a 50 field-goal percentage and a 40-percent splash rate from three. He is objectively awesome, and his improved conditioning might bring out his best basketball yet.

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Allow me to reintroduce myself.

The Blueprint for the 2025-26 fantasy basketball season has arrived. (Photo by Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)

Welcome to the 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Blueprint — your draft prep and in-season management playbook. Inside, you’ll find the strategies, rankings, tiers and insider tips needed to build a roster with unreasonable doubt.

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

But before we stack chips, you’ve got to know the block you’re building on.

High Score Rankings

9-Category

Points

MAGNA CARTA: How to get ready for drafts

• Understand your league’s scoring system: It sounds simple, but if you’re new to this, ensure you understand the format and league settings. Each league can have its own unique scoring settings. Familiarize yourself with these rules to draft players best suited to your league’s format.

• Whether it’s High Score, standard points, categories or rotisserie, tailoring a strategy to these rules can give you a crucial edge. The default scoring for private and public free leagues on Yahoo is now High Score (points-based scoring like fantasy football) and the default scoring for public prize leagues is head-to-head categories.

👉🾠Here’s aquick overview to decide which format is right for you.

• Formulate a plan:Create a draft plan that includes multiple scenarios and backup options for each round. This flexibility enables you to adapt to unexpected player runs or surprises, ensuring you maximize the value of every pick.

• Mock Draft! You can’t come in raw and unprepared — practice makes perfect! Participate in Yahoo mock drafts to get a feel for trends and a sense of player values. It’s a battle-tested way to try strategies and see where the likeliest places are to snag your must-have players.

• Monitor preseason performance: Although preseason stats can be misleading, they often indicate players who may have increased opportunities in the upcoming season. For example, Ja Morant suffered an ankle injury in practice and is considered week-to-week, elevating Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. into deep league consideration in the later rounds of drafts.

• Use player projections:Yahoo’s 2025-26 projections are available once you’ve signed up for a league. If you’re looking for additional resources, Hashtag Basketball and FantasyPros also offer free projection models.

HOLY GRAIL: Draft strategy — High Score, Points and 9-Cat

Points Leagues: Run the numbers up

In Points leagues, target high-usage, high-minute players who fill the box score across points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks while limiting turnovers.

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High Score leagues differ in scoring weight — turnovers donâ€t count, and assists (2 points) are worth double that of rebounds (1 point), making guards more valuable. Bigs with guard-like versatility (e.g., Jokić, Giannis, Wembanyama) are exceptions, but traditional bigs lack the consistent upside to hit 30+ FPTS per game.

9-Cat Leagues: Building for balance

In 9-cat leagues, focus on balance and efficiency, prioritizing players who contribute without tanking percentages or turnovers. Punting categories (e.g., FT% or turnovers) can be a smart strategy, allowing you to dominate six or seven categories instead of all nine. Itâ€s a calculated approach to maximize value and simplify draft decisions.

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The availability factor

Durability is key in Points and 9-cat leagues, as missed games mean lost production. In High Score, however, only a playerâ€s best game of the week counts, making stars with injury risks (e.g., Joel Embiid, LaMelo Ball, Zion Williamson) top-15 picks due to their massive single-game ceilings.

👉🾠Here are sometips on how to manage your team in-season.

• Selecting injured players: Players who are hurt or have injury-prone labels will undoubtedly slide in drafts. Availability matters, and you’ll have a higher floor if you avoid them, leaving your draft with a player who’ll get fantasy points off the rip.

• Not setting your draft queue: Stack at least 3-5 players in your queue to save yourself from a panic or auto-pick. If you’re in shark-infested waters, make it 10 players, to account for sniping.

• Punting:Don’t overcomplicate your draft if you’re not experienced or practice the science of punting.

Dan Titus reveals his top avoids, breakouts, sleepers for 2025-26. (Photo by Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies: JJJ’s fantasy value is inflated by blocks, but his low rebounding, assists and inconsistent scoring limit his upside. Entering the season injured, he’s not worth the draft cost in points leagues — hard pass.

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Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers: Leonard’s injury history and the Clippers’ focus on postseason health make it unlikely he plays more than 50 games. While valuable in roto or High Score leagues, he’s a risky fifth-round pick in 9-cat.

Josh Hart, New York Knicks: With Mitchell Robinson starting at center and Towns at PF, Hart is likely out of the starting lineup. His production peaked last year. In a reduced role, he won’t justify his 51.7 ADP in any format.

Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers: George had arthroscopic knee surgery in July with no firm timeline to return. I’d stay away. He just can’t seem to get it right, and even with his injury profile factored into his 7th-8th round ADP, the numbers are declining.

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Ausar Thompson— G/F, Detroit Pistons:Ausar enters the season healthy and ready to dominate after averaging 1.12 fantasy points per minute last year. With elite defense and potential growth in scoring and rebounding, he’s poised to outperform his ADP of 90.

Andrew Nembhard – G, Indiana Pacers:Nembhard will take on a key playmaking role for the Pacers, averaging 11 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds in 26 minutes without Haliburton last year. With over 30 minutes expected this season, he’s a solid mid-round fantasy target.

Shaedon Sharpe — G/F, Portland Trail Blazers:Sharpe steps into a bigger role with Anfernee Simons gone, averaging 27.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 10 games without him last year. Year 4 looks promising for Sharpe and the Blazers.

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Nikola Jović — F, Miami Heat:With a new contract and two preseason starts, Jović seems to have the edge over Kel’el Ware, offering more playmaking, floor spacing and shotmaking. He’s currently going 141st in Yahoo drafts. I still like Ware’s upside, but Jović is right there with him.

Matas Buzelis – F, Chicago Bulls:The Bulls’ commitment to Buzelis signals his importance, and he’ll start in Year 2 after averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds and 1 block in under 27 minutes as a rookie. With increased minutes, he’ll easily justify his 96th overall ADP.

Here are theguardsandfrontcourt players whom I like in High Score, and below are a few other players in deep leagues I’m targeting across formats.

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Kyshawn George – G/F, Washington Wizards:George is earning high praise for his offseason development, as evident in his play at the AmeriCup and Summer League. His growing playmaking and defensive versatility will have him emerge as a starter by midseason. In the meantime, he’s a guy I’m targeting in the later rounds of 9-cat leagues.

Jaylen Wells – G/F, Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies’ injuries are piling up. Even before that, Desmond Bane’s trade opened up more minutes and opportunities for the second-year pro. His defense and 3-point shooting are already solid; now, we’re about to see him level up in fantasy as well.

Jay Huff – C, Indiana Pacers: Huff’s efficiency stands out — he posted 1.15 High Score FPPM in just 750 minutes last season. He’ll be in a timeshare with Isaiah Jackson, but with Jackson coming off an Achilles injury, Huff will still prove valuable in 20-25 minutes. He can be more than just a late-round block specialist.

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Teams to buy:

Oklahoma City Thunder

Some championship hangover is expected, but OKC remains a fantasy powerhouse. The Thunder’s pace, explosive offense, strong defense and high-efficiency system provide value in every format.

Denver Nuggets

Having Nikola Jokić on your team elevates everyone around him. Players like Cam Johnson, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon thrive alongside the best player and passer in the game.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets may lack efficiency, but their youth, tempo and tenacity make them a fantasy goldmine. Expect plenty of counting stats on both ends of the floor despite losing Fred VanVleet.

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Orlando Magic

Adding Desmond Bane elevates the Magicâ€s offense from bottom-tier to mid-pack, improving their fantasy floor. His shooting creates space for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to thrive in a more fluid system.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers†system of ball movement, spacing and pace has become a league model. Even without Tyrese Haliburton, their depth and physicality keep them a fantasy-friendly team.

Other teams I like:

Teams to sell:

Philadelphia 76ers

Injuries are piling up with Jared McCain (thumb) out and no timeline for Paul George or Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey benefits, but the rest of the team is risky, especially after ranking bottom 10 in offensive efficiency last year.

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New York Knicks

The Knicks revamped their bench to reduce starter dependency, which was a fantasy goldmine under former head coach Tom Thibodeau. With Mike Brown now coaching, expect minute adjustments that could lower starter production.

Brooklyn Nets

Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas are the only fantasy targets here. With tanking, deep rotations and bottom-three offensive efficiency last year, the Nets are a risky fantasy investment.

Other teams I don’t like:

• Phoenix Suns (Devin Booker and Jalen Green only)

• Milwaukee Bucks (Giannis is cool)

• Toronto Raptors (too many wings)

YOUNG FOREVER: Rookies who could make an impact

Hoping for the best — but expecting the worst — from this rookie class.

How will Cooper Flagg do in his first year at fantasy basketball? (Photo by Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)

Cooper Flagg – F, Dallas Mavericks

Flagg enters the league as the top-ranked rookie, backed by an impressive collegiate career, USA Select team performances and a strong Summer League showing. While his third- or fourth-round ADP feels steep, his scoring, defense and underrated playmaking make him a valuable fantasy asset. His preseason debut? A solid 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in just 14 minutes.

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Ace Bailey – F, Utah Jazz

Bailey has a chance to start immediately, making him a great late-round flier in points leagues, especially High Score formats. As a volume shooter with the ability to contribute rebounds and blocks, he offers intriguing upside right out of the gate.

Tre Johnson – G, Washington Wizards

Johnsonâ€s shot-creation and scoring ability make him a solid late-round bench option in points leagues. Heâ€s especially appealing in High Score formats, though his rookie season will likely feature some boom-or-bust performances.

Ryan Kalkbrenner – C, Charlotte Hornets

Kalkbrenner faces competition from Moussa Diabate and Mason Plumlee, but has the size and skill to become a reliable rim protector and rebounder. While it may take time to climb the depth chart, heâ€s a long-term solution for the Hornets with Mark Williams now in Phoenix.

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Yang Hansen – C, Portland Trail Blazers

With Robert Williams IIIâ€s health in question, Hansen could step into backup minutes behind Donovan Clingan. Though more of a waiver option for now, his strong Summer League play shows he can generate fantasy points quickly on a per-minute basis.

Players on my fantasy basketball rosters after Draft Day.

Guards

Amen Thompson – G/F, Houston Rockets:Amen flashed elite rebounding and defensive instincts last season, averaging roughly 1.15 fantasy points per minute. Playing alongside Kevin Durant should open up lanes for drives and assist opportunities. The lack of 3s and forgettable FT percentage are the only two knocks on an otherwise elite fantasy profile. No Fred VanVleet means Amen and Reed Sheppard will be running the show.

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Tyrese Maxey – G, Philadelphia 76ers:The undisputed No. 1 option in Philadelphia, Maxeyâ€s efficiency and scoring volume make him a safe bet in all formats. His usage spike ensures multiple 40-plus-point fantasy nights, even with the health concerns surrounding the Sixers’ roster.

Jalen Green – G, Phoenix Suns:Greenâ€s move to Phoenix gives him the green light to score at will. With Booker drawing defensive gravity, he’s always available and has a clean slate to fire away — the exact kind of highly explosive player you’ll want for High Score.

Kyshawn George – G/F, Washington Wizards:One of the more intriguing deep sleepers, Georgeâ€s size and floor spacing give him multi-position upside. If he cracks the starting lineup, his length and shooting could push him into must-roster territory.

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Forwards

Paolo Banchero – F, Orlando Magic:The Magic finally have spacing, and that means more playmaking for Banchero. I’m in the minority, but I think we’ll see the best version of Paolo yet. With Desmond Bane in town, expect upticks in assists and field-goal efficiency and fewer turnovers. I still prefer him in points over 9-cat leagues, but I’d still get him in 9-cat.

Trey Murphy III, F, New Orleans Pelicans:Murphy is one of the leagueâ€s best breakout bets for 2025–26. When healthy last season, he averaged 0.98 fantasy points per minute. His combination of athleticism, 3-point volume, and efficiency gives him a real shot at making an All-Star-like leap — both in real life and fantasy.

Deni Avdija – F, Portland Trail Blazers:Avdijaâ€s game has always hinted at versatility, and in Portland, heâ€ll finally be unleashed. After the All-Star break last year, Avdija averaged 23-10-5. Handling the ball more and attacking mismatches, heâ€s a glue guy with the stat diversity to post strong all-around lines.

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Bennedict Mathurin – G/F, Indiana Pacers:Mathurinâ€s aggressiveness is finally being matched with opportunity. He can get hot quickly, and as long as he locks in on defense, he’ll be one of those boom players who’s ideal for High Score. He’ll also be solid for 9-cat leagues.

Santi Aldama – C, Memphis Grizzlies:Aldama remains under the radar but continues to produce whenever given minutes. His shooting and rebounding profile make him a sneaky floor-spacer who can hit double-digit points and boards in under 25 minutes. Aldama will play heavy minutes to start the year and is still being picked outside of the top 100 on Yahoo.

Tari Eason – F, Houston Rockets:Eason ranked in the 91st percentile in fantasy points per minute among frontcourt players. His energy translates directly into rebounds, steals and buckets. If his minutes climb, heâ€s one of the most efficient stat-stuffers available after Round 10.

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Centers

Jalen Duren – C, Detroit Pistons:Durenâ€s double-double consistency anchors Detroitâ€s frontcourt. He’s in a contract year and has shown growth as a short-roll playmaker. He averaged an impressive 1.23 fantasy points per minute last season, and as his rim protection improves, that number should only climb in his fourth season.

Isaiah Hartenstein – C, Oklahoma City Thunder:Always a per-minute beast (~1.10 fantasy points per minute), Hartenstein is being undervalued in the market across formats. He does everything but shoot 3s and make free throws at a high clip. However, I love him as a sixth- or seventh-round pick if I don’t nab bigs earlier in the draft.

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Kelâ€el Ware – C, Miami Heat:Jović’s hype is building, but I’m still targeting more shares of Ware. He averaged over 1.0 fantasy points per minute last season and has so much potential as a rim runner. His ADP is falling because he came off the bench in the Heat’s past two preseason games; I would buy the dip.

Thanks for vibing with The Fantasy Basketball Blueprint. You have my tips, strategies and my favorite targets; now it’s time to take the throne. Good luck this season!

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