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 available to you is 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…
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