Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: 15 tips to make draft day (and your season) more fun

With the preseason concluding on Friday, October 17, many fantasy leagues typically hold their drafts now. There are no games to worry about over the weekend and NBA teams will finalize their rosters. We’ll get a general idea of ​​each team’s rotation, including how they’ll compensate for players who won’t be available when the regular season begins on Oct. 21.

The NBA returns to NBC and stream on Peacock on Tuesday, October 21 with an opening night doubleheader between the Houston Rockets and the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder at 7:30 pm ET, followed by the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 pm.

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With many fantasy basketball drafts taking place this weekend, Rotoworld’s Raphielle Johnson, Noah Rubin, and Zak Hanshew have some tips that should help make the fantasy basketball process fun and hopefully rewarding.

How to Play Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Draft Tips and Beginner’s Guide

With fantasy basketball drafts starting this month, here’s everything rookie players need to know about how to play and win their championship.

1. Enter the draft with a list of “your guys,” but don’t be afraid to change your mind

No matter what draft guide you read during the preseason, the writers will have lists of their “guys” who can’t wait to get into the season. You can and should use this information and your instincts to create a list of players you hope to include in your draft. However, whether or not you get those players will be affected by roster construction and moves made by other coaches. Don’t be afraid to go in a different direction based on who is still on the board. -Raphielle Johnson

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2. Reach out to your kids

I’ve broken this rule enough to know that it’s never good when you leave your draft without it That player. for me, Jalen Johnson AND Ausar Thompson fits that description better this season. Last season, it was Dyson Daniels. It was the year before Derrick White. I’m not saying it will always hit; I’ve definitely had players that I just I HAD having him ended up having a terrible season. But the worst thing is when you try to wait for your boyfriend at ADP and he gets picked up by someone else. Don’t let that happen. – Noah Rubin

3. Read and react

If you’ve played or watched basketball at any level, you’ve heard the phrase, “Read and react.” Take what the defense gives you on offense instead of running a play and going through the motions. Watch the backdoor cut, find an open three-point shooter, drive the lane if the defense is spread. Did you understand.

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The same is true when building a fantasy basketball team. I might enter a draft with some players on my “Do Not Draft” list, but lists like that should be vague. I won’t take it Joel Embiid in the first three rounds, but if he’s available at Pick 50, you can bet I’ll take him! RJ Barrett to Pick 120? Say less.

Don’t be stubborn in your strategy. Be adaptable. Take what the Draft Room gives you. Read and react. -Zak Hanshew

4. You’ll want to draft a top big man early

The good news is that, after Nikola Jokić AND Victor Wembanyamathere will still be more than a few post players on the board who can return excellent value. So, this advice doesn’t just apply to the first round. You may want to recruit at least one high-level frontcourt player early. Alperen Şengün seems poised for a big year in Houston, while that in Sacramento Domantas Sabonis it has consistently offered excellent value (its ADP may be a little high for my tastes). Being able to build a roster and not have to worry about the center position can be helpful, as it will likely be easier to find solid guards and wings in the later rounds than big men. – RJ

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5. Do your homework

Pay attention to the latest news. Pre-season injuries have piled up quickly this year and being out of the picture can have dramatic consequences. Guys like it Domantas Sabonis, Jalen Williams AND Jalen Green they are all ready to waste time to start the season. Idem LeBron James. Oh, and don’t forget Paolo Giorgio.

Joel Embiid? He might actually play in the season opener. Staying up to date on the latest news can keep you from searching for a player who may not be immediately available. It can also give you an idea of ​​who might fill the gap. AND Wallace case a sneaky upside pick in standard leagues? What do you think? Aaron Wiggins in deeper formats? Candies Grayson Allen provide value early in the season as a starter for the Suns? Is Embiid worth a look in rounds 4-5? -ZH

6. Draft the players you want to watch

Is it fun to select players and watch the score to see who wins? I mean, maybe for some people, but getting into the game a little bit makes things more fun for me. Grab someone from your favorite or local team. See them in person if you can. Fantasy basketball is more fun when you watch your team’s stars shine. -NR

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7. Remain flexible when it comes to your draft strategy

Sometimes it can be easy to get stuck in a particular strategy at the beginning of a draft. For many who write Giannis Antetokounmpoat that point it is easy to decide whether to focus on free throw percentage and/or three points. However, you should remain flexible in this approach. You never know what other coaches in a league will do with their draft picks, so stay flexible. The ability to do so could mean the difference between winning some money and finishing the season empty-handed. – RJ

Fantasy Basketball Category Points Guide for 2025-26

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Depending on the category you are willing to bet in, players like Giannis Antetokounmpo will have higher fantasy value.

8. “Be true to yourself”

The immortal words of Polonius from Shakespeare Hamlet fits perfectly into the realm of fantasy basketball.

There are so many excellent fantasy analysts and they provide SO MUCH content on the web, in apps, and on social media. Absorb information and seek other points of view so you don’t get lost in an echo chamber. Digest this information, but don’t let it change how you process. Like a guy mid-round, but his “expert ranking” is in the later rounds? Take it wherever you feel is appropriate. On top of a player labeled a “consensus failure”? Enlist him anyway.

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Stay true to yourself when building your fantasy basketball team. Whether you like to play it safe or prefer to play the limits with high-risk, high-reward players, do what feels right. Welcome the external noise, but don’t let it change your strategy. -ZH

9. Check your league’s scoring settings

It’s no fun drafting a team that would have been good in a different league but doesn’t have the same potential in the one you’re playing in. This is more for points championships, although it can still be important in category championships if they are not the standard nine categories. I’ve played in leagues with bonuses for double-doubles and triple-doubles, leagues that take points for ejections, leagues that give you two points for a rebound and another for an offensive rebound, and a bunch of other weird rules. If you know where to take advantage early on, you can take advantage of the leaderboard in your draft room. -NR

10. Know the league roster rules

This may not be the “sexiest” tip when competing in a fantasy league, but it may be the most important. If you don’t know what your league’s roster should look like, how are you supposed to win? Managers who neglect to fully understand their rosters can certainly come out on top, but you’ll save yourself some potential aggravation by knowing that information before the draft begins. How many centers do you need to have in your training? Does your league have standard IL spots or far superior IL+ spots?

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Also, make sure you know the rules for free agents. Is it “first come, first served” or will you have to bid for everyone whether the player is a free agent or on waivers? If you don’t have to worry about knowing the rules, this will be an important part of the battle to win your championship. – RJ

Fantasy Basketball 2025-26: Franz Wagner and Zion Williamson are staff favorites

Rotoworld basketball analysts Cole Huff, Noah Rubin, Raphielle Johnson and Zak Hanshew pick their “guys” for the upcoming fantasy season.

11. Mock draft

Practice makes perfect. Mock draft from multiple different places and with many different people. Start early and continue throughout the offseason to understand trends, track ADP rises and falls, and get a general idea of ​​how you prefer to approach the early, middle, and late rounds of drafts. A good opening is important in chess, but Garry Kasparov would not have become one of the greatest of all time without a strong ending. Make sure you’re prepared for as many scenarios as possible so you don’t end up stumped on draft day. -ZH

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12. Play with people you know

That’s not to say you can’t have fun playing with strangers, but I’ve found that the optimal experience for me is playing with people I want to talk to throughout the season. Whether it’s friends I can meet in person for a draft or people I know online, it’s more fun to talk nonsense, tell jokes, or communicate throughout the year. It also makes it easier to perform trades. If you play with people you don’t know, get to know them! Utilize a league chat, whether on your fantasy platform or a different app, create a space to talk with your league buddies. -NR

13. This is serious. Know your limits, be they financial or what “give up” you are willing to make if you end up dead last

Losing is no fun; frankly, no one wants to plan for that possibility. But make sure you only take on what you’re willing and able to handle, whether it’s a financial loss or having to do something stupid if your team finishes last (like getting a tattoo, for example). Not doing so can result in a negative fantasy experience and perhaps some hard feelings if you’re playing with friends. Make sure you keep things fun. – RJ

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14. Branch out, have fun!

Of course you will take it seriously. Naturally, you will immerse yourself in analysis and mock drafts. Of course you will do your homework and keep up to date with the latest news. But in the end, don’t forget that fantasy circles mean fun. Get your guys. Try playing using a new format. Play with new groups of people. Involve your family and friends. Have fun! Otherwise what are we doing here? -ZH

Too much on the nose? I am not interested! A final stop for the content we’ve been working on throughout the preseason. Simulated drafts, rankings, strategy guides and player profiles to help you win your championship. Use free content to help you make decisions! -NR