Fantasy Basketball: 5 last minute tips to help you crack your draft
It’s the crucial moment. With the 2025-26 NBA season set to begin on 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 mediocre 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 the nuances of the format
Know your scoring system inside and out depending on the format: high score, categories or points. Yahoo’s new High Score format, for example, more heavily rewards great performances in a single game, so boom-or-bust players have extra appeal.
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Meanwhile, in category or Roto championships, the balance between statistics is still key.
Knowing how many injured lists or IL+ spots are available to you is also helpful, as you may be able to set aside players who may become more valuable mid-season.
2. Get “your guys”
As your draft heads into the middle and late stages, stop playing it safe and start swinging for maximum results. Especially in High Score leagues, the advantage of weekly wins is what matters most. Don’t be afraid to reach out to up-and-coming candidates or pre-season lifters.
Players like Ausar Thompson, Matas Buzelis, or Tari Eason all have the raw explosiveness to hit 40+ fantasy point games or offer a high enough ceiling to outperform their respective ADPs. These are the choices that can win you a week and a championship.
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3. Pay attention to rises and falls
Tracking player and team news can be daunting. Check out my latest rankings, tiers and tips so you know when to target players: increased on-field reinforcements, missing players at the start of the preseason or final injury reports. For example, Jaren Jackson Jr. (forward) 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 change your picks mid-to-late for sleepers who climb the fishing boards, like Shaedon Sharpe. You can also see which players’ ADPs are trending up or down to give you perspective on how the market views each player heading into final draft weekend.
4. Know your league, not just the NBA
Success in fantasy basketball is not just a matter of player skill, but of matter championship dynamics. Study your draft room: Are managers reaching? Ignore older vets? Are they focusing on categories or chasing names? Understanding how your leaguemates draft allows you to zig when you zag. Adjust in real time. Drafting isn’t just about sticking to rankings: It’s about recognizing how others choose and find value where they aren’t looking.
5. Utilize schedule awareness and playoff issues
Regardless of your league format, schedule always plays a vital role in how you manage your lineups. I use Hashtag Basketball’s advanced planning grid to organize and plan my moves throughout the week.
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Also, be sure to look downstream to see which teams may not be as valuable come playoff time. For example, the Nuggets and Knicks play two games during Yahoo’s default league in Week 23. An extra game in March or April can tilt a head-to-head matchup or title race.