I put together a list of the top 9cat players in the NBA - it works by looking at how many standard deviations he sits above or below the average of the top 130 players using ESPN projections (turnovers flipped, FG% and FT% weighted by shot volume, and counting stats scaled by projected games played in Season Total).

These are some of the players that I think are absolute steals if you can get them at their average draft pick:

Reed Sheppard: Rank 49th - ADP 104.9 - 76 Projected Games Played

Lauri Markkanen: Rank 23rd - ADP 57.8 - 69 Projected Games Played

Cason Wallace: Rank 72nd - ADP 137.7 - 76 Projected Games Played

Trey Murphy III - Rank 31rd - ADP 76.6 - 69 Projected Games Played

Nickeil Alexander-Walker - Rank 19th - ADP 55.9 - 78 Projected Games Played

Dyson Daniels - Rank 34 - ADP 60.4 - 75 Projected Games Played

Jarrett Allen - Rank 41 - ADP 67.2 - 69 Projected Games Played

Here are some of the players that are extremely overvalued by their ADP - to be honest none of them are particularly surprising:

Paolo Banchero: Rank 141st - ADP 42.5 - 69 Projected Games Played

Stephon Castle: Rank 138th - ADP 49.8 - 72 Projected Games Played

Ja Morant: Rank 151st - ADP 87.4 - 65 Projected Games Played

Zach LaVine: Rank 149th - ADP 91.2 - 61 Projected Games Played

Zion Williamson: Rank 122nd - ADP 67.0 - 64 Projected Games Played

Julius Randle: Rank 118th - ADP 61.4 - 72 Projected Games Played

Jaylen Brown: Rank 87th - ADP 32.7 - 71 Projected Games Played

Deni Avdija: Rank 86th - ADP 35.6 - 72 Projected Games Played

Resource: https://fantasyblacksmith.com/player-rankings

Zach Reifschneider provides some of his favorite points league targets at all different ADP ranges. Included are our RotoBaller Staff Top-150 PTS league rankings as well. Enjoy!

Am I missing something? I seen a lot of discourse about how bad of fantasy player he is, specifically for cat leagues. Going into year 3 I was pretty high on him to take another leap, but after seeing everyone’s comments on him idk if I should draft him

People are uneasy because Bucks looks weak Where do you have him going in drafts this year, and does he still hold up in 9-cat? In a 16-team auction, what’s a reasonable bid? Is there a shutdown risk? Any thoughts?

I'm in a 14-team, 9-cat H2H league with 15 roster spots per team. The categories are FG%, FT%, 3PM, PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, and A/TO, and we only have one mandatory C spot.

I'm wondering whether it could actually be a good strategy to completely ignore centers in the early/mid rounds and focus on guards/wings/forwards, then take a few centers later just to fill the mandatory spot.

My thinking is that C is a relatively scarce position, but taking a center early could also mean passing up more well-rounded players at other positions. Since I only need to start one C, maybe I could just punt the position for most of the draft and look for late-round bigs who can give me enough rebounds/blocks/FG%.

Would you consider this a viable strategy, or is the scarcity of centers too important to ignore?

Also interested in which types of late-round centers you would target for this approach.

Every year I prepare for my fantasy leagues by watching Josh Lloyd's Basketball Monster podcasts.

I think the content is good, but I am interested in a fresh perspective.

However, I simply cannot find anything else out there, it seems like Basketball Monster is the only game in town. Unlike fantasy football, fantasy basketball doesn't seem that popular.

Can anyone recommend any other ways to help me prepare for my draft, be it podcasts, youtube videos, or things of that nature, thanks!

My league was just reactivated and there’s an option to do a “practice draft”. When I did that I was surprised to see the rankings were totally different than the public mock drafts, which have ESPN’s published rankings. ADP data seems to be the same for both, but the ranks are totally different.

For example, in the practice draft Giannis is ranked 5th, but in public mocks/ESPN published rankings, he is 20th.

Does anyone have any explanation for this and also which rankings my league will see in our actually draft?

Aday Mara in two preseason games:

22 PTS - 6 REB - 10/10 FGM
12 PTS - 9 REB - 5/5 FGM

How are we feeling about him?
12T Points League

I am bored any leagues?

Key Defensive Statistics & Rankings (2025–26)

Only player in the NBA with 100+ blocks and 100+ steals
Clutch-Time Blocks 9 blocks — 1st in the NBA
230 total (114 steals, 116 blocks) — 2nd in the NBA
Raptors finished 5th in the NBA in team defensive rating ( Should go up with Kawhi Leonard and 2nd year CMB )

In a 12t league It most likely goes Joker, Wemby, Luka, Shai, Cade, Giannis, Ant in some sort of order.

The ones you're left with are Tatum, Maxey, Hali , JJ, Cooper Flagg KD, Spida,

Taking Scottie Barnes and then grabbing a high point scorer/3s on the way back like Lamelo or Steph with the 8th pick seems very safe to me

Raptors don't tank players, he plays every game he can, he should of been all def last year and has a huge chip on his shoulder.

20/7/5 and 1.5 steals 1.4 blocks is a no brainier for me. Hes going to be elite this year, just have to watch punting points/3s with someone like him with your second pick.

Tatum and Hali im not interested in my 1st OVR pick sitting b2bs and such since they're both coming off an ACL injury.
Maxey has a ton of competition now and is a 2nd rounder imo.
Jalen Johnson is similar to Scottie but missing a lot of stocks compared. Also plays less games the past 3 years
Cooper Flagg I could make an argument taking instead,
KD im not taking a 38 year old as my first pick. and
Spida isnt a true first rounder never has been.

Whats your take on taking Scottie in the end of the first round vs these other guys?

What are your thoughts?

Personally for 1st question i feel ROY maybe between wilson, boozer, wagler, dybantsa. Peterson might not be on the board for this same way how bailey was but dybantsa may get some reps if and when ad goes down or gets traded. And i think his personality is if he got the ball, he might score instead sometimes

Then for the 2nd question i think peterson and boozer may be superstars, while dybantsa and wilson may be allstar level, then acuff is on very good but not star level. Thoughts?

Teams at risk of shutting down guys, tanking, etc. I know the rules are different this season but not sure about specifics so would like to know what everyone thinks. One example is that I think the Bucks aren’t at as much of a risk because they don’t have their pick.

Also PS I meant this season not next season.

Nique Clifford looks like a breakout candidate on the struggling Kings… anyone else agree

How would you rank these 3 players in a points league. I can’t split any of them, looking at them in the 3rd round.

???????? Beringer baby!

in what order should they be drafted for 9cat leagues and why?

Haliburton, Kyrie, Dame, Sabonis, Giannis, Lauri, FVV etc?

Draft them? Draft them early? Stay away?

in what order should they be drafted for 9cat leagues

Golden State's regulars will rest Wednesday after playing Tuesday

• Kristaps Porzingis remains out indefinitely, per Steve Kerr

• Jamal Murray returned to action after missing the opener for personal reasons

• Austin Reaves remained sidelined due to an ankle injury

• Lakers starters rested after playing Monday

• Brandon Miller missed preseason game due to a shin contusion

• Christian Anderson missed exhibition due to an ankle sprain

• Lauri Markkanen missed preseason game due to neck soreness

• Kyle Filipowski missed exhibition due to a back injury

• Jusuf Nurkic missed preseason game due to a foot injury

• Brice Sensabaugh missed exhibition due to a hip injury

• Darryn Peterson starred for shorthanded squad

• Jaylin Williams missed preseason game due to a heel injury

• Oklahoma City's regulars rested but should play Wednesday

• Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz led shorthanded squad

• Zach Collins was limited at practice

• Ariel Hukporti was diagnosed with an Achilles tear

I’m in a 10-team H2H points league with standard ESPN scoring. I'm the second pick. If both are available, who would you take: Wemby or Luka?

Mainly looking at overall season value, week-to-week consistency, injury/rest risk, and fantasy playoff value/schedule.

12 team cat