Draft
Strategy

Punts, formats, round-by-round targets and the traps to avoid, built on our projections. 3 of the 6 stories here are for Pro members, and Pro opens every one.

Strategy

The fantasy playoff schedule favors Phoenix and Dallas, and punishes New Orleans

Over ESPN's default fantasy playoff weeks, from March 8 to April 4, Phoenix and Dallas play 16 games while five teams play 13, and New Orleans plays only five in the final fortnight.

James · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read

Latest stories

Strategy

The first round, pick by pick, in points and in 9-cat

Our projections agree with the analysts on the top three, then split on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson and Tyrese Haliburton depending on the format.

Matt · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read
Strategy

Five early-round traps, and the players to take instead

Kon Knueppel, Devin Booker, Deni Avdija, Stephon Castle and Paolo Banchero in 9-cat are all going rounds earlier than our projections can justify, for five different reasons.

Matt · October 3, 2026 · 3 min read
Strategy

Same player, different format: who to draft in points and who in 9-cat

Alperen Sengun is 15th on our points board and 45th in 9-cat, while Cason Wallace is 129th and 78th, and knowing which players split this way is half the job in either format.

Matt · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read
Strategy

Steals and blocks are the scarcest categories, and these players supply both

Only a handful of players project for more than two and a half steals and blocks combined, and several of them are going outside the first five rounds.

Matt · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read
Strategy

How we call a breakout, and how to spot one yourself

Most fantasy breakouts are a change in minutes, not a change in talent. Here is how our projections tell the two apart, and where to look on the site.

Matt · October 3, 2026 · 2 min read