Paolo Banchero is flagged as risky in nine-cat formats ahead of the 2025-26 season, while LaMelo Ball and Joel Embiid face durability questions that could sink early-round value. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard carry injury risk, and Malik Monk and De'Aaron Fox are watched for stability amid roster shifts with the Kings. The host argues for a simple drafting path, prioritizing healthy, versatile contributors over high-variance upside to maximize matchups from opening night.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anchors a value-forward draft approach, crowned as the clear first-round value on Yahoo's board thanks to last season's fantasy totals and elite per-game pace. Tyrese Maxi follows as the round-two target, especially if Joel Embiid and Paul George miss time to start the year, offering big-volume scoring and reliable counting stats. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry anchor the upper-middle rounds, with Durant's high usage tempered by durability concerns and Curry's upside hinging on health. Derrick White lands in round four as a true across-the-board producer, while Jimmy Butler anchors a high-floor, durability-conscious fifth-round plan. OG Anunoby, Fred VanVleet, and Donovan Clingan populate mid-rounds with steady multi-category value and upside. A balanced build, aiming for five-to-six assist-threaded contributors and strong safety nets, drives Dan Bespers’ mid-round selections. The episode also touches on late-round sleepers like Keegan Murray and Austin Reeves as potential swing picks to push a roster over the ADP floor.

Across the board, the strategy emphasizes value over name-brand prestige, prioritizing players who can deliver in multiple categories even when their usage varies week-to-week. The host argues for targeted exposure to high-floor veterans and a few high-upside youngsters to weather rest days and injuries. The overall takeaway: identify those mid-round stalwarts who can anchor several categories, then fill gaps with high-variance scorers who can swing week-to-week outcomes in favor of your fantasy squad.

Unicorns in fantasy basketball are the focus of this episode: players who post above-average numbers across a mix of categories, allowing you to bridge gaps in your roster. Jokic and Green anchor five-category lines, while Bilal Coulibaly and Dyson Daniels emerge as late-round weirdo bets who can supply assists and blocks with efficient scoring. Siakam, Wiggins and Hart offer multi-category upside—boosting threes while keeping FG% solid—making them prime targets for unicorn builds. The discussion emphasizes careful punt strategies and exploiting ADP shifts to craft a versatile, five-category-capable squad.

The show dives into how rare blends like points+blocks and assists+blocks shape drafting, warns about Sabonis’ high usage with gaps in blocks and threes, and outlines how to pair top studs with late-round upside to maximize value in 9- and 12-team formats. It stays true to the five-category fantasy ethos, urging balanced risk, deliberate stacking, and smart late picks to push teams beyond the median.