Victor Wembanyama climbs to No. 2 as Yahoo’s new weekly-format reshuffles the top 12, while Nikola Jokic stays No. 1 and Giannis slides. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Dončić hold strong positions, and the host argues you can build around Wemby without forcing a punt-heavy plan, weighing guard vs big-man routes and midseason give-ups in both 9-cat and 8-cat formats. AD’s durability risk and Harden’s all-around edge are flagged for risk/reward decisions as opening-night prep nears.

Beyond the top tier, Cade Cunningham’s guard-build tradeoffs and Devin Booker as a viable late-first anchor are weighed, with midseason punt concepts and head-to-head vs roto strategies guiding practical moves for opening-night lineups.

Knicks depth and pace stand out in preseason, with Brunson driving the offense as Bridges, Towns, and an expanding bench supply scoring and playmaking. Philly’s guard corps remains elite but health remains a variable. Orlando gains bounce with Desmond Bane, while Jokic’s Nuggets show how new pieces fit into a high-IQ, shared playmaking system. The East feel accessible, the West stacked, setting up a fantasy season full of late-round upside and versatile lineups.

Anthony Davis anchors a punt-dominant nine-cat build, drafted at pick 8 with health risk in mind but sky-high upside. The plan pivots away from early points/assists to steal floors via Dyson Daniels and Amen Thompson, then stacks defense with Walker Kesler and Jakob Poeltl. Late-round guards and big-man complements—Mitchell Robinson and Taylor Hendricks—lock in rebounds, blocks, and defensive stats. It’s a calculated path to win the defensive columns while largely bypassing high-volume scoring early.

ESPN's top 100 debate for 2025-26 sparked a Bulls-centered clash: Josh Giddy’s omission is dissected as a possible snub or a data-driven verdict, while Kobe White earns a top-100 nod and prompts discussion of Bulls’ growing youth, fit, and ceiling. The panel’s criteria emphasize predicted contributions, with debates over ball-handling, role clarity, and how a team’s trajectory shapes ranking. Offseason trends—youth, depth, size—frame the broader NBA outlook, contrasting star-building vs. roster depth.

Denver's title chase hinges on Jokic's workload and a crowded rotation that could sap late-season value. Murray returns as a clear focal point, while depth players like Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson offer upside but come with usage uncertainty. Valančiūnas provides an elite late-round handcuff in best-ball, and the Nuggets’ varied wing mix—Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Julian Strawther, Peyton Watson—creates both risk and rotation flexibility. Strategic notes stress two-game weeks and schedule quirks when weighing Jokic and the top stars.