Yahoo’s top-10 for 9-cat fantasy basketball is out, led by Nikola Jokic at No. 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo sat at No. 2, with Victor Wembanyama at No. 3 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at No. 4. Luka Dončić sits at No. 5, followed by Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Domantas Sabonis completing the top 10. The host argues Jokic’s multi-category supremacy makes him a safe, productivity-saturated anchor, while projecting upside and risk across the board for the rest. Giannis’ placement sparks debate due to severe free-throw penalties in nine-category formats, making him a mid-first-round pick in some builds. Wembanyama’s ceiling is enormous, but he’s not a foolproof path in every format, especially if you’re not punting certain categories. The discussion then pivots to building around the big names with eye-catching durability, with attention paid to how health, games played, and category emphasis shape value for Edwards, Cunningham, Davis, Towns, and Sabonis. The host also dives into scoring profiles, field-goal efficiency, and the tricky balance between punting and balancing categories in both nine-cat and roto setups, offering practical draft-landing zones and pairing strategies for a season that demands both steady floor and ceiling bets.

Chicago opens the season with a stubborn non-tanking stance and a win total set at 31.5, a figure that fans will debate as the Bulls lean on a mix of youth and veterans. Nikola Vucevic’s expiring deal and the Zach LaVine era’s afterglow frame a broader talk: Chicago could move one of its core pieces for future assets, yet the group remains committed to growth rather than a full teardown. Late-season surges from Josh Giddey and Kobe White hint at upside, with Io DeSumo surrounding them as an efficient ball-handler who can help the Bulls space the floor. In fantasy terms, Vucevic’s vibes are intriguing but trade risk looms; Giddey’s heavy usage late last year makes him a spicy target, while White’s efficiency spike post-LaVine trade signals a volatile but high-reward path. Flyers like Asar Thompson’s unknown ceiling and Trey Jones’ potential role battles add depth to the Bulls’ upside dial, keeping the conversation lively about who emerges as the fifth starter and which veterans they’ll lean on in crunch time. Overall, the Bulls aren’t chasing a rebuild so much as a real playoff push, and that stance shapes both their real and fantasy trajectories this season.

Detroit’s projected core combines a young, growing backcourt with a seasoned veteran floor general. Cade Cunningham drives usage and multi-category value, while Jalen Duren and Asar Thompson add two-way upside and defensive pop that can push Pistons into top-80 fantasy territory with improved health and minutes. Tobias Harris provides a reliable scoring and efficiency floor, and Caris LeVert with Duncan Robinson bring credible spacing and scoring depth to complement Cade and Jaden Ivey. Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. supply veteran floor spacing with upside if their shots stay hot, and Dyson Daniels offers a developmental dart throw with defensive stats and potential minutes. The recipe hinges on minutes, health, and the team’s ability to maximize spacing to unlock a higher ceiling for nine-cat managers. The Pistons’ path remains nuanced: incremental improvements across multiple players could yield a balanced, trend-forward squad rather than a single breakout star.