Jokic anchors an all-round reversal mock in a 14-team, nine-category setup, with the host stressing that reversing every round creates a fair, balanced spread early and buffers top-heavy slates. The room needles volatility, leans into value over name-brand certainty, and leans into position-wide streaming as the season unfolds.

Giddey lands as a notable value drop, Zion raises risk-reward debates, and Brandon Miller, Mark Williams and Bam Adebayo emerge as key mid-round targets. The draft emphasizes value-based pivots, flexible endgames, and careful avoidance of injury risk while projecting upside through strategic late-round streaming.

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.

Nine-category top-25 fantasy rankings for 25-26 NBA push Jokic to the throne, with Victor Wembanyama roaming into the top three and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander locking in as a high-usage anchor beside Luka and Giannis. The host stresses that projections mix with gut feel, and playoff timing can tilt value, especially in Yahoo’s two-game-final-week setup where some stars dip hard. The middle and bottom of the first round hinge on health, role continuity, and late-season upside.

Edwards, Booker, Durant, Towns, and LeBron populate the upper-middle, each carrying a clear ceiling but with durability or fit caveats. Curry’s turn is debated, Harden’s value depends on health and surrounding talent, and Wembanyama’s rookie year sits as a high-ceiling, high-variance bet. No single formula rules — it’s about balancing upside with playoff reliability and format-specific quirks.

Beyond the top five, the discussion leans into roster construction, pace, and how ESPN vs Yahoo vs Fantrax scoring reshapes value. Zion is notably absent, while upside bets like Amen Thompson, Giddey, and Bam Adebayo offer path-dependent value. A future episode on pairing and rest-of-season strategy promises further nuance in this brand-new fantasy landscape.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander anchors a 4th pick mock built around multi-cat upside and steady assist equity. Jokic and Giannis pace the top, with the roster leaning assists, scoring balance, and late-round big-man stabilization. A pronounced punt-threes philosophy surfaces as auto-picks reshape the board, and Zion’s health and Harden’s value loom as the season progresses. The guide emphasises cautious early risk and strategic mid-rounds to stay competitive in head-to-head and roto formats.

The host cycles through guard-heavy direction, adds Maxi and Fox for assists, then pivots to reliable bigs like Gobert and Duran, acknowledging the scarcity of ceiling centers. The narrative blends player-by-player tempo with Yahoo expert rankings, showing how a built-from-shay approach mutates as the draft winds down.

Overall takeaway: maximize assist and steal potential early, shore up rebounds and blocks with late-round centers, and accept a few three-point punts to sustain top-tier scoring and efficiency. It’s a blueprint for a resilient, high-floor squad in varied formats.