Fantasy basketball success hinges on the season’s schedule as much as on talent. Yahoo playoffs run Weeks 21–23 (Mar 16–Apr 5), with an extended Week 17 for the All-Star break, creating distinct rest windows and streaming opportunities. The NBA Cup adds weekly scoring quirks, with Group Play and Quarterfinals typically counting toward fantasy, while Semifinals and Championship do not. Back-to-back (B2B) risk distributes unevenly—some teams endure 16 B2Bs, others as few as 13—shaping rostering decisions in late-season windows.

While a few teams offer heavy game volume in the fantasy playoffs (notably 12-game weeks for Rockets, Grizzlies, Magic, Wizards), others deliver thin weeks (9–10 games for Nuggets and Knicks) that can sink head-to-heads if your stars sit. The nuggets of strategy: map B2B stress to injury history, leverage depth on high-volume weeks, and watch for shifts as the schedule evolves toward the final sprint.

Zach Reifschneider unveils his 2025-2026 Top 60 Dynasty Rookie Rankings for fantasy basketball, highlighting Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper as single-tier anchors and outlining a mix of sleepers and high-variance wild cards. The piece stresses upside vs. risk across nine tiers, notes Sorber’s ACL setback, and spotlights late-round bets like Hugo Gonzalez, Noah Penda, Kam Jones, and Drake Powell. It also flags cautious takes on Jeremiah Fears and Yang Hansen, urging buyers to weigh roster fit, age, and draft capital in dynasty leagues.

Beyond rankings, the article emphasizes context-driven decision making: patient holds, opportunistic buys, and how Summer League outputs could shift values. It presents a practical, no-nonsense framework for Dynasty managers to navigate this class while keeping an eye on minutes, role, and long-term upside.

Dallas Mavericks' 45-year countdown continues with Nos. 35-26, blending budding talent and seasoned pros who left an imprint. Dereck Lively II anchors the frontcourt with rim protection and efficient finishing; Daniel Gafford stacks elite FG% and paint presence; P.J. Washington adds versatile scoring and floor spacing for Dallas’ late-season push.

Erick Dampier, Wesley Matthews, Vince Carter, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr., Shawn Bradley, and Harrison Barnes complete the batch, delivering rebounds, shooting, and veteran savvy. These names shape fantasy floor and playoff upside, with Barnes offering consistent scoring and versatility across a second-stint context.