The Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide
190 players for 9-cat leagues. Where each one is going, where I'd take him, and why.
Instant download: 18-page PDF + an offline draft board for your phone. Checkout by Gumroad.
Everything I use on draft night
The 190-player board
Where each player is going in Yahoo Diamond drafts (Sep 23 snapshot), where I'd take him, and a clear verdict: VALUE, FAIR, OVERPRICED or DO NOT DRAFT.
My call on the 16
The names that need a decision: pass at this price, depends on your build, or consider if healthy. Each one comes with an alternative and the tradeoff.
Value picks
Ten players whose numbers beat their price, plus the values carrying an injury flag and how many of those to take.
Punt pairings
Your first pick decides your build. Who to pair with him in rounds 2 and 3, rounds 4 to 7, and round 9 on.
Who fits the BLH Build
Engines, unicorns and the specialists who win steals, blocks, FT%, FG% and turnovers.
Playoff schedule
Fantasy playoff games for every team, schedule traps, and the light days that win streaming weeks.
Movers and rookies
Who gained a role, who lost one, and which rookies are worth a pick.
A draft board for your phone
One file that opens with no internet. Search any player or team and filter by verdict while you're on the clock.
Built for 9-cat
Standard 9-cat with turnovers counted. For season-long head-to-head and roto redraft leagues.
Look inside
The 16 names that need a call
These are the players where the price and the numbers disagree. The guide shows the problem, the numbers, my decision and who I'd take instead for each one.
- Jayson Tatum
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Domantas Sabonis
- Paolo Banchero
- Pascal Siakam
- Damian Lillard
- Kyle Kuzma
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Alperen Şengün
- Jaylen Brown
- Rudy Gobert
- Trae Young
- Anthony Davis
- Joel Embiid
- Dejounte Murray
- Paul George
The three flaws
Under 50 games last season. Healthy players can stay healthy, and my price already discounts the games he may miss.
Guards under 42% from the field unless they hit threes, bigs under 45%, or under 70% at the line on real volume.
Barely any steals and blocks without threes, or three-plus turnovers without the assists to cover them.
A flag alone never means pass. Only OVERPRICED and DO NOT DRAFT do.
Barack Lesnar Hoops
I've been breaking down 9-category fantasy basketball on YouTube for years. I built this guide the way I draft: price first, then fit, then the categories that actually decide head-to-head weeks.
- Never punt turnovers
- Two or three engines early, then specialists
- Win the scarce categories: FG%, FT%, steals, blocks, turnovers
- Two injury gambles max
- Check who plays in the fantasy playoffs
FAQ
What format is it?
An 18-page PDF plus a single-file draft board that opens in your phone's browser with no internet. Both download right after checkout.
What leagues is it for?
Standard 9-category leagues with turnovers, season-long, head-to-head or roto. It is not built for points leagues or dynasty.
Where do the numbers come from?
Draft prices are the Yahoo Diamond ADP snapshot from September 23, 2026. Last-season stats are 2025-26 per game. The safe pick is my formula: per-game value above a waiver pickup, times the games a player is likely to play.
How do I pay?
Checkout runs through Gumroad. Card and PayPal work there, and your download link is emailed to you.
Is Gobert on the do-not-draft list?
Not anymore. He played 76 games and finished 28th in season totals. If you punt free throws, he fits. If you protect them, pass. The guide shows the tradeoff against Jarrett Allen.
Draft the value, not the name
Instant download. PDF + offline mobile board.