Thinking about punting a category in your fantasy basketball draft? Even if you’re planning to concede a specific stat, the trio of Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains untouchable, holding elite fantasy value no matter your strategy. These guys are the real deal, year in and year out, according to the 2025-26 rankings from Basketball Monster, and you’ll want them on your squad regardless of your draft build for the 2026-27 season.
Punting Points: Who Gets the Boost?
If you’re going to intentionally skip out on points, you might think you should just avoid all the big scorers. Nah, not so fast. Your elite fantasy options are still, well, your elite options. Last season was wild, with seven of the eight players rocking first-round ADPs in 12-team leagues, who actually played 60 games or more, all averaging at least 23.9 points per contest. The lone exception? Karl-Anthony Towns from New York, who still put up a respectable 20.1 points per night.
But if you’re committed to the punt-points strategy, that’s where you find some serious hidden value after the first round. We’re talking about wings who can lock down on defense and those post players who really make an impact. Guys like Amen Thompson from Houston, Portland’s Donovan Clingan, Dyson Daniels over in Atlanta, or Ausar Thompson from Detroit are all going to see their value shoot up for you. Amen is even worth a look in the second round, while Clingan, Daniels, and Ausar are super solid picks if you grab them outside the first three rounds in a 12-team draft.
And hey, just so you know who was absolutely killing it last season (2025-26, minimum 60 games), here’s the top-12 list:
1. Nikola Jokić
2. Victor Wembanyama
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
4. Kawhi Leonard
5. Tyrese Maxey
6. Scottie Barnes
7. Luka Dončić
8. Trey Murphy
9. Chet Holmgren
10. Jamal Murray
11. Donovan Mitchell
12. Donovan Clingan
So, for your first-round targets, you’re still eyeing Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If you’re in the second round, keep an eye on G Donovan Mitchell, G Tyrese Haliburton, Scottie Barnes, and Amen Thompson. And when you hit the third round and beyond, Kawhi Leonard, Chet Holmgren, Dyson Daniels, Walker Kessler, Donovan Clingan, and Ausar Thompson are your guys.
Rebounding: Letting it Slide for Guard Glory
Okay, so maybe points aren’t your thing, but what about rebounds? If you decide to punt rebounds, it seriously bumps up the fantasy value of guards who aren’t exactly known for their board-crashing abilities. But here’s the kicker: “punting” doesn’t mean you totally ignore rebounds. You still want guys who can grab a few.
This strategy really shines with projected first-rounders like Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey, especially if you pair them with another perimeter player who can also rack up stats elsewhere. And keep your eyes peeled in those middle rounds for Nickeil Alexander-Walker from Atlanta and Desmond Bane out of Orlando. They both get a nice value boost in a punt-rebounds build. Oh, and Darius Garland on the Clippers? He comes with some risk, yeah, but he’s absolutely worth considering.
The draft board is wild, but knowing these strategies early can be a game-changer. Keep an eye on those mid-round guys as you build your roster, because that’s where the real steals happen in a punt build. Good luck out there, and happy drafting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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