Whether you’re new to Points League or you’re trying it out for the first time, I have a few tips and tricks on how to tackle your draft.
KEEP IN MIND: It’s important to know your leagues scoring setting before heading into your draft!
Here’s a breakdown of a standard Yahoo’s scoring setting for Points Leagues:
Points scored: 1
Total Rebounds: 1.2
Assists: 1.5
Steals: 3
Blocked Shots: 3
Turnovers: -1
There are several other categories available that your league could incorporate on top of these, but the aforementioned scoring setting is what we will go off of in this article. Below are important things to keep in mind when preparing for your points league draft.
Turnovers
I don’t know about you, but the first thing that jumps out at me when looking at the scoring breakdown is TURNOVERS. Turnovers are a killer when it comes to points leagues. Yes, turnovers are a part of the game, but make sure you select players who minimize turnovers OR get enough counting stats to offset those turnovers. If you’re able to avoid turnover-prone players in your draft, DO IT.
These guys are the poster boy for “make sure the counting stats offset the turnovers”
Big Men
In my Points League last year, I was able to run the table and go 20-0 using this simple strategy: GET BIG MEN EARLY. You want to grab the big men that are primarily known for getting Points+Rebounds+Blocks. A few big men that come to mind who would be incredible to have are Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, KAT, Drummond, Jokic, and Joel Embiid. These are the premier big men that will be on a lot of championship squads in Points Leagues.
*If your league dings players for FTM (Free Throws Missed) then Drummond obviously gets knocked out of the premier category and his value drops dramatically.
What to Avoid
Don’t put a lot of stock into last year’s stats. Just because a player balled out last year doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll repeat it. A lot can change year-to-year, so be mindful of the players and their current opportunity. This past summer saw a lot of new free agent signings and trades, so there is new opportunity everywhere around the league. Be mindful of this when your pick is coming up in the draft and you are debating between a few players.
Efficiency is Key
Avoiding turnovers and drafting big men are very important. Once all the premier players are off the board, it’s time to focus on efficient players. Counting stats are very important, so don’t discredit players just because they don’t score a lot. Players that can get you steals, blocks, and rebounds without turning the ball over is key to winning your fantasy league. A few mid-round players to keep an eye on are: Marcus Smart, Mikal Bridges, Robert Covington, Thaddeus Young, and Dejounte Murray. These guys will give you counting stats while keeping their turnovers low.
Lowkey Players I’m Targeting LATE
So, you got your starting lineup full of big men and efficient guards and forwards – Now what? Here is a list of players that I wouldn’t mind having at the end of my bench that are going under-the-radar (Under 50% owned in Yahoo leagues):
-Ish Smith
-Cedi Osman
-Tristan Thompson
-Dennis Schroder
-Kent Bazemore
-Will Barton
-Ivaca Zubac
-Jordan Clarkson
-Rajon Rondo
-PJ Tucker
-DJ Augustin
-Taurean Prince
-Jakob Poeltl
-Kyle Anderson
-Luke Kennard
Just to name a few. These guys have the opportunity and room to grow. Give ‘em a shot!
Questions? Follow Me and Ask!
If your league uses more categories or puts more weight on specific categories and you want more advice, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter and ask me your questions! You can tweet at me or DM me any time.
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God bless everyone and let’s win that championship together!
Jacob W Dunne
