What do successful fantasy hoops teams currently look like?
Inside, I take a closer look at the top seven teams in the NFBKC Main Event contest, which features 72 teams overall.
For today’s analysis, let’s take a closer look at the top seven teams in the National Fantasy Basketball Championship’s (NFBKC) Main Event contest.
Which players have carried these teams to the top of the standings, which players do they have in common (spoiler alert: Jalen Suggs is on three of the top six teams), and are there any key takeaways as far as Roto categories are concerned? Let’s find out…
Why are we analyzing the top seven teams? Well, with 72 teams in the overall contest, the top seven teams are essentially the Top 10 percentile. Who cares about the rest?!
It also happens to be the current cut-off for scoring 400+ total Roto points, as only seven teams are above 400, while the other 65 teams are all below 400 points overall.
Here are the current overall standings, entering Thursday’s games:
Before we take a closer look at each team, I’d like to give shout outs to Eric Lopez (Zaragocin) and Bryan Doyle. Lopez is a current Zen Hoops subscriber, and he’s been a fierce and friendly competitor over the years. He finished 2nd overall in last year’s Main Event, and isn’t afraid to go against the grain, which is a good trait to have if you’re right more often than wrong.
And Doyle is one of the brave few who challenged me to a 1-on-1 side bet this season, which takes some huevos!
I’m sure all five of these owners (and a few more currently lurking in the shadows) are going to give me a run for my money, as I seek out my 6th Main Event overall title.
As for my current points total of 429 out of a maximum 576, that’s not that impressive. It means I’ve only amassed 74.5% of the maximum possible points, whereas you usually need close to 80% of max points to have a strong chance at the overall title, and I have actually scored over 90% of max points in the Main Event overall contest before (one of my greatest fantasy hoops achievements, for sure).
#1 - Zen Hoops (Owner: myself), 429 total points
Top 3 picks: Anthony Davis, Alperen Sengun, Tyrese Maxey
Key value picks: OG Anunoby (#56), Jalen Suggs (89), Cameron Johnson (128), Payton Pritchard (161), Rui Hachimura (176)
Weak picks: Immanuel Quickley (41), Jalen Smith (137)
Key Free Agent pickups: Jeremy Sochan, Caris LeVert
Other top players: Ivica Zubac, Cam Thomas, Tyus Jones, Bobby Portis, Jaden McDaniels
Reasons to worry:
Fingers are always crossed when AD is playing, Johnson may not be able to sustain his current production.
Reasons to be encouraged:
I’ve gotten zero help from Quickley (who was my 4th round pick), and Cam Thomas should be making his return soon.
#2 - Zen Hoops (Owner: myself), 420 total points
Top 3 picks: Karl-Anthony Towns, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Williams
Key value picks: Ivica Zubac (70), Jalen Suggs (94), Payton Pritchard (166), Santi Aldama (171)
Weak picks: D’Angelo Russell (75), Andre Drummond (123)
Key Free Agent pickups: PJ Washington, Gradey Dick
Other top players: Desmond Bane, Brandon Miller, Bobby Portis, Jaden Ivey
Reasons to worry:
KAT’s durability concerns, the wild inconsistency (and bad luck?) of that foolish Russell pick.
Reasons to be encouraged:
Ridiculous center depth (in addition to Towns, Sengun, Zubac, Washington and Portis, I also have Donovan Clingan), plus Bub Carrington waiting in the wings.
#3 - Main5 (Owner: Eric Lopez/Maria Zaragocin), 413 total points
Top 3 picks: Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Devin Booker
Key value picks: Walker Kessler (49), Jakob Poeltl (96), Zach LaVine (97), Cameron Johnson (120)
Weak picks: Keegan Murray (72), Brandin Podziemski (121)
Key Free Agent pickups: Christian Braun
Other top players: Mikal Bridges, DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Gordon, Royce O’Neale
Reasons to worry:
LaVine and Johnson have been involved in trade rumors (and would likely have lower usage on other teams), Booker is nursing a groin injury, and Keegan has shown few signs of turning things around.
Reasons to be encouraged:
Young will continue to carry the Hawks on his back, and Kessler has been playing huge minutes lately.
#4 - Karma Kings (Owner: Bryan Doyle), 412 total points
Top 3 picks: Victor Wembanyama, Bam Adebayo, Jalen Johnson
Key value picks: Darius Garland (62), Tyler Herro (83), Dyson Daniels (134), Tari Eason (158), Gradey Dick (179)
Weak picks: Naz Reid (86), Brandin Podziemski (110)
Key Free Agent pickups: Mark Williams, Andrew Nembhard
Other top players: Dejounte Murray, Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija
Reasons to worry:
Eason’s leg issues are concerning, and Jamal Murray isn’t a safe bet to stay healthy.
Reasons to be encouraged:
Dejounte Murray missed a lot of time with injury, Williams could provide a huge boost if he can stay healthy, and Wemby seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
#5 - Raygun Chaos (Owner: Le Chen), 408.5 total points
Top 3 picks: Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, LeBron James
*Key value picks: John Collins (?), PJ Washington (?), Santi Aldama (?)
*Weak picks: Zion Williamson (?)
*I don’t have draft results data from this league.