RADIO
Alex Burns's top 200 fantasy Basketball rankings (points) for 2025-2026 drafts. See which NBA players he is targeting points leagues and which players see the biggest fluctuation in value between points and category formats.
In today's day and age, category leagues take the cake for being the most popular fantasy hoops format. Years ago, however, it was a points league that ignited my passion for fantasy basketball. No matter how you slice it, there will always be something satisfying about the simplicity of watching your players rack up fantasy points.
Last week, I unveiled my category rankings for the upcoming season, and in this piece, I'll be introducing my points league rankings. While category scoring formats -- like 9-Cat and 8-Cat Roto -- require specific attention to at least five categories depending on your punting strategy, value in points leagues is strongly correlated by two things: minutes and usage rate. In a category league, high minutes and high usage should lead to solid counting stats, but also a worse FG% and higher turnovers. In points leagues, it's a bit simpler. The more minutes and the higher usage a player assumes on offense amounts to more fantasy points per game (FPPG).
This changes the rankings and the way we value players quite a bit on draft day. Because of this, I've gone through nearly 300 players and projected their stats for the upcoming season. Once that was complete, I ran them through Yahoo's default points league scoring settings before making some personal tweaks. Here you’ll find my Top 200 Fantasy Basketball Rankings for points leagues. I’ve also highlighted a few players who see the biggest swings in value — for better or worse — once you adjust for points-league scoring.
"
"
2025-2026 Fantasy Basketball Points Rankings: Alex's Top 200
* These rankings are projected using the Yahoo! default scoring settings
As always, Williamson is one of the biggest leapers between league formats. In category leagues, he's perennially a 4th/5th round guy with upside for more. In points leagues, however, his value sky rockets to first round value. Just last season, Zion finished top-12 in fantasy points per game (42.99) in his 30 healthy games.
Of course, his health and inability to get through a full season should knock him out of first-round contention in drafts. But he profiles as a terrific late 2nd/early 3rd round target with upside for more if he can just stay on the court.
Ja Morant, PG - Memphis Grizzlies
Alex's Category Rank - 37, Points Ranking - 14
Morant's perennial 30+ usage rate doesn't typically translate to elite value in category leagues. In points leagues, however, it is a difference maker. His averages of 23.2 points and 7.2 assists were good for 37.72 FPPG in his 50 games last season, and with Desmond Bane out of the picture, we could see that spike over 40 FPPG.
Sure, there's always availability risk with Morant, and he is currently nursing an ankle injury, though it shouldn't keep him out long. If he can stay healthy, he has easy top 24 upside.
Michael Porter Jr., F - Brooklyn Nets
Alex's Category Rank - 67, Points Ranking - 48
Playing third fiddle behind Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray has made MPJ more valuable in category leagues over the past several seasons. Now with the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets, his value is poised to take a leap as he becomes the de facto number one option on offense. It remains to be seen how he will fare in that role or if it will even last the entire season, because, well, tanking. But MPJ has an opportunity to see his heftiest usage yet and should breeze past his previous career-high mark of 22.7%.
Last season, he averaged 30.95 FPPG on only 20.2% usage, and with 25%+ on tap, he should routinely flirt with top 50 numbers for as long as he's out there.
Players on the Decline
The Following players see their value decline in points leagues.
Dyson Daniels, F - Atlanta Hawks
Alex's Category Rank - 46, Points Rank - 71
Daniels is coming off an amazing fantasy season, buoyed by a generational steal rate and huge opportunity. This resulted in him being dubbed a unanimous league-winner and top 30 value for much of the season. But as it is with everything in fantasy hoops, context is important. Daniels played 42 games without Jalen Johnson, which certainly helped his production offensively. At the end of the day, he finished with an 18.9% usage rate, and his 35.88 FPPG was good for 48th.
This season, not only does a healthy Johnson return to the lineup, but Atlanta made a big splash in free agency with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. All of which are expected to play big roles in the rotation and are big improvements over who the Hawks were running out for much of last season.
Daniels is still an elite target in category leagues, but a reduced steal rate (history tells us it will decline) combined with more competition offensively would place Daniels as more as a mid-round target as opposed to a surefire top 50 guy in points leagues.
Trey Murphy III, F - New Orleans Pelicans
Alex's Category Rank - 47, Points Ranking - 62
Much like Daniels, Murphy benefited from a slew of injuries in New Orleans last year. Zion played 30 games, Dejounte Murray played 31 games, C.J. McCollum played 56 games, Herb Jones played 20 games, and Brandon Ingram only appeared in 18 games before he was shipped off to Toronto at the trade deadline. All of this resulted in Murphy being tasked to carry the offensive load for much of the season. While he was a strong option in category leagues, all of that opportunity amounted to 35.12 FPPG and placed Murphy outside the top 50 in points leagues.
With Zion Williamson healthy and the addition of Jordan Poole this offseason, it'll be tough for Murphy to find himself in a similar situation offensively. Not to mention, Murray is expected back sometime around the new year.
I'm high on Murphy in category leagues, but some of the magic that makes him special doesn't translate as well in points formats. Of course, Zion staying healthy for a full season is never a safe bet, but Murphy may not see an opportunity as golden as he did last year. And if he couldn't sneak into the top 50 last year, then I don't see a world in which it happens this season.
Jalen Suggs, G - Orlando Magic
Alex's Category Rank - 86, Points Rank - 102
Suggs is legitimately one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. And a lot of what he can do on that end of the floor translates really well in category formats. In a points league, his value hovers right around the top 100, finishing 94th a season ago with under 30 FPPG.
While his 16.2 PPG and 3.7 assists marked career-highs for Suggs, 29 missed games for Paolo Banchero helped boost Suggs for stretches during the season. Those numbers will almost assuredly take a hit with Banchero healthy, along with the addition of Desmond Bane. Suggs easily becomes the 4th option on offense, and his peripherals aren't strong enough to make up for the lack of offense.
Amen Thompson, F - Houston Rockets
Alex's Category Rank - 20, Points Rank - 37
Few players possess as much fantasy upside as Thompson does, but his skillset translates much better to category scoring. By all accounts, Thompson 'broke out' last season as he was finally awarded with more than 30 MPG. That resulted in a top 50 fantasy finish and has him being drafted in the second round, according to recent ADP. The contrast is highlighted by how he fared in points leagues, finishing 59th overall with 34.74 FPPG.
While Fred VanVleet's season-long absence should put the ball in his hands a bit more this season, the addition of Kevin Durant essentially wipes away most of his offensive upside, as Thompson should remain the third option offensively behind the aforementioned Durant and Alperen Sengun. He's a no-brainer top 30 guy in category leagues, but he clearly loses a round or two of value in points formats.
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!
