The basics
- You build a roster under a cap and score from real NBA box-score production.
- With games nearly every day, availability and rest decisions dominate weekly outcomes.
- Positional flexibility is valuable because it lets you cover late scratchings.
How scoring works
- Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks all add; turnovers and missed shots typically cost you.
- Big men who rebound and block are steady; guards live off assists and threes.
- Usage rate is the single best predictor — who takes the shots when they're on the floor.
Strategy that actually moves the needle
- Follow the injury wire. A starter going down turns a bench player into a cheap high-usage scorer overnight.
- Fade role players on deep contenders who rest starters and shorten rotations.
- Back-to-backs and load management are real: check the schedule, not just the names.
Your first week
- Draft for minutes certainty over reputation.
- Keep one or two flexible slots for the first wave of injuries.
- Don't over-invest before rotations settle in the first fortnight.