Locked On Fantasy Basketball – Daily NBA Fantasy Basketball Podcast

OVERVIEW
Fantasy basketball managers face tough calls with the Toronto Raptors this season, especially sorting through inflated draft prices and changing roles after roster moves. I break down where the biggest risk and value points lie—particularly for Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and the overhyped and overlooked bench options—while giving actionable guidance on who to draft, avoid, or stash based on specific league formats.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Scottie Barnes' ADP is trending into the first round on multiple platforms, but his usage and overall fantasy output are likely to take a hit with Kawhi Leonard joining the team. Drafting Barnes in the first round is risky unless you’re comfortable with some downside.
Kawhi Leonard delivers elite per-game fantasy value, yet his extended injury history and likely game management (especially back-to-back rests) cap his upside in head-to-head leagues. I won't draft him before pick 40 in daily H2H, but he's a safer target in roto leagues where a games cap applies.
Immanuel Quickley’s fantasy outlook takes a hit with more ball-handling going to Barnes and Leonard; expect him to shift toward a spot-up role and see declines in assists and overall production compared to last season.
Jakob Poeltl is being fundamentally undervalued in drafts after last year’s injury-plagued campaign. With reports of full health, he should beat last year’s rank if given only a modest minute and block increase.
RJ Barrett benefits most in points leagues due to his shot volume, but his category league value is shaky and likely declines with Leonard in the lineup. He’s not worth a pick in the top 120 for category leagues.
Collin Murray-Boyles is one of the strongest bench targets and a top-100 upside pick, with a legitimate shot at closing minutes thanks to versatility and defensive impact. His draft stock is justified even in the eighth or ninth round.
Ja'Kobi Walter and Jamal Shead are key watch-list or deep-league names. Walter gets a boost if any starter is out, while Shedd could become a strong assists/steals streamer or direct swap for Quickley if injury strikes.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Raptors’ big question: Kawhi’s impact on fantasy
3:38 Scottie Barnes analysis and draft warning
6:10 Kawhi Leonard risk assessment and draft range
12:06 Immanuel Quickley fantasy outlook
14:03 Jakob Poeltl: last year’s miss, this year’s value
17:19 RJ Barrett — points vs categories
21:05 Key bench and sleeper breakdown: Murray-Boyles, Walter, Shedd
28:04 Deep bench, rookies, and team depth concerns
30:02 Best targets, fades, stashes
30:43 Injury updates and games missed risk
31:26 Raptors schedule and playoff planning
32:11 Final thoughts

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OVERVIEW
This episode is your ultimate fantasy basketball draft guide: I lay out my top player ranks, break down my favorite and least favorite draft targets, and cover draft-day strategy so you can confidently approach any league format. Expect direct advice on handling injured players, exploiting value, and maximizing your fun and upside late in drafts.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are my clear top four fantasy basketball picks regardless of format. It’s hard to go wrong with any order within this group.
Don’t overthink “pairings” or “builds” in early rounds—just take the best player available. You can make just about any combination work, and the rest of your core comes together in rounds 5–8.
Draft for upside first—grab players who have a real chance to beat their draft slot substantially. If no one jumps out, settle for the safer, high-floor option.
Fade players with preseason injuries or heavy injury risk (like Joel Embiid, Kawhi Leonard, and Brandon Ingram) far past their ranked value. Most are being drafted too early compared to the likely missed games and re-injury risk.
My favorite values across all formats at current ADP are Darius Garland, Dyson Daniels, Paul George, Milk Jerome, and Jeremiah Fears—each is priced below realistic upside or expected opportunity.
Avoid at current ADP: Donovan Mitchell (declining situation), Mikal Bridges (fantasy production has cratered despite durability), Josh Hart (boring, limited upside at his price), and highly-drafted rookies like AJ Dybantsa without established fantasy floors.
Late-round flyers should be all about upside and opportunity—consider names like Adae Mara, Kaman Malwach, Yaxel Lendeborg, Kevin Porter Jr., Rui Hachimura, and Darius Acuff, especially if their roles expand early.
Preseason standouts like Keishaun George, Lennon Miller, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Franz Wagner, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Da'Ron Sharpe may be worth aggressive drafting depending on your league size and risk tolerance.
RESOURCES
Must-draft lists, sleepers, busts, and mock drafts can be found on previous Locked On Fantasy Basketball episodes.
NEXT STEP
Apply these draft strategies and value targets to your upcoming fantasy basketball drafts for the best shot at both upside and fun.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Fantasy draft overview and top 9 rankings
3:31 Draft-day strategy and philosophy
6:07 Injured player approach
12:08 Players I’m targeting at ADP
19:57 Players I’m fading at ADP
24:33 Late-round flyer picks
29:21 Preseason standouts with breakout potential
32:54 Quick-hit cheat sheet and closing thoughts

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KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
PrizePicks
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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OVERVIEW
Sacramento Kings players bring significant fantasy basketball uncertainty, forcing tough draft decisions about Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and the rookies. I break down how the team’s chaotic roster, questionable management decisions, and role ambiguity affect fantasy value, identifying spots where you can find upside or should proceed with caution in both points and category leagues.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Domantas Sabonis’s fit and role are clouded by the Kings’ unstable rotations and the addition of Ben Simmons, making him riskier than his ESPN ADP of 19 suggests, but still offering top-25 upside in the right situation.
Zach LaVine is a value pick in the 90–100 range, given his efficiency and scoring even in bad scenarios last year; concerns about his assists persist, but workload and age are not major worries.
Keegan Murray’s defensive stats from last year are unlikely to sustain, especially with Ben Simmons playing; his shooting regression also limits upside, but he’s worth a late top-100 flyer if usage bumps up.
Darius Acuff Jr. profiles as a flyer only: rookie guards are almost always inconsistent and inefficient, yet his extremely high preseason usage makes him an intriguing gamble in the late rounds.
Ben Simmons is a deep category-league target only if you need rebounds and assists, expecting “the 6-6-6 line”; he brings defensive support but very low usage and health risk.
Maxime Raynaud is strictly a stash and only in weekly, deep leagues, since even as a 30-minute starter last season he was just a back-end value; he has no clear path to relevant minutes barring a Sabonis trade or injury.
DeAndre Hunter and Precious Achiuwa shouldn’t be drafted outside of the deepest formats; Hunter’s ADP around 91 is inexplicable given his empty lines, and Achiuwa’s value evaporates once healthy bodies return.
Fantasy managers must monitor the Kings’ rotation chaos closely and avoid over-investing in highly uncertain situations.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:32 Sacramento Kings’ big questions
5:11 Projected starting five and role analysis
13:34 Keegan Murray and Darius Acuff Jr. breakdown
17:51 Ben Simmons outlook
20:01 Bench and stash options
26:37 End-of-bench names and deep league flyers
28:38 Injuries and schedule impacts
30:26 Final remarks


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KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
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Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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OVERVIEW
San Antonio's fantasy basketball landscape comes with tricky questions around player roles, minute allocations, and how new rotations shake up draft value for key Spurs. I analyze Victor Wembanyama's tier among elite fantasy picks, uncertainty surrounding Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and De'Aaron Fox, plus where production and upside could outpace or fail draft cost.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Victor Wembanyama should be taken at pick 1 or 2 in nearly every format, despite category rankings sometimes pushing him down; worry less about Durant-style transformations if you're building for ceiling and opportunity.
Wembanyama's category-league value is inflated by block scarcity, but his points-league floor is still elite—just note the risk that his minutes may not rise dramatically from last season.
Stephon Castle is a points-league buy inside the top 50, but category leagues demand caution due to weak steals, threes, and skepticism about his free throw gains; don't reach above his ADP in that format.
De'Aaron Fox is hard to trust, with volatile stats in steals and free throws, and faces minutes and usage pressure from other guards; only draft if the price drops to the 90s.
Dylan Harper has substantial upside if his shooting holds or usage spikes, but the floor is shaky if efficiency dips or minutes plateau—he is a justified target in the 80s but not a lock for that range's value.
Devin Vassell now lacks category league appeal due to reduced usage, injury history, and limited opportunity to handle the ball; more valuable as a boring floor in deeper leagues.
Avoid drafting Julian Champagnie, Tobias Harris, and Keldon Johnson in 12-team leagues—their roles and production profiles won't provide standard-league value.
Luke Kornet is the stash in case of a Wembanyama injury but otherwise not worth standard-league consideration.
Carter Bryant may emerge for deep leagues as the Spurs invest in his development, but shooting remains a concern.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:31 Spurs fantasy questions and rotation dilemma
4:05 Victor Wembanyama draft value and risks
5:28 Stephon Castle projections in points vs. category leagues
7:55 De'Aaron Fox volatility and draft range
12:15 Dylan Harper's upside and risk
15:34 Devin Vassell's changing role, why to avoid
17:37 Bench pieces: Champagnie, Harris, Keldon Johnson, Kornet, Bryant
23:25 Backup guards, big men, and deep league considerations
23:33 Best targets, fades, stashes
25:44 Injury updates and schedule notes
27:02 Closing remarks and site updates


Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.

Betterhelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
PrizePicks
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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OVERVIEW
This episode breaks down a fantasy basketball mock draft from the ninth pick, anchored around Cooper Flagg. I walk through my draft decisions, evaluate the value and risk of specific players, and explain how to adapt on the fly as the board shifts. The analysis is practical for anyone drafting in standard 9-category leagues, with an eye toward roster construction, value pockets in the mid rounds, and avoiding common pitfalls.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Cooper Flagg at pick 9 is reasonable, with a worst-case scenario of finishing around 16th—his floor and upside make him a safe first-round anchor, and the risk of a total bust is low, even in year two.
The myth of the sophomore slump is overrated when evaluating prospects with elite rookie production; history supports betting on further improvement into year two.
There is a deep pool of undervalued players between picks 30–70 (names like Jalen Brunson, Devin Booker, Darius Garland, Franz Wagner, Cam Boozer), making a balanced approach in the mid rounds especially beneficial in auctions.
Player-specific notes: Jalen Johnson’s ADP is volatile but presents strong upside when he falls; Jaren Jackson Jr. and Joel Embiid have risky profiles at their current slots; position eligibility and role inconsistency are real concerns for players like Kel'el Ware.
Adaptability is essential: Don’t lock into a pre-set list based only on rank—always stay flexible and act based on how the board develops, not just who you wanted to take at each spot.
Chasing upside with late-round flyers (guys like Jeremiah Fears, Marez Johnson Jr., Jake LaRavia) makes more sense than defaulting to low ceiling, high floor veterans after round 10.
The difference between a player ranked 50th or 70th is marginal; leagues are won by nailing breakout values, not by obsessing over small ranking gaps.
Don’t worry about running out of useful waiver wire players in deeper leagues; continual churn and breakout opportunities keep the player pool fresh.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
0:32 Cooper Flagg at Pick 9: Draft Philosophy
5:50 Mock Draft Begins
8:41 Second Round and Building Around Flagg
10:05 Navigating the Middle Rounds (Value Picks, Flexibility)
14:38 Late-Round Strategies and Flyers
29:04 Analyzing Final Team, Lessons Learned, and Projected Standings
32:13 Draft Strategy Reminders and Closing

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast.

Betterhelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
PrizePicks
Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup!

Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Visit Josh Lloyd Fantasy for more

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.