As the 2025-26 NBA season tips off, fantasy basketball managers are fine-tuning their draft strategies, looking for hidden gems and avoiding potential pitfalls. While some players may shine in real-life basketball, their fantasy value doesn’t always translate — especially in High Score formats, where upside reigns supreme.
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Here are three guards I’m avoiding in High Score.
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Josh Hart, G/F, New York Knicks
Josh Hart was a revelation for fantasy managers last season, averaging 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game with 53/33/78 shooting splits. He had his best fantasy finish, ending the 2024-25 campaign 40th in points leagues and third-round value in 9-cat.
But that version of Hart was a product of opportunity.
Hart’s production has always stemmed from sheer activity, rather than explosive scoring. With Mitchell Robinson returning to the Knicks’ starting lineup, Hart moves back into a sixth-man role where he’ll see fewer minutes and touches.
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Hart put up a solid 1.0 fantasy points per minute, which is above league average. However, a shift to the bench limits his upside and ability to generate counting stats. He also suffered a back injury in the Knicks’ opening preseason game.
With a current ADP in the fifth round, Hart is one of the easiest fades in High Score, standard points and 9-cat formats.
Jalen Suggs, G, Orlando Magic
Jalen Suggs remains one of the NBA’s premier defensive guards — but his outlook has worsened after Orlando added Desmond Bane.
Bane’s arrival will siphon away usage and shot volume, pushing Suggs into more of a spot-up and tertiary playmaking role. Even if the Magic increase their pace slightly (they ranked 28th in Pace last year), Suggs’ offensive ceiling remains capped.
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Last season, Suggs’ tenacious style of play resulted in him missing 47 games. In those games, however, he averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals — a great 1.07 fantasy points per minute mark. Still, someone in the starting unit’s production is bound to suffer a bit and it’s not going to be Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner or Bane.
[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]
Suggs’ real value lies in category formats, where his steals, 3s and FT percentage shine, rather than in a boom-oriented setup like High Score.
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Jrue Holiday, G, Portland Trail Blazers
The trade to Portland gives Jrue Holiday a new environment — but not one that helps his fantasy value in High Score. The 35-year-old veteran has seen his offensive impact decline since leaving Milwaukee, and now he’s being asked to guide a young, rebuilding Blazers team through a tough Western Conference.
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His assist rate dropped to a career-low 17% last season, and his scoring dipped below 13 points per game. Holiday has evolved into more of a stabilizer and floor leader than a fantasy playmaker. In High Score formats, that’s the wrong archetype.
Holiday posted 0.82 FPPM last season — a clear indication that his upside is value and upside is fading. He’s been trending inside the top 100 picks over the last week and while that’s ok for 9-cat formats, it’s too high for High Score.
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