Category leagues require a different approach than points leagues. Volume still matters, but it isn't everything. Steals and blocks are harder to find, while 3-pointers can be concentrated among certain types of players. Field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers can quietly swing a league over the course of a season.
That can change how players should be valued.
A guard who gives you steals, 3-pointers and strong percentages can be more valuable than a higher-scoring player who hurts you elsewhere. A center who blocks shots without wrecking your free throw percentage can give you a major advantage. A forward who provides assists can help solve a shortage in a category that is harder to address at that position.
Our recent 10-team roto mock showed how that can play out. Four point guards went in the first round, while no small forwards were selected. Then Cooper Flagg, Scottie Barnes and Amen Thompson went with three of the first four picks of Round 2. Point guard became a focus again in Round 3, when James Harden, Jalen Brunson, Josh Giddey, LaMelo Ball, Jamal Murray and Stephen Curry all came off the board in a seven-pick span.
Derrick White also went 17th overall, which makes sense given how difficult his combination of 3s, assists, steals and blocks is to replace at shooting guard. Power forward showed one of the clearest positional drop-offs, while center remained deep enough that useful rebounders and shot-blockers were still available well into the middle rounds.
That's where tiers become useful.
I've separated players by their default position, even if they qualify at multiple spots. The rankings show how I value the players in a neutral build. The tiers show where the player pool changes. Once the draft starts, what you already have should influence what comes next.
The goal isn't simply to draft the highest-ranked player every round. It's to know from round to round what your team does well, where it is vulnerable and when a category or position is about to become much harder to draft.
The rankings tell you who I like. The tiers tell you when you need to act. Your roster tells you who fits best.
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Point guards
Thoughts on PGs
Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic are the clear top two, but they give category managers very different foundations. Gilgeous-Alexander is projected for 31.3 PPG while shooting 53.6% from the field and 88.3% from the line, with 1.7 SPG and only 2.3 turnovers a game. You get elite scoring without taking a major hit elsewhere. Doncic gives you even more volume in points, 3s, rebounds and assists, but his projected 78.3% free throw shooting and 4.0 turnover average have to be managed.
Maxey, Cunningham and Haliburton form the next tier. Haliburton stands out because of how efficiently he provides assists. He's projected for 9.9 per game with just 1.9 turnovers while also averaging 2.9 3-pointers. That combination is hard to find later.
Murray, Ball and Harden remain strong options, but there is a meaningful drop after the first five point guards. Ball helps in assists, 3s and rebounds, while Harden still brings high-end playmaking and free throw production.
Curry is especially valuable in categories because his 3-point volume and free throw percentage can swing two categories. He doesn't need the same rebound or assist totals as other guards to return high-end value.
Giddey has a completely different profile. His rebounding and assists from the point guard spot make it easier to chase scoring, 3s or defensive stats elsewhere.
Young remains one of the league's best sources of assists, 3-pointers and free throw production, but the field goal percentage and turnovers come with a cost. He fits better on teams that can absorb those weaknesses.
As you move deeper into the position, focus more on what category you still need. Assists remain available, but the later options are more likely to hurt you in percentages, turnovers or scoring.
The last word: Point guard is deep enough to wait on if you miss the elite options.
Shooting guard
Thoughts on SGs
Edwards and Mitchell sit comfortably at the top because both give you excellent scoring and 3-point volume without creating an obvious weakness elsewhere.
White deserves his own tier. He's projected for 2.9 3-pointers, 5.3 APG, 1.1 SPG and 1.2 BPG. The blocks separate him from the rest of the position. Getting that production from a guard means you don't have to chase as much shot-blocking from your bigs.
Alexander-Walker, Daniels and Bane get to their value in different ways. Bane gives you scoring, 3s and strong free throw shooting. Alexander-Walker adds 3-point shooting and defensive production. Daniels is the specialist of the group, with a projected 2.0 SPG, 6.5 RPG and 5.6 APG.
Daniels is also a good example of why category leagues are different. His 0.4 projected 3s per game and 61.7% free throw shooting are clear weaknesses, but the steals can be valuable enough to offset them depending on your build.
Reaves and Dejounte Murray both contribute across several counting categories. Reaves gives you scoring, assists and efficiency, while Murray adds assists, rebounds and steals.
Sheppard's projected 1.5 SPG and 0.7 BPG give him value even if his offensive role remains modest.
Wallace fits a similar mold. He doesn't need a huge offensive role if he can contribute steals, keep turnovers low and make enough 3s.
The last word: Scoring and 3-pointers are easier to replace at shooting guard. Steals, blocks and clean percentages are not.
Small forwards
Thoughts on SFs
Barnes, Thompson, Flagg and Leonard make up an impressive first tier, but they help category teams in different ways.
Barnes is projected for 7.7 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.4 SPG and 1.3 BPG. The assists and blocks are especially valuable because both are harder to find from a small forward. Thompson has a very different profile. 3-pointers are not a strength, but his field goal percentage, rebounding and defensive production can make up for it. He fits especially well if you already have enough shooting.
Flagg can contribute across several categories without one glaring weakness shaping the rest of your build. That makes him easier to fit into different types of teams.
Leonard remains one of the easiest players to fit into a category build when healthy. He's projected to shoot 51.0% from the field and 87.9% from the line while adding 2.3 3s and 1.7 SPG. The issue is availability, not fit.
Bridges sits in his own tier because he contributes across the board without hurting you in many areas. He also fits easily next to almost any early-round core. Knueppel, Porter and Murphy give you ways to add 3-point shooting without sacrificing the rest of the box score.
Buzelis is projected for 2.3 3-pointers and 1.6 BPG. That's a rare combination from a wing and gives him more category value than his scoring alone suggests. Later in the draft, small forward becomes more about fit. Some players give you 3s. Others help with steals, rebounds or efficiency.
The last word: The position has enough depth that you don't need to force it just because you haven't filled the spot yet.
Power forwards
Thoughts on PFs
Tatum and Johnson sit at the top, and Johnson's category profile is unusual for a power forward.
Johnson is projected for 23.0 PPG, 10.6 RPG and 7.9 APG. The assists are the key. Getting nearly eight per game from a power forward reduces how much playmaking you need from your guards.
Tatum gives you a more traditional elite forward profile with scoring, 3s, rebounds and great free throw shooting. He fits easily into a balanced build because there isn't one category you immediately need to fix.
Antetokounmpo stands alone in Tier 2 because his profile comes with a clear tradeoff. His projected 32.1 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 6.3 APG and elite field goal percentage can dominate several categories, but the projected 65.0% free throw shooting can do the opposite.
Drafting Antetokounmpo doesn't automatically mean punting free throws, but you need a plan. You can try to offset the free throw weakness with strong shooters elsewhere or accept it and build around Antetokounmpo' strengths.
Siakam, Mobley and Durant are easier to fit into balanced builds. Mobley helps with field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks. Durant can anchor both percentages while adding scoring and 3-pointers. Siakam contributes scoring, rebounds and assists without forcing your roster in one direction.
Markkanen and Williams are where the position gets thin. Williams is No. 35 in the overall category rankings, while the next power forward, Banchero, doesn't appear until No. 75. That's a major drop in projected value.
After that, the position becomes more roster-dependent. Murray can help with 3s and defensive stats. Collins is useful for field goal percentage and rebounds. Camara becomes more appealing when steals are a need.
The last word: Power forward has the biggest positional cliff in the player pool. If you wait too long, the options at the position can drop off quickly.
Centers
Thoughts on Cs
Jokic and Wembanyama belong together at the top, but they build teams in very different ways.
Jokic is projected for 28.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG and 10.1 APG while shooting 57.5% from the field. The assists are especially valuable because you're getting point-guard-level playmaking from your center spot.
Wembanyama gives you something even harder to replace: 3.5 projected BPG. He also projects for averages of 26.3 PPG, 12.2 RPG and 2.2 3s, so you aren't sacrificing offense to get elite shot-blocking. If you draft Wembanyama, you can spend later picks chasing other categories instead of worrying about blocks.
Davis, Adebayo and Towns form another strong tier. Davis is projected for 11.4 RPG, 2.1 BPG and 53.8% shooting from the field. His per-game profile can finish much higher if he stays healthy.
Duren, Sengun and Sabonis give you different paths at the position. Duren helps with rebounds and field goal percentage. Sengun and Sabonis stand out because of the assists they provide at center.
Sabonis is projected for 13.6 RPG and 6.8 APG while shooting 58.7% from the field. That makes him especially useful if you don't want all of your playmaking coming from guards.
Reid has a less traditional center profile. His combination of 3s, rebounds and defensive stats makes him easier to pair with a paint-bound big who doesn't stretch the floor.
Clingan, Okongwu and Kessler are where roster fit matters more. Clingan gives you rebounds, blocks and some 3-point production. Okongwu contributes 3s along with steals and blocks. Kessler gives you elite rebounds and blocks, but the free throw percentage can be a problem.
If you're already punting free throw percentage, Kessler's value rises. If you're trying to stay competitive in all nine categories, he's harder to fit.
Holmgren, Sarr and Jackson give you another path because they can provide blocks while still contributing from the perimeter.
Embiid is the ultimate risk-reward option. His per-game production belongs several tiers higher, but his availability makes him much harder to trust.
The last word: Center gives you more flexibility than any other position if you miss the elite options. Rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage remain available later, but the later choices usually come with a tradeoff.
Final thoughts
The biggest mistake in a category draft is treating the board like a straight ranking exercise.
Your first few picks start to shape your team. Draft Antetokounmpo and free throw percentage becomes a concern. Take Doncic and you may want to protect field goal percentage and turnovers. Land Wembanyama and blocks become much less urgent.
That doesn't mean you should start punting categories after two rounds. You just need to know where your team is strong, where it's weak and what you can afford to give up.
That's why a player ranked 45th can be a better pick for your team than someone ranked 35th. If you already have plenty of scoring and 3-pointers but need steals, Dyson Daniels can make more sense than another scorer.
Point guard is deep. Derrick White is an important decision point at shooting guard. Small forward has enough depth that you don't need to force it. Power forward has the biggest drop-off. Center still offers plenty of rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage later.
The rankings tell you who I like. The tiers tell you when you need to act. Your roster tells you who fits best.
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