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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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