I say this every year, but it’s worth repeating. You have to read this guide. I’m not saying that to boost my traffic numbers. I’m saying that because it is very important to understand the punt FG% build’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s because you’ll either be deploying it yourself or facing off against multiple versions of it, one of which is going to be led by a certain San Antonio resident who happens to be a near-perfect match for the build. Punt FG% is the most popular punting strategy in fantasy, and at least in eight-category leagues, that is for good reason. When the punt FG% strategy is properly implemented, it leads to teams that are very hard to top. That is because standard category leagues favor small-ball teams. In nine-category leagues, five of the nine categories tend to be dominated by guards. In eight-category leagues, the advantage is even greater. Throw in the bias that fantasy players have towards high-scoring and high-assist players, and you have a build that is going to be the default strategy for many.
You are also likely to come across multiple iterations of the punt FG% strategy because it is a strategy that can work with almost all of the first-round picks. Starting the build with Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander doesn’t make sense, as they are much better fits for other builds, but every other common first-round pick is a reasonable starting point for this strategy. That includes the other first-round big men. Don’t get tricked into thinking big men = bad in this build. That is far from the truth. Big men are actually the key to this strategy. Anyone can identify and pick guards who gain a significant amount of value when FG% is ignored. You don’t need to be a fantasy savant to figure out that LaMelo Ball and Fred VanVleet are great targets for this build. What will make or break your punt FG% squad is how well you complement your low-FG% guards with bigs and wings who excel in the big man categories.
When punting FG% in a nine-category league, don’t be afraid to punt turnovers as well. It is very possible to build a punt FG% team that is strong in turnovers, but it is also very tough, especially if you leave the first round with one of the many players who average well over three turnovers per game. Ignoring turnovers in addition to FG% will make draft day much more straightforward. However, if you think you can put together a strategy that allows you to compete in turnovers while punting FG%, go for it. A punt FG% team that is average or better in turnovers is usually a nightmare opponent for the very popular punt FT% and punt assists builds. Both setups will be looking to win the big man categories and turnovers in a matchup against a punt FG% team. If you take turnovers away from those builds, or at least make the category competitive, you take away their easiest path to victory and force them to win multiple guard categories that the punt FG% build is naturally strong in.
2025-2026 Punt FG% Guide (Yahoo)
2025-2026 Punt FG% Guide (ESPN)
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