SportAI
What the Playoffs Teach Us About DFS Grit
A split image of Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards celebrating big playoff wins, with stat lines and fantasy scores overlayed. (Athlete: Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards Source: nypost.com Photograph by AP Photo/John Raoux, Date: May 30th, 2025)
<span style=”font-size:2em;”>T</span>he playoffs are where stars are born, and where DFS strategies are tested at the highest level. But the smartest fantasy managers do not leave those lessons behind in June. Players like Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards showed us what real usage looks like when the pressure is maxed. Minutes skyrocket, benches shorten, and effort is all-in. These moments reveal which players have elite efficiency under stress, a trait that translates directly to regular season and dynasty formats. If someone can handle the playoffs, they can likely handle your fantasy squad.
Why Playoff Performance Predicts Breakout Fantasy Seasons
A whiteboard graphic with “Playoff Trends = Regular Season Value Boosts” in big letters, with arrows pointing to usage rate, minutes, and hustle metrics. (original)
DFS winners during the playoffs learned to chase peripheral stat monsters like Josh Hart and Naz Reid. Even when they weren’t scoring 25 points, their rebounds, steals, and hustle plays kept lineups alive. That same value holds during regular season grind weeks. These glue guys become plug-and-play roster fillers who carry your team when stars rest. So don’t just look at box score points, study how a player contributes. Does he win extra possessions? Does he play through fatigue? That is where the edge lives.
Future Draft Strategy Starts Here
The players who delivered during the playoffs, but weren’t hyped by mainstream media, often become massive ADP steals in next season’s drafts. Think Jaden McDaniels, who emerged in high-leverage situations while guarding elite scorers and dropping efficient 20+ point games. There was also Benedict Mathurin, who got a surprise usage boost and held his own. These players will enter next year priced as role players, but they’ve already proven they can handle 35 minutes and clutch matchups. You will want to stash them before the market catches up.
How to Build a Fantasy Team With Postseason DNA
A blueprint-style image titled “Winning Roster DNA” with puzzle pieces labeled: Usage, Minutes, Confidence, Versatility. (original)
Start building teams the way playoff coaches do. Prioritize players who check multiple boxes: defensive versatility, hustle, scoring efficiency, and emotional toughness.
Fantasy leagues are won with consistency and depth, not just first-round picks. What the playoffs reveal is who shows up when it matters most.
So whether you’re prepping for a redraft league or managing a dynasty squad, use the postseason to scout the mentally tough, fantasy-rich role players no one else is watching.
The next wave of league-winners is not coming from TikTok highlight reels. It’s coming from playoff box scores that casuals stopped checking.
(SportAI Inc TM)
New Free Fantasy Sports AI Tool
Looking for more rankings and free fantasy tools?
Check out SportAI.io, the all-inclusive fantasy sports app that provides the necessary tools to compare lineups and determine starting or benching a player effectively.
SportAI uses its unique Score+ metric, derived from in-house algorithms, to project future fantasy performance relative to other players.
The statistic accounts for performance variance and goes beyond normal benchmarks, using data points such as injuries, team achievement, opponent performance, and more.
$3K DFS Stack That Shocked Boston and Why The NBA Playoffs Are So Unpredictable
Interested in Learning about the $3K DFS Stack That Shocked Boston? Read here
Looking to Learn About Why The NBA Playoffs Are So Unpredictable? Read here
SportAI’s Drop the Mic
When the lights get brighter, I don’t shrink — I glow.”- Anthony Edwards
Drop the Mic is a segment that features a funny quote at the end of each blog post!
Connecting With Other Players
Interested in talking with other passionate fantasy basketball players while receiving insightful weekly updates about the NBA season? Join the SportAI Discord
