Let me tell you a secret about fantasy basketball that most people won't admit - it's not just about picking the biggest stars. I learned this the hard way during last season when my team was stacked with All-Stars but kept losing to opponents who understood something crucial about team construction. The recent match between Capital1 and Kaya Iloilo perfectly illustrates this dynamic. While Capital1 had multiple scoring options, Kaya Iloilo faced the challenge of missing key players yet still managed a decisive 5-0 victory over University of the Philippines. This mirrors what happens in Yahoo NBA Fantasy when you're forced to adapt to injuries or unexpected player absences.
When I first started playing fantasy basketball about seven seasons ago, I made the classic mistake of chasing big names without considering how they fit together. You'd think having three top-20 players would guarantee success, but basketball doesn't work that way - neither does fantasy. The Capital1 team in that match had what we'd call in fantasy terms "stat stuffers" - players who fill multiple categories. But Kaya Iloilo's situation teaches us something more valuable: how to win when you're missing your first-round pick to injury or your star player is dealing with rest on back-to-backs. I've developed a system where I actually plan for these scenarios rather than panicking when they occur.
My approach to player selection has evolved significantly over the years. I now prioritize players who contribute across multiple categories rather than just scoring. For instance, a player averaging 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals is often more valuable than someone scoring 22 points with minimal contributions elsewhere. Last season, I identified Mikal Bridges as a breakout candidate before most managers because I noticed his minutes were rock-solid and he contributed in every category. He ended up finishing the season ranked 42nd overall in standard leagues - exactly the kind of value pick that wins championships.
The waiver wire is where championships are truly won, in my opinion. I probably spend more time analyzing available players than I do watching actual games sometimes. Last November, when injuries hit my roster hard, I picked up Desmond Bane when he was only 34% owned. By the time other managers caught on, he was putting up top-75 value and helped salvage my season. The key is recognizing patterns early - increased minutes, changing roles, or new offensive systems that benefit certain player types. I typically set aside about 45 minutes every Sunday night to plan my waiver claims for the week ahead.
What most beginners don't realize is that timing your moves can be as important as the moves themselves. I've developed a habit of checking injury reports exactly at 5:30 PM EST when teams start releasing their evening status updates. This gives me about a 15-minute window to make adds before the majority of managers react. It's these small edges that compound throughout the season. Last year, this habit helped me snag Jalen Williams right after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ankle sprain was announced, and Williams proceeded to average 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists over the next two weeks.
Ultimately, fantasy basketball success comes down to preparation and adaptability. The Kaya Iloilo team that won despite missing key players demonstrates exactly what we need to do when our fantasy teams face similar challenges. I've learned to always have 2-3 contingency plans for my star players and to never get too attached to any single player on my roster. The most satisfying wins often come from those weeks when you're missing your best player but still pull out the victory through smart streaming and category management. After all, the goal isn't to have the best players - it's to score the most points, and there's a significant difference between those two objectives.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
