Also your division & conference play a huge role in everything. I haven't looked, but I have to be near the top of the list of least difficult draws this time, and my record reflects that. Matchups are also key. Rob is a dominating #1 right now but has matched up poorly with my squad thus far.
And then there's the sim itself.
Personally, I think Horace is fantastic, but comparing him and the Matrix is kind of like comparing apples and oranges. Matrix is more of a #3 offensive option; Horace is more of a do other things and occasionally score guy. I've never liked neither Lanier nor Reed overly much, but both make sense in this league.
And, yeah, Nerlens Noel has incredible value in this format.