In our latest edition of NBA Fantasy Timeout, we give our top 200 fantasy player rankings
The NBA season is just days away. If that’s not exciting enough, you’re very likely in the thick of NBA Fantasy Basketball drafts. The Sir Charles In Charge crew just had our draft – so I can now let the cat out of the bag on how I came to my rankings.
At this point, you’ve started following pre-season games, reading up on your favourite players, scanning through various ranking articles, determining your sleepers, and ultimately, drafting your respective teams.
I wanted to come up with my own rankings that wasn’t entirely subjective, yet still original. After combing through Yahoo’s 2015-16 projections, a couple of theoretical questions started emerging.
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If Fantasy Basketball was based solely on one category – let’s go with points – then you would simply look at who the highest scorers are and draft accordingly. If it was based on two categories – say points and assists – then you’d try to draft players that gave you both.
Kevin Durant is projected to finish 3rd in scoring and 30th in assists. Let’s assign him a “fantasy score” of 33 (scoring plus assist ranks). His Thunder teammate, Russell Westbrook, is projected to finish 5th in scoring and 8th in assists. His “fantasy score” would be 13. In this two-category league, wouldn’t Westbrook be more valuable than Durant?
Unfortunately, most leagues run as nine category leagues – FG%, FT%, 3PTM, PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, TO. Fortunately for you, I’ve already performed this analysis for the Top 200 players! Using Yahoo’s projections, which are actually powered by RotoWire, for the upcoming season, I assigned scores to each player in each category to figure out their “fantasy scores”.
For example, Anthony Davis is projected to have the following stats (ranks):
- FG% = 55.4% (17)
- FT% = 83.5% (37)
- 3PTM = 11 (148)
- PTS = 1,904 (4)
- REB = 860 (4)
- AST = 214 (72)
- STL = 120 (19)
- BLK = 223 (1)
- TO = 110 (89)
Davis’ ranks add up to a fantasy score of 391. That’s a very comfortable advantage ahead of No. 2 (Kevin Durant = 438), and miles ahead of No. 3 (James Harden = 550). Honestly, I think that number could be even better if Davis is committed to knocking down more threes.
Anyway, I’m going to hide behind Yahoo’s projections – so direct your ire towards them! Below are the fantasy score rankings of the top 200. Good luck in all your drafts!
1 Anthony Davis NO – PF,C
2 Kevin Durant OKC – SF,PF
3 James Harden Hou – SG,SF
4 Klay Thompson GS – SG,SF
5 Kawhi Leonard SA – SG,SF
6 Stephen Curry GS – PG,SG
7 LeBron James Cle – SF,PF
8 Chris Paul LAC – PG
9 Paul Millsap Atl – PF,C
10 Paul George Ind – SG,SF,PF
11 Danny Green SA – SG,SF
12 Damian Lillard Por – PG
13 Jimmy Butler Chi – SG,SF
14 Nicolas Batum Cha – SG,SF
15 Al Horford Atl – PF,C
16 Carmelo Anthony NY – SF,PF
17 Marc Gasol Mem – C
18 Chris Bosh Mia – PF,C
19 DeMarcus Cousins Sac – PF,C
20 Gordon Hayward Uta – SG,SF
21 Kevin Love Cle – PF,C
22 Karl-Anthony Towns Min – C
23 LaMarcus Aldridge SA – PF,C
24 Eric Bledsoe Pho – PG,SG
25 Russell Westbrook OKC – PG
26 John Wall Was – PG
27 Rudy Gay Sac – SF,PF
28 Victor Oladipo Orl – PG,SG
29 Serge Ibaka OKC – PF,C
30 Draymond Green GS – SF,PF
31 Markieff Morris Pho – PF,C
32 Nemanja Bjelica MIN – PF
33 Tobias Harris Orl – SF,PF
34 George Hill Ind – PG,SG
35 Al Jefferson Cha – PF,C
36 Dirk Nowitzki Dal – PF,C
37 Kyle Korver Atl – SG,SF
38 Khris Middleton Mil – SG,SF
39 Gorgui Dieng Min – PF,C
40 Andrew Wiggins Min – SG,SF
41 Jeff Teague Atl – PG
42 Giannis Antetokounmpo Mil – SF,PF
43 Blake Griffin LAC – PF,C
44 Mike Conley Mem – PG
45 Nikola Vucevic Orl – PF,C
46 Pau Gasol Chi – PF,C
47 Kemba Walker Cha – PG
48 Patrick Patterson Tor – PF,C
49 Brandon Knight Pho – PG,SG
50 Danilo Gallinari Den – SF
51 Tim Duncan SA – PF,C
52 Tyreke Evans NO – PG,SG
53 DeMarre Carroll Tor – SF,PF
54 Trevor Ariza Hou – SG,SF
55 Nikola Mirotic Chi – SF,PF
56 Greg Monroe Mil – PF,C
57 Bradley Beal Was – SG
58 Kyrie Irving Cle – PG,SG
59 Marcin Gortat Was – C
60 Ed Davis Por – PF,C
61 Wes Matthews Dal – SG,SF
62 Kyle Lowry Tor – PG
63 Myles Leonard Por – PF,C
64 Derrick Favors Uta – PF,C
65 Rudy Gobert Uta – C
66 Robert Covington Phi – SG,SF
67 Brook Lopez Bkn – C
68 Andre Drummond Det – PF,C
69 Lou Williams LAL – PG,SG
70 DeAndre Jordan LAC – C
71 Monta Ellis Ind – PG,SG
72 Courtney Lee Mem – SG,SF
73 Kenneth Faried Den – PF,C
74 Ben McLemore Sac – SG
75 Reggie Jackson Det – PG,SG
76 C.J. Miles Ind – SG,SF
77 Joakim Noah Chi – PF,C
78 Wilson Chandler Den – SG,SF
79 J.R. Smith Cle – SG,SF
80 Brandon Bass LAL – PF, C
81 Nerlens Noel Phi – PF,C
82 Tyler Zeller BOS – PF,C
83 Terrence Jones Hou – SF,PF
84 P.J. Tucker Pho – SG,SF
85 Robin Lopez NY – C
86 Jeff Green Mem – SG,SF
87 David West SA – PF
88 Dwight Howard Hou – PF,C
89 Avery Bradley Bos – PG,SG
90 DeMar DeRozan Tor – SG,SF
91 Luol Deng Mia – SF,PF
92 Joe Johnson Bkn – SG,SF
93 Frank Kaminsky Cha – C
94 Hassan Whiteside Mia – C
95 Gerald Henderson POR – SG,SF
96 Enes Kanter OKC – C
97 Kobe Bryant LAL – SG,SF
98 J.J. Redick LAC – SG
99 Zaza Pachulia Dal – C
100 Michael Carter-Williams Mil – PG
101 Marreese Speights GS – PF,C
102 Trey Burke Uta – PG
103 Thaddeus Young Bkn – SF,PF
104 Roy Hibbert LAL – C
105 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Det – SG
106 Isaiah Thomas Bos – PG
107 Jarrett Jack Bkn – PG,SG
108 Jared Sullinger Bos – PF,C
109 Ricky Rubio Min – PG
110 Goran Dragic Mia – PG,SG
111 Ryan Anderson NO – PF,C
112 Chandler Parsons Dal – SF,PF
113 Deron Williams Dal – PG
114 Harrison Barnes GS – SF,PF
115 Mason Plumlee Por – PF,C
116 Zach Randolph Mem – PF,C
117 Tyson Chandler Pho – C
118 Gerald Green MIA – SG,SF
119 Kevin Martin Min – SG,SF
120 Jonas Valanciunas Tor – C
121 Channing Frye ORL – PF,C
122 David Lee Bos – PF,C
123 Jordan Clarkson LAL – PG,SG
124 Tiago Splitter Atl – C
125 Jabari Parker Mil – SF,PF
126 Boris Diaw SA – PF,C
127 Amir Johnson Bos – PF,C
128 Dwyane Wade Mia – PG,SG
129 Andre Iguodala GS – SG,SF
130 Ersan Ilyasova Det – SF,PF
131 Timofey Mozgov Cle – C
132 Marcus Morris Det – SF,PF
133 Josh McRoberts MIA – PF,C
134 Terrence Ross TOR – SG,SF
135 Jamal Crawford LAC – SG,SF
136 Matt Barnes Mem – SF
137 Ty Lawson Hou – PG
138 Elfrid Payton Orl – PG
139 Spencer Hawes CHA – PF,C
140 Jrue Holiday NO – PG
141 O.J. Mayo MIL – PG,SG
142 Dennis Schroder ATL – PG
143 Jordan Hill Ind – PF,C
144 Willie Cauley-Stein SAC – C
145 Andrew Bogut GS – C
146 Derrick Rose Chi – PG
147 Alec Burks Uta – PG,SG
148 Jusuf Nurkic Den – C
149 Darren Collison Sac – PG
150 Manu Ginobili SA – SG,SF
151 Julius Randle LAL – PF
152 Jahlil Okafor Phi – C
153 D’Angelo Russell LAL – PG
154 Otto Porter Was – SF
155 Eric Gordon NO – SG
156 Marcus Smart Bos – PG
157 Corey Brewer HOU – SG,SF
158 Al-Farouq Aminu Por – SF,PF
159 Shane Larkin BKN – PG
160 Arron Afflalo NY – SG,SF
161 James Johnson TOR – SF, PF
162 Cody Zeller Cha – PF,C
163 Nick Young LAL – SG,SF
164 Kristaps Porzingis NY – PF
165 Tony Allen Mem – SG,SF
166 Anthony Morrow OKC – SG,SF
167 Kevin Garnett Min – PF,C
168 Bojan Bogdanovic Bkn – SG,SF
169 Evan Turner Bos – SG,SF
170 Patrick Beverley Hou – PG,SG
171 Marvin Williams CHA – SF,PF
172 Kosta Koufos Sac – PF,C
173 Jae Crowder Bos – SF,PF
174 Taj Gibson Chi – PF,C
175 Paul Pierce LAC – SF,PF
176 Nene Hilario Was – PF,C
177 Emmanuel Mudiay Den – PG
178 Myles Turner Ind – C
179 Alex Len Pho – C
180 Mo Harkless POR – SF
181 Jose Calderon NY – PG
182 Mario Chalmers MIA – PG,SG
183 Langston Galloway NY – PG,SG
184 Hollis Thompson PHI – SG,SF
185 John Henson MIL – PF,C
186 Isaiah Canaan PHI – PG
187 Jeremy Lin CHA – PG,SG
188 C.J. McCollum Por – PG,SG
189 Aaron Gordon Orl – PF
190 Nik Stauskas Phi – SG
191 Brandan Wright Mem – PF,C
192 Tony Parker SA – PG
193 Brandon Jennings Det – PG
194 Rajon Rondo Sac – PG
195 Nikola Pekovic Min – C
196 T.J. Warren Pho – SF
197 Anderson Varejao Cle – PF,C
198 Stanley Johnson Det – SF
199 Iman Shumpert Cle – SG,SF
200 Rodney Hood Uta – SG,SF