POINT GUARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis | |
1 | Russell Westbrook | OKC | 4 | Westbrook gets the top spot with the extra game this week and he will continue to help in all fantasy categories. | |
2 |
| GSW | 3 | It says a lot for Curry to get the No. 2 spot with other dominant guards having the second game..but it's Curry! | |
3 | Damian Lillard | POR | 4 | Lillard has been on a mission since he got snubbed from the Western Conference All-Star team and he continues to be an excellent scorer. | |
4 | John Wall | WSH | 4 | With the Wizards at full strength, a lot of the burden is now off Wall meaning that he should be able to improve his assist numbers. | |
5 | Chris Paul | LAC | 3 | Paul continues to show why he is a No. 1 NBA option and Blake Griffin isn't as the Clippers offense seems to run better through the guards. | |
6 | Kyle Lowry | TOR | 3 | Lowry continues to be an amazing scoring guard who is always involved in the offense and is excellent at running the floor and being the floor general when he needs to be. | |
7 | Rajon Rondo | SAC | 4 | MINOR INJURY CONCERN (Thumb): The sore Thumb is a bit of a concern, but Rondo can still make crisp passes to the trailing team member. | |
8 | Isaiah Thomas | BOS | 4 | Thomas' shot selection improves more and more and he is excellent at working his way in the lane and is not afraid to draw contact. | |
9 | Mike Conley | MEM | 4 | Conley will need to be more of an offensive threat as Memphis lacks a lot in the front court outside of Zach Randolph. | |
10 | Kemba Walker | CHA | 3 | Walker will continue to provide most of the offense with Al Jefferson still on a minutes restriction and Nicolas Batum struggling. | |
11 | Reggie Jackson | DET | 3 | Jackson will continue to be more of a passing guard with the new additions to the Pistons frontcourt. | |
12 | Jrue Holiday | NOR | 3 | Holiday is needed to play deep into games with health issues hampering the Pelicans all year and he should be able to compile more assists with Eric Gordon back in the lineup. | |
13 | Jeff Teague | ATL | 3 | Teague continues to work the floater well, but his jump shooting remains inconsistent. He has done a good job setting up Al Horford lately. | |
14 | Ricky Rubio | MIN | 3 | Rubio continues to thrive when he doesn't shoot and plays the role of facilitator. He is an excellent passer. | |
15 | Ish Smith | PHI | 4 | Smith has been a bit inconsistent lately, but remains the only reliable scoring guard on the Sixers and he is excellent at running the floor. | |
16 | Derrick Rose | CHI | 3 | INJURY CONCERN (Hamstring): If Rose plays, he will need to play a huge scoring factor because Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic are still out. | |
17 | George Hill | IND | 4 | Hill is over his injuries and returns to being the open off-guard and bail out option at the key when Paul George is double teamed. | |
18 | Lou Williams | LAL | 4 | Williams is excellent at driving the baseline to the rim and is also aggressive and always follows his own shots. | |
19 | Jordan Clarkson | LAL | 4 | Clarkson is the more flashy guard on this Lakers team who thrives off energy and when he is hot, he picks up more speed and burns teams from the elbow. | |
20 | Deron Williams | DAL | 3 | Williams is a soldier for playing through a dislocated finger and his passes don't seem to be impacted by it. |
SHOOTING GUARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis | |
1 | James Harden | HOU | 4 | Harden is one of the most prolific scorers in the league and remains the Rockets' lone consistent option. | |
2 |
| POR | 4 | McCollum has picked up his scoring lately and he and Lillard have shown they are all the Blazers have in terms of scoring. | |
3 | Kyrie Irving | CLE | 4 | Not only does Irving continue to pick up speed, but he is once again sneaking in the lane and making quick scoop layups against bigger defenders. | |
4 | Klay Thompson | GSW | 3 | Thompson continues to be a good wing man for Curry as both seem to heat up at the same time and that definitely helps with late game deficits. | |
5 | Gordon Hayward | UT | 4 | Hayward continues to be an excellent floor runner and continues to improve his isolation game. He is excellent at reading screens. | |
6 | Dwyane Wade | MIA | 4 | Wade will absolutely be needed on the scoring front with Chris Bosh likely done for the season and he will pick up even more shots. | |
7 | Will Barton | DEN | 4 | Barton gets the bump up in the rankings because he will now be picking up the scoring burden with Danilo Gallinari sidelined for the next month. | |
8 | Bradley Beal | WSH | 4 | Beal continues to wear a protective mask while playing and takes a ton of hits, but he continues to be a good wing option when the Wizards run into good transition defense. | |
9 | Goran Dragic | MIA | 4 | Dragic continues to move up the rankings because of all of the injuries on the Heat as scary as this sounds; his jump-shooting will be needed when Wade gets doubled. | |
10 | Victor Oladipo | ORL | 3 | Oladipo is a multi-category helper who is starting to learn to never be in the corner with the ball. He has been passing off a lot more. | |
11 | Kobe Bryant | LAL | 4 | MINOR INJURY CONCERN (Shoulder): Bryant is allowed as many shots as he wants when he is on the court. | |
12 | Nicolas Batum | CHA | 3 | Batum has struggled scoring, but continues to keep his shot selection and spot up for three and give the Hornets second-chance opportunities. | |
13 | Eric Gordon | NOR | 3 | Gordon's return is absolutely needed as he will be expected to take a ton of long range shots off screens and will not be in much of a time-share for minutes. | |
14 | J.J. Redick | LAC | 3 | With the Clippers guards very much in rhythm, Redick gets a ton of credit for how mobile he is while on the court and is always able to find openings on the court. | |
15 | Evan Fournier | ORL | 3 | MINOR INJURY CONCERN (Wrist): Fournier continues to be a reliable secondary scoring option who starts from the key and while new acquisitions continue to learn the system, Fournier will keep his playing time. | |
16 | Monta Ellis | IND | 4 | Ellis is in a major time share for playing time and he has proven to be a good change of pace player with the Pacers' second unit. It is hard to tell how much time he will get per game. | |
17 | Rodney Hood | UT | 4 | Hood is the Jazz change of pace player who hits shots in close games and is excellent at the pick and roll and is able to work his way inside. | |
18 | Avery Bradley | BOS | 4 | Bradley tweaked his ankle, but it should not be too concerning as he continues to find open shots from downtown. | |
19 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | DET | 3 | KCP is likely to move up after this week as he looks like he is at full strength and continues to do damage from the corner on offense and is able to drive successfully. | |
20 | J.R. Smith | CLE | 3 | It may never look pretty but Smith forces enough shots up to be a considerable option. Smith makes a ton of wild shots and continues to secure playing time because of his ball-handling skills. |
SMALL FORWARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis | |
1 | Kevin Durant | OKC | 4 | Durant continues to be an excellent scorer and rebounder and has not shown any sign of health issues. | |
2 |
| IND | 4 | George gets the No. 2 spot because he has been able to help effectively in multiple fantasy categories. | |
3 | LeBron James | CLE | 3 | James is very effective from a fantasy standpoint, and he should be well "rested" for this week's game after getting Sunday off. | |
4 | Kawhi Leonard | SAS | 3 | Leonard continues to be an excellent outside player who is able to create inside. Leonard is often able to position himself in the middle of the paint. | |
5 | DeMar DeRozan | TOR | 3 | DeRozan has amazing agility and is able to draw a lot of contact and still get enough hang time to put the ball up for a chance for a three point play. | |
6 | Carmelo Anthony | NYK | 3 | We all know Anthony loves to score, but he has also been an underrated rebounder this season. | |
7 | Tobias Harris | DET | 3 | Harris will continue to be able to create in the high post, and should be able to make the quick entry pass to Drummond helping his assist total. | |
8 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | MIL | 4 | Anything the Greek Freak gives you offensively should be viewed as an added bonus, but he is always able to produce on defense. | |
9 | Rudy Gay | SAC | 4 | Gay continues to find himself open and burn teams from long range. Gay continues to get a ton of shot opportunities when Cousins is doubled. | |
10 | Khris Middleton | MIL | 4 | Middleton continues to shoot well from the outside and is an excellent bail out option when another member of the Bucks offense draws the double. | |
11 | Thaddeus Young | BKN | 4 | No more Jarrett Jack; no more Joe Johnson, meaning that the offensive attack rests on Young and Brook Lopez. | |
12 | Andrew Wiggins | MIN | 3 | Wiggins continues to shoot well from the outside and elbow, but needs to start creating and looking to drive the lane first before settling for jumpers. | |
13 | Jae Crowder | BOS | 4 | Crowder continues to call for the ball in the post and makes a quick step in the lane looking for contact and then positions himself in the paint to get his own rebound. | |
14 | Trevor Ariza | HOU | 4 | Ariza continues to be an excellent perimeter defender and perimeter shooter. You can count on him for steals, threes and a few rebounds. | |
15 | Otto Porter | WSH | 4 | Porter will be playing both forward positions and will need to develop more of a post presence and a spin move to the basket in order to draw more contact. | |
16 | Matt Barnes | MEM | 4 | With lack of scoring depth due to injuries and the departure of Jeff Green, Barnes will continue to get the ball in the high post and take baby jumpers. | |
17 | Luol Deng | MIA | 4 | This could very well be Deng's final time in these rankings as it undetermined how much playing time his new teammate Joe Johnson will get, but he has been scoring and rebounding more consistenly in recent weeks. | |
18 | Chandler Parsons | DAL | 3 | Playing time is no longer an issue for Parsons, but shot selection is and his scoring pattern seems to be feast or famine. | |
19 | Kent Bazemore | ATL | 3 | Bazemore continues to get shot opportunities but he has certainly had his fair share of struggles in February. He needs to re-focus and get back to posting up. | |
20 | Harrison Barnes | GSW | 3 | Barnes is excellent with the Warriors second unit and plays solid defense that secures him even more playing time, but it is hard to determine how many shots he will get in a game. |
POWER FORWARDS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis | |
1 | Draymond Green | GSW | 3 | Even when Green is cold from the field, he is a major help in other fantasy categories. | |
2 |
| NOR | 3 | Davis has shown that he is much more dominant when he starts his attacking the rim from the top of the paint and not hanging around by the key. | |
3 | Kevin Love | CLE | 3 | Love continues to see much more success when starting from the elbow and we have seen a lot more of his post-game. | |
4 | Paul Millsap | ATL | 3 | Millsap continues to be hard to stop when he is backing his defender down and he is quick when firing at the basket and is able to get open. | |
5 | Greg Monroe | MIL | 4 | Monroe continues to suceed by using his post moves, excellent pivots and being able to follow his own shots easily. | |
6 | Derrick Favors | UT | 4 | Favors continues to work the paint and be a consistent scorer and rebounder since returning from his back injury and has enough room to work because Gobert is a low-post specific player. | |
7 | LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS | 3 | Aldridge has been more successful at hitting long range jumpers and is a reliable rebounder on defense. Aldridge has an excellent post game and is always able to position himself to see the basket in the post. | |
8 | Pau Gasol | CHI | 3 | Gasol is one of the few "healthy" members of the Bulls and continues to dominate in the post. | |
9 | Serge Ibaka | OKC | 4 | Ibaka, like Anthony Davis, needs to shoot less jumpers and use his incredible size to work his way inside. Ibaka is an excellent producer on defense. | |
10 | Zach Randolph | MEM | 4 | Randolph continues to be Memphis' lone low-post scoring option and will continue to pick up more shots at the elbow. | |
11 | Kenneth Faried | DEN | 4 | With top scoring option Danilo Gallinari sidelined for a month, Faried will need to command the ball in the low post and will see a lot more opportunities to create and improve his offensive attack. | |
12 | Robert Covington | PHI | 4 | Covington continues to succeed in the post and is a reliable rebounder who knows when not to force up shots and pass back out and reset the offense. | |
13 | Jared Sullinger | BOS | 4 | Sullinger is one of the most reliable rebounders in the league, but it is hard to tell how much he will get the ball in the low post. It helps for him that Kelly Olynyk is still hurt. | |
14 | Kristaps Porzingis | NYK | 3 | Porzingis continues to be one of the best moving big men in the league, who is a reliable shooter, good floor runner/trailer and is a flashy put-back machine. | |
15 | Tim Duncan | SAS | 3 | Duncan continues to use the glass to his liking and dominate the low post on both sides of the ball. On defense, he is such a wall and doesn't get faked out making him a prime blocks producer. | |
16 | Dirk Nowitzki | DAL | 3 | Nowitzki has become a shoot-first forward and does not look to drive the lane as much. Nowitzki has been a dominant scorer lately on a team with a bunch of shot-happy players. | |
17 | Aaron Gordon | ORL | 3 | Gordon has tremendous leaping ability (as we have seen) and is a quick defender and needs to develop a more consistent offensive attack. Gordon is very effective on the glass. | |
18 | Gorgui Dieng | MIN | 3 | Dieng continues to be an excellent complimentary frontcourt player to Karl-Anthony Towns because he contols the low block and is hard to box out inside. | |
19 | Al-Farouq Aminu | POR | 4 | Aminu has been very inconsistent and frustrating to his owners, but with a lack of front-court aggresivness, Aminu still gets playing time and attempts to create inside. | |
20 | Marvin Williams | CHA | 3 | Williams is coming off three games where he shown a ton of rebounding and put-back consistency and is starting to command the ball more in the post. |
CENTERS
RANK | NAME | Team | # Games | Analysis | |
1 | DeMarcus Cousins | SAC | 4 | Cousins continues to be the most dominant offensive big man in the NBA and he can even bring the ball up full-court himself. | |
2 |
| MIN | 3 | Towns continues to impress as he is an excellent mid-range shooter and is just as reliable at driving inside. | |
3 | Andre Drummond | DET | 3 | Drummond is still the most effective low-block centers and he is among the hardest players in the league to box out. | |
4 | Hassan Whiteside | MIA | 4 | Whiteside has been on a tear producing double-doubles and trying to make up for what the Heat lost in Chris Bosh. | |
5 | Al Horford | ATL | 3 | Horford has been seeing a ton of offensive success in recent weeks and has settled for less jumpers and has attacked the rim more. | |
6 | DeAndre Jordan | LAC | 3 | Jordan is a liability on offense, unless he is the recipient of a Chris Paul ally-oop or a put-back. Jordan is one of the most reliable defensive centers. | |
7 | Nikola Vucevic | ORL | 3 | Vucevic continues to show why he has one of the best post games in the league. He is quick in the post, has a quick spin to the basket and does not give up on a rebound. | |
8 | Brook Lopez | BKN | 4 | Lopez has become a No. 1 scoring option with Joe Johnson gone and a number of big injuries. Lopez can shoot close to 50 percent from outside the paint. | |
9 | Rudy Gobert | UT | 4 | Gobert has great ups and is a blocks machine, but he is a low-block specific player who will see most of his offensive production from putbacks. | |
10 | Marcin Gortat | WSH | 4 | Gortat has been an excellent rebounder and the addition of Markieff Morris should not impact Gortat's playing time or positioning in the post. | |
11 | Dwight Howard | HOU | 4 | As frustrating as Howard is to watch, he is a very reliable rebounder and blocker. It is just hard to tell how much he will be commanding the ball in the post. | |
12 | Jonas Valanciunas | TOR | 3 | Valanciunas continues to show how much he improved his jumper and will continue to be more controlled when he has the ball inside. | |
13 | Ryan Anderson | NOR | 3 | Anderson is a matchup nightmare because of his shooting range and gets a ton of open looks each game. Anderson is also good at driving the lane and working the post. | |
14 | Zaza Pachulia | DAL | 3 | Pachulia continues to be a consistent rebounder and low block option on both sides of the ball for the Mavericks. | |
15 | Jahlil Okafor | PHI | 4 | Okafor continues to show his impressive footwork in the high post on offense, but gets caught in the paint on defense leading to easy buckets on the other side of the ball. | |
16 | Nerlens Noel | PHI | 4 | Noel has incredible ups and will provide blocks and rebounds, but for him to be productive on the scoring front, the pick and roll between he and Ish Smith needs to working effectively. | |
17 | Robin Lopez | NYK | 3 | Lopez is seeing a lot more production on offense and he has been rebounding a lot more consistently. Lopez has an excellent one handed hook that is very hard to defend. | |
18 | Al Jefferson | CHA | 3 | Jefferson is a very effective Center on both sides of the ball, but he continues to play under 30 minutes per game as he is still testing out his injured knee. | |
19 | Nikola Jokic | DEN | 4 | Jokic is another player who will pick up more plays in the post on offense with Gallinari out for the next month. | |
20 | Myles Turner | IND | 4 | Turner is not the flashiest player, but the Pacers coaching staff loves his hard work, dedication, rebounding ability and he even gets plays called for him deep in the 4th quarter showing he has security with playing time. |