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Brad Leibfried analyzes some fantasy basketball sleepers for NBA forwards and the later rounds of your 2014-15 fantasy basketball drafts. Target these forwards as draft day values.
With the 2014-2015 NBA season coming up, we take a look at a few late round forwards who could help your team go straight to the top of the standings.
Do Not Forget the Following Forwards on Draft Day
Ryan Anderson
After Anderson missed most of the 2014-15 season with a neck injury, many may overlook the stud forward.
In limited time last year, he put up a stellar 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 three-pointers per game. Along with that, he was phenomenal from the charity stripe, and a positive contributor from the field while taking care of the ball.
Similar to Cavs big man Kevin Love, Anderson is not a great source of blocks or steals. However, since he isn't a drain in any one category, he is an excellent option in roto leagues. Anderson's injury concerns are real, but considering he has looked good in the preseason and others have recovered well from similar neck injuries, it should not be a worry.
Terrence Jones
Jones is another player who should be given a giant opportunity this year in Houston. The Rockets lost do-it-all forward Chandler Parsons to Dallas, meaning both forward spots should be open for playing time. Last year, in 27.3 minutes per contest, Jones posted 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. That included a 13-game stretch in the middle of the year during which he averaged 16.0 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Jones would certainly benefit if Dwight Howard were to go down to injury, as the team also lost backup center Omer Asik during the offseason. The third-year pro could be in line for 35 minutes per game with the potential to put up a stat line including averages of around 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 block and a steal per game.
David West
Most sleepers are young players who find a more significant role with a new team. But West is the exact opposite. He will be counted on for a much larger part of the offense in Indiana due to the losses of Paul George to injury and Lance Stephenson to free agency. West has always been a good all-around contributor, and last year was no exception, as he put up 14.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting just short of 49% from the floor.
Having to replace nearly 40 points and 14 rebounds a night will not be easy for any one player on the Indiana roster, but West is the most likely individual to pick up the pace, as he is the only player on the current roster that has been a viable number one option for a team in the past. Though his percentages are likely to fall while turnovers jump, West could be in line to boost his scoring and rebounding by 15-30% each this season. With that potential bump in production, he will be more than worth a mid-round pick.
Marcus Morris
After a breakout campaign for twin brother Markieff last year, Marcus looks to follow suit for the Suns this season. Phoenix has a loaded backcourt, but is fairly thin up front with just the Morris twins and center Miles Plumlee. In 2013-14, Morris saw 22.0 minutes per night, and was able to put up 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and a solid 0.9 steals.
Morris obviously has good chemistry with his twin brother, which should give Head Coach Jeff Hornacek the confidence to play them at the small forward and power forward spots in a big lineup, or power forward and center in a small-ball rotation. It is also good news that he has run with the first team so far during the preseason. Morris could definitely deliver solid contributions throughout the season.
Mirza Teletovic
The deepest sleeper on the board, Teletovic has a number of things going for him this season. Playing time should be freed up for the stretch-four position now that Paul Pierce is in Washington and Andray Blatche has departed for the Philippines. The other frontcourt options on the Nets roster include an aging Kevin Garnett, Andrei Kirilenko and an improved Mason Plumlee, none of which brings the same type of game to the floor as Teletovic.
The 29-year-old from Europe is a shooting specialist, making 1.9 treys per game on 39% shooting from beyond the arc. He will not likely supply a ton of production in other categories, but much like Kyle Korver, a player who is a long-range gunner can provide a ton of fantasy value in the late rounds of your draft.
