RADIO
A funny thing happened on the way to creating my top 50 overall fantasy basketball rankings...
In case you have not heard, reigning MVP and consensus top pick, Kevin Durant, will miss 6-8 weeks with a fracture in his foot. Pardon my selfishness here, but this threw my rankings in disarray. I had no idea what to do, or where to rank Durant, and I would imagine my feelings are the same as most people currently preparing for fantasy basketball drafts.
In a head-to-head format, I would still consider Durant a first-round selection, and would even consider taking him first overall. In a roto setup, however, there is no way I am taking Durant that early.
Even with a best-case scenario, Durant will miss 20-25 percent of the season. That is with the 6-8 week timetable, and zero setbacks. By the time Durant is at full game speed, you are probably talking every bit of 8-10 weeks. In my opinion, that is too long to go without your first-round selection.
In the mock drafts I have been doing, Durant has been selected anywhere between picks 5-20. In other words, there is no clear cut answer as to where to take Oklahoma City's superstar forward. I have dropped him significantly in these rankings, but no one could blame you for disregarding what is written here, selecting him early and praying for the best.
Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Top 50 Overall for 2014
(Position Eligibility Based on Current Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball Player List)
1. LeBron James (CLE, SF/PF) - With Durant hurt, James is the clear-cut top pick.
2. Stephen Curry (GSW, PG/SG) - He looked great for Team USA and better this preseason. Not better than Lebron, but it is close.
3. Anthony Davis (NOP, PF/C) - Has struggled this preseason, but still best fantasy big man who offers everything but threes.
4. Chris Paul (LAC, PG) - Nightly lock for a double-double who again averaged more steals than turnovers last season.
5. James Harden (HOU, SG/SF) - Best fantasy player in the second half of 2013-14. Elite scoring and free-throw numbers, but expect a dip in defensive stats.
6. Russell Westbrook (OKC, PG) - Westbrook's usage rate is about to go through the roof without Durant. Remember what KD did with Westbrook out last year?
7. Carmelo Anthony (NYK, SF/PF) - Love him, but were uptick in rebounds and assists a fluke?
8. John Wall (WAS, PG) - Totally slept on him last year, but this year I am all in. He is a three-point shot away from being Stephen Curry.
9. DeMarcus Cousins (SAC, PF/C) - He is the unquestioned man in Sacramento, and with the exception of threes, he is poised to approach Kevin Love's Minnesota numbers.
10. LaMarcus Aldridge (POR, PF/C) - He was an MVP candidate until the workload caught up to him. If the rebounding and defensive stats were not a fluke last year, he could be closer to five than ten.
11. Serge Ibaka (OKC, PF/C) - Elite rebounding and defensive stats continue. Could end up a 20/10 guy with KD out.
12. Kevin Love (CLE, PF/C) - To0 much uncertainty to put him in the top-10. Boards should still be there, but scoring probably dips.
13. Damian Lillard (POR, PG) - Great scorer and shooter. Lack of team depth wore Lillard down last year. If he does not hit a wall again, could be a top-10 guy.
14. Blake Griffin (LAC, PF/C) - He is still little help in defensive categories, but if free-throw shooting continues to improve, he could end up a first-round value.
15. Kyle Lowry (TOR, PG) - With no trade talk or timeshare distractions, Lowry flourished. I love Toronto this year, and think Lowry builds on his breakout campaign.
16. Al Jefferson (CHA, PF/C) - No flash, just a nightly double-double with plus percentages and block totals. His aging knees worry me a bit, but other than that he is a safe second-round pick.
17. Chris Bosh (MIA, PF/C) - It has been a while, but the last time Bosh was the focal point of a team he averaged 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
18. Kyrie Irving (CLE, PG/SG) - Like with Kevin Love, not sure what changes about his game with LeBron back. Could end up being a steal here.
19. Dirk Nowitzki (DAL, PF/C) - "Old Reliable" is still a great, efficient scorer. Love getting his three-point totals from the PF spot.
20. Kawhi Leonard (SAS, SG/SF) - Gets a little of everything. Great source of rebounds and defensive stats from the guard position.
21. Kevin Durant (OKC, SF/PF) - Even this late, he is a gamble, but if you get him and all goes well, you probably will win it all. I would move him up at least five spots in a head-to-head format.
22. Andre Drummond (DET, PF/C) - Love everything about him except his 40 percent free-throw shooting. His offensive game should be better this year, but that will with come more trips to the line.
23. Paul Millsap (ATL, PF/C) - Steals and threes from a power forward are nice, especially when he can also get you 18 points and 8 rebounds per game.
24. Al Horford (ATL, PF/C) - Excellent source of field-goal percentage, points and rebounds without killing you from the line. Two major injuries in a three-year span has to be cause for concern.
25. Kobe Bryant (LAL, PG/SG) - He has looked terrific this preseason, and I am a believer. Not betting against the most mentally tough guy in the NBA.
26. Ty Lawson (DEN, PG) - Put up career bests in points, assists, steals and free-throw numbers. Constant injury concern who has played fewer than 70 games in three of his five NBA seasons.
27. Nicolas Batum (POR, SG/SF) - Even in a down year last season, Batum offered a little bit of everything. Always seems to end up hurt, and lack of Portland depth will not help that.
28. Brook Lopez (BRK, C) - Great scoring and efficiency numbers and will block some shots, but major injury risk and lack of boards limits his value.
29. Mike Conley (MEM, PG) - His increased scoring and threes coincided with a dip in steals last year. Very efficient PG, who could end up scoring more this year.
30. Joakim Noah (CHI, PF/C) - Easily Chicago's MVP last year. He is a triple-double threat every night, but is also an injury risk.
31. Rudy Gay (SAC, SF/PF) - A safe bet for 20.0 points per game with a handful of boards and solid free-throw totals.
32. Derrick Rose (CHI, PG) - Looked great for Team USA. If he is finally healthy, a steal here. Definition of high-risk/high-reward.
33. Marc Gasol (MEM, C) - Would like like to see a bit more scoring and/or rebounds, but hard to not like the steal, block and assist totals he offers from the center spot.
34. DeAndre Jordan (LAC, C) - He should be at or near the top of the NBA in boards and blocks again. Could increase scoring as offensive game improves.
35. Deron Williams (BRK, PG) - Production dropped for a second straight year as age and injuries are catching up to him. Pretty sure best days are behind him, but still should be productive.
36. Nikola Vucevic (ORL, PF/C) - Will give you a double-double a night without killing your free-throw percentage.
37. Klay Thompson (GSW, SG/SF) - Lights out from beyond the arc and continues to improve. 20.0 points per game is very possible.
38. Dwyane Wade (MIA, PG/SG) - No Lebron probably means better per game numbers, but how many frames will he play?
39. Goran Dragic (PHO, PG/SG) - Monster numbers last year were aided by loss of Eric Bledsoe. Crowded backcourt means Dragic's numbers probably dip.
40. Eric Bledsoe (PHO, PG/SG) - If he stays healthy, should end up with solid scoring and steal numbers. Crowded backcourt will limit his value.
41. Dwight Howard (HOU, PF/C) - I would take him late in the first round in head-to head format. However, in roto, his high-volume, horrific free-throw shooting is a killer.
42. DeMar DeRozan (TOR, SG/SF) - Elite scoring and free-throw numbers that can be had in the middle rounds.
43. Gordon Hayward (UTA, SG/SF) - I love him this year. If shooting percentage improves, he could be a steal here. A 20-5-5 season is possible.
44. Tim Duncan (SAS, PF/C) - Still very productive fantasy big, but dealing with random DNP can be maddening.
45. Chandler Parsons (DAL, SF/PF) - Efficient source of points and threes with the additional handful of rebounds. Was able to find shots playing with Harden and Howard, so playing with Ellis and Dirk should not be a problem.
46. Monta Ellis (DAL, PG/SG) - Still able to average 20.0 points and roughly 5.0 assists. Steals were down in 2013-14, but still solid. Efficiency and injuries are concerns here.
47. Ricky Rubio (MIN, PG) - He will give you a ton of assists and steals, but also offer little scoring, significant turnovers and poor shooting.
48. Rajon Rondo (BOS, PG) - Never going to be helpful in threes or free-throw numbers, but if healthy, he is an assist and steal machine that can score and rebound.
49. Wesley Matthews (POR, SG/SF) - Another Portland starter whose numbers took a dive in the second half. Still ended up having a career year.
50. Thaddeus Young (MIN, SF/PF) - Love his efficient game. Will not have the usage rate he had in Philly, but should still be a nice source of scoring, rebounds and steals without hurting your percentages or killing you with turnovers.
