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Every year there are a few players that outperform their draft day value in fantasy basketball leagues.
In this article, we will look at a five very deep sleepers at the forward and center positions for fantasy basketball managers to keep their eye on.
These are players that are not likely to be on your draft radar in standard 10-12 team leagues, but are worth monitoring in deep leagues with 14 or more teams or in leagues with deep roster spots.
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Chris Boucher, Toronto Raptors
It is no secret that the Raptors are one of the better teams in the NBA in terms of developing players. Homegrown players such as Fred Vanvleet and OG Anunoby have flourished in their system. With Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol now out of Toronto (or Tampa), there should be more playing time for Boucher.
His per 36 minute numbers from last year jump off the page at 18.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers and 1.0 steals. That is in an admittedly small sample size, but consider in the 11 games in which he played over 20 minutes last year, Boucher averaged 17.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
The team did bring in veterans Aron Baynes and Alex Len. However, neither of those players possess the athleticism of a Boucher, who could surprise this season.
Maximilian Kleber, Dallas Mavericks
With word that Kristaps Porzingis is already going to be out to start the year and Dwight Powell likely to be slowed due to injury, Kleber should see a big role early in the year. He is not a player that will jump out in any one category, but he is a multi-category producer. Last year he averaged a solid 9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds on a more than respectable 46.1% field-goal percentage and 84.9% free-throw rate.
As a starter last season he averaged 9.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 three’s and 1.6 blocks per contest. With the injuries this team already has, expect both Porzingis and Powell to sit plenty of games this year, which will give Kleber value.
Rudy Gay, San Antonio Spurs
The now 34 year old, Rudy Gay has gone from a one time fantasy stud, to a player no one will look at in fantasy drafts. It is certainly concerning that the veteran wing played over 21.8 minutes last year, but on a positive note, coach Gregg Popovich has publicly stated that the teams up-tempo pace they played with in the bubble will continue this year.
In the seven games he played in the bubble, Gay scored at least 12 points in each game while also pulling down at least 4 rebounds. Most importantly for his fantasy value, he really began to stretch the defense as he made multiple three-pointers in each of those games shooting 42.8% from deep. He will not play huge minutes, but an uptick in pace and a smaller lineup should help Gay hit value.
Robert Williams III, Boston Celtics
Dubbed the “Time Lord”, Williams has always been a player who posts monster stat lines in a limited amount of time. Like Boucher, Williams per 36 minute numbers are absolutely ridiculous as 13.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 2.0 steals last season. This issue is that last year he only got 13.4 minutes per contest.
The Celtics did lose Enes Kanter who played 17 minutes a game last year, but did fill that role with vet Tristan Thompson. This is likely to hinder Williams ability to play big minutes, but also do not be surprised if the team pushes Williams a bit more and his value could then skyrocket.
Juan Hernangomez, Minnesota Timberwolves
Hernangomez blossomed at the end of last year after his trade from the Nuggets to the Timberwolves. Due to the COVID outbreak, he only got 14 games with the Wolves but showed out nicely posting 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 three-pointers and 1.0 steals a game.
The caveat to that is he only played next to star Karl-Anthony Towns for 37 of those minutes, which likely was a reason his production soared. Towns will be back, but the team also moved on from James Johnson, which means Hernangomez should be in line to see upwards of 30 minutes a night at a thin power forward spot.
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