NBA Forwards - Draft Sleepers for Fantasy Basketball

December 20, 2020

Dale Johnsons's Undervalued Forwards list for 2020-2021 fantasy basketball drafts. These forwards can be sneaky picks based on ADP, and are potential draft sleepers.

With preseason underway and the season right around the corner, I am sure you are checking every box score and scouring the lineups for each team as much as I am.  As always, be sure to stay on top of it all in some of our guides! In this article, we will take a lot at some forwards who are projected to outperform their Average Draft Position (ADP). We have all experienced a player getting sniped right before your pick, but this guide should help you determine which forwards to reach for.

Please keep in mind the league has shortened this season from 82 to 72 games to limit travel due to COVID-19 concerns. With the condensed season, there is even more concern of players who are regularly rested, especially with more back-to-back games. For this shortened season, we recommend that your playoffs will begin around Week 15 or 16. This should allow all fantasy teams in your league to stay competitive until the very end.

The below players are overlooked recommendations, but trust your instincts and the team build you are going for throughout your draft. Always check the injury reports and projected rotations, keep in mind your team needs, and make sure to take upside players at the end of your draft. We are hoping you have a fun basketball season and that we helped, even a little bit, along the way!

2020-2021 Fantasy Basketball Undervalued Guards

Please note I go by Yahoo! standard league 12 teams 9-category format for ADP

Michael Porter Jr., PF - Denver Nuggets (ADP 74)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

16.4 minutes 9.3 points 1.1 3PM 4.7 rebounds 0.8 assists 0.5 steals 0.5 blocks 50.9% FG 83.3% FT

Porter has had a long road to the NBA and fantasy relevancy after concerns over his back. After missing his initial rookie season to rehab from back surgery, Porter returned to play 55 games at just 16.4 minutes per game last year. You may be asking why we would highlight a player playing just 16.4 minutes per game. This does not actually tell the whole story of Porter's season. Porter ended up averaging 33.3 minutes per game in the bubble and, due to some defensive issues, 23.7 minutes per game in the playoffs. Not only will he likely see more minutes this season due to Jerami Grant’s departure, but Porter also puts up huge numbers when he sees the floor. His per-36 minute averages last season of 20.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.5 three-pointers, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game had him ranked in the top-30 of all fantasy players. On a production per-minute basis, Porter is extremely efficient and is poised for a breakout season should he remain a starter and see upwards of 30 minutes per game.

OG Anunoby, SF/PF - Toronto Raptors (ADP 79)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

29.9 minutes 10.6 points 1.3 3PM 5.3 rebounds 1.6 assists 1.4 steals 0.7 blocks 50.5% FG 70.6% FT

Anunoby is a sneaky solid fantasy player to target in your 9-cat drafts. Anunoby is locked in as a starter again this season after a semi-breakout year in 2019. Anunoby does not really hurt you anywhere with averages of 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game last season. Anunoby also shot 50.5 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from three-point land which are solid numbers at the forward position. With Serge Ibaka gone, Anunoby may also be asked to slide over to the four at times. This could give a boost to his rebounding numbers, but take a hit in his shooting percentages if used as a stretch four.

Aaron Gordon, SF/PF - Orlando Magic (ADP 82)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

32.5 minutes 14.4 points 1.2 3PM 7.7 rebounds 3.7 assists 0.8 steals 0.6 blocks 43.7 % FG 67.4 % FT

By all accounts, Gordon had a down year in 2019. His points and shooting percentages across the board all took a hit from the year prior as he had nagging injuries that limited his season to just 62 games. However, he still was top-50 in total fantasy points scored over the course of the year, which is surprising given he missed 20 games. The Magic have not made any lineup changes or brought in any competition at Gordon’s position and Jonathan Isaac (knee) will not play this season either. Gordon is a better sleeper for points league’s, but the expanded role should give him a boost to his counting stats, assuming he can tighten up his percentages.

Bojan Bogdanovic, SG/SF - Utah Jazz (ADP 110)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

33.1 minutes 20.2 points 3.0 3PM 4.1 rebounds 2.1 assists 0.5 steals 0.1 blocks 44.7% FG 90.3% FT

Bogdanovic always seems to be forgotten despite averaging double-digit points in every year of his career outside his rookie season. Bogdanovic had to forego the bubble and playoffs after having season-ending surgery on his right wrist in May - cutting his season short at 63 games played. This was the first time in his career he played less than 78 games in a season, yet most fantasy managers will label him injury prone due to recency bias. Despite all this, Bogdanovic is coming off a career-high 20.2 points per game on 44.7 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from three, and 90.3 percent from the line shooting splits. Bogdanovic has been able to play in preseason games and there looks to be no concerns over his health. With his ADP over the 100s, he is looking like a steal with possible top-80 value.

PJ Washington, SF/PF - Charlotte Hornets (ADP 121)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

30.3 minutes 12.2 points 1.5 3PM 5.4 rebounds 2.1 assists 0.9 steals 0.8 blocks 45.5 % FG 64.7% FT

Washington looked like one of the top rookies early on last year, slowed down considerably as the season went on, then started to pick it back up before their regular season was shut down for good. The Hornets now have Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball taking on some more offensive possessions this year, but Washington is still projected to start at the four over Miles Bridges and possibly even some center action. Head coach James Borrego said he expects to use Washington at center “a lot” this season, despite only being 6’7”. This should boost his rebounds and blocks with Cody Zeller his only competition at center. With the league shifting towards more small-ball lineups, Washington is a much better fit for the Hornets than Zeller. Washington is shaping up to be a top-100 player this season and he would get a boost if you are running a punt-FT % build.

Darius Bazley, SF/PF - Oklahoma City Thunder (ADP 140)

2019-2020 season numbers (per game):

18.5 minutes 5.6 points 0.8 3PM 4.0 rebounds 0.7 assists 0.4 steals 0.7 blocks 39.4% FG 69.4% FT

Bazley caught fire right before last year’s playoffs, scoring at least 20 points in three of his final four games in the bubble along with averages of 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 three-pointers, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game during that stretch. The Thunder have made it clear they are rebuilding after cleaning house, leaving Bazley poised to start at either forward positions this year. Bazley is ranked 174 in Yahoo rankings and outside the top-200 for ESPN. Getting Bazley with one of your remaining picks could be league-winning value. Even in the slight chance new head coach Mark Daigneault plays aging Trevor Ariza ahead of him, the upside is hard to ignore at the end of drafts.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis