X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Basketball Tiered Rankings - Power Forwards

The 2015-2016 NBA season ended on June 19th and the start of the 2016-2017 NBA regular season is a decent ways away on October 25th. Since the end of the NBA season rookies have been drafted, newcomers squared off and competed for roster spots in the NBA Summer League, and there was a mad dash to sign valuable free agents by every single team in the league.

So here we stand, looking at the beginning of a new Fantasy Basketball season on the distant horizon, wondering what to make of all the roster changes and power shifts. To make sure that none of us are caught off guard and unprepared because of distractions in the sports world like the NFL and the World Series, let's rank the top 20 players for Fantasy Basketball by all five positions and break down the top 20 by tiers of value.

Today, we focus on our 2016-17 tiered fantasy basketball rankings for NBA power forwards.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

Editor's Note: All players on this list are eligible at PF in Yahoo! leagues.  Many may be eligible at other positions, but they are only ranked here in the tiered rankings.

 

First Tier Power Forwards - Fantasy Basketball Rankings

1. Paul Millsap, ATL

2. Anthony Davis, NOR

Now that players are growing up focusing on athleticism, shooting, and ball handling, we are seeing a very diverse skill set throughout the upper echelon of NBA power forwards. Paul Millsap and Anthony Davis are clearly the best of the best at PF, and they offer different kinds of production along with their own risks/rewards.

Millsap has been an All-Star the last three seasons, has hit big peaks in assists; steals; blocks; and rebounds, has continued to score 17 per night even at 31 years old, and has shot 34.4% from distance in his time as a Hawk. Since his rookie season Anthony Davis has averaged 23.1 points, 2.6 blocks, 1.4 steals, and 10.2 boards per game. He also shot 32.4% for 3PT shots last year after shooting just 11% total for his first three seasons.

The only drawback to Davis is health. He averages 65 games per year and last year had a career low 61. Though if there is a candidate for a quadruple-double in the NBA, my money is on him. With his young age and still-budding skill set, he offers a far higher ceiling than Millsap does, especially since Millsap is 31. However with Al Horford now a Boston Celtic, there may be a really wide-open gap for rebounds in Atlanta.

 

Second Tier Power Forwards - Fantasy Basketball Rankings

3. Pau Gasol, SAS

4. Blake Griffin, LAC

5. Derrick Favors, UTA

6. LaMarcus Aldridge, SAS

Maybe Blake Griffin could even stay in the top five all season as long as he doesn't get in anymore equipment related altercations. The power forwards in this 4-7 range are more traditional type players, in that, they mostly prefer to score from inside, they rebound aggressively, and they all are pretty effective on defense in one way or another.

Gasol is a safer bet because of his track record, but any of these guys should make any Fantasy Basketball Manager happy to have.

 

Third Tier Power Forwards - Fantasy Basketball Rankings

7. Kevin Love, CLE

8. Kristaps Porzingis, NYK

9. Greg Monroe, MIL

10. Serge Ibaka, ORL

11. Tobias Harris, DET

12. Nerlens Noel, PHI

13. Kenneth Faried, DEN

If the players in the 8-13 range just had one more category that stuck out, then they would all have a case for the top five. Unfortunately, while these players demonstrate a lot of talent in their areas of expertise, they have some glaring gaps that make them less desirable for Fantasy Basketball Managers.

Love can rebound, score, and shoot. Ibaka can block, rebound, and has improved his shooting. Faried is a rebounding monster, Greg Monroe is a quiet double-double guy, and Tobias Harris is sneaky well-rounded. Guys like this can be hard to own because of their high ADP but they have the gaps that the immediate tier above them do not have. I would love to keep believing in Nerlens Noel, but there are just so many young big guys on the 76ers roster that it brings up a lot of uncertainty as to what his future role is.

 

Fourth Tier Power Forwards - Fantasy Basketball Rankings

14. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL

15. Myles Turner, IND

16. Robert Covington, PHI

There is really no theme for this tier, they just aren't able to do what the 13 guys above them can do, or at least not anymore in Dirk's case. Dirk is getting old but he is still one of the best shooters in basketball history. That means he should continue to score at an efficient rate. He is also still tall, so an adequate rate of rebounds should continue. Myles Turner averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in his rookie year in a meager 22.3 minutes each game.

Per 36 minutes that is equivalent to 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. He probably won't be on the floor for 36 minutes each game, but after his successful rookie campaign his playing time should increase by a big margin. Robert Covington has been a versatile defensive specialist the past two years in Philly and shot 36.3% from distance. The big problem is that the 76ers drafted Ben Simmons and have a big slew of talented young players to kick start their rebuild. That might mean Covington's days of ample playing time are cooked.

 

Fifth Tier Power Forwards - Fantasy Basketball Rankings

18. Chris Bosh, MIA

19. Aaron Gordon, ORL

20. Julius Randle, LAL

This fifth tier is actually a little more well-rounded than the fourth tier, they just have more question marks. For instance, how much more valuable would Julius Randle be if he could block at least a shot a game and could pop out to hit three pointers more often and at a better rate than 27.8%? We all can see that Aaron Gordon would have more statistical production with more playing time, but will he get more playing time this year? And will it be enough? At 32 years old, when will Chris Bosh's play start to steeply diminish?

 

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
Devon Toews

to Miss at Least Two Weeks
Gabriel Landeskog

Out for Several Weeks
Jamie Drysdale

Makes Early Exit Tuesday
Bobby Brink

Injured in Tuesday's Win
Adam Henrique

Expected to Miss Time
Brad Marchand

Dealing With Lingering Health Issue
Haydn Fleury

Hospitalized Tuesday
Moussa Diabaté

Ryan Kalkbrenner Out, Moussa Diabate Probable Wednesday
Brandon Miller

Listed as Probable Wednesday
Alex Caruso

Absent for Second Consecutive Game
Nicolas Claxton

Available Wednesday
Moritz Wagner

Still Out Wednesday
Franz Wagner

Not Ready to Return Wednesday
Jalen Suggs

Remains Out Wednesday
Draymond Green

Questionable to Suit Up Wednesday
Jalen Smith

Ruled Out for Second Straight Game
Matas Buzelis

Could Miss First Game of the Season Wednesday
Coby White

May Skip Wednesday's Game
Cade Cunningham

Probable for Wednesday
Isaiah Hartenstein

to Remain Out Wednesday
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Could Return to Action Wednesday
Tim Hardaway Jr.

May Remain Out Wednesday
Christian Braun

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
Aaron Gordon

Iffy for Wednesday
Jamal Murray

Considered Questionable for Wednesday Night
Max Strus

to Miss Another Month
Vince Williams Jr.

Making Return Tuesday Against Spurs
Trae Young

Listed as Questionable for Wednesday
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Mason Marchment

Out Tuesday
Sean Monahan

Available Tuesday
Jason Zucker

Set to Return From 11-Game Absence
Matvei Michkov

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Matthew Schaefer

Cleared for Action Tuesday
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Adam Fox

Landing Back on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Seth Jarvis

Back for Hurricanes Tuesday
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
Jake McCabe

to Sit Out One Week
Hampus Lindholm

to Miss Time
Christian Dvorak

Flyers Sign Christian Dvorak to Five-Year Extension
Igor Shesterkin

Exits With Lower-Body Injury Monday
Joel Armia

Hurt in Monday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Monday
Matthew Schaefer

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders Fire Head Coach Pete Carroll
Malik Nabers

Unsure if He Will Be Ready for Week 1 of 2026 Season
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Will Return as Bengals Head Coach in 2026
New York Giants

Giants Expected to Show Interest in Former Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski
Daniel Jones

Colts, Daniel Jones Appear to Have "Mutual Interest" in a 2026 Reunion
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fire Kevin Stefanski After Another Losing Season
Zay Flowers

Goes Off for 138 Yards, Two Touchdowns in Loss
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Dominates in Week 18 Win
Cameron Ward

Believed to Have Grade 3 AC Joint Sprain in Right Shoulder
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals
CFB

Transfer QB Billy Edwards Commits to North Carolina
CFB

Sam Leavitt Visiting Texas Tech on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Kyle Tucker

Blue Jays "Remain the Favorite" to Sign Kyle Tucker
CFB

Joey Aguilar Undergoes Surgery to Remove Tumor on Friday
CFB

Texas the "Team to Beat" for Transfer Running Back Isaac Brown
CFB

Rocco Becht to Follow Matt Campbell to Penn State?
CFB

Texas Targeting Cam Coleman in Transfer Portal
CFB

Former Texas Running Back CJ Baxter Visiting Kentucky
CFB

Beau Pribula Visiting Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP