👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
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

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
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 6 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

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jake Sanderson

Dealing With Head Injury
Josh Manson

Evaluated for Upper-Body Injury
Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks Draft Jadarian Price at No. 32 Overall
Tennessee Titans

Titans Select Keldric Faulk After Trading Up to No. 31 Overall
Kansas City Chiefs

Peter Woods Selected 29th Overall by Chiefs
Tennessee Titans

Titans Acquire 31st Overall Pick From Bills
New York Jets

Jets Select Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30 Overall in NFL Draft
New England Patriots

Patriots Trade Up Three Spots, Select Caleb Lomu 28th Overall
New York Jets

Jets Trade Up Into First Round, Acquire Pick No. 30 From 49ers
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Trade Up Three Spots, Select Chris Johnson 27th Overall
Houston Texans

Texans Trade Up, Select Keylan Rutledge 26th Overall
Chicago Bears

Dillon Thieneman Selected 25th Overall by Bears
Cleveland Browns

Browns Select Wide Receiver KC Concepcion With 24th Overall Selection
Dallas Cowboys

Malachi Lawrence Joins Cowboys at 23rd Pick
Los Angeles Chargers

Akheem Mesidor Selected 22nd Overall by Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Select Offensive Tackle Max Iheanachor With 21st Pick
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Trade Up to Take Receiver Makai Lemon at 20th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Monroe Freeling Goes to Panthers at No. 19 Overall
Minnesota Vikings

Caleb Banks Drafted by Vikings at 18th Overall on Thursday
Alex Lyon

Comes in and Shuts Down Boston
Detroit Lions

Lions Select Blake Miller With the 17th Overall Pick of NFL Draft
Jake Sanderson

Suffers Hand Injury While Blocking Shot
New York Jets

Jets Draft Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 Overall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Draft Rueben Bain Jr. With the 15th Overall Pick
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Trade Down, Select Kadyn Proctor 12th Overall in 2026 NFL Draft
Jake LaRavia

Available for Game 3 Friday
Austin Reaves

Upgraded to Questionable on Injury Report
Spencer Jones

Starting in Game 3
Joel Embiid

Picks Up Doubtful Tag Before Game 3
Kevin Durant

Iffy for Friday Night Due to Ankle Issue
Victor Wembanyama

Officially Listed as Questionable for Game 3
Jaylen Clark

Terrence Shannon Jr., Jaylen Clark Won't Play Thursday
Aaron Gordon

Ruled Out Thursday
Anthony Edwards

Cleared to Play Thursday
Jalen Williams

Week-to-Week Ahead of Game 3
Harrison Barnes

Available for Game 3
Victor Wembanyama

Traveling with Team Ahead of Game 3
Thomas Bryant

Cleared for Game 3
Milwaukee Bucks

Taylor Jenkins Set to Become Bucks Head Coach
Immanuel Quickley

Still Sidelined for Game 3
Ja'Kobe Walter

Good to Go for Game 3
Francisco Lindor

Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
Tyler Kleven

Available for Senators Versus Hurricanes
Josh Norris

Out With Undisclosed Injury for Thursday Night
Noah Ostlund

Will Return for Game 3 Against Boston
Francisco Lindor

Mets Officially Place Francisco Lindor on Injured List With Calf Strain
Michael Harris II

Removed Early With Quad Tightness
Francisco Lindor

Likely Headed to the Injured List
Jason Robertson

Scores in Sixth Straight Playoff Game
Matt Duchene

Records Second Consecutive Multi-Point Game
Sean Couturier

Contributes Two Assists in Game 3 Win
Jackson LaCombe

Ties Ducks Record With Three Points in Game 2
Alex Killorn

Racks Up Three Points on Special Teams
Connor McDavid

Finishes Pointless for Second Straight Game
Rasmus Sandin

Undergoes ACL Surgery
Paolo Banchero

Finishes Game 2 Loss With 18 Points
Cade Cunningham

Notches 27 Points, 11 Assists in Slow-Burning Win
Devin Booker

Settles for 22 Points in Game 2
Dillon Brooks

Leads Suns With 30 Points Wednesday Night
Chet Holmgren

Productive on Both Ends Wednesday
Michael Harris II

Continues to Heat Up With Two-Homer Game on Wednesday
Francisco Lindor

Leaves Wednesday's Game Early With Calf Tightness
JR Ritchie

Earns Promotion, Will Make MLB Debut on Thursday
Noah Ostlund

Could Return Thursday
Pontus Holmberg

Will Miss Round 1
Charle-Edouard D'Astous

Could Be an Option Friday
Victor Hedman

Traveling With Team
Radko Gudas

Unavailable for Game 2
Yakov Trenin

Considered a Game-Time Decision Wednesday
Mats Zuccarello

a Game-Time Call Wednesday
Wyatt Langford

Expected to Go on Injured List With Flexor Strain
Maikel Garcia

Leaves Early on Wednesday With Elbow Soreness
Roman Anthony

Day-to-Day With Sore Back
Juan Soto

Officially Back in Mets Lineup on Wednesday
J.T. Realmuto

Phillies Place J.T. Realmuto on Injured List With Back Injury
Lucas Giolito

Signs With Padres, Worth a Waiver-Wire Pickup?
Ryan Helsley

Orioles Put Ryan Helsley on Bereavement List on Wednesday
CFB

Beau Pribula Leading Virginia Quarterback Competition
Marco Penge

Trending Down Entering Zurich Classic
Sahith Theegala

Eyes Another Strong Week at Zurich Classic
Brooks Koepka

Shane Lowry Teams Up with Brooks Koepka at Zurich Classic
Si Woo Kim

Adds Another Strong Finish at RBC Heritage
Elly De La Cruz

Early-Season Breakout Continues on Tuesday
Wyatt Langford

Pulled Early on Tuesday With Forearm Tightness
Luke Clanton

Hoping to Find Form in New Orleans
Jackson Holliday

Leaves Rehab Game With Hand Discomfort
Corbin Carroll

Returns to Arizona's Lineup Against White Sox
Scottie Scheffler

is Starting to Hit His Stride
Brooks Koepka

Looking for Progress in PGA Return With Partner at Zurich Classic
Matt Fitzpatrick

Looks to Share Recent Form at Zurich Classic
Zack Wheeler

to Make Season Debut on Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Back in Leadoff Spot on Tuesday After Injury Scare
CFB

Ashton Daniels Named Florida State's Starting Quarterback
Juan Soto

Expected to Return on Wednesday
Tyler Reddick

Earns His Fifth Win of the 2026 Season at Kansas
Kyle Larson

Finishes as the Runner-Up at Kansas
Chase Briscoe

Rallies for A New Career-Best Finish at Kansas
Denny Hamlin

Leads the Most Laps at Kansas but Misses Out on Victory
Christopher Bell

Falls Out of Contention for Kansas Victory on Final Restart
Mike Malott

Scores Third-Round TKO Win
Gilbert Burns

Retires After UFC Winnipeg Loss
Charles Jourdain

Extends Winning Streak
Kyler Phillips

Drops Decision At UFC Winnipeg
Mandel Nallo

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss In His UFC Debut
Jai Herbert

Scores First-Round TKO Win
Karine Silva

Gets Dominated at UFC Winnipeg
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Dominates Karine Silva
Kyle Larson

Should not be Underestimated for the Win at Kansas
Denny Hamlin

Can Denny Hamlin Dominate at Kansas Again?
NASCAR

Christoper Bell Should Contend for First Win at Kansas
Tyler Reddick

Fastest in Practice and Qualifying for Kansas Race
Ryan Blaney

Could Score another Top-10 Finish at Kansas
Ty Gibbs

Poised to Continue Hot Streak at Kansas
Chris Buescher

Always Consistent, Has Speed Heading Into Kansas
William Byron

is A Solid DFS Option for Kansas Lineups
Carson Hocevar

Poised for Career-Best Run at Kansas
Chase Briscoe

Is Chase Briscoe Worth Rostering for DFS at Kansas?
Chase Elliott

Is A Favorable DFS Option for Kansas Lineups
Joey Logano

Could Joey Logano be Considered Playable In DFS This Week at Kansas?
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace is A Favorable Driver to Consider for Kansas Lineups
Ross Chastain

Is Ross Chastain A Worthy DFS Option for Kansas?
Brad Keselowski

Could Brad Keselowski be A Sneaky DFS Option for Kansas?
Daniel Suarez

Should DFS Managers Roster Daniel Suarez at Kansas?
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF