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Fantasy Basketball Rankings Analysis: Overvalued NBA Players

Last week I took a look at some players who might be undervalued according to their pre-draft Yahoo! rankings. This week I flip the switch and discuss a handful of players who are a bit overvalued for my taste!

So when everyone else is sipping the wrong flavor of Kool-Aid on these guys, just let them pass and be content knowing that you've made the wise decision. Note: All default ranks and position eligibility based on Yahoo! leagues as of Sunday 10/2/2016.

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Over-Valued Fantasy Basketball Players for Yahoo! Drafters

Draymond Green, SF/PF Golden State, (current Yahoo! Rank: 19)

Draymond Green was a stalwart in 2015-16 and he emerged as one of the games top all-around talents. Green averaged a shocking 14 PPG, 7.4 APG, 9.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.4 BPG. The assists were double his career-high of 3.7 set the year before.

While Green will still be a focal point of the Golden State offense, the addition of Kevin Durant is going to impact a bit of everyone’s game. The consensus seems to be that Klay Thompson could be hurt the most by the signing of Durant, but it could actually be Green. The Warriors ran a lot of offensive sets through their versatile power forward, and as a result his game went to the next level. Durant brings last season’s ninth-highest usage rate to Oakland, and the Warriors didn’t bring him over to become a spectator. While Durant will have to adjust his game to make his time in Golden State work, don’t expect him to take too much of a backseat. Green is already an unselfish player, and he could be just fine running around causing havoc on defense and deferring to his more talented teammates.

Expect Green to put up numbers closer to his 2014-15 totals, when he averaged 11.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 8.2 RPG, 1.6 SPG and 1.3 BPG. Those numbers still make him a guy you need to own, but you’d be wise to not reach for him as his statistical impact could take a bit of a hit.

 

Jonas Valanciunas, C, Toronto, (36)

Let me just start by saying that I love me some Jonas Valanciunas. JV is one of my favorite players in all of basketball, and I truly believe he doesn’t get enough credit for how scary good he actually is.

Despite what I think of him as a player, the Raptors just don’t seem too interested in getting the big man involved enough on the offensive end. The 2015-16 playoffs were a coming out part of sorts for the Lithuanian, as his monster nights made him known to the national audience like never before. The 24-year-old is entering his fifth season in the league, and I don’t expect him to improve much numbers-wise. I think he’s good enough that a team can run an offense through him, but the guard-centric Raptors seem content on running almost all of their plays through DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry.

JV averaged 12.8 PPG, 0.7 APG, 9.1 RPG, 0.4 SPG and 1.3 BPG. With all those numbers came a very efficient .565 FG and just 1.4 TO, making him a very good player to own. Based on the fact that he still likely won’t become a more important part of the Toronto offense, and the fact that the Raptors seem more interested in his defensive development rather than him as an offensive force; it could mean that he continues to produce as is. While those would be good numbers, they wouldn’t justify a third-round pick.

 

Jae Crowder, SF/PF, Boston (50)

Jae Crowder has seen his career hit a new level since being acquired by the Boston Celtics. Crowder was an afterthought in Dallas, but when he made the shift to Bean Town, he became a key rotation player for Brad Stevens and the Celtics.

Crowder averaged 14.2 PPG, 1.8 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG and 1.7 3PM on .443 FG in 2015-16. Now, Crowder is a fine player but the Celtics’ team-sharing offense (for everyone other than Isaiah Thomas) and the addition of Al Horford really limits his value as a fantasy player. In real life, Crowder will still be counted on to provide defense, grit, hustle and some knock-down shooting; but on his best night he’s the fourth option on the team and he’s undeserving of a fourth- to fifth-round draft pick. Look elsewhere at that time in the draft, because Crowder isn’t the type of player you want with one of your top picks.

 

Danny Green, SG/SF, San Antonio (78)

Danny Green had a really big 2014-15 campaign, in which he averaged career-highs in points (11.7), assists (2.0), rebounds (4.2), steals (1.2), blocks (1.1) and three-pointers made (2.4). Green took a huge step back in 2015-16, shooting just .376 from the field, and seeing a decrease in all of his counting stats. Green’s current 78th ranking by Yahoo! is one of the more confusing rankings they have. While he could contribute in threes and help with steals and blocks, he provides almost no value everywhere else.

Green is an afterthought in the San Antonio offense and rightfully so. He’s a streaky shooter whose offensive game and upside are extremely limited. While his defense will always make sure he gets consistent minutes, the benefits he provides won’t ever amount to a top 7-8 pick on your team. Stay away on draft night, and let someone else take him.

 

Catch you again next week and all season long.

 


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jared McCain

Moves into Starting Five
Boston Celtics

Joe Mazzulla Wins Coach of the Year
Jalen Williams

is Ruled Out for Game 5 on Tuesday
Bucky Irving

is Expected to be Ready for Training Camp
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to See More Versatile Role
Parker Washington

Jaguars Think Parker Washington Can Replicate Second-Half Production
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Kenny Atkinson to Remain Cavaliers Head Coach Next Season
Josh Jacobs

Arrested on Five Charges, Booked Into Jail
Claude Giroux

Planning to Return for 20th NHL Campaign
Josh Sweat

Cardinals Receiving Trade Calls on Josh Sweat
Carter Hart

Aiming for Sixth Consecutive Win Tuesday
Tetairoa McMillan

Working With the Training Staff on Tuesday
Evgeni Malkin

Inks New One-Year Deal With Penguins
Mackenzie Blackwood

in Net for Game 4 Against Golden Knights
Valeri Nichushkin

a Game-Time Call Tuesday
Nathan MacKinnon

Will Suit Up Tuesday
Jerome Ford

Is it Time for Dynasty Managers to Drop Jerome Ford?
John Metchie III

Poised for Breakout Season with New Team in 2026?
Jalen Milroe

Is Jalen Milroe Still Worth Stashing in Dynasty Formats Entering 2026?
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Is Kyle Pitts Sr. a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate Coming Off Breakout Season?
Nico Collins

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Chris Brooks

Carries Buy-Low Dynasty Appeal into 2026
Ben Griffin

Looking to Repeat This Week at Colonial
Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
NFL

NFL Unlikely to Expand to 18 Regular-Season Games by 2027
Sahith Theegala

Searching For Swing at Charles Schwab Challenge
Lamar Jackson

in Attendance at OTAs This Week
Bucky Irving

Expected Back in the Summer or Fall
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DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
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Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
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Braylon Staley the Next 1,000-Yard Tennessee Receiver?
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Ahmad Hardy's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
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Is Travis Etienne Jr. Still a Dynasty RB1 Following Change of Scenery?
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Faces a Difficult Path to Relevance
Jordan Whittington

Does Jordan Whittington Have Any Dynasty Value Left?
Caleb Williams

Bears Want Caleb Williams to "Do Less"
Xavier Worthy

Has Xavier Worthy Become a Post-Hype Dynasty Sleeper?
Evan Mobley

Finishes Season-Ending Loss With 15 Points
James Harden

Wants to Stay in Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Committed to Cavaliers
Mikal Bridges

Cools Off in Game 4 Against Cavaliers
OG Anunoby

Active on Both Ends in Blowout Win
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads Knicks in Scoring During Series-Clincher
Jalen Brunson

Named Eastern Conference Finals MVP
Ivan Demidov

Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort
Lane Hutson

Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss
Frederik Andersen

Enjoys Another Easy Night at the Office in Game 3
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Scores First Postseason Goal
Taylor Hall

Ends Four-Game Goal Drought
Andrei Svechnikov

Scores Game 3 Winner in Overtime
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Athletics to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Gage Jump to Major Leagues
Tatsuya Imai

Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder is Ruled Out for Game 4 on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Nets Could Trade Michael Porter Jr.
Ajay Mitchell

is Ruled Out for Game 5
Jalen Williams

is Tagged as Questionable for Game 5
Valeri Nichushkin

Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin Uncertain for Game 4
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Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday
Max Domi

Out Indefinitely Due to Offseason Surgery Complications
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Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
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Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

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Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Winning and Places Third at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

Places Fourth After Leading Laps at Charlotte
Kyle Larson

Strong and Consistent Day Ends in Fifth at Charlotte
Devon Toews

Logs Two Assists In Game 3 Defeat
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Nets 10th Postseason Goal
Mitchell Marner

Delivers Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Mark Stone

Returns With Multi-Point Effort
Valeri Nichushkin

Exits Early Sunday
Nathan MacKinnon

Hurt in Game 3 Loss
Isaiah Hartenstein

Provides Steady Production in Defeat
Chet Holmgren

Has a Quiet Offensive Night on Sunday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Held Under 20 Points in Game 4
Stephon Castle

Hands Out Six Assists in Game 4 Win
Devin Vassell

Tallies 13 Points in Game 4 Win
Dylan Cease

Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Exits Sunday's Game Early with Elbow Contusion
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Sunday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Place Edward Cabrera on the 15-Day Injured List
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

on Pole for Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Could Break Out of Slump
Kyle Larson

May have A Solid Day at Charlotte
Ryan Blaney

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William Byron

Could have A Great DFS Performance at Charlotte
Chase Briscoe

Is A Solid Tournament Option for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs

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Ross Chastain

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Austin Dillon

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Chase Elliott

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Carson Hocevar

Confident for Coca-Cola 600
Corey Heim

a Chalk DFS Pick at Charlotte
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell A Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups?
MLB

Orioles-Tigers Game Postponed on Saturday
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Rays-Yankees Postponed on Saturday
Mickey Moniak

Heads to Injured List With Ankle Sprain
Jackson Merrill

has Sore Ribs, Expected to Avoid Injured List
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Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Looking to Take Sophomore Leap
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Jadan Baugh Primed to Lead Florida Offense in 2026
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LSU Hires Ed Orgeron As Special Assistant
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North Carolina and South Carolina Cancel Home-And-Home Series
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Confidence High in Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Friday
Trevor Story

has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Robby Snelling

Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Jackson Merrill

Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF