RADIO
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.
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