October 22, 2016

Johnathan Chan looks at three NBA forwards to target late in your fantasy drafts. 2016-17 fantasy basketball draft sleepers to help win your drafts.

Forward is normally a deep position in fantasy basketball. Many owners look for their forwards to be solid all around producers in the mold of Draymond Green or Kristaps Porzingis.

When getting to the later rounds of the draft, forwards become more one dimensional contributors who only provide one or two category boosts such as Kenneth Faried. Here are three deeper forward options that can provide value later in drafts. Position eligibility based on Yahoo! fantasy leagues.

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Target These Forwards in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

Dario Saric, PF, Philadelphia 76ers

Current ADP: 172

So far, Saric has been lost in the rookie hype of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. However, with the foot injury suffered by Simmons, owners should be looking to Saric as a late round flier who has the potential to vastly out perform his FantasyPros ADP of 172.

Over his European career, Saric averaged 15.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steal, and 0.7 blocks per 36 minutes. The 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft has the skills and draft pedigree to maintain this type of all around production in the NBA. Saric impressed in his debut, scoring 10 points and adding six rebounds, two assists and one block.

He was never a three-point threat early in his European career. In 2015, Saric made significant strides in that area, averaging 1.2 three pointers at a 40% clip. If Saric can continue his development from deep, he will provide a valuable weapon for a shooting deprived Sixers team.

After five years playing professional basketball in Europe, Saric is also one of the most experienced players on the team. If Saric can earn a starting role to start the year, look for him to provide above average assists (for a big man), three pointers, and just under one steal and block at the end of your draft.

Ryan Anderson, PF/C, Houston Rockets

Current ADP: 78

Do you want three pointers? Because drafting Ryan Anderson is how you get three pointers. Anderson had a career year in 2013-14, with averages of 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 three pointers per game. His three point attempts have dipped over the last couple years, reaching a five year low at only 5.4 attempts last season.

Now playing in Mike D'antoni's system in Houston, expect those attempts to hover around his career high of 7.5. With a suddenly thin Houston front court, you can also expect Anderson to play heavy minutes and increase his rebound totals in a high tempo offense.

He will most likely be James Harden's main target on kick outs which will lead to plenty of three pointers. While Anderson won't provide many assists, blocks or steals, massive three point boost will allow owners to address those categories elsewhere in the draft.

He is also huge value due to his Yahoo! center eligibility for anyone punting FG% and/or blocks.  With a FantasyPros ADP of 78, Anderson has the chance to return a lot of value for a middle round pick.

Robert Covington, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers

Current ADP: 89

For those of you punting FG%, Covington is a forward that should be squarely in your sights. In 28 MPG last year, Covington averaged 12.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.5 threes and 1.6 steals per game. While he shoots a horrid 38% from the field, he makes the perfect pairing for low percentage guards like James Harden and John Wall. With the Sixers' lack of three point shooting,

Covington will again be the high volume outside shooter for the young Philly team. An influx of inside talent (Saric and Embiid) should free up some space for Covington to let it fly. His contribution in the steals category is valuable, as that is arguably the hardest category to find on the waiver wire.

Expected improvement and a starting spot in the Sixer lineup makes Covington an excellent value pick for those with the right team build.