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

Players to Target When Punting FG% in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA (Aaron Gordon) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Jonathan Chan looks at three players to target in the mid to late rounds when punting FG% in fantasy basketball drafts. Follow RotoBaller for more fantasy basketball strategy, rankings, and more.

When adopting punting strategies, fantasy owners need to remember that the point of punting is to maximize the value of their players, not to explicitly throw away a few categories. Punting FG% could be a widely used strategy this season, as first round staples James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Paul George will shoot under 45%. Owners punting FG% will find that high volume guards will fit their plans, adding FT%, points, threes and assists. However, these guards will only add to the turnover issues that Harden and Westbrook present. If owners want to avoid punting two categories, they need to be careful when loading up on high usage guards.

One player I like for this strategy is Robert Covington, who was discussed in the Undervalued Forwards article last week. His contributions in three pointers (2.5 3PG), reboounds (6.2 RPG) and steals (1.6) will boost his value well above his ADP if his horrid FG% is ignored. Here are three other players that owners should look to draft if punting FG%.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NBA Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, Sleepers List, Late-Round Fliers, Early-Round Avoids, DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

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

 

How to Punt FG% and Still Win Your Drafts

Ricky Rubio, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves

Current ADP: 48

Rubio seems to have been tailor-made for this strategy. If owners are willing to overlook his 38% shooting, Rubio brings elite assist (8.6 APG) and steals (2.1 SPG) while also contributing above average rebounding numbers (4.3 RPG) from the PG position. In addition, his improving turnover numbers won't impact owners too much (2.5 TOPG) compared to some of the other guards used in this strategy.

Owners drafting Rubio need to be mindful of his low point totals (10.1 PPG). However, teams punting FG% will naturally find themselves drafting more scoring minded guards who will help offset Rubio's tendencies.

Currently being drafted in the fourth round of 12 team leagues, Rubio has an excellent chance to surpass that value for owners punting FG%.

 

Aaron Gordon, SF/PF, Orlando Magic

Current ADP: 85

With an increasing role going into his third year, Aaron Gordon will provide owners will across-the-board production. While his FG% was 47.3% in 2015-2016, there's a good chance it will decrease as Gordon receives higher usage in the Magic offense.

Like Rubio, Gordon's scoring woes (9.2 PPG, though that's bound to increase) will need to be addressed elsewhere in the draft. Owners will want to be very careful if they end up with both players, as below average points in a punt FG% team can lead to disaster.

Outside of points, Gordon will contribute consistent production in several categories. With increased minutes, Gordon is likely to push one steal and one block on the defensive end. If his shooting has improved, he is also likely to add one three pointer per-game. Most importantly, Gordon provides excellent rebounding numbers in a team build that may fall short in that area.

Gordon's jack -of-all-trades game plays well in this strategy, but owners in Yahoo! leagues will want to be careful, as his rank of 55 has a lot of his upside already built into the draft price.

 

Robin Lopez, C, Chicago Bulls

Current ADP: 110

RoLo is being overlooked in many drafts this season, which is perfect for those punting FG%. If you're not looking for positive impacts on your FG% early in your draft, there's a chance you'll be one of the only owners not reaching for a center in the inevitable center run. This particular draft strategy can leave owners short on blocks and rebounds. Those categories can be filled later in drafts but it can come at the price of your FT% (i.e. Clint Capela).

Lopez presents a solid late round option for blocks and rebounds who won't hurt your FT% (79.5%). As the starting center for the Bulls, Lopez is looking at over 30 MPG for only the second time in his career. With the extra playing time, Lopez will match and possibly exceed last season's averages of 10.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Lopez will hurt your team in assists and steals, but that's not uncommon for late-round centers. In any case, those are two categories that should have been addressed much earlier in punt FG% strategies. Lopez won't blow anyone away with his nightly stat lines, but he will provide consistent big-man stats and few turnovers (1.6 TOPG) for owners who went guard heavy early in their drafts.


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.

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

CFB

DJ Lagway Expected To Visit Florida State
Jalen Suggs

to Undergo Further Testing on Knee Injury
Devin Vassell

to Miss "More Than a Few Games"
Davante Adams

Unlikely to Play in Regular-Season Finale
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Dealing with Toe Injury Ahead of Saturday
Lauri Markkanen

Could Miss Second Straight Game
Keyonte George

Could Miss Another Game with Illness
Bam Adebayo

Likely Available Saturday vs. Minnesota
Joel Embiid

Expected to Suit Up Saturday vs. Knicks
Draymond Green

Set to Return Saturday After Rest Day
Cason Wallace

Exits Early with Knee Contusion
Maxime Raynaud

Leaves Game with Apparent Knee Injury
Josh Hart

to Miss at Least Another Week
Ace Bailey

to Miss Another Game Saturday vs. Warriors
Ivica Zubac

Cleared to Play Saturday vs. Celtics
Jake DeBrusk

Records Season-High Three Points Friday
Danila Yurov

Scores Twice in Friday's Win
Alexis Lafrenière

Alexis Lafreniere Sets Up Three Goals in Winter Classic Win
Mika Zibanejad

Produces Historic Winter Classic Performance
Mackenzie Blackwood

Placed on Injured Reserve
Seth Jones

Sustains Upper-Body Injury in Winter Classic Loss
Linus Karlsson

Celebrates New Contract With Goal
Franz Wagner

Expected to Return "Within the Next Week"
T.J. Watt

Cleared to Play in Week 18
Giannis Antetokounmpo

Available Versus Charlotte
Karl-Anthony Towns

Out on Friday Night
Trevor Moore

Likely to Return Saturday
John Klingberg

Doubtful to Play Saturday
Isiah Pacheco

Could be Rested Against Raiders
Radko Gudas

on Track to Return Friday
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Officially Questionable for Week 18
Brayden McNabb

Considered Week-to-Week
De'Von Achane

Doubtful to Face the Patriots
Zach Werenski

Ready to Return Saturday
Ilya Sorokin

Comes Off Injured Reserve
Bo Horvat

Ruled Out for at Least One Week
Stephen Curry

Sidelined with Ankle Sprain on Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Will Not Play Against Thunder
Aaron Jones Sr.

Won't Play in Week 18
Seth Curry

Sidelined on Friday Vs. Thunder
Omarion Hampton

Ruled Out for Week 18
Draymond Green

Getting a Rest Day Against Thunder
Dallas Goedert

Ruled Out With Knee Injury
J.J. McCarthy

Will Start in Week 18
Jerami Grant

Still Watching From Sidelines on Friday
Javonte Williams

Ruled Out for Sunday
Alvin Kamara

Will Remain Out in Week 18
Davante Adams

Questionable to Play in Week 18
Kyren Williams

Questionable to Play in Week 18
Kyle Pitts Sr.

Questionable for Sunday
Drake London

Questionable for Season Finale
Harold Fannin Jr.

Ruled Out in Week 18
Harold Fannin Jr.

Unlikely to Play in Week 18
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable to Play in Week 18
Josh Allen

"Good to Go" Vs. Jets
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
Sebastian Aho

Records Season-High Five Points Thursday
Auston Matthews

Opens 2026 With Four-Point Effort
Dylan Guenther

Posts First Career Hat Trick During Four-Point Night
Josh Anderson

Exits Early After Scoring
Bo Horvat

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Noah Laba

Out Week-to-Week
Conor Sheary

Lands on Long-Term Injured Reserve
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
George Kittle

Listed as Questionable for Week 18
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Trending Towards Playing
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal
CFB

Lane Kiffin Interested in Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby at LSU
CFB

Deuce Knight Officially Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Kewan Lacy Expected to Be Full-Go Against Georgia
CFB

Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
CFB

Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
CFB

Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal

RANKINGS

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