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.

 

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

Geno Smith

Questionable to Return With Ankle Injury
Chris Godwin Jr.

Goes Over 100 Yards in Loss to Miami
Matthew Tkachuk

Returns to Practice
Chris Olave

Extends Touchdown Streak in Win Over Titans
Linus Ullmark

Takes Leave of Absence
Travis Sanheim

Good to Go Against Kraken
Kyshawn George

Ruled Out on Sunday
Zach Charbonnet

Scores Twice in Lead-Back Role on Sunday
Nick Foligno

Set to Return Sunday
Chase Brown

Finds End Zone Twice in High-Volume Role on Sunday
Jock Landale

Out Again on Sunday
Rhamondre Stevenson

Scores Twice, Plays Major Pass-Catching Role
William Nylander

Out Against Red Wings
Stefon Diggs

Enjoys Another 100-Yard Performance in Week 17
Jared McCann

Available Sunday
Vince Dunn

on Track to Return Sunday
Breece Hall

Not Concerned About Knee Injury
Blake Lizotte

Activated From Injured Reserve
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Not Expected to Fire Todd Bowles?
DK Metcalf

Steelers Won't Void the Guarantees in DK Metcalf's Contract
Drake Maye

Throws for Career-High Five Touchdowns in New York
T.J. Watt

Expected to Play Against Ravens in Week 18
Breece Hall

Injures Knee in Loss to Patriots
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Exits With Heel Injury in Week 17 Loss
Dalton Kincaid

Won't Play Against Philadelphia
Harold Fannin Jr.

Ruled Out for Remainder of Week 17 With Groin Injury
Maxx Crosby

to Undergo Meniscus Trim, "Evaluating His Future" in Las Vegas
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable to Return in Week 17 With Rib Injury
Harold Fannin Jr.

Questionable to Return With Groin Injury
Travis Kelce

to Evaluate his Future in the Offseason
Lamar Jackson

Likely to Return in Week 18
Tyler Herro

Showing Progress but Still Without Timetable
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Zach Collins

Exits Late With Lower-Body Injury
Chris Boucher

Ruled Out Sunday for Personal Reasons
Gabe Vincent

Out Again Sunday With Back Issue
Jrue Holiday

Remains Out Sunday Against Celtics
Collin Murray-Boyles

Unlikely to Play Sunday Due to Illness
Andrei Svechnikov

Extends Scoring Run With Three-Point Effort
Auston Matthews

Bags Three Points Saturday Night
Alex Laferriere

Records First Career Hat Trick
William Nylander

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Zach Werenski

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Jake Evans

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
J.J. Moser

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Ajay Mitchell

Cleared to Return Sunday
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyshawn George

Iffy for Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Jaxson Hayes

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

to Return From Knee Injury Sunday
Jock Landale

in Danger of Missing Another Game Sunday
Vince Williams Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
Robert Williams III

Inactive on Sunday
Jerami Grant

to Sit Out Fifth Consecutive Game
Brandin Podziemski

Probable to Play Sunday
Jakob Poeltl

to Miss Another Game Sunday
RJ Barrett

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Ryan McDonagh

Misses Saturday's Action
Jordan Kyrou

Jimmy Snuggerud Back for Blues Saturday
Tanner Jeannot

Misses First Game of the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Won't Play on Saturday
Elias Pettersson

Ready to Return Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Available Against Kings
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach

RANKINGS

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