Adam Koffler's Updated 2021-22 Fantasy Basketball Rankings

October 12, 2021

Adam's updated 2021-2022 fantasy basketball draft rankings for 9-category head-to-head (H2H) leagues. His biggest risers and fallers after the rankings update.

With the preseason underway and NBA storylines setting in, it's time to refresh our fantasy basketball draft rankings.

Below you'll find my updated 2021-2022 fantasy basketball rankings, compared to my original rankings prior to the start of the preseason. The nine categories include FG%, FT%, 3PM, Points, Rebounds, Assists, Steals, Blocks, and Turnovers.

I'll highlight a few of the biggest risers and fallers and explain why my stance on them has shifted. Let's get right into it!

9-Category Head-to-Head Rankings

Rankings updated on 10/11/2021

Biggest Risers

James Harden (Updated Rank: 3, Change: +2) and Kevin Durant (Updated Rank: 8, Change: +3)

Nets head coach Steve Nash admitted recently that Kyrie Irving would not be able to play in home games in Brooklyn. That means at maximum, Irving plays in 41 games this season. Because of that, I'm bumping both James Harden and Kevin Durant up in my rankings, even if ever-so-slightly. Both guys sport a usage rate north of 33% when Kyrie is off the floor.

Kristaps Porzingis (Updated Rank: 29, Change: +5)

He's finished 17th and 22nd on a per-game basis the last two seasons. Granted, he's also missed a number of games, but he looks completely healthy coming into this season. I'll chalk the missed games the last two seasons up to the shortened and condensed schedule. In his first two preseason games, Porzingis is averaging 11 points (50% FG), 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, one steal, 2.5 blocks, and just one turnover in 17.5 minutes per game. Another big season is in store for Kristaps playing alongside Luka Doncic.

Dejounte Murray (Updated Rank: 41, Change: +8)

Murray heads into the season as the heart and soul of this Spurs team now that DeMar DeRozan is in Chicago. He and Derrick White will be called upon to lead this offense on a nightly basis. After just two preseason games, I'm sold on his ability to fill up the box score in all facets. Through two games, Murray is averaging 15 points (48% FG, 100% FT), five rebounds, 4.5 assists, two steals, and just 1.5 turnovers in 24.5 minutes per game. I'm bullish on both Murray and White this season.

De'Anthony Melton (Updated Rank: 85, Change: +46)

All we've ever wanted for Melton was more minutes. In two seasons with the Grizzlies, he's averaged just 19.7 minutes per game. But he's always performed admirably when on the court. Now, we've seen Melton start all three preseason games. Maybe the Grizzlies are just testing things out with Melton and Desmond Bane in the starting lineup, but at a minimum, Melton's minutes should certainly creep into the mid 20's. In those three preseason games, he's averaging 10.7 points, 2.7 3PM, 2.7 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and just 0.7 turnovers per game. He fills the stat sheet and rarely turns the ball over. Count me in even if it means I have to reach for the Memphis guard this season.

Evan Mobley (Updated Rank: 89, Change: +7)

I wasn't sure how Mobley would play alongside Jarrett Allen, but he seems to be doing just fine through four preseason games. In those four games, the 3rd overall pick out of USC is averaging 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, one steal, and two blocks in 28.5 minutes per game. He looks like the real deal, especially on the defensive end of the floor and on the glass.

Jordan Poole (Updated Rank: 101, Change: +77)

Poole has started all three preseason games and is taking full advantage of the opportunity while Klay Thompson is out. In those three games, he has averaged 25 points, 4.7 3PM, three rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He's only turned the ball over once per game on average. He's going to be awesome at least until Thompson returns, which might not be until the new year.

Josh Giddey (Updated Rank: 115, Change: +59)

Giddey, the 6th overall pick out of Australia, started in each of the Thunder's first two preseason games. It's just two games, but he's averaging 13.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 27 minutes per game. The Thunder could lean on the rookie as soon as the first game of the regular season as they crave another playmaker alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Scottie Barnes (Updated Rank: 122, Change: not previously ranked)

Another rookie, 4th overall pick out of Florida State, has more than seized his opportunity in the preseason. With Pascal Siakam recovering from labrum surgery, Barnes has opened the preseason as a starter. Through three games, he's averaging 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, one steal, and 1.3 blocks per game. His well-rounded game is gold in 9-category head-to-head leagues. He should capitalize on starter minutes from the jump.

Tyler Herro (Updated Rank: 127, Change: +57)

This one's interesting. Herro hasn't played alongside Jimmy Butler very often this preseason, but his performances are noteworthy nonetheless. Through three games, Herro is averaging 25.3 points, five rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. He won't continue this torrid pace playing alongside Jimmy Buckets and Kyle Lowry, but maybe he carves out a bigger role in the offense this season than he did last season.

Biggest Fallers

LeBron James (Updated Rank: 48, Change: -7)

LeBron and his newest teammate Russell Westbrook played one preseason game together. In that game, James scored just nine points and had just three rebounds and two assists. Granted, he played just 17 minutes and it's the preseason, but I'm concerned about those assist numbers this season. Last season, he averaged 7.8 assists per game, but with Westbrook now in town, LeBron probably won't come anywhere near that number this season. Add that to the fact that he probably won't score as much either, and I'm just generally out on the King this season from a fantasy basketball perspective.

Kyrie Irving (Updated Rank: 52, Change: -28)

See James Harden and Kevin Durant's write-ups in the Biggest Risers section above. Kyrie may only play half the games this season since he can't play in Brooklyn due to local COVID-19 regulations for unvaccinated individuals. I'd have a hard time taking a guy in the 2nd or 3rd round that may only play 41 total games this season (or even less).

Russell Westbrook (Updated Rank: 71, Change: -17)

For the same reason I'm off LeBron, I'm also off Russell Westbrook. He finished 77th overall on a per-game basis in 9-category head-to-head leagues, and that was with averaging a triple-double. His poor shooting and tendency to turn the ball over are going to hurt you more than the other stats are going to help you. I don't think he finishes inside the top-80 players this season playing alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles.

Jaden McDaniels (Updated Rank: 118, Change: -20)

I've been on Jaden McDaniels all offseason. While two preseason games shouldn't change that, I'm knocking him down just a bit in my rankings. In two games, he's scored just two total points on 1-of-7 shooting. He's also averaged just two rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.5 steals, and two turnovers per game in 17.5 minutes per game. He's got a ton of "potential," I'm just worried it doesn't translate to fantasy value with all the other pieces on the Minnesota roster.

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