2014-15 Fantasy Basketball: Top 200 Rankings
The NBA preseason is starting up and the regular season is right around the corner. I’ve referenced my rankings in several articles now, and I was able to finish them up and now share my top 200.
It’s VERY IMPORTANT to understand that these are where I value these players as of right now, but this is not me saying it’s exactly where you should draft players. Sure, you CAN draft in order of how I have them, but I strongly recommend that you do a good bit of draft prep beforehand. What I mean by that is that you should note players that you plan to target and compare my ranking and where they are on your draft site’s rankings/list.
A few more things to remember if drafting using my ranks. Understand your team’s build as you’re drafting. For instance, if you start your draft with three good percentage guys, you should try to disregard players who are percentage killers (Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Josh Smith, etc… for FT% and Michael Carter-Williams, Ricky Rubio and again Josh Smith, etc.. for FG%). Use that as a tie breaker when you’re torn between two players on a pick. Who helps you most in the categories you’re trying to be strongest in and who doesn’t takes you from dominant to average in a cat. Also, while taking on a risk or two is fine in my book (Kobe Bryant, Nerlens Noel or Brook Lopez), don’t compile too many risks on one team.
Let’s get to the rankings and you can all let me know your opinions one way or the other in the comments or on Twitter. In an article coming soon after this, I will hit on a few players that I have higher and lower than the majority and my reasonings.
Be sure to check the position eligibilities for the specific site you’re drafting on as they vary everywhere.
(UPDATED: October 25, 2014)
For more fantasy hoops analysis follow Zack on Twitter @BigZack44.
The Author
10 Comments
So I am in a very competitive keeper league which plays for some serious cash (winner usually takes home a couple grand). 12 teams roto.
The rules are that you have 4 keepers and you keep them with the round you picked last year minus 1 and don’t pick for that round) (except the first round which stays at one). So I picked Kyle Lowry last year in the 5th so I can keep him with my 4th this year (which I will obviously do).
I finished 3rd last year so I am picking 10th in a snake format.
My keepers are
LeBron (with a 1st round)
Lowry (with my 4th round)
Markeiff Morris (with my 9th round)
Robin Lopez (with my 11th round).
I was wondering if you could give any advice on who I should be looking for in the first couple rounds. I have picks at 15, 34, 58 and 63
For 15 I think I should look to grab the best forward that falls to me – hopefully Ibaka or love (like the idea of having both love and LeBron as they will benefit if the other goes out) – but settling for bosh if neither of those guys are available.
I need a good back up pg – but don’t know whether to target that at 34 or wait until 58/63.
At 34 I could hope for Ellis/Conley or Dragic but that is very unlikely and I am not a big Kemba fan.
I would much rather pick up a glue guy like Leonard there (but I am not sure). This to me is the hardest part.
I think I will target Calderon witht he 59 or 63 pick…
Do you have nay suggestions help as to who I should be targeting to compliment my team as composed?
Thanks
Wow, this is a really tough one since I am blind to what players weren’t kept. LOVE your keepers. Bron counts as a big man and PG in my book because he can average 6 in both. Depending how many PGs got kept, I’d possibly go PG at 15 as you need that more, but if Ibaka/Love/Bosh there that’s hard to pass up.
After that though you’d need to absolutely go PG at 34 whoever is best available. You see my rankings of them above. Like Calderon a lot at 59 or 63.
Targets: players who hit threes so you dominate the cat, solid FG% guys (no Jennings/rubio/Smoove types), solid FT% guys. Mix in stl and blk guys where you can to stay solid there also.
Yeah… I cant really list the keepers but generally the guys who had breakout years last year are all kept at higher values so it lowers who is available. That said guys go back in every three years (you can only keep for three years – our version of free agency).
Looking at who is there I think there is more likely to be value at forward at 15 as there are a lot of guys that will be there… the hard part is what pg to get at 34 – I guess kemba would be ok there… I will let you know how it goes.
Great site.
So in doing mock drafts based on keepers it appears I will have the option of Bosh/Dirk/Blake in the second or Kyrie. If I take the big I look to get Bledsoe/Ellis on the bounce back in round 3. If I take Irving the best bigs are like Brook Lopez or Pau Gasol. That is why I think I am better going with the big first plan and getting Bledsoe (there are a lot of point guards later and not as many bigs.
I know you need a PG but I would personally recommend Klay Thompson. He is excellent all around, rarely gets injured and consistent.
I’m not huge on Klay really. He’s nothing special anywhere but 3s and points and those are two of the easiest stats to accumulate throughout the draft, which is why I have Klay down to 52nd.
drafting out of 3rd spot was surprised to see brow fall behind lbj. so took him and looked to pair w lawson or connely in 3rd round.
took dirk at 22 when jefferson and kawhi fell off ahead.
when 3rd came conley lawson were gone so i went big again and took Horford…thinking was that in the 45-60 range you’ve got another run of PG
took Holiday, then Teague then Korver to add at the 2 & get 3PT STLS
rest of team was all my targets and I have them higher than most so knew I would be able to find them as I went;
Keef at 75
G Freeky 94
Payton as my 3rd PG at 99
T. Jones at 118 STEAL
D. Green at 142 STEAL
Dieng at 147 STEAL
this is 2nd draft in a row where all my targets (the last 6 guys) have been there for me after drafting based on BPA w %s that wont sink the ship strategy.
thoughts my friends?
I think you did a great job adjusting to what the draft threw at you early. Never confuse “need” in the early rounds because (as you found out later) you still have plenty of time to fill needs. Going bigs early and still landing two legit PGs and an upside one later in Elfrid will do just fine. Like all of your later round targets that you landed. Well done.
you must really like Andrea Bargnani, he’s listed twice in the rankings
LOL, thanks buddy. I knew something was off when I updated because I had one less addition than removal.