With the start of the season just three weeks away, here is my ranking of the top 150 players for the 2021-22 campaign.
It is imperative to note that this list is based on nine-category roto scoring formats (points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, three-pointers, field goal percentage, free-throw percentage and turnovers) .
I've added comments to a handful of players to help explain the rationale behind some of their rankings.
So without further ado, let's get to it.
1. Nikola Jokic PF, C (DEN)
2. James Harden PG, SG (BKN): The Beard was the
top-ranked fantasy player in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and
2019-20. He's healthy and ready to rock in Brooklyn.
3. Luka Doncic PG, SG (DAL)
4. Stephen Curry PG, SG (GSW)
5. Karl-Anthony Towns C (MIN)
6. Damian Lillard PG (POR): Dame is one of only
two players in NBA history to record at least 1,500 points and 400
assists in each of their first nine seasons; Oscar Robertson is the
other.
7. Jayson Tatum SF, PF (BOS)
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo PF, C (MIL): There have
been some mildly concerning signs regarding Giannis' left knee
since the start of training camp. (The reigning NBA Finals MVP
assures us he's alright.) He
should be ready for opening night, but I fully expect the Bucks to
rest their franchise cornerstone early and often to reduce
wear-and-tear on the knee.
9. Kevin Durant SF, PF (BKN)
10. Joel Embiid PF, C (PHI)
11. Bradley Beal SG, SF (WAS)
12. Paul George SF, PF, SG (LAC)
13. Anthony Davis PF, C (LAL): AD finished both
the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season ranked second overall in
nine-category fantasy formats. Yes, the injury issues are certainly
a concern, but he's a steal in the second round due to his
unmatched ceiling.
14. Nikola Vucevic C (CHI)
15. Trae Young PG (ATL)
16. Jimmy Butler SF, PF, SG (MIA)
17. LeBron James PG, SG, SF, PF (LAL)
18. Fred VanVleet PG, SG (TOR): Last season,
VanVleet joined Harden and Curry as just the third player in NBA
history to average more than 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 made triples
and 1.5 steals per game.
19. Domantas Sabonis PF, C (IND)
20. Bam Adebayo PF, C (MIA)
21. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander PG, SG (OKC): The
Oklahoma City Thunder's max-man is primed for a breakout
campaign.
22. Rudy Gobert C (UTAH)
23. Michael Porter Jr. SF, PF (DEN): MPJ shot over
40% from downtown in each of his first two seasons (42.2% and
44.5%). The only other active players to do that in each of their
first two NBA campaigns (min. 100 three-point attempts) are the
Splash Brothers: Curry and Klay Thompson.
24. Jrue Holiday PG, SG (MIL)
25. Chris Paul PG (PHO)
26. Zach LaVine SG, SF (CHI)
27. Donovan Mitchell PG, SG (UTAH): In the 19
games he appeared in after the All-Star Break, Mitchell averaged
29.6 points per contest. The only player with a higher post-ASB
scoring average was Curry.
28. Tobias Harris SF, PF (PHI)
29. Khris Middleton SF, PF, SG (MIL)
30. Jaylen Brown SG, SF (BOS)
31. Myles Turner PF, C (IND)
32. De'Aaron Fox PG (SAC): Over a 12-game stretch late last
season, Fox averaged 30.6 points (on 53.4% shooting), 6.7 dimes
and 4.2 boards. If he can improve his offensive efficiency and cut
down on his turnovers, Fox has a chance to establish himself as a
fantasy stud.
33. Clint Capela C (ATL)
34. Julius Randle PF, C (NYK)
35. Devin Booker SG, SF, PG (PHO)
36. OG Anunoby SF, PF (TOR): In 2020-21, OG
finished the year ranked 35th overall in nine-category leagues (one
spot behind LeBron James).
37. Richaun Holmes PF, C (SAC)
38. Brandon Ingram SF, PF (NOP)
39. Deandre Ayton C (PHO)
40. Christian Wood PF, C (HOU)
41. LaMelo Ball PG, SG (CHA): I'm not nearly as
high on LaMelo as the rest of the industry seems to be. He exceeded
expectations as a rookie, but I'm worried about his effective field
goal percentage (eFG%) dropping and his turnover rate
increasing.
42. CJ McCollum PG, SG (POR)
43. Zion Williamson PF (NOP): Zion underwent
surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot early in the
offseason. The team "hopes" he'll return by the start of the
regular season, but this is a problematic injury for the
high-flying big man.
44. Russell Westbrook PG (LAL)
45. Kristaps Porzingis PF, C (DAL): If KP plays
even 65+ games, he's a steal in the fifth round.
46. Dejounte Murray PG, SG (SAS)
47. Malcolm Brogdon PG, SG (IND)
48. Terry Rozier PG, SG (CHA)
49. John Collins PF, C (ATL)
50. Kevin Porter Jr. SG, SF, PG (HOU): KPJ is
gonna get buckets and dimes (he averaged 17.2 PPG and 6.3 APG over
the final two months of the 2020-21 season); my only concerns are
his high turnover rate and poor percentages.
25 PTS for @Kevinporterjr power the @HoustonRockets! #NBAPreseason pic.twitter.com/iDXezFBiBi
— NBA (@NBA) October 6, 2021
51. Mikal Bridges SG, SF (PHO)
52. Jaren Jackson Jr. PF, C (MEM): Jackson is one
of two active players averaging at least 1.5 blocks and 1.5
three-pointers per game for his career. The issue has been staying on the floor, as
injuries have limited JJJ to a total of just 126 games in three
seasons.
53. Lonzo Ball PG, SG (CHI)
54. Gordon Hayward SG, SF (CHA)
55. Ja Morant PG (MEM): The upside is tantalizing,
but Morant was the only player in the NBA last season to attempt
more than 15 shots per game and shoot below 45% from the floor,
below 75% from the FT and below 31% from downtown.
56. Jusuf Nurkic C (POR)
57. Bogdan Bogdanovic SF, PF, SG (ATL)
58. Darius Garland PG, SG (CLE)
59. Chris Boucher PF, C (TOR): Boucher finished
last season ranked 40th overall in nine-category formats despite
logging just 24.2 minutes a night. However, he just had surgery on
his dislocated left middle finger and is expected to miss a
"minimum" of 3-to-4 weeks.
60. Anthony Edwards SG, SF (MIN)
61. DeMar DeRozan SF, PF, SG (CHI)
62. Kyle Lowry PG (MIA)
63. Pascal Siakam PF, C (TOR): Once fully healthy,
I think Siakam will bounce back in a big way and inherit plenty of
scoring opportunities with Kyle Lowry no longer in the picture.
Still, Siakam had shoulder surgery in June and will likely miss at
least the start of the season.
64. Robert Williams III C, PF (BOS)
65. Tyrese Haliburton PG, SG (SAC): He finished
last season ranked 65th overall in nine-category fantasy formats,
and I think he has a chance to crack the top-50 this
year.
66. Derrick White PG, SG (SAS)
67. Jonas Valanciunas C (NOP)
68. Kyrie Irving PG, SG (BKN): Kyrie could end up
missing every Nets home game if he refuses to get vaccinated.
So many unknowns are swirling around him right now. I'll
pass.
69. Draymond Green PF, C (GSW)
70. Mike Conley PG (UTAH)
71. Jalen Suggs PG, SG (ORL): My pick for Rookie
of the Year. Suggs can do it all and should see all the minutes he
can handle for a rebuilding Orlando Magic squad.
72. Spencer Dinwiddie PG, SG (WAS)
73. Cade Cunningham PG, SG (DET)
74. Caris LeVert SG, SF (IND)
75. Jerami Grant SF, PF (DET)
76. D’Angelo Russell PG, SG (MIN)
77. Collin Sexton PG, SG (CLE): Last season,
Sexton became the second-youngest player in NBA history (behind
only KD) to average more than 24 points per game while shooting
above 47% from the floor and 37% from downtown.
78. Robert Covington PF, C, SF (POR)
79. Jarrett Allen C (CLE)
80. Miles Bridges SF, PF (CHA): Over his final 15
games last season, Bridges averaged 21.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1
assists, 1.1 blocks and 3.1 made three-pointers. He did so while
shooting over 50% from the floor, 42% from downtown and 84% from
the charity stripe.
81. Marcus Smart PG, SG (BOS)
82. Kelly Olynyk PF, C (DET): Kelly-O averaged a
whopping 19.0, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 treys and 1.4 steals
in the 27 games he played in Houston last season. The Pistons
signed him to a big contract in August, hoping he can come close to
replicating those numbers.
83. Isaiah Stewart PF, C (DET)
84. Kemba Walker PG (NYK)
85. Andrew Wiggins SG, SF (GSW): Now that he's
vaccinated, we know he'll be cleared to play in all Golden
State Warriors home games this season.
86. Devonte’ Graham PG, SG (NOP)
87. Evan Fournier SG, SF (NYK)
88. P.J. Washington PF, C (CHA)
89. Buddy Hield SG, SF (SAC): Dating back to the
start of the 2018-19 campaign, Buddy has knocked down more triples
(831) than any other player in the NBA (Harden, Lillard and Curry
rank second, third and fourth, respectively).
90. Nickeil Alexander-Walker SG, SF, PG (NOP)
91. NOPman Powell SG, SF (POR)
92. Kyle Anderson SF, PF (MEM)
93. Mitchell Robinson C (NYK): In 2018-19, Mitch
Rob led all rookies in blocks (2.4) and field goal percentage
(69.4%). As a sophomore in 2019-20, he made 74.2% of all field
goals he attempted, setting the all-time NBA record for the highest
single-season field goal percentage ever, passing Wilt Chamberlain.
Can he stay healthy in
2020-21?
94. Larry Nance Jr. PF, C (POR)
95. RJ Barrett SG, SF (NYK)
96. Jakob Poeltl C (SAS)
97. Ben Simmons PG (PHI): Impossible to try and
figure out this Simmons situation going forward. I'm not willing to
roll the dice until the value starts getting ridiculous.
98. Jonathan Isaac SF, PF (ORL)
99. Wendell Carter Jr. C (ORL)
100. Reggie Jackson PG, SG (LAC)
101. Brook Lopez C (MIL)
102. Harrison Barnes SF, PF (SAC)
103. Mason Plumlee PF, C (CHA)
104. Bobby Portis Jr. PF, C (MIL)
105. De’Andre Hunter SF, PF (ATL)
106. Dennis Schroder PG (BOS)
107. Malik Beasley PG, SG, SF (MIN): Beasley has
appeared in just 51 games for the Wolves since being acquired at
the trade deadline in 2020, but has averaged 19.9 points, 4.6
boards, 2.4 dimes and a whopping 3.5 made treys. A great late-round
value pick if he can stay on the court.
Malik Beasley 29 points in 32 minutes last night... averaging 20/5 on the season... time to starting giving him his flowers as a top young talent in the NBA pic.twitter.com/wz7XnezAzf
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) February 4, 2021
108. Thaddeus Young PF, C, SF (SAS)
109. Jordan Clarkson PG, SG (UTAH)
110. Joe Ingles SG, SF, PF (UTAH): He's not the
sexiest pick, but Ingles will help in nearly every fantasy category
and doesn't hurt you in any way.
111. Lauri Markkanen PF, C (CLE): The Cleveland
Cavaliers have excess depth up front, but coach J.B. Bickerstaff
has been raving about Markkanen during camp. He was a forgotten man
in Chicago last season, but the dude is a 7-footer who can stretch
the floor, is still just 24 years of age and averaged 18.7 points
and 9.0 rebounds during his age-21 season.
112. Daniel Gafford C, PF (WAS)
113. Joe Harris SG, SF (BKN)
114. Keldon Johnson SF, PF (SAS)
115. T.J. Warren SF, PF (IND): Yes, Warren's
injury history is undoubtedly concerning — and he is
currently still recovering from a stress fracture in his foot — but
this is a guy who finished inside the top-50
overall back in 2019-20.
116. Jae'Sean Tate SF, PF (HOU)
117. De’Anthony Melton PG, SG (MEM)
118. Daniel Theis PF, C (HOU): Theis ranked inside
the top-100 overall when he logged starter minutes for the Boston
Celtics in 2019-20. He could see 25 or more minutes a night for a
Houston team that has little depth up front. Don't sleep.
119. Jalen Green SG (HOU)
120. Brandon Clarke PF, C (MEM)
121. Jordan Poole PG, SG (GSW): In the seven games
Poole started last season, he averaged 21.4 points, 3.6 rebounds,
2.7 assists and 2.8 made treys. With Klay still sidelined, Poole is
expected to start early on this season. (And he's already off to a
fast start, having dropped 30 points in Golden
State's preseason opener.)
122. Saddiq Bey SF (DET)
123. Klay Thompson SG, SF (GSW): I'm concerned
that the Warriors will limit Klay's minutes and rest him often,
even after he is cleared to return to game action (whenever that
is). The Dubs have to think long-term, as Thompson still has three
years and $120-plus million left in his contract.
124. Ivica Zubac C (LAC)
125. Derrick Favors C, PF (OKC)
126. Al Horford PF, C (BOS)
127. Kyle Kuzma SF, PF (WAS)
128. Dillon Brooks SG, SF (MEM)
129. Matisse Thybulle SG, SF (PHI)
130. T.J. McConnell PG, SG (IND): McConnell led
the NBA in steal percentage last season at 3.4% and shot 55.9% from
the floor. He was one of just eight players to record an assist
rate above 34% and a True Shooting percentage above 58% (the other
seven members of this elite club were Lillard, Chris Paul, Jimmy
Butler, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Trae Young and Jokic.)
131. Evan Mobley C, PF (CLE)
132. Nicolas Batum SF, PF, SG (LAC)
133. Derrick Rose PG, SG (NYK)
134. Marcus Morris Sr. PF, C, SF (LAC): Mook will
see an increased share of the offensive pie with Kawhi Leonard
sidelined for the first half of the season (and possibly more).
135. Mo Bamba C (ORL): This is a make-or-break
season for Bamba. The Magic will give their former lottery pick
every opportunity to earn playing time. If he plays significant
minutes, he'll supply blocks and treys. (Bamba has looked sharp
early on in the preseason.)
136. Tim Hardaway Jr. SG, SF (DAL)
137. Montrezl Harrell PF, C (WAS)
138. Kelly Oubre Jr. SG, SF, PF (CHA)
139. Thomas Bryant C (WAS)
140. Nerlens Noel PF, C (NYK)
141. Alperen Sengun PF, C (HOU): Sengun looked
fantastic in Vegas, averaging 14.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.8
dimes, 1.3 steals and 3.0 blocks in 25 minutes a night during
summer league action. He'll have a chance to stuff the stat sheet
for a Rockets team looking to play its youngsters.
142. Eric Bledsoe PG, SG (LAC)
143. Khem Birch PF, C (TOR)
144. Isaiah Roby C, PF (OKC)
145. Kevin Huerter SG, SF (ATL)
146. Tyrese Maxey PG, SG (PHI): Maxey will be one
of the primary beneficiaries of
Simmons' eventual departure from Philly.
147. Aaron Gordon SF, PF (DEN)
148. Andre Drummond C (PHI): If you draft Embiid
early, you probably want to handcuff him with Drummond later
on.
149. Steven Adams C (MEM)
150. Josh Giddey PG, SG, SF (OKC): Giddey started
the Thunder's preseason opener and looked good, tallying 18 points
(8-of-12 FGs), 7 rebounds, 3 assists and two triples. Considering
his talent, the No. 6 overall pick is worth a late-round dart
throw.
⭐ 18 points (8-12 in the field inc. 2-4 from range)
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) October 5, 2021
⭐ 7 rebounds
⭐ 3 assists
Josh Giddey looked at 🏠 at NBA level!
FULL HIGHLIGHTS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Sw7U4nEjdT