Fantasy Basketball Player Rankings: NBA Week 23

Published: Mar 27, 2017

Point Guard

RANK	NAME	Team	# Games	Analysis
1	Russell Westbrook	OKC	4	Westbrook back on top with a full slate and he is one of the players who has spoken about the rest factor in the NBA stating he's in the league to play. No restrictions! No Mercy!
2	James Harden	HOU	4	Harden is another player who wants nothing to do with resting and fantasy owners will not have to worry about minutes or shots being reduced.
3	John Wall	WSH	4	Wall continues to drive aggresively to the rack and his assist numbers have been great because of great court awareness and is always able to kick out to either side of the court when doubled.
4	Stephen Curry	GSW	4	Curry has been not only taking more shots with Kevin Durant still hurt, but hasn't abandoned his PG duties as he has at times in order to shoot more.
5	Kyrie Irving	CLE	4	Irving will continue to produce inside by extending his body to get better angles to the basket and he has been able to stay healthy. LeBron being more drive first has helped Irving's production.
6	Kemba Walker	CHA	4	Walker has led this team well not only from a scoring perspective, but also has been effective at pulling up and hitting the inside cutter. All Hornets front court options have been more productive lately.
7	Mike Conley	MEM	4	Credit to Conley for not only staying healthy but for not being too fancy with passes. Conley's game is pushing the ball as far inside as possible himself and then hitting the open post player. Mid-range scorer.
8	Damian Lillard	POR	3	Lillard moves down a bit due to the lack of fourth game, but as always will lead his team in scoring and will handle point duties well and hit the cutter from the opposite side of the court.
9	Chris Paul	LAC	3	Don't think fatigue from the super-slate of five games will slow Paul down as this team is a ton more organized with him on the court. He balances his guard-play perfectly and has takeover ability.
10	Isaiah Thomas	BOS	3	Thomas has been shooting a ton down the stretch and has been hitting a lot off of single screens. He's quick and has driving ability, but has often abandoned his drive to pull up. Confidence at an all-time high.
11	Jrue Holiday	NO	4	Holiday has been able to produce despite the highly skilled inside presence he plays with. Holiday has been able to convert from the outside and see more openings in the mid-court b/c of front-court attention
12	Goran Dragic	MIA	4	Dragic has had to take on a bit more of the shooting role with Dion Waiters still hurt, but with the Heat's many shooters, he's been able to continue being the floor general and setting up spot-up shooters.
13	Jeff Teague	IND	4	Teague, like Conley, looks to attack and take advantage of the open mid-court. He has a one handed floater that has been very effective, and pulls up for frequent open jumpers.
14	Dennis Schroder	ATL	4	Schroder is still looking for that balance that some of the more experienced guards like Chris Paul have of shooting and distributing, with the emergence of Tim Hardaway Jr., he's been able to set him up.
15	George Hill	UT	4	Hill runs the point, but also serves as the bailout option for all on the team. A lot of their players attack for contact and he is left open at the key often which is why you see stat-lines with JUST scoring.
16	Elfrid Payton	ORL	4	Payton is a box of chocolates when it comes to his scoring, but remember the top shooting option is Evan Fournier, so he can break through. We can always rely on his quickness and passing.
17	D'Angelo Russell	LAL	4	Russell has matured as the season has continued and he has been attacking the rim more rather than settling for semi-contested jumpers. He has quickness and will find open cutters down the middle.
18	Derrick Rose	NY	4	With the status of Carmelo Anthony up in the air, Rose will continue to see a ton more time with the ball and shots without him in the lineup. He's also playing for a contract for next season.
19	Ricky Rubio	MIN	3	Rubio has filled in nicely for LaVine since he's been out and he has become a more complete guard that has been able to help consistently with scoring, assists and steals.
20	Jeremy Lin	BKN	4	Lin's playing time looks a bit more consistent in the 20's and with the Nets being a mess across the board and Sean Kilpatrick being hurt, he will continue pulling up for three and driving more.

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Shooting Guard

RANK	NAME	Team	# Games	Analysis
1	DeMar DeRozan	TOR	4	DeRozan moves back on top with the full slate and especially with Kyle Lowry still out. Expect him to take the most amount of shots, play the most minutes and to help across the board.
2	Bradley Beal	WSH	4	Beal has been a different player this season. Not only has he been able to stay healthy, but he is a lot more mobile when on the court and his attacking has given him more scoring and time with the ball.
3	Nicolas Batum	CHA	4	Batum has done an excellent job of rebounding and is clearly one of the top rebounders of all of these SG's. He may be the best overall and his lean-in three-ball is still effective.
4	Gordon Hayward	UT	4	Hayward is dealing with a minor quad injury and is currently questionable for Monday's game.
5	Klay Thompson	GSW	4	Thompson will continue to benefit the most of Durant being out because it puts him back in his comfort zone of setting screens and waiting to be fed for open three's. He hasn't given up his drive.
6	C.J. McCollum	POR	3	McCollum moves down the list with the lack of full slate, but we all know the story with the Blazers offense by now. Most of the production comes from the back court and McCollum's shots will not drop-off.
7	Devin Booker	PHX	4	Booker has taken on a ton of the scoring burden since Eric Bledsoe went down and had a 70-point night the other night. He will provide minor help in other categories, but the scoring is very high right now.
8	Victor Oladipo	OKC	4	Oladipo has not been as scoring dependant down the stretch as we have seen him hhelping a bit more in rebounding dishing assists and steals and will continue to be the default No. 2 scoring option.
9	Khris Middleton	MIL	4	Middleton loves to shoot and has certainly had big games since returning. His scoring has been all over the place, but he does provide help in other areas in order to salvage rough shooting nights. No. 2 Option
10	Avery Bradley	BOS	3	Can't say enough great things about Bradley's production this season. He is one of the most balanced players when it comes to across the board stat/category production and his on the ball defense is great.
11	Patrick Beverley	HOU	4	It's been difficult determining who will get more shots between the Rockets guards and forwards behind Harden, but Beverley's quickness and being an effective change of pace player has kept him in the mix.
12	Eric Gordon	HOU	4	Gordon is a good sharp shooter and will run around the arc to find openings, but is a bit more scoring dependant than other options and he is not the best defender. He can drive, but hangs at the arc mostly.
13	Lou Williams	HOU	4	Williams has the ability to start his attack from the corner and just when you think he will drive, he pulls up and has an efficient corner three-pointer. His only issue is that a lot of guards can ball-handle.
14	Tyler Johnson	MIA	4	Johnson has been an effective driver versus weaker defenders, but becomes ineffective versus strong perimeter defenders. He drives more than all SG options, but will often kick back out.
15	Wesley Matthews	DAL	4	Matthews is a frequent match up problem and like Batum, he can hit three's, rebound, and he also has a high post game and is good at squaring up and shooting upon acceptance of the pass to the wing.
16	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	DET	4	KCP is on double secret probation because we need consistency down the stretch and lately we have been seeing it from the wings. KCP has been taking a lot more contested jumpers.
17	Seth Curry	DAL	4	Bravo to the OTHER Curry for breaking through the Guard depth and earning his own chunk of playing time. Curry has clearly outplayed Yogi Ferrell and has been effective at both guard spots on and off the ball.
18	Tim Hardaway Jr.	ATL	4	Tim Hardaway Jr has been impressive down the stretch and drives to the rack with force and can pull up and shoot from different angles just like his father used to do.
19	Jordan Clarkson	LAL	4	Clarkson has been attacking the rim more and that has give him a ton more opportunities to create. He will also stay in the lane and look to rebound and follow his shots up.
20	Gary Harris	DEN	3	Harris has been able to be an effective shooter from right outside and inside the key. Because of all of the Nuggets scoring weapons, Harris is left open often and can get passed the free-throw line w/o defense.

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Small Forward

RANK	NAME	Team	# Games	Analysis
1	LeBron James	CLE	4	Very proud of James attacking the rim more. He has figured out that he is not as effective when he does too much when it comes to shooting. He's not Jordan, but one of the best attackers of all-time.
2	Giannis Antetokounmpo	MIL	4	Hats off to the Greek Freak as teams put extra bodies on him, but his lanky stature has been able to allow him to fly to the basket and is awesome at extending his body to extend plays.
3	Kawhi Leonard	SAS	4	Leonard may be the best two-way player in the game and is not loud about it unlike other highly productive players and produces all over the stat-sheet. It's hard to get him out of his zone when on the court.
4	Paul George	IND	4	George has been a bit more productive on the offensive end down the stretch. He is attacking the rim more and putting the ball up. We have seen an up-tick in shots and his defense is excellent.
5	Jimmy Butler	CHI	3	Butler is the top Bulls option by far this season and has been doing an excellent job sticking to his effective elbow play and not trying to do much. Another great defender who takes high percentage shots.
6	Otto Porter	WSH	4	Porter is more known for his defense on the perimeter and elbow, he breaks plays all the time in the mid-court and is Wall's bailout option at the perimeter on offense.
7	Robert Covington	PHI	4	Covington has definitely picked up his play as the season has reached the end and it can be argued that he is the team's top scoring and shooting option with Embiid out and Ilyasova traded.
8	Harrison Barnes	DAL	4	Barnes continues to play effectively on both sides of the court and be a good No. 2 scoring weapon. Barnes jumper has improved this season and his attacking is also strong.
9	Carmelo Anthony	NY	4	Anthony: Knee Injury Questionable for Monday. Could be shut down for the rest of the way.
10	Trevor Ariza	HOU	4	Ariza's minutes are safe because he is one of the best perimeter defenders and is great at getting steals. On the other end he has been an effective at being the prime bailout shooter from the top of the key.
11	Tobias Harris	DET	4	Harris has been taking driving to the rim to a whole knew level. He has a good mid-range game, but has been taking a lot more contact inside and he has been getting starts because of it.
12	Evan Fournier	ORL	4	I don't like Fournier's game from the NBA perspective, but these are fantasy rankings, and he is the Magic's number one shooter from mid and long-range and we can't ignore that. He gets a lot of time w/ the ball.
13	Andrew Wiggins	MIN	3	Wiggins will continue to get a ton of time with the ball with LaVine gone and has been producing a bit more in other categories, but at the end of the day, we can expect mainly scoring.
14	Ersan Ilyasova	ATL	4	Ilyasova will continue to benefit even more with Paul Millsap on the sidelines and he will get open elbow jumpers and rebounds, but Millsap could be returning in the next few days.
15	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	CHA	4	MKG is more known for his defense and he will get steals and blocks on the perimeter. He is a trustworthy rebounder with his offense being a bit more inconsistent. He can hit long-range jumpers.
16	T.J. Warren	PHX	4	The Suns need all of the scoring help they can get and with no Bledsoe or P.J. Tucker, he becomes the technically the second scoring option behind Booker and that's what you can expect Warren to help in.
17	Danilo Gallinari	DEN	3	Gallinari is healthy and back to producing from a scoring and rebounding standpoint and despite being more of a shooter, he will drive to draw contact. Gallo is easily the team's most reliable long-range shooter.
18	Wilson Chandler	DEN	3	Chandler can play multiple positions and he has overcome his groin injury. He looks to drive first and take contact. He can hit the spot-up three and also can bang inside with bigger opposing players.
19	Jae Crowder	BOS	3	Crowder is the Celtics one consistent inside weapon as he always looks to drive and post. He is more of a traditional post player who tries to bulldoze his way in and take contact. Plays more inside than Horford.
20	Rondae Hollis-Jefferson	BKN	4	RHJ has gotten a lot more run down the stretch and between finally being 100% healthy and Bojan Bogdanovic being traded, he has been able to show his toughness inside on both sides of the ball.

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Power Forward

RANK	NAME	Team	# Games	Analysis
1	Anthony Davis	NO	4	Even with Boogie Cousins playing in his yard, AD has been able to be THIS productive and now Boogie is dealing with an ankle injury.
2	Kevin Love	CLE	4	Love has not looked back since returning and has been producing all over the stat sheet and has balanced his scoring out nicely from inside and outside.
3	Draymond Green	GSW	4	Green only plays in the paint and he is staunch defender and is always fighting for rebounds inside. He is not much of a scorer, but is the team's best defender and can be relied on for boards and blocks.
4	Kristaps Porzingis	NY	4	Porzingis is going to get a lot more shots if Anthony cannot return to the court and will be the No. 1 shooting and scoring weapon for the rest of the way. I do wonder if the Knicks will look to shut him down.
5	Nikola Jokic	DEN	3	Jokic has been amazing and can score from the high post without even having to bang inside and went from an off the bench big to being the Nuggets top scoring and rebounder down the stretch.
6	Blake Griffin	LAC	3	Like Love, Griffin has played a lot more inside this season and it has resulted in Griffin being a more consistent player on offense and because DeAndre Jordan is so limited, he is by far the No. 2 option.
7	LaMarcus Aldridge	SAS	4	Aldridge will continue balancing his attack from both inside and outside, but the Spurs love that he can draw out bigger defenders and Gasol is still inside and Aldridge is a solid perimeter shooter.
8	Julius Randle	LAL	4	Randle has been a good paint player and can attack the rim from different angles and has a few effective spin moves when he is in the middle of the pain with the ball.
9	Serge Ibaka	TOR	4	Especially with Lowry out, Ibaka will take even more perimeter jumpers and he has been helping out on the glass and with his ups, he can always be relied on for blocks.
10	Dirk Nowitzki	DAL	4	Nowitzki has improved his scoring since returning to the court and even though he doesn't attack as much, he provides a ton of impact from the arc, and has developed a better slower post game.
11	Markieff Morris	WSH	4	Morris has been excellent at attacking the middle of the paint once shots are put up. He has shown his own growth offensively as he is being fed for open mid-range jumpers constantly.
12	James Johnson	MIA	4	Johnson is a big reason why the Heat have become tough defensively inside and not only has Johnson been able to produce from the post, but he has been solid from the perimeter.
13	Zach Randolph	MEM	4	Randolph continues to show a ton of toughness inside and his mid-range jumper is still very effective. Expect his scoring and playing time to go up even more if Marc Gasol has to miss a game.
14	Marvin Williams	CHA	4	Williams has stood out down the stretch and continues to show that the Hornets offense can be productive inside and Williams takes a ton of contact and starts at the elbow and attacks the high post.
15	Trevor Booker	BKN	4	As always, expect Booker to get boards right inside where Brook Lopez is supposed to play and most of his scoring will come from second-chance opportunities off of rebounds.
16	Greg Monroe	MIL	4	Monroe is another box of chocolates player as you never know what you will get offensively and he can be held out because of lack of production. He has the ability and size, it just hasn't come together for him.
17	Dario Saric	PHI	4	Saric has been very productive and has grown a lot throughout the season. He plays opposite Covington very well and like Covington, he can drive, shoot and rebound. Is he the knew process?
18	Marcus Morris	DET	4	Like Harris, Morris has been very productive and see's a ton of openings at the elbow. He is more of an attacker, but has a consistent mid-range game and there are enough shots to go around.
19	Gorgui Dieng	MIN	3	Dieng is one of the toughest inside players in the league and while everyone is chasing around Towns, he sticks to the paint and is able to frequently produce inside. He does have an effective baby jumper.
20	Paul Millsap	ATL	4	Millsap: Knee Swelling: may miss more time or could be back Tuesday. Unsure right now.

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Center

RANK	NAME	Team	# Games	Analysis
1	DeMarcus Cousins	NO	4	When Boogie is in, we know how effective of a player he is, but as of now, he is a game-time decision for Monday night after missing Sunday's game with an ankle injury.
2	Hassan Whiteside	MIA	4	Whiteside is tough to keep off the glass. You have to physically hit him in the head or throat to get him out of the paint, and it's those games that keep him from scoring and rebounding a ton.
3	Karl-Anthony Towns	MIN	3	Towns has been very effective, but gets the third spot due to lack of full slate. Expect all-around production in his three games.
4	Rudy Gobert	UT	4	Gobert has shown that he truly is a potential top five Center in the league. He is hard to stop when driving and fights for every board. He is good at timing jumps and is a major blocks help.
5	Andre Drummond	DET	4	Drummond is limited offensively and because of poor free-throw shooting, but he is one of the hardest players to box out in the league and we can expect many rebounds and blocks.
6	Marc Gasol	MEM	4	Gasol is dealing with a left foot strain and is currently day to day, but he can certainly miss games this weekend.
7	Dwight Howard	ATL	4	If Millsap can't go, Howard has the paint all to himself, and expect him to plant himself there and be more aggressive at calling for the ball in the post. Hawks need the rebounding help desperately.
8	Nikola Vucevic	ORL	4	Vucevic is technically the No. 1A scoring option for the Magic as he is their main inside presence and his foot work makes him a big threat on offense and constantly gets fed in the high post.
9	DeAndre Jordan	LAC	3	Jordan is limited offensively, but with Chris Paul in the lineup, it increases his chances to hit double figures. As always, expect Jordan to be a major rebound and blocks help.
10	Brook Lopez	BKN	4	With Lopez size, he should be a double-double player most nights, but he obviously prioritizes offense over defense and will continue to hit 20-footers, but then not stop the bleeding on the other side.
11	Myles Turner	IND	4	Turner has been great with back door cutting to the basket and getting open up and under layups, but he also been productive on the glass on the defensive end and he can draw out bigger defenders.
12	Marcin Gortat	WSH	4	Gortat is another player who is on double secret probation because the production has not been as consistent and Ian Mahinmi coming on stronger. His playing time has been inconsistent and production down.
13	Al Horford	BOS	3	Horford is an excellent long-range offensive Center's and one of the best three-point shootinf big men in the league. He virtually is ineffective on both sides of the ball inside. Does not hang inside on offense.
14	Pau Gasol	SAS	4	Gasol will play a bit more inside than Aldridge and he still has a ton of range in the post and can put the ball up with finess and he will look to clog up the paint and score off of boards.
15	Jonas Valanciunas	TOR	4	Valanciunas will continue to see more shots with Lowry out, and he has been a ton more aggressive inside when the ball is put up. He has a mid-range jumper, but with Ibaka there, he's relegated to the low block.
16	Clint Capela	HOU	4	Capela is going to be needed even more with Ryan Anderson hurt and he is needed inside as the other options on the team are effective for about 15-20 minutes and then they tire out. Expect more production.
17	Steven Adams	OKC	4	Adams will continue to be the gritty player inside who always fights to keep possessions alive. You get nothing fancy from Adams, but he will score from right under the basket and grab boards consistently.
18	Enes Kanter	OKC	4	Kanter makes the list because he has lifted his scoring lately. Kanter has not forgotten he is a Center and will help with rebounding, but not as much as Adams. Kanter can shoot effectively from the outside.
19	Tristan Thompson	CLE	4	Thompson can be relied on mainly for rebounding, but against weaker inside defenders, he takes advantage and sneaks inside to gain position. A 20-point game is not an impossible ask, but he is down the depth chart.
20	Cody Zeller	CHA	4	Zeller has been very productive inside for the Hornets and will provide double-doubles. He has a baby jumper, but he has stuck to attacking and drawing contact and should see a ton of minutes down the stretch.

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