RADIO
It is just a week to go until the NBA season tips off. This weekend, there will be a lot of fantasy basketball drafts, and Rotoballer is here to help you crush your draft with our fantasy basketball coverage for the 2015-16 NBA season.
Last week we ranked the top 20 players in the NBA for fantasy, to help you make the most out of your high draft picks. Now we'll take a look at players 21-40, critical 3rd and 4th round picks where you're hoping to hit big and find a running mate for your 1st and 2nd round stars.
The Next 20: Players Ranked 21-40 for 2015-2016 NBA Season
21) Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns
The PG version of LeBron James, Eric Bledsoe will give his owners a little bit of everything this year and will continue to be the number one scoring option for his team. He spent some of last season working out of a PG rotation, so having the job all to himself from the get-go will surely give him a bump in performance.
22) Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony is one of the league's most dynamic scorers. The issue with Melo the last couple of years has been his health. He showed that the triangle wont hurt his value too much. All you have to worry about is how long can he stay on the court. I think he has a strong year, because the team overall is much better then last year. Expect Melo to get back into scoring title contention this year.
23) Andrew Wiggins, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Post All-Star break Andrew Wiggins gave us all a very strong look at what he could become. What makes Wiggins even more exciting is the development of the new talent around him. With everyone a year older and the addition of 1st overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns to the equation, Wiggins will get cleaner looks and easier buckets. Don't be surprised if he gives you 19 points, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 threes in the upcoming season.
24) Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Marc Gasol has been one of the most consistent fantasy bigs in the NBA for the last three years. The best part about Marc Gasol is that he doesn't hurt you in any category. He is an amazing passer for his size and reads defenses very well. The Grizzlies feel that they really had a shot to beat the Warriors if they had a fully healthy roster. Expect periodic games off during the season to give players rest to keep them fresh for the playoffs, which could hurt Marc's value a little.
25) Gordon Hayward, SG/SF, Utah Jazz
Gordon Hayward took a really big step forward last season. We all didn't understand the max offer he received from the Hornets, and were probably even more surprised that the Jazz matched the offer. Last season showed us he was worth the money. Hayward is, simply put, a stud. The only reason he falls outside of the top twenty here is his high turnover rate. The Jazz offense will continue to be ran through Hayward as they heavily rely on his scoring and play-making ability.
26) Al Horford, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks
Al Horford might be the most underrated fantasy basketball player. He has had a few injuries that last three seasons that were really out of left field, but other then that when he is on the court he is amazing. Like Gasol, Horford is a big man who won't hurt you in any category. Not only does he block and rebound, but he's added three pointers to his arsenal and bumped up his assists per game. Horford is great for any team build, but could really help on a team with PGs who don't assist as much as you'd like.
27) Jeff Teague, PG, Atlanta Hawks
This is a great spot for Jeff Teague. Even though point guard is a loaded position, there is a very large different between the different tiers of players. Teague has an issue with consistency at times, but he shows glimpses of a top tier player every once in a while. You can live some ups and downs at this stage of the draft. With DeMarre Carroll gone, Teague may also be asked to be more aggressive, which could be a nice boost for his fantasy value when it comes to scoring.
28) Greg Monroe, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks
Greg Monroe found himself a new home over the summer, and we should all be very happy about this move. Detroit already had a rising star taking up most of the space on the low block. This not only limited Monroe's operating area, but also his minutes. Milwaukee will be a breath of fresh air, with no one else operating the low block to get in his way. Jason Kidd has also proven himself a capable coach, so he will find a way to maximize Monroe's skill set.
29) Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors
All jokes aside, this might be the best Kyle Lowry has looked physically in his career. If nothing else, it shows us that Lowry has been working on his craft this off season. Decent numbers in assists and threes are expected, but look for Lowry to push the tempo a little more and be more aggressive toward the rim. More possessions equals more opportunities to score and assist, so he should see a bump in both areas this year.
30) Pau Gasol, PF/C, Chicago Bulls
Pau Gasol has been on a tear for a year, proving he still has a lot to offer as a pro. Last season his numbers looked like flashbacks to his prime Lakers days, and in Euroball this offseason, he was by far the most dominant player in the tournament. Pau might be the leader of the skilled big men with great hands, an amazing touch around the basket, good decision making, excellent rebounding, and elite passing skills for a center. He has played a lot of basketball in this calendar year, but if he can stay healthy he will be a really nice piece of any fantasy team.
31) Nikola Vucevic, PF/C, Orlando Magic
In most cases if you're picking up a center early on, you want him to be a big contributor in blocks. Nikola Vucevic is not a good shot blocker, but what he does give you is great percentages that you usually don't see out of a high rebounding center like him. High rebounding center is the key phrase here. Vucevic is an animal on the boards who has been among league leaders in double double for the past two years. Vucevic is an obvious choice if you want rebounds without taking a hit in your FT%.
32) Rudy Gay, SF, Sacramento Kings
Just throwing this out there -- what does Carmelo Anthony give you that Rudy Gay doesn't? The answer is nothing. The FG% hit isn't worth the few extra points you might get from Melo. Rudy Gay had an under-the-radar monster year, proving he can be more than just a scorer. The worry is Rondo running a fast-paced offense and hogging all the assists, but I think George Karl is a good enough coach to optimally use all of his pieces. While Anthony is going quite early in drafts, Rudy Gay is a value pick in the mid-rounds. I will happily pass on Melo early and wait on Gay for similar production.
33) Chris Bosh, PF/C, Miami Heat
Talk about bad luck. Anyone who tells you Chris Bosh is injury prone has no idea what they are talking about. Freak accidents and non-basketball injuries have plagued Bosh for the last three years. When he's been on court, Bosh has been a fantasy gold mine. He is a big who can hit threes, put up good percentages, and score at will. With Goran Dragic at PG, look for the pick and roll to be used heavily, which means more high percentage shots for Bosh.
34) Derrick Favors, PF/C Utah Jazz
As the Jazz continue to grow and improve, we can tie some of the success to Derrick Favors. The second heart to the Jazz defense, Favors nearly averaged two blocks and a steal a game while scoring over 16 points a game. Favors has good FG% with an OK FT%. He is not the most skilled player offensively, but he will find a way to but the ball in the basket when the opportunity presents itself. As the Jazz look to possible make the playoffs this year expect a very aggressive and involved Favors all season.
35) Nerlens Noel, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers
If you are a true NBA fan, you understand the current state of the Philadelphia 76ers. Management has made it very clear that they have no issue trading current assets for better future assets. What does this mean? Don't be surprised if they feature Nerlens Noel as much as humanly possible in the beginning of the season. He will carry a lot of fantasy value if the team is out to make him into an appealing trade asset.
36) Goran Dragic, PG, Miami Heat
Goran Dragic was ready to run an offense four years ago. We saw a brief stint in Phoenix where they let him run the office and he was extremely productive. Miami has not had much run with their full roster since acquiring Dragic in the middle of the season then having Bosh go down with a season ending health condition. This offense has the potential to be an issue for teams in the East within the three point line, and Dragic will be the catalyst for that offense. Dragic is an amazing pocket passer and does a great job controlling pace, as well as the pick and roll. This is a great choice for the second PG on your fantasy team.
37) Kevin Love, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin Love is coming off a playoff ending injury, so this will raise many concerns for owners. Love also had a hard time finding his place in the Cavalier offense last year, which really hurt his fantasy value. That said, the Cavs need Love. Many people will argue that if the Cavs had Love during the Finals, they would have won the championship. Love will have that on his mind all season, and is looking to prove his worth to this team.
38) Andre Drummond, PF/C, Detroit Pistons
I don't agree with punting, but if you are taking Drummond where he should be drafted, you don't have much of a choice. His category killing FT% might be his only knock as fantasy player. This is a top tier player if you're looking for a prototypical big man. Toward the end of last season, it seemed that Drummond and Reggie Jackson were really meshing well together. It seems like that connection will only get better, so look for Drummond to see a bump in points and FG% this season.
39) Reggie Jackson, PG/SG, Detroit Pistons
After being traded to Detroit from Oklahoma City, Reggie Jackson proved that he was starting point guard material. He really started to figure his team out by the end of the season. We saw some really promising flashes of how effective Jackson could make Andre Drummond in the offense. This team has more talent all around than last season, so Jackson should get cleaner looks at the rim and more assist opportunities.
40) Hassan Whiteside, C, Miami Heat
Hassan Whiteside was the home run hit of fantasy basketball last season. He went from being owned in very few leagues to one of the top adds for the entire season. Even with Bosh back, Whiteside is prime for a really big year in fantasy. Whiteside is a great big man who you can rely on for blocks, rebounds, and great fg% because of his ability to run the floor.
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