With more emphasis put on small ball and three point shooting, those players who have the uncanny ability to round up shots caroming off the basket from every which angle are a prized fantasy basketball commodity. Those relentless scavengers able to average double-digits in rebounding are few, and to find one can give you a unique advantage in weekly and daily games. As the league shifts, and three pointers rain down like a Seattle winter, the traditional big man is finding less and less use in today's NBA. But for those who's game are centered around rebounding, the less percentage shot with higher point value can lead to more value and bigger contracts.

For the first time since the 2000-01 season, five or more people grabbed over a dozen rebounds per game last season. This year, Andre Drummond (15.0), DeAndre Jordan (14.9), DeMarcus Cousins (12.6), Dwight Howard (12.5) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12.0) are all above 12 a game. Each of these five also average double figures in points.

Players like Clint Capela and Steven Adams are also thriving because their respective teams spread the floor out, leaving them to roam undeterred in the middle. Those two, however don't play the minutes to grab enough boards to make this list. For Drummond and Jordan, they are the title holders of The Board Man. Both average either at, or close to 15 rebounds per game and finds points by patrolling the paint, finishing put backs and alley-oops.  Cousins, is a different beast entirely.

Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers received five total writing awards and 13 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, tops in the industry! Congrats to all the award winners and nominees including NBA Writer of the Year, Best NFL Series, MLB Series, PGA Writer and Player Notes writer of the year. Be sure to follow their analysis, rankings and advice all year long, and win big with RotoBaller! Read More!

 

The Board Men

DeMarcus Cousins

On Monday against the Bulls, Cousins had a triple-double with 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists. The first player since Wilt Chamberlain 50 years ago to post a 40-20-10 game, Cousins is a generational talent who has finished in the top-20 in 9-cat leagues almost every year of his career. He is only one of three current players (Towns and Anthony Davis, the other two) averaging 20 and 10 for their career.

This year, with Davis, Cousins is averaging a career high in rebounds and almost a career best in points.  According to Basketball-Reference, Cousins grabs 19% of the available rebounds when on the floor. He is the ultimate throwback player. A guy you can rely on to get you points at a high percentage and pull down double digit rebounds almost every night. He's also added the three-ball to his arsenal this year, drilling 2.2 a game.

Andre Drummond

Drummond has led the league in rebounds the last two years and this season is no different. His advanced rebounding statistics are staggering. Drummond grabs 36 percent of available defensive rebounds, 16.4 percent on offensive rebounds, 25.9 percent of total rebounds. His defensive rebound and total rebound percentages lead the league. In his five complete seasons in the NBA, he has led in total rebound percentage three out of those five years.

Not only is Drummond averaging a career high in rebounds, he has dramatically improved his free throw shooting. Last year, he shot an embarrassing 38 percent, this year he's up to a respectable 62 percent. Drummond is playing above his projected fifth round value and is a top-30 play this season.

DeAndre Jordan

Lob City may be dead, but Jordan continues to gobble up loose balls like Pac-Man. Since Doc Rivers took over as coach for the Clippers, Jordan has never averaged less than 13.6 rebounds per game. While it looks like he might finally relinquish his field goal percentage crown this season, Jordan is still shooting 66 percent from the field.

Jordan's scoring may be down, but there's one stat you'll never have to worry about. When it is rare for more than five players in the entire league to average more than 12 rebounds a game, finding someone who grabs almost 15 a game is a unique advantage to own. That's what makes Board Men so valuable.

 

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