Fantasy Basketball

As more leagues use free-agent acquisition budgets for waiver-wire claims, fantasy managers should avoid unnecessary splurges this early in the NBA season. With that said, don't shy away from a solid add who can boot an unproductive last man off a roster.

Unless you're targeting someone after a breakout outing, waiver-wire pickups will usually provide strong numbers in certain areas along with some glaring weak spots such as free-throw percentage or defensive statistics. A player's minutes restriction may give reason to pause before making a claim as well.

Nonetheless, a player who's on the court for 20-24 minutes with a high-usage rate is worth consideration, as you'll see below. 

Following Wednesday's action, we'll highlight three players who belong on your radar going forward.

All of the selections are owned in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo pools as of Thursday morning. Free-agent acquisition bids are based on $100 budgets in 12-team leagues.

                

Waiver-Wire Targets

PF/C Richaun Holmes, Sacramento Kings (42 percent owned) 

Owners who need a productive big man should drop big-budget dollars for Richaun Holmes.

The 26-year-old came off the bench and played 30 minutes Monday, logging 24 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.

Sacramento Kings head coach Luke Walton inserted Holmes into the starting lineup Wednesday, and he provided more fantasy gold, registering a full line: 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks with four turnovers.

The fifth-year veteran isn't going to log many three-pointers and may generate more turnovers because of his usage rate, but this isn't the time to nitpick an emerging forward/center who averaged 1.1 blocks in 16.9 minutes per contest last season with the Phoenix Suns. 

In his previous stops, which also include three seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Holmes flashed in glimpses and showed potential on both ends of the court. Now, in an expanded role, the 6'10", 235-pounder can put his complete game on display in Sacramento. 

Because of his start in the last outing, expect him to appear on most rosters Thursday. If he's somehow still available, invest in him for help in percentages, points, rebounds and defensive stats.

Free-Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB): $15

                 

PG Isaiah Thomas, Washington Wizards (45 percent owned)

By the time you read this, Isaiah Thomas will see a significant boost in ownership percentage. In 24 minutes on Wednesday, he logged 17 points, which included two three-pointers, two rebounds, 10 assists and one steal with five turnovers.

It's worth noting the Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets played a fast-paced, high-scoring game that ended 159-158. Still, the 30-year-old's high usage rate with the second unit seems encouraging for his short-term outlook. 

Thomas underwent thumb surgery in mid-September, which delayed his debut with the Wizards. Yet, he's produced immediately, showing much of what we already know about the nine-year veteran. The undersized guard is a pure scorer who will sprinkle in a handful of assists in most games when given enough time on the court. 

He said the team put him on a 20-minute restriction, but Wednesday demonstrated that head coach Scott Brooks may leave him in the lineup for more if he's productive. 

For points, triples and some assists, grab Thomas now. His role could grow if the Wizards' first unit struggles to score.

FAAB amount: $4

           

PG/SG Bryn Forbes, San Antonio Spurs (26 percent owned)

Is your lineup short on pure scorers who consistently knock down the three-ball? Look no further than Bryn Forbes. The San Antonio Spurs need his three-point shooting in the first unit. He's the only starter on the team averaging more than one bucket per game from beyond the arc. 

If the Spurs want to keep pace with teams that rain threes, they should favor the 26-year-old over Derrick White at shooting guard. The latter only drained 48 in primarily a starting role last year. 

Because of the Spurs' necessity to keep Forbes in the opening backcourt, fantasy managers should capitalize on his production while he's playing 31.3 minutes per night. Thus far, he has appealing averages of 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and three triples per contest. On top of that, he's knocking down 46 percent of his shots from the floor.

Forbes won't boost your defensive statistics, but he's worth a look as a decent contributor for five categories, including percentages.

FAAB amount: $2

Much like the uptempo modern NBA offense, fantasy basketball is a fast-paced exercise in making the right sacrifices and shooting the right shot. At this early point in the season, that means carefully discarding your preseason infatuations and going after players who can help you win.

Every season, legitimate talents are found on the waiver wire in the first few weeks, but even more are found who contribute nothing by midseason. Still, the diamond is worth getting past the rough so we've ranked 10 sleepers for you to consider in Week 2.

These players are ranked considering a blend of their immediate and long-term upside in head-to-head, nine-category leagues, and they are all owned in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. 

                          

Week 2 Sleepers

1. Devonte' Graham, PG, Charlotte Hornets (48 percent owned)

2. Marcus Morris, SF/PF, New York Knicks (48 percent owned)

3. Davis Bertans, PF/C, Washington Wizards (41 percent owned)

4. Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (25 percent owned)

5. P.J. Tucker, SF/PF, Houston Rockets (47 percent owned)

6. Rodney Hood, SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers (11 percent owned)

7. Jae Crowder, SF/PF, Memphis Grizzlies (24 percent owned)

8. Dwayne Bacon, SG, Charlotte Hornets (27 percent owned)

9. Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington Wizards (31 percent owned)

10. Eric Paschall, PF, Golden State Warriors (10 percent owned)

                        

Marcus Morris, SF/PF, New York Knicks (48 percent owned)

• Week 16 Averages: 41.7 FG%, 92.9 FT%, 2.0 3PM, 16.3 PTS, 4.3 REB, 0.7 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK

• Week 17 Games: 10/28 vs. CHI, 10/30 at ORL, 11/01 at BOS, 11/03 vs. SAC

Marcus Morris was a reasonable fantasy asset last season on a dysfunctional Boston Celtics team that was destined, albeit turbulently, for the playoffs. This season, he can be a reasonable fantasy asset on a dysfunctional New York Knicks team that is fated, although somewhat surreptitiously, for the lottery. 

The 30-year-old's grit and snarl are unquantified for fantasy purposes, but he can do good work providing threes, free-throw percentage (84.4 percent from the line last season), points and some medley of defensive statistics alongside one or two assists.

Morris is one of New York's most reliable players and will therefore likely continue raking in minutes as the Knicks try to form an actual, system-oriented basketball team around RJ Barrett. 

                         

Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (25 percent owned)

• Week 16 Averages: 43.5 FG%, 100.0 FT%, 1.0 3PM, 12.0 PTS, 1.5 REB, 4.5 AST, 1.0 STL

• Week 17 Games: 10/28 at TOR, 10/30 vs. NY, 11/01 vs. MIL, 11/02 vs. DEN

Markelle Fultz is an enigma, but you've got to appreciate it.

If this is going to be the fresh start to his redemption arc, then we want to check in early. He's played just two games thus far and just a combined 47 minutes, but the 21-year-old is playing actively, instinctively and showing signs of what we all hoped he would be.

If Fultz is able to completely overcome his shooting hesitancy, then he could supplant DJ Augustin in the Orlando starting lineup sooner rather than later.

It's a big "if," but his upside is much higher, given talent and prospective opportunity, than most other sleepers in the league.

                             

Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington Wizards (31 percent owned)

• Week 16 Averages: 42.9 FG%, 4.0 3PM, 16.0 PTS, 3.0 REB, 5.0 AST

• Week 17 Games: 10/30 vs. HOU, 11/02 vs. MIN

Speaking of point guards with the opportunity to start, Isaiah Thomas is back from injury and competing for minutes with Ish Smith in Washington.

In Thomas' one game, he dropped threes, dimes and buckets in limited minutes. 

Like Fultz, the 30-year-old is fun to root for and has the potential to fill up the stat sheet.

Smith isn't one of mankind's greatest obstacles, so if Thomas can play his way into the majority of minutes, he could have major boom potential in fantasy this season.

                         

Eric Paschall, PF, Golden State Warriors (10 percent owned)

• Week 16 Averages: 52.6 FG%, 80.0 FT%, 0.0 3PM, 12.0 PTS, 3.5 REB, 2.0 AST, 1.0 STL

• Week 17 Games: 10/28 at NO, 10/20 vs. PHO, 11/01 vs. SA, 11/02 vs. CHA

Even as a Warriors fan, I'm still not entirely sold on buying into any of Golden State's players just yet, but the conversation is worth having.

Right now, the Dubs are a complete mess as the third-youngest team in the league that is without much of its veteran stabilizers. The offense is sloppy and disjointed, the defense is discombobulated. 

Unfortunately, that means few Warriors players are going to be consistent as minutes get juggled and head coach Steve Kerr figures out exactly what can be coached and what is beyond repair. Fortunately, Eric Paschall has been a bright spot. 

The forward shares Draymond Green's physique and quirky skill set. He is physical, but can also make creative passes and hit some shots. Most importantly, Paschall never seems lost on offense or defense—signs of great basketball potential.

You don't get those intangibles on your fantasy app, but they're the mark of a player who could start delivering robust, versatile lines if the game slows down a little more.   

Behold waiver-wire warriors, the free-agent pool has some unheralded NBA gems who will play extended minutes while starters recover from injuries.

The hunt for the ideal player to round out the back end of a roster doesn't stop. After the draft, most managers tinker with the final two or three spots to find a categorical balance in rotisserie leagues. Injury reports will certainly influence owners to take a look at who benefits from a key contributor's time away from the court. 

We'll take a look at three players set to see an expanded role because of injuries to players atop the depth chart. Each selection should be viewed a streamer, someone to help you through Week 1—though, he may stick around with a strong start in the first slate of games.

All the players below are owned in fewer than 30 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Thursday at 3 a.m. ET.

           

PG Ish Smith, Washington Wizards (25 percent owned)

At Oklahoma City (Friday), At San Antonio (Saturday)

Ish Smith didn't stuff the stuff sheet against the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday, but he'll log a significant number of minutes as the starting point guard without much competition. In September, Isaiah Thomas underwent surgery on his left thumb, which leaves plenty of court time for the starter. 

Smith registered seven points, four assists, three rebounds and a blocked shot with two turnovers in the Washington Wizards' season opener.

Fantasy managers won't run to the waiver wire for that level of production, but the 31-year-old could provide a boost in dimes and protect your lineup's shooting percentages. Last year, he converted 41.9 percent from the field while averaging 22.3 minutes per game with the Detroit Pistons.

The Wizards open the season with a three-game road trip. Following the string of away contests, Thomas may return to action. If you'd like to pad your assists with an efficient point guard, Smith is the player to target.

      

SG Landry Shamet, Los Angeles Clippers (32 percent owned) 

At Golden State (Thursday), At Phoenix (Saturday) 

Paul George doesn't have a set date to participate in full-contact drills, which clouds his return date to the court for live action. In the meantime, we'll see Landry Shamet in the starting rotation with several opportunities to knock down shots with Kawhi Leonard drawing most of the attention. 

Shamet logged 26 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers and shot three of eight from the floor, which included a pair of triples, Tuesday. After the Philadelphia 76ers traded the 22-year-old to the Los Angeles Clippers before last season's deadline, he flashed his sharpshooting ability, averaging 2.7 three-pointers per contest at a 45 percent success rate. 

Don't expect Shamet to record a high number of assists or steals, but if you're fishing for a three-point specialist with a major role on offense, he can certainly even the category in your matchup until George suits up.

At his best, Shamet can finish games as the second-best scorer in the Clippers' starting lineup behind Leonard. Patrick Beverley will bring the defense while the Witchita State product scorches the net.

           

PF Nicolo Melli, New Orleans Pelicans (4 percent owned)

Home vs. Dallas (Friday), At Houston (Saturday)

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Zion Williamson will miss an estimated six to eight weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery to fix a torn lateral meniscus.

Williamson's absence feels like a gut punch to basketball enthusiasts, but his time on the bench as a spectator will allow reserve big men an opportunity to shine in a fast-paced offense.

Although Derrick Favors logged a start against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, Nicolo Melli played 20 minutes and finished the overtime contest. He registered 14 points, five rebounds and two assists, shooting five of seven from the field.

Unlike Favors, Melli has long-distance range on his shot, and he converted four of five attempts from three-point land in his NBA debut. The 28-year-old's ability to stretch the floor should lead to more playing time. Don't be surprised to see him close games in the next two outings after Favors' quiet performance (six points, seven rebounds and two assists) in the season opener.

At long last, NBA basketball is back. And, with it, the return of fantasy hoops.

For those of you who have been knee-deep in fantasy football until now or distracted by other matters, it's time to load up your plate and digest the top NBA player rankings and some underrated sleepers.

For those of you who have been preparing for the advent of 2019's fantasy basketball season all summer, feel free to send us your excel sheets and data. 

To start, we'll list the top 75 players (courtesy of FantasyPros) for category leagues as a picture of the rankings to start the season. Then, we'll list a range of underrated, deep sleepers who are owned in less than 25 percent of Yahoo leagues and break down a few of their upsides.

                   

Top 75 Rankings

1. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks

4. James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

5. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Vikings

6. Nikola Jokic, PF/C, Denver Nuggets

7. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

8. Joel Embiid, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers

9. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

10. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards

11. Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers

12. Kyrie Irving, PG/SG, Brooklyn Nets

13. Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Miami Heat

14. Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans

15. Andre Drummond, PF/C, Detroit Pistons

16. Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers

17. Kemba Walker, PG, Boston Celtics

18. Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

19. Nikola Vucevic, PF/C, Orlando Magic

20. Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks

21. Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

22. Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston Rockets

23. Deandre Ayton, C, Phoenix Suns

24. Luka Doncic, PG/SG/PF, Dallas Mavericks

25. Ben Simmons, PG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers

26. John Collins, PF/C, Atlanta Hawks

27. Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG, Utah Jazz

28. Myles Turner, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

29. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings

30. Draymond Green, PF/C, Golden State Warriors

31. Mike Conley, PG, Utah Jazz

32. D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors

33. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF/C, San Antonio Spurs

34. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto Raptors

35. Chris Paul, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder

36. Buddy Hield, SG, Sacramento Kings

37. Mitchell Robinson, C, New York Knicks

38. Zion Williamson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans

39. Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks

40. Tobias Harris, SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers

41. Clint Capela, PF/C, Houston Rockets

42. Kyle Lowry, PG, Toronto Raptors

43. Khris Middleton, SG/SF, Milwaukee Bucks

44. DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs

45. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Chicago Bulls

46. Zach LaVine, PG/SG, Chicago Bulls

47. Blake Griffin, PF/C, Detroit Pistons

48. Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat

49. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Boston Celtics

50. CJ McCollum, PG/SG, Portland Trail Blazers

51. Eric Bledsoe, PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks

52. Robert Covington, SF/PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

53. Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Memphis Grizzles

54. Otto Porter Jr., SF/PF, Chicago Bulls

55. Jamal Murray, PG/SG, Denver Nuggets

56. Danilo Gallinari, SF/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

57. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Memphis Grizzlies

58. Kevin Love, PF/C, Cleveland Cavaliers

59. Thomas Bryant, C, Washington Wizards

60. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder

61. Derrick Favors, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans

62. Brook Lopez, C, Milwaukee Bucks

63. Malcolm Brogdon, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers

64. Al Horford, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers

65. Julius Randle, PF/C, New York Knicks

66. Josh Richardson, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers

67. Marvin Bagley III, PF, Sacramento Kings

68. Aaron Gordon, SF/PF, Orlando Magic

69. Hassan Whiteside, C, Portland Trail Blazers

70. Ja Morant, PG, Memphis Grizzles

71. Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets

72. Lonzo Ball, PG, New Orleans Pelicans

73. Domantas Sabonis, PF/C, Indiana Pacers

74. Steven Adams, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

75. Victor Oladipo, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers

                  

Underrated Sleepers

Guys like Dario Saric (PF/C, Phoenix Suns, 49 percent owned) and Derrius Garland (PG, Cleveland Cavaliers, 40 percent owned) are underrated but still obvious fringe players with upside and minutes.

This list is for players with similar upside in shaky situations who need to be watched over as the season progresses, trades get going and the waiver starts thinning.

We examined Markelle Fultz, Luke Kennard and Kevin Knox in Monday's piece, so we'll focus on Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jakob Poeltl and Robert Williams here. 

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, New Orleans Pelicans (19 percent owned)

• Dwayne Bacon, SG, Charlotte Hornets (19 percent owned)

• Terrance Ferguson, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (1 percent owned)

• Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (20 percent owned)

• Harry Giles, PF/C, Sacramento Kings(3 percent owned)

• Luke Kennard, SG, Detroit Pistons (9 percent owned)

• Kevin Knox, SF/PF, New York Knicks (13 percent owned)

• Jahlil Okafor, C, New Orleans Pelicans(5 percent owned)

• Jakob Poeltl, C, San Antonio Spurs(21 percent owned)

• Michael Porter Jr., SF, Denver Nuggets (22 percent owned)

• Cam Reddish, PG/SG/SF, (17 percent owned)

• Matisse Thybulle, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (16 percent owned)

• Robert Williams, PF, Boston Celtics (7 percent owned)

                 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, New Orleans Pelicans (19 percent owned)

Minutes may be hard to come by for Alexander-Walker.

E'Twaun Moore, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and J.J. Redick are also competing for minutes at the two, and Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson will get time at the three.

Alexander-Walker is somewhere among that assortment of talent, but his impact on the court seems undeniable, which should mean more opportunity as the season develops.

When you watch the Virginia Tech product play, you immediately glean a sense that the kid is a versatile veteran in a 21-year-old's body.

His cousin is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alexander-Walker shares a similar patience and awareness of tempo, as he is happy to pull the offense back or quick to make decisions based on the defense's positioning.

He also has the talent for those decisions to include a dangerous pull-up jumper (from range, too); acrobatic, finesse finishes; and a handle that is reactive enough to deliver on his savvy.

On defense, Alexander-Walker's hands are quick and instinctive—as proved by his steal on Julius Randle's attempted game-winning layup in their final preseason game. 

                   

Jakob Poeltl, C, San Antonio Spurs (21 percent owned)

Unlike Alexander-Walker, Jakob Poeltl's path to minutes is obvious.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Trey Lyles are the team's only other true bigs, and Poeltl has shown enough ability to earn more than the 16.5 minutes per game he averaged last season. 

Per 36 minutes, the 24-year-old would have averaged 12.0 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 blocks in 2018-19. The 7-footer has delivered flashes of touch around the rim and ferocity when attacking or defending it, which could mean a lot if he gets big minutes for the Spurs. 

                    

Cam Reddish, PG/SG/SF, (17 percent owned)

Back to speculative, talented players. Cam Reddish is 6'8” but has a pretty stroke and enough talent to have played 29.7 minutes per game for Duke in his lone college season.

At 20 years old, he is raw and may struggle to improve upon his college inconsistency as much as we might hope.

However, Reddish's frame and the depths of his skill make him a premier sleeper if he's able to work his way into regular minutes on a burgeoning Hawks roster that has yet to determine its rotations.

                      

Robert Williams, PF, Boston Celtics (7 percent owned)

Who sounds better to pair with Kemba Walker's ability to break a defense down: Enes Kanter, Vincent Poirier or Mitchell Robinson? Robert Williams is not Robinson, but his upside is similar.

There's a reason Robinson is owned in 98 percent of leagues. Last season, per 36 minutes, he averaged 12.8 points,  11.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocks. Timelord, while a rarer player with unpolished play and Al Horford's presence, averaged 10.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per 36. 

Walker has never really played with a big man who possesses Williams' abrasion to gravity. Timelord is an overpowered villain above the basket who can, on the defensive end, bounce high enough and swing hard enough to punch attempted shots into the willing laps of fans in the cheaper seats.

If he earns regular minutes this season, we may see him drafted by fantasy teams in 2020-21 where Robinson was drafted this season.

The NBA season is as young as can be, so this is the perfect time to round out your fantasy lineups with maximum upside.

With the 2019-20 season kicking off on Tuesday, we will break down the three best deep sleepers and list some honorable mentions. 

Fantasy managers should adapt their pickups to suit their team's needs, but these sleepers should have the highest ceilings across multiple categories in traditional H2H nine-category leagues (free-throw percentage, field-goal percentage, three-pointers made, points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers). 

All sleepers included here are owned in less than 25 percent of Yahoo leagues and should therefore be readily available for owners who want to drop a known, mediocre commodity for someone with league-winning potential. 

                

Markelle Fultz, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (20 percent owned)

Scared off by the yips, the Philadelphia 76ers gave up on their investment in Markelle Fultz. Fantasy managers shouldn't follow their lead, though.

The 21-year-old's ceiling is astronomical. The top overall pick in 2017 is an immediate triple-double threat when comfortable and not tinkering with his form mid-game.  

Michael Carter-Williams and D.J. Augustin are his only other competition for minutes on an otherwise-talented Orlando Magic squad.

Finally healthy, Fultz's floor as a 6'4" guard with a handle and dimes already makes him a more appealing candidate to lead the offense than those two. His upside, as a 6'4" guard with handles, dimes and a returned confidence in his shot, makes him a fantastic sleeper to hold on to at the start of the season.

                   

Luke Kennard, SG, Detroit Pistons (9 percent owned)

Like Fultz, Luke Kennard is a talented young prospect on a team with playoff aspirations who hasn't quite put together the entire package just yet; unlike Fultz, Kennard is an absolute marksman from deep and a likely starter to begin the season. 

Over 136 career games, the 23-year-old has shot 40.3 percent from three. His form is pure, his sense for offensive tempo and passing has improved, and he has demonstrated enough strength and speed to play real NBA minutes.

For the third consecutive season, those minutes should increase for the 6'5" Kennard and so should his opportunities to capitalize upon a God-given ability to shoot the ball. He may only be valuable for points, three-pointers and free-throw percentage to start, but the potential to bring rebounds and assists is there. 

                    

Kevin Knox, SF/PF, New York Knicks (13 percent owned)

As a rookie, Kevin Knox played 28.8 minutes per game. A year older, wiser and stronger, he should be better equipped to produce in his second season.

Even if the addition of Marcus Morris eats into the 20-year-old's minutes, he has looked stronger and more stable in the preseason, suggesting his efficiency should rise as a sophomore.

The 6'9" forward shot just 37.0 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three in 2018-19. In the preseason's limited sample size, his jumper's base already seems more balanced and his drive looks less liable to be bounced off-course by a defender's physicality.

If a year of experience and training has meant improvement, then Knox should be able to comfortably surpass his rookie campaign's 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. His ceiling is a talented, starting wing, which is a treat to invest in while he's still available on 87 percent of waiver wires.

                         

Honorable Mentions

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG, New Orleans Pelicans (19 percent owned)

• Dwayne Bacon, SG, Charlotte Hornets (19 percent owned)

• Terrance Ferguson, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (1 percent owned)

• Harry Giles, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (3 percent owned)

• Jahlil Okafor, C, New Orleans Pelicans (5 percent owned)

• Jakob Poeltl, C, San Antonio Spurs (21 percent owned)

• Michael Porter Jr., SF, Denver Nuggets (22 percent owned)

• Cam Reddish, PG/SG/SF, (17 percent owned)

• Matisse Thybulle, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (16 percent owned)

• Robert Williams, PF, Boston Celtics (7 percent owned)

Amid exciting preseason action, fantasy basketball goes into full swing as managers prepare for drafts and adjust rosters for the 2019-20 season.

This year, we won't see Kevin Durant's name near the top of drafts as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, but the pool of potential top-12 picks provides plenty of talent to fill the forward spots.

After LeBron James' down year because of injury, what can we expect from him in his second season with the Los Angeles Lakers? Is he a top-five pick? If not, how far does the 34-year-old fall in a mock draft?

Don't shy away from rising stars on teams that will likely miss the playoffs. Still in their prime years, ascending players who are building their resumes should fall into the must-draft category in the opening round regardless of their teams' outlooks.

Let's take a look at a 12-team mock for the first round with a deeper dive on three stars to consider as the headliners for your roster. We will also provide some creative fantasy team names to help you score cool points among peers.

              

1st-Round NBA Mock Draft 

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

3. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors

4. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers 

5. James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

6. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

7. Kawhi Leonard SF, SG Los Angeles Clippers 

8. Joel Embiid, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers 

9. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards 

10. Nikola Jokic, PF/C, Denver Nuggets

11. Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston Rockets

12. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

             

3. Stephen Curry 

Over the past three seasons, managers may have tempered statistical expectations for Stephen Curry because he shared the ball with Durant and Klay Thompson. That's not an issue this year. 

Durant is now with the Brooklyn Nets and will miss the entire 2019-20 campaign. Thompson doesn't have a set timetable to return from a torn ACL. With the longevity of his career in mind, he's not in a hurry to step back on the court, per NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole. 

"I've done my due diligence on rehabs and ACL injuries, and the last thing you want to do is rush back, especially for a player like me who wants to play until he's in his late 30s," Thompson said. "I want to play at a high level until that point, too."

Thompson will likely have a chance to return after the All-Star break, but that's not a given in light of his words of patience. In the meantime, Curry, D'Angelo Russell and Draymond Green probably carry the load for this squad.

Before Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, Curry earned the 2015-16 scoring title, averaging 30.1 points per game. With his usage set to increase because of Durant's departure and Thompson's extended absence, we could see the two-time league MVP post big numbers in his 11th season. Of course, he must stay healthy to reach that fantasy ceiling.

            

6. LeBron James

Managers who selected James in the first round last year had a rough season. The Lakers superstar missed 27 contests with a groin injury. Without a shot at a playoff berth, the team shut him down late March.

The Lakers will probably give James several load management days off, but he's still a first-round asset in terms of fantasy value. Last year, he continued to fire up three-pointers, putting up 327 shots beyond the arc and converting on 34 percent of those attempts.

James will also have a more experienced team around him following the moves to acquire big man Anthony Davis via trade and sharpshooter Danny Green during free agency. As a result, he should see a boost in his assist numbers for the upcoming term.

On the flip side, owners who would prefer to keep their free-throw percentages up, may want to go with an alternative option. James converted a career-low (.665) in that category during the 2018-19 campaign.

                    

9. Bradley Beal

Without guard John Wall, the Washington Wizards won't win many games, but his backcourt partner Bradley Beal should continue to rise as a fantasy asset.

Wall has undergone two surgeries on his left Achilles. Initially, he fell in his home and then developed an infection at the site of the incision. The five-time All-Star isn't expected to play during the 2019-20 campaign:

Ted Leonsis says John Wall “probably won’t play” next year at all. They are taking it slow with his Achilles rehab hoping to get it right.

— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) July 22, 2019

In Wall's absence, Beal's usage went into overdrive through the second half of the 2018-19 season. He averaged career-high totals in points (25.6), rebounds (five) and assists (5.5) en route to his second All-Star appearance.

As the go-to playmaker on a young roster, Beal will likely have another All-Star-worthy term with the ball in his hands most of the time. His name doesn't carry the same cachet as those of Curry, James or Kawhi Leonard, but the Wizards guard belongs on your radar among first-round options.

               

Top Team Names

Home Dipo

Ibaka Flacka Flame

Board Men Get Paid

Tacko Bell 

Dedmon Don't Talk

Bang Bang Pau Pau

Shake and Blake

Batum Goes the Dynamite

Hield or High Water

Beals on Wheels

The NBA's 2019-20 season kicks off October 22, so we are in full draft mode for fantasy basketball. The entire draft is important, but securing value in the early and late rounds is crucial to pushing for the playoffs. 

With that in mind, we've got the latest rankings for the top players and a deeper dive into three of the best sleepers. 

These rankings are based on fantasy leagues that utilize the traditional head-to-head category scoring: field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, three-point percentage, points, three pointers made, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.

For our sleepers, we'll give one from each major area of the draft based on FantasyPros' average draft positions before listing out some honorable mentions. 

                

Fantasy Basketball Top 20

1. Anthony Davis, PF/C, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, SF/PF, Milwaukee Bucks

3. James Harden, PG/SG, Houston Rockets

4. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, Golden State Warriors

5. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

6. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers

7. Kawhi Leonard, SG/SF, Los Angeles Clippers

8. Nikola Jokic, PF/C, Denver Nuggets

9. Russell Westbrook, PG, Houston Rockets

10. Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards

11. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trailblazers

12. Joel Embiid, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers

13. Pascal Siakam, PF, Toronto Raptors

14. Paul George, SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers

15. Kyrie Irving, PG/SF, Brooklyn Nets

16. Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Miami Heat

17. Luka Doncic, PG/SG, Dallas Mavericks

18. Andre Drummond, PF/C, Detroit Pistons

19. Jrue Holiday, PG/SG, New Orleans Pelicans

20. Devin Booker, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns

                      

Top Sleepers

Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic (Average Draft Position: 67)

Flexible forwards can form your fantasy team's vanguard, and Aaron Gordon is a tremendous value to fill that role at his ADP. Air Gordon's minutes have increased every season—reaching 33.8 per game in 2018-19—so the volume should most certainly be there.

The 6'9" forward averaged 16.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game last season on shooting splits of 44.9 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three and 73.1 percent from the line. If he continues earning big minutes and remains durable (started a career-high 78 games last season), then Gordon should have a big season on what should be an improved playoff team. 

                   

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets (ADP: 97)

Before getting injured, Caris LeVert was last season's steal of fantasy basketball drafts. Even including his inefficient return to action at the end of the season, LeVert averaged 13.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 40 games. Most importantly, LeVert passes the eye test as a lanky, 6'7" wing with the ability to do everything on the court.

With new additions such as Kyrie Irving, Taurean Prince and DeAndre Jordan, LeVert should benefit from the spacing on a more productive, talented team. At an ADP of 97, the 25-year-old's upside is incredibly high when comparing his career trajectory with players drafted before him, including Larry Nance Jr. (ADP: 96), Jeff Teague (94) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (90). 

                 

Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (ADP: 147)

If you like filling up your points, three-pointers and assists categories, Tyler Herro could be a godsend at a very deep ADP. He's an entirely speculative add, but based on his college and preseason performances, Herro's ceiling is sky-high. 

In college, Herro had 14.0 points per game for the Kentucky Wildcats, including a career-high 29 points against the Arkansas Razorbacks. And he hasn't slowed down yet.

In the summer league, Herro averaged 19 points for the Miami Heat (second-highest in the league). Then, in his game against the San Antonio Spurs in the preseason, Herro put up 18 points, three rebounds and three assists in just 23 minutes of action.

It's yet to be seen if his production will be consistent or similar when it counts, but Herro has early potential as a bucket-getter. Compared to Kelly Olynyk (ADP: 141), Mason Plumlee (ADP: 127) and Marcus Smart (ADP: 121), Herro has incredible upside. It is also most definitely a bonus that you get to start rooting for the dude's swaggy game if you draft him.

                 

Honorable Mentions:

• Thomas Bryant, Washington Wizards (ADP: 61)

• Marvin Bagley III, Sacramento Kings (ADP: 62)

• Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (ADP: 72)

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (ADP: 81)

• Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic (ADP: 95)

• Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans (ADP: 102)

• Dario Saric, Phoenix Suns (ADP: 110)

• Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic (ADP: 123)

• Kevin Knox, New York Knicks (ADP: 159)

Nothing boosts a fantasy basketball roster more than a breakout star.

You're counting on an established star to do your team's heaviest lifting. You're pleasantly surprised when a late-round sleeper emerges as a reliable contributor. You're probably competing for a league championship, though, if you're ahead of the curve with a rising star.

The following three players are familiar to the fantasy community, but they're poised to climb a tier (or more) during the 2019-20 campaign.

               

Breakout Fantasy Basketball 2019 Stars

Bam Adebayo, PF/C, Miami Heat

Goodbye, Hassan Whiteside; hello, monster numbers for Bam Adebayo.

Miami's bouncy big man started spreading his wings last season. He made 22 consecutive starts down the stretch, averaging 11.6 points on 59.8 percent shooting, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks. He also shot 74.6 percent from the stripe in that stretch.

That production came in fewer than 27.5 minutes per game. Given his firm grip on the starting job now, that number could shoot past 30.

His traditional categories all play well. He'll be a double-double machine who shoots close to 60 percent from the field, and he could nudge his blocks and steals to 1.5. What's really interesting, though, is his playmaking and free-throw shooting. You might find other bigs with higher point and rebound ceilings, but the Association isn't exactly swimming with walking double-doubles who drop three dimes a night and hit three-quarters of their foul shots.

                    

Lonzo Ball, PG, New Orleans Pelicans

While injuries and inconsistency effectively stalled Lonzo Ball's two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, his summer move to New Orleans should mean the checkered flag is about to drop.

With Alvin Gentry at the helm, there's no such thing as playing too fast. The Pelicans were second in pace last season, and in their 2019-20 preseason opener, they scored 133 points and took 100 shots. The volume opportunities for the lead guard in this offense are almost endless.

If not for spotty shooting, Ball might already be regarded as an across-the-board contributor. His career nightly contributions include 10.0 points, 6.4 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals. Unleashed in a faster offense and freed from the pressures of both the Big Baller Brand and the L.A. spotlight, Ball should instantly become a bigger triple-double threat.

Even more exciting, he's feverishly working to put his shooting woes behind him. His jump shot received a face-lift this summer, and the early returns are more promising than his 3-of-10 shooting suggest. He hit 3-of-8 from long range (37.5 percent), and it sounds like he expects that to continue.

"It's looking better and better every day," Ball said earlier this month. "If you keep doing something over and over, you should get good at it."

                

Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies

All three players listed here have obvious upward mobility, but Jaren Jackson Jr. is the biggest threat to join the league's elites.

The grit-and-grind Grizzlies are banished to the history books, replaced by this quick-strike squad steered by Jackson and Ja Morant. No team played slower than Memphis last season. That will not be close to the case this time around.

"We're young and just eager," Jackson told reporters. "And we all like to play fast."

More volume will mean bigger and better numbers for Jackson, who's already off to an unprecedented start. Last season, he became the first rookie to ever tally at least 50 blocks, 50 steals and 50 threes while shooting 50 percent from the field.

He did a little of everything as a freshman. For his follow-up, expect a lot of everything thanks to an increased role, more freedom from new head coach Taylor Jenkins and a younger, more explosive supporting cast around him.

As we wade deeper into October, we enter the golden time of the year for fans of the orange sphere. From pumpkin patches to dunks and splashes, Halloween and the NBA's 2019 tip-off are within striking distance, and that means fantasy basketball is, too.

Before some fun team names, below is a mock draft of the first round of a traditional, head-to-head, nine-category (field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, three-pointers made, points, rebounds, assists, blocks, steals, turnovers) league.

                          

First-Round Mock Draft

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

2. James Harden, Houston Rockets

3. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

4. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

5. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

6. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

7. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

8. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

9. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

10. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets

11. Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers

11. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

12. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

                           

The top six are in a tier of their own ahead of the new season, as each player is expected to fill up the stat sheet and should have tremendous opportunity to do so barring injury.

Stephen Curry, in particular, could provide huge value as he will be leaned on heavily by a Warriors team that no longer boasts Kevin Durant (and Klay Thompson will be absent for at least half of the season).

After those six, Towns, Jokic and George are in a second tier as a trio of prolific scorers with tremendous upside and some efficiency concerns. Speaking of efficiency concerns, Russell Westbrook is in his own tier as managers who draft him will need to balance the gift of his padded stats with the curse of his inefficiency. 

The end of the first round becomes a complete toss-up. Lillard, Embiid and Siakam are all poised to have major roles for their teams and contribute in numerous statistical areas if they take the right steps. But players like Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum, among many others (including young upstarts like Trae Young, Luka Doncic and De'Aaron Fox) are in similar positions. 

         

Team Names

Some of these are just references to revolutionary moments in human culture (Kawhi Leonard's "What it do, baby?" being a prime example). Others are cringe-worthy puns to fluster your opponents ("I can be your Herro, baby" being a very prime example). 

Others, like "The Zion, His Hitch and the Scoreboard," slowly creep up on you before making such a remarkable, profound impact on your spirit that an eventual decision to draft Zion Williamson in the first round grants you passage to Narnia. 

• A.D. Astra
• Andre Drummand Bass
• Big Baller Brand
• Bradley Bealer's Day Off
• Build-a-Barrett Workshop
• Chris Paul's Drag Race
• Dame Impala
• Dinwiddie Dollars
• D-Lo and Doncic
• Doncic Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?
• Drummond Green
• Every Rozier Has its Thorn
• Go Bert or Go Home
• I Can Be Your Herro, Baby
• Jrue Detective
• Kyrie Jenner
• Kuzin' for a Bruisin'
• Malcolm in the Middleton
• Old Towns Road
• Secure the Bagley
• Taco Tuesday
• That's All Folks!
• The Hitch-likers Guide to the Markellaxy
• Trapped in the Klawset
• The Zion, His Hitch and the Scoreboard
• What Does the Fox Say?
• What it Do, Baby?
• When it Rains it Porz
• Zion of Judah

The NBA preseason has already started. Regular-season clashes will be here before you know it.

If your fantasy basketball homework hasn't tipped off, now is the time to start cramming.

We'll help get the ball rolling by running through our top-five player rankings at each position and analyzing a recent mock draft from fantasy experts, both for the head-to-head format.

                  

Positional Rankings

Point Guard

1. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

2. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

3. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

4. Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets

5. De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

                 

Shooting Guard

1. James Harden, Houston Rockets

2. Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

4. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

5. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

              

Small Forward

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

2. Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

3. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

4. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

5. Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

                     

Power Forward

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

2. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

3. John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

4. Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

5. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

                  

Center

1. Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

2. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

3. Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons

4. Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

5. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

                

Mock Draft Analysis

Ten ESPN experts recently joined up for a mock draft of a head-to-head points league. Most of the picks went to form, but there were a few nice finds and a couple of curious selections.

Let's take a closer look at a few notable picks.

               

Best Value: Trae Young at No. 35

So...did the mock drafters stop watching at last season's All-Star break?

We get it...it takes more than two months to earn superstar privileges. But didn't Trae Young's supernova sprint through the stretch run feel like a young player taking a massive leap?

If people need more convincing, that's fine. Just know there's likely at least one owner in your league who wouldn't allow Young to slide to being the eighth point guard off the board, as he did in this mock.

His post-All-Star averages were absurd: 24.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He averaged more than two triples and just under one steal per game and shot 87.8 percent from the free-throw line.

His 2019-20 ceiling is high enough where he could be your team's top fantasy performer. Getting that type of potential in the middle of the fourth round feels larcenous.

                

Biggest Reach: Darius Garland at No. 60

Darius Garland has a shot at fantasy relevance as a rookie. He has deep range on his three-ball, and he's comfortable pulling up off the dribble.

He's worth a later-round dart for sure. ESPN's Austin Tedesco took him with the final pick of the sixth round.

We'll let Tedesco explain:

"Maybe don't take Darius Garland in the sixth round—and maybe don't try to drop a player into your queue when it's your turn to draft, either—but there's still a lot to like here. Garland loves the most important shot in the NBA. He can create out of the pick-and-roll. He'll play big minutes.

"I have no idea if he'll even moderately succeed at all of his hypothetical skills as an NBA rookie, which is why I didn't intend to take him this early."

Forget fantasy, Garland is one of the bigger mysteries in this rookie class. He was injured early in his fifth game at Vanderbilt and never returned. He roasted the likes of Winthrop and Liberty, which indicates exactly nothing regarding how he'll fare against big-league defenders.

Oh, and he's an awkward fit alongside new backcourt mate Collin Sexton, as neither has great size nor a clear penchant for playmaking. Maybe a gamble on Garland eventually pays off, but as Tedesco said, this is too early to take that chance.

                  

Most Intriguing: Zion Williamson at No. 22

As an NBA rookie, Zion Williamson is everything the New Orleans Pelicans could want. He's a highlight waiting to happen, an easy sell to an energetic fanbase and the type of player who seems to combine blue-chip talent with a blue-collar work ethic.

As a fantasy prospect, Williamson is...that's a great question.

At Duke, he did almost everything. Save for his 64.0 free-throw percentage, all of his categories were either elite or at least above-average.

But in New Orleans, he'll have more help than the typical No. 1 pick—Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin had a stellar summer—and possibly limited room to work with. The team's pool of shooters looked shallow before Darius Miller, a career 38.2 percent sniper, ruptured his Achilles.

Then again, the extra assistance might help maximize Williamson's efficiency. And as much as New Orleans has tried not to overwhelm him with expectations, this franchise would surely let him lead if he proves he's ready. Alvin Gentry's uptempo system will generate tons of offensive opportunities, Williamson has some expert passers around him, and he might be the closest thing this roster has to a go-to scorer.

Williamson won't bust, but there's still a wide cavern between his best- and worst-case scenarios.