The NBA season is quickly approaching and fantasy pools are taking shape across the globe. As fantasy general managers take stock of their draft rankings there is little doubt that the center position is by far the shallowest in terms of fantasy value. Not only does the position offer the least in terms of viable options, but the options that are available produce less fantasy points than the forward or guard spots.
Typically when drafting a fantasy team it is the center spot that gets pushed aside for the more productive guards and forwards. Having said that, there are exceptions to every rule and this year there is most certainly going to be an exception as the top-ranked centerman on eDraft’s rankings could actually be a top-three overall fantasy pick in almost every draft format.
Here are eDraft’s top ten ranking for fantasy options at the center position.
#1 - Anthony Davis - New Orleans Pelicans
There is a very clear top choice when it comes to drafting at the center position and that person is none other than the Pelicans Anthony Davis. Davis is absolutely head-and-shoulders above the rest of the crowd here in terms of fantasy value. He is a consistent double-double guy who contributes with blocked shots and high field goal percentages. Davis is the easy top pick here.
#2 - Joakim Noah - Chicago Bulls
Drafting Noah as the second best center could be a bit of a reach; however, given that he is now paired with Pau Gasol and a healthy Derrick Rose. Noah can now settle into his true role and that is a facilitator, rebounder and high percentage scorer on a very good team. So long as Noah stays healthy, he will be the key cog that keeps the Bulls running.
#3 - DeMarcus Cousins - Sacramento Kings
When it comes down to drafting DeMarcus over say anyone else, the one thing that everyone will point to is the mental fragility of one of the league’s most talented players. The combustible nature of Cousins is really the only pitfall in drafting him here. If his behaviour wasn’t such a red-flag, Cousins could be the second-best fantasy option at center.
#4 - Dwight Howard - Houston Rockets
By all accounts thus far coming out Houston, Howard is in great shape and is eagerly looking forward to getting a good start on the season. Unfortunately it would seem that a knee injury is slowing Howard and even if the injury is slight in nature, he is still being held out of preseason games which means he will likely be rusty come regular season tip-off. I like Howard, but only so long as he is in full swing and in rhythm and that might not come during the first couple weeks of the season.
#5 - Andre Drummond - Detroit Pistons
I absolutely love this kid and his game. There is little doubt that he is going to be the man in Detroit as Greg Monroe has fallen out of favour. Drummond is an absolute beast as evidenced by his 13.5 ppg, 13.2 apg, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game rip line last year. Drummond ranks lower in a lot of pre-draft projections; however, with an increased workload and with his confidence running high I expect a huge season here.
#6- Al Jefferson - Charlotte Hornets
Jefferson has been a fantasy stud for the last eight years and there is little reason to think he will experience much of a drop off this year. Only factor working against Jefferson is the fact that the Hornets bolstered their frontcourt in the offseason by adding draftee Noah Vonleh, Marvin Williams and Jason Maxiell. Jefferson may see a slight decrease in his rebounding numbers which could keep him from repeating on a double-double season.
#7 - Chris Bosh - Miami Heat
Nice thing about Bosh is that he is position eligible at power forward and center. This does add a certain degree of flexibility to a fantasy roster as he can be slotted into either role as the schedule dictates nights off. There is no question that Bosh will be asked to do more offensively this season after years of deferring to LeBron James. Having watched Bosh in Toronto he is capable of being an offensive focal point and he should be good for 20 ppg and 8 rpg this season.
#8 - Brook Lopez - Brooklyn Nets
Perhaps the biggest risk/reward fantasy option available at the center position is Brook Lopez. He has been besieged by injuries in his career as evidenced by playing in only 17 games last season and five back in 2011. Lopez is once again sidelined with a soft tissue injury on his ailing foot which is concerning as it will sideline him for at least two weeks. If you believe that Lopez can stay healthy he would rank as a top five fantasy center, but how much faith does one have in his health?
#9 - Nikola Vucevic - Orlando Magic
Vucevic continues to show improvement as a young 23-year old. Despite missing nearly 30 games last year due to injury he still finished out the season by averaging a double-double of 14.2 ppg and 11.0 rpg. A big bonus to Vucevic’s game is the marked improvement to freethrow shooting. Now that he is knocking down shots from the charity stripe at a respectable .766 clip, he has become a far more reliable player as he is now able to finish out games as opposed to being a late-game substitution.
#10 - Jonas Valanciunas - Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have shown patience with the young Lithuanian; however, Jonas is now entering his third full season in the association and he must start reaching that potential that we have all been sold on. Valanciunas finished out last season with averages of 11.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg but he did finish out the regular season on an aggressive high-note by posting 16.8 ppg and 11.0 rpg in April. If Valanciunas can stay healthy and be aggressive like that all season long then the Raptors and Jonas will have an excellent season.