[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I am excited about fantasy football this year.  I think I had a decent draft, so we will see what happens.

NOW, I am thinking about the upcoming fantasy basketball season.

I won my league last year and have now won 2 of my last 3 leagues (head to head).

Last year, I am pretty sure I won because I had the tenth pick and took a guy I had as a top 5 or so guy going into last season (Anthony Davis).  He was a MONSTER fantasy guy when he wasn’t hurt.

Then I compounded that with my GO BIG PLAN also picking up DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond.  I went after Mr. Efficiency at point guard with Tony Parker, then took a flyer on Ryan Anderson as a 3 point shooting, rebounding PF.  Lost that gamble.

Had a good year, and then James Johnson is a guy I picked up later in the year and he gave me a good run.  Then I picked him up on the last day of the playoffs and he literally put me over the top with a 20 point outing.

My wing rotation wasn’t too hot (Brad Beal, Jimmy Butler, and Victor Oladipo) so my BIGS along with TP as my main perimeter guy put me over the top.

I will try the same GO BIG strategy this year, especially if I don’t have a top 2 or 3 pick.

The TOP guy on my board is Kevin Durant.  A bit more scoring than LeBron with more 3’s and better blocks.

LeBron at 2.

I would put Steph Curry at 3.  Curry KILLS at 3 pointers and could single handedly win you that category.  A high scorer too with some awesome assist totals to match.  Steals are great, and his shooting percentages are elite.

Anthony Davis at 4.  He does EVERYTHING.  If he stays healthy I would take him this high, even if he doesn’t improve on last year’s stats which he could.  Also helps since he should be eligible as both a PF AND C.

Kevin Love at 5.  Won’t get the blocks or steals that these top 4 guys gets, but he is a PF that gives you scoring, ELITE rebounding, and 3’s.  I can also see him upping his assist category next year. 

After that, I would go with BIGS like a Joakim Noah (basically a 7 foot fantasy-prime Shawn Marion). 

If I can use my BIG MAN STRATEGY that would mean focusing on FG%, REB, BLK, STL, and TO.  The elite bigs give you decent steals so that always helps.  Then, since you aren’t worried about TO’s and 3s you can live with a guy like Tony Allen who puts up good steals, solid rebounds for a 2 guard, and surprisingly shoots a solid FG%. 

If I have a pick from 3 through 5 or 6 and Steph Curry I am going to go with Curry.  He gives you EVERYTHING and keeps you in the running with basically every category (high TO’s though).  If I get Curry with my top pick, I would look to see if any other great point guard is still on the board with my second pick.  THEN you corner the market on assists and steals, along with adding some more points and usually a good FT% with some 3’s.  The point guard position is stacked, BUT there looks like a drop off after the top 15 or 20 and then there are only 30 starters.  Thinking Mike Conley could be a good second pick with this strategy.  Good scoring and percentages, ELITE steals, and really solid assists.  Then you can basically forget about point guards until your last pick or so (combo guard?). 

With your third pick with Curry and Conley on board, look for either a Tier 2 guy still on the board or get a SG that is also SF eligible.  Kyle Korver would be great here if he puts up similar stats to last year.  SG is the least deep position so get a solid one that fits your strategy.  SF is top heavy so if Kyle Korver is eligible at both wing spots then he could be a good fit.  … if you want to go for a home run and Kawhi Leonard is still on the board, then that guy with your third pick is ANOTHER do everything player with a guy that puts up good steals and 3’s.  Even better if he somehow qualifies as a PF or SG.  From there, go best available with a bias towards bigs until you get 3 or 4 good ones, then add an extra point guard and 3 point sniper with your last two or three picks. 

If you take Leonard with your 3rd pick then go after a solid 2 guard with your fourth pick.  Danny Green, if he is available continuing with guys who can shoot the 3 but also help you everywhere else. 

With a Curry, Conley, Kawhi, and Danny top four you are in really good shape.  Stacked at PG and set on the wing.  Looks like you would be ELITE with 3PT and STL, and really good with PTS and AST.  You are also in near the top in FT% and in good shape with FG%. 

So, try to win 3PT, AST, STL, PTS, and FT% while still being in the running for FG% or TO. 

Next 3 picks: Best big men (PF and C) available.  Then the best Wing Player on the board.  Then go with a 3 point shooting big and a high-assist combo guard to fill out the top 10. 

After that, add an extra 3 point specialist, an efficient point guard, and a shot blocker specialist.  Then an all-around stat guy somewhere in there.  A guy like Shawn Marion or James Johnson.

Overall, put your guys into tiers.  Get a first tier guy with your top pick.  If those guys are off the board, go with your top second tier guy with your 1st pick, then use your 2nd pick to complement your first pick.  From there, pick players that help your strategy (BIG GUYS strategy or SMALL GUYS strategy).  At 12 I will probably look at an UPSIDE GUY.  It also wouldn’t be a bad idea going with a 3 point shooting specialist followed by a shot blocking specialist with your final two picks, since 3’s and blocks give you the greatest bang for the buck in head to head fantasy leagues.

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

I kind of have the opposite strategy. For me, it’s all about PG’s. Load up on ’em, because assists and steals are the hardest categories to win. I try to get players at every position that can contribute positively without having a stat that drags them down completely (i.e. Drummond, Howard/ FT, low efficiency FG%/FT% players, etc) unless they’re truly elite in some way. SG is the hardest position to draft an elite player at, which makes guys like Steph Curry and James Harden so valuable. After those two, the drop-off in fantasy talent at SG is pretty extreme. 

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

I kind of have the opposite strategy. For me, it’s all about PG’s. Load up on ’em, because assists and steals are the hardest categories to win. I try to get players at every position that can contribute positively without having a stat that drags them down completely (i.e. Drummond, Howard/ FT, low efficiency FG%/FT% players, etc) unless they’re truly elite in some way. SG is the hardest position to draft an elite player at, which makes guys like Steph Curry and James Harden so valuable. After those two, the drop-off in fantasy talent at SG is pretty extreme. 

[PlatypusParticipant]

My strategy:

10 man league and I have pick 3, snakes through

1st round: Steph Curry 

2nd round: Joakim Noah 

3rd round: Klay Thompson 

4th round: Chandlar Parsons 

5th round: Michael Carter Williams (beleive he will fall based on no one to pass to)

6th round: Greg Monroe

7th round: Ryan Anderson

8th round: Roy Hibbert 

9th round: Anderson Varejao

10th round: Douggy Mcbuckets

11th round: Vince Carter

12th round: Omar Asik

13th round: Nik Stauskas

14th round: Elfrid Payton

15th round: Boris Diaw (fills stat lines up in weird ways)

How my league is set up and how I think I’ll do

FG%: Average, some of the guards will chuck but bigs will help 

FT%: Above Average, the bigs are average with good guard help

3PM: Great

Points: Good

Rebounds: Good

Assists: Poor, giving up this category for rebounds, blocks at Fg%

Steals: giving this category up like assitsts

Blocks: Good, Asik, Hibbert, Varejao, Noah, and MCW

Hope to win every week 6-2 depending on injuries

[PlatypusParticipant]

My strategy:

10 man league and I have pick 3, snakes through

1st round: Steph Curry 

2nd round: Joakim Noah 

3rd round: Klay Thompson 

4th round: Chandlar Parsons 

5th round: Michael Carter Williams (beleive he will fall based on no one to pass to)

6th round: Greg Monroe

7th round: Ryan Anderson

8th round: Roy Hibbert 

9th round: Anderson Varejao

10th round: Douggy Mcbuckets

11th round: Vince Carter

12th round: Omar Asik

13th round: Nik Stauskas

14th round: Elfrid Payton

15th round: Boris Diaw (fills stat lines up in weird ways)

How my league is set up and how I think I’ll do

FG%: Average, some of the guards will chuck but bigs will help 

FT%: Above Average, the bigs are average with good guard help

3PM: Great

Points: Good

Rebounds: Good

Assists: Poor, giving up this category for rebounds, blocks at Fg%

Steals: giving this category up like assitsts

Blocks: Good, Asik, Hibbert, Varejao, Noah, and MCW

Hope to win every week 6-2 depending on injuries

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Yeah, I am really selling myself on Steph Curry if I can’t get Durant or LeBron.  Pairing him up with another point guard at the second pick makes sense too.

But, if  you are picking outside the top 5 or so, I would go BIG with my top two or three picks.

I love point guards too, since Tony Parker was my only decent non-big man last year. 

Thing with point guards is, their higher TO’s might cancel out the AST.  Also, their FG% might be lower.  So PG’s don’t rebound too well either.

I say, with point guards grab Curry or Chris Paul early, then wait.  If there is a run on guys like Rose, Westbrook, Wall, and Kyrie Irving, pick up one of those guys (Conley?).  If not, fill out the rest of your roster and go back to get some point guards late.  AST and TO would be a wash for most guys.  So get a solid game manager who is either really great at FT% or can give you 3PT or both.

If you are picking late, you might be better off going with BIGS especially if you pick something like 12 and 17 then you can get two really solid bigs.  Then focus on FG%, REB, BLK, STL, and TO.  Add some 3 point specialists late since 3PT gives you a bigger bang for the buck than some other categories.  And, usually 3 PT shooting specialists don’t hurt you too bad with TO’s and don’t take enough shots to throw off your FG%.  They might even chip in with some REB and AST and usually a decent FT%.

… guys like John Wall and Rajon Rondo are ELITE point guards, but they can really, really hurt you with TO, FG%, and they don’t make many 3’s.  FT% are mediocre for non-bigs (I am guessing).  You can also get some wings who rebound better (not to mention bigs). 

… I would rather pass on those guys, and maybe wait on a Ricky Rubio.  He gives you the same positives (assists and steals) with a lower negative in FG% since he takes a lot less shots even though he shoots worse. 

Rubio should do well for the fantasy season.  After the STUD point guards like Curry and Paul, then the "scoring" point guards/chuckers D. Rose and Westbrook, then Mr. Efficiency in Tony Parker, with Mike Conley being Mr. Dependable/No Negatives), I would take Ricky Rubio.  If ALL those guys were off the board, I might wait until the late rounds to take game manager point guards like Mario Chalmers who wouldn’t really hurt me overall, and would help me a bit with 3PT.  You could go with a 3 headed Heat PG strategy of Chalmers, Cole, and Napier.  Cole gives you STL and some AST with Chalmers being better at 3PT.  Napier is a late sleeper, "upside" guy who could really help with 3PT.  These guys aren’t expected to make "the big play" so they might not hurt you too much, with a bunch of TO or with LOTS of missed FG.

Although if Marcus Smart falls low enough, I would consider taking him no matter what.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Yeah, I am really selling myself on Steph Curry if I can’t get Durant or LeBron.  Pairing him up with another point guard at the second pick makes sense too.

But, if  you are picking outside the top 5 or so, I would go BIG with my top two or three picks.

I love point guards too, since Tony Parker was my only decent non-big man last year. 

Thing with point guards is, their higher TO’s might cancel out the AST.  Also, their FG% might be lower.  So PG’s don’t rebound too well either.

I say, with point guards grab Curry or Chris Paul early, then wait.  If there is a run on guys like Rose, Westbrook, Wall, and Kyrie Irving, pick up one of those guys (Conley?).  If not, fill out the rest of your roster and go back to get some point guards late.  AST and TO would be a wash for most guys.  So get a solid game manager who is either really great at FT% or can give you 3PT or both.

If you are picking late, you might be better off going with BIGS especially if you pick something like 12 and 17 then you can get two really solid bigs.  Then focus on FG%, REB, BLK, STL, and TO.  Add some 3 point specialists late since 3PT gives you a bigger bang for the buck than some other categories.  And, usually 3 PT shooting specialists don’t hurt you too bad with TO’s and don’t take enough shots to throw off your FG%.  They might even chip in with some REB and AST and usually a decent FT%.

… guys like John Wall and Rajon Rondo are ELITE point guards, but they can really, really hurt you with TO, FG%, and they don’t make many 3’s.  FT% are mediocre for non-bigs (I am guessing).  You can also get some wings who rebound better (not to mention bigs). 

… I would rather pass on those guys, and maybe wait on a Ricky Rubio.  He gives you the same positives (assists and steals) with a lower negative in FG% since he takes a lot less shots even though he shoots worse. 

Rubio should do well for the fantasy season.  After the STUD point guards like Curry and Paul, then the "scoring" point guards/chuckers D. Rose and Westbrook, then Mr. Efficiency in Tony Parker, with Mike Conley being Mr. Dependable/No Negatives), I would take Ricky Rubio.  If ALL those guys were off the board, I might wait until the late rounds to take game manager point guards like Mario Chalmers who wouldn’t really hurt me overall, and would help me a bit with 3PT.  You could go with a 3 headed Heat PG strategy of Chalmers, Cole, and Napier.  Cole gives you STL and some AST with Chalmers being better at 3PT.  Napier is a late sleeper, "upside" guy who could really help with 3PT.  These guys aren’t expected to make "the big play" so they might not hurt you too much, with a bunch of TO or with LOTS of missed FG.

Although if Marcus Smart falls low enough, I would consider taking him no matter what.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I wonder how Kevin Love will do next to LeBron.  His production could get cut OR then again he could get way more efficient.  Better shooting stats, fewer TO’s, more 3PT, and LeBron even inspires him to be more active on D (more steals and blocks).

Wondering if they also make him C eligible.

All those things could make Kevin Love the guy that swings your leagues.  Especially if you can get a beast, all-around center like Noah with your second pick.

Also, a Love and Bosh big man combo could dominate next year fantasy wise. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

I wonder how Kevin Love will do next to LeBron.  His production could get cut OR then again he could get way more efficient.  Better shooting stats, fewer TO’s, more 3PT, and LeBron even inspires him to be more active on D (more steals and blocks).

Wondering if they also make him C eligible.

All those things could make Kevin Love the guy that swings your leagues.  Especially if you can get a beast, all-around center like Noah with your second pick.

Also, a Love and Bosh big man combo could dominate next year fantasy wise. 

[MkadozaParticipant]

 I would take Paul over Love, especially in your low TO strategy. He fills the stat sheet, is a perennial leader in STLS and will make you competitive in AST when your strategy wouldnt normally allow for that. His lack of threes are going to hurt a bit, but with Irving and Lebron, I find it hard to see love cracking 20 a game.  18-11-2 with 2 threes a game is good. Just not 19-4-10-2.5 with awesome percentages good.

[MkadozaParticipant]

 I would take Paul over Love, especially in your low TO strategy. He fills the stat sheet, is a perennial leader in STLS and will make you competitive in AST when your strategy wouldnt normally allow for that. His lack of threes are going to hurt a bit, but with Irving and Lebron, I find it hard to see love cracking 20 a game.  18-11-2 with 2 threes a game is good. Just not 19-4-10-2.5 with awesome percentages good.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Hmm, Kevin Love averaged 4.4 assists a game.  If he averages 4 assists next year and bumps up his blocks a bit (only 0.5 last year) then he is somewhere in that top 5. 

It’s really a judgment call.  Can’t go wrong with Love or Paul. 

My FIRST TIER might only have two guys:  Durant and LeBron.

SECOND TIER: Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, and Kevin Love. 

THIRD TIER: Carmelo, Tony Parker, Rose, Dirk, Westbrook, Harden, Noah, Blake, and those guys.  You might also put DeAndre Jordan here if you have a BIGS strategy.  DeAndre kills it with BLK, REB, and FG%.  He actually averaged 1.0 steals a game last year (solid for a center), and 0.9 assists which isn’t great but not a disaster.  If he could bump up his points from 10.4 last year to the 12 to 14 range, this guy could be a GREAT pick, especially if you are picking 14-15 and go back to back with Noah and Jordan.  … you can probably put Ricky Rubio here or higher. 

FOURTH TIER: "one category" guys like Kyle Korver or Danny Green.  Or, sleeper guys/borderline 3rd tier guys like Kawhi Leonard.  If Kawhi blows up he could be a 2nd tier guy.  If he falls, get him.  If you need solid scoring you can probably find some decent guys here.  Maybe Rudy Gay falls…  I would also put a few rookies here: Wiggins, Parker, and Noel.  Noel could really be a stat stuffer this year.  If you miss out on Noah, Jordan, Drummond, etc. early, go after Nerlens here.  Great BIGS strategy "upside" pick.  Jabari should fill up the offensive side of the stat sheet.  Solid pick if you miss out on the "top" small forwards.  Might also be PF eligible.  I have Wiggins here since I think he will score a bit, rebound pretty well, and get those defensive stats.  He should get to the line ok, so if he shoots it well from 15 you could have a really good player.  Another SF option, and a really good idea if he also qualifies as a SG. 

FIFTH TIER: decent "all around" guys like Shawn Marion (could be higher), Boris Diaw (ditto), and maybe James Johnson.  6th man gunner types if you need wing depth and PTS/3PT.  I would put Tony Allen here, too.  Good STL, solid REB for a shooting guard, and a solid FG%.  TO seems high, but maybe only since I watch him too much.  TA gives you good SG depth in a few different categories.  He is also good for 7 or 8 points a game.  Classic backup SG for BIGS strategy depth.  You can put second tier rookies here, too.  Stauskas or McDermott sound like solid FIFTH TIER guys.  Marcus Smart too as a potential "upside" and "stat stuffer" guy.  Aaron Gordon could also have decent fantasy value as the all-around late pick if you don’t get Marion or Diaw.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Hmm, Kevin Love averaged 4.4 assists a game.  If he averages 4 assists next year and bumps up his blocks a bit (only 0.5 last year) then he is somewhere in that top 5. 

It’s really a judgment call.  Can’t go wrong with Love or Paul. 

My FIRST TIER might only have two guys:  Durant and LeBron.

SECOND TIER: Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, and Kevin Love. 

THIRD TIER: Carmelo, Tony Parker, Rose, Dirk, Westbrook, Harden, Noah, Blake, and those guys.  You might also put DeAndre Jordan here if you have a BIGS strategy.  DeAndre kills it with BLK, REB, and FG%.  He actually averaged 1.0 steals a game last year (solid for a center), and 0.9 assists which isn’t great but not a disaster.  If he could bump up his points from 10.4 last year to the 12 to 14 range, this guy could be a GREAT pick, especially if you are picking 14-15 and go back to back with Noah and Jordan.  … you can probably put Ricky Rubio here or higher. 

FOURTH TIER: "one category" guys like Kyle Korver or Danny Green.  Or, sleeper guys/borderline 3rd tier guys like Kawhi Leonard.  If Kawhi blows up he could be a 2nd tier guy.  If he falls, get him.  If you need solid scoring you can probably find some decent guys here.  Maybe Rudy Gay falls…  I would also put a few rookies here: Wiggins, Parker, and Noel.  Noel could really be a stat stuffer this year.  If you miss out on Noah, Jordan, Drummond, etc. early, go after Nerlens here.  Great BIGS strategy "upside" pick.  Jabari should fill up the offensive side of the stat sheet.  Solid pick if you miss out on the "top" small forwards.  Might also be PF eligible.  I have Wiggins here since I think he will score a bit, rebound pretty well, and get those defensive stats.  He should get to the line ok, so if he shoots it well from 15 you could have a really good player.  Another SF option, and a really good idea if he also qualifies as a SG. 

FIFTH TIER: decent "all around" guys like Shawn Marion (could be higher), Boris Diaw (ditto), and maybe James Johnson.  6th man gunner types if you need wing depth and PTS/3PT.  I would put Tony Allen here, too.  Good STL, solid REB for a shooting guard, and a solid FG%.  TO seems high, but maybe only since I watch him too much.  TA gives you good SG depth in a few different categories.  He is also good for 7 or 8 points a game.  Classic backup SG for BIGS strategy depth.  You can put second tier rookies here, too.  Stauskas or McDermott sound like solid FIFTH TIER guys.  Marcus Smart too as a potential "upside" and "stat stuffer" guy.  Aaron Gordon could also have decent fantasy value as the all-around late pick if you don’t get Marion or Diaw.

[Author]

Posts