Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Finding value in Fantrax drafts

Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Finding value in Fantrax drafts

How to take advantage of Fantrax's average draft positions for your next fantasy basketball draft.

How to take advantage of Fantrax's average draft positions for your next fantasy basketball draft.

Fantasy basketball season is here. The NBA regular season tips off on Oct. 22 meaning drafts are in full swing.

One of the easiest ways to get an advantage in your league is using the average draft position (ADP). Most managers only pick out of the window they can see regardless of what is lurking below that subset of players. Here we take a look at those ADPs on Fantrax to determine the best values in their leagues. There are plenty of other undervalued players that did not make the cut.

A full list of fantasy basketball sleepers is also available.

Chris Paul (PG-OKC) - Fantrax ADP: 41.4, Hashtag Rank: 28

The Rockets and Thunder swapped point guards this offseason leaving CP3 in OKC. He should be back to running the show. Managers can expect elite assists and steals for Paul. He is underrated because of his injury history. Grabbing him in the fourth round of a standard 12-team league is fantastic value as long as Paul plays 60 games.

Mike Conley (PG-UTA) - Fantrax ADP: 39.0, Hashtag Rank: 27

Not sure why fantasy managers are afraid to grab Conley. He is a proven top-35 player when he plays 70-plus games. The transition to Utah could mean a few extra assists. He is a rock-solid third-round pick in any format.

Kyle Lowry (PG-TOR) - Fantrax ADP: 51.6, Hashtag Rank: 39

The last time Kyle Lowry finished outside the top-50 in total value, Breaking Bad was in its final season. It has been six years since we’ve seen both. Kawhi is gone opening up a larger role for Lowry. Grab him in the fourth and enjoy a solid round of value from the pick.

Otto Porter Jr (SF-CHI) - Fantrax ADP: 63.5, Hashtag Rank: 36

Porter Jr. is a steady across the board contributor that can sometimes get overlooked in fantasy. He does everything well, but nothing spectacular. The 26-year-old is in Chicago where he saw his scoring and shot attempts to tick up after the trade. Porter Jr. finished in the top-30 in total value in two straight seasons before only playing 56 games last season. Grabbing him in the 60's presents a massive value.

Robert Covington (SF/PF-MIN) - Fantrax ADP: 59.8, Hashtag Rank: 33

Covington is being slept on because of his injury and lack of points. He is playing in preseason games, so that should alleviate that worry. Covington will only average 13 points, but it comes with elite steals, blocks, and 3-pointers. Do not sleep on him. Covington should be a top-50 pick in every league.

Thomas Bryant (C-WAS) - Fantrax ADP: 78.7, Hashtag Rank: 52

Bryant could be headed for a massive breakout. The 22-year-old looks like the second option on the Wizards behind Bradley Beal. He should produce well in points, rebounds, blocks, and both percentages in 30-plus minutes per game. Bryant is a nice value with top-40 upside.

Josh Richardson (SG/SF-PHI) - Fantrax ADP: 75.5, Hashtag Rank: 57

The fantasy community is sleeping on Richardson. He moved to Philly where he will be the fourth leading scorer on the team, but expect J-Rich to focus more energy on the defensive end. He is a year removed from averaging 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Expect those numbers to return making Richardson a steal at pick 75.

Ricky Rubio (PG-PHO) - Fantrax ADP: 85.2, Hashtag Rank: 71

The Suns have needed a point guard for the last three seasons. They signed Rubio this offseason and should put the ball in his hands plenty. He may the final shot at elite assists in your draft. Rubio should be going closer to 50 than 80 meaning he is fantastic value late in your draft.

Marcus Smart (SG-BOS) - Fantrax ADP: 112.6, Hashtag Rank: 76

Smart is underrated because he is not a big-time scorer. He will provide elite steals with threes, assists, and rebounds. No way he finishes outside the top 100 making Smart a stellar late-round target on Fantrax.

Dwight Powell (PF/C-DAL) - Fantrax ADP: 123.2, Hashtag Rank: 84

Powell is dealing with a hamstring injury that will force him to miss the entire preseason. That said, he is the projected starting center on the Mavericks. He had a strong close to last season in the starting role. He is an efficient big man that could provide one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer made this season. Powell should be drafted inside the top 100.

T.J. Warren (SF-IND) - Fantrax ADP: 107.1, Hashtag Rank: 88

Warren struggles with injuries but is a fantastic option when healthy. Expect that not to change in Indiana. Warren is going 20 spots too late in Fantrax drafts.

Not playing on Fantrax? We also have Yahoo and ESPN versions of this article.

Fantasy basketball season is here. The NBA regular season tips off on Oct. 22 meaning drafts are in full swing.

One of the easiest ways to get an advantage in your league is using the average draft position (ADP). Most managers only pick out of the window they can see regardless of what is lurking below that subset of players. Here we take a look at those ADPs on Fantrax to determine the best values in their leagues. There are plenty of other undervalued players that did not make the cut.

A full list of fantasy basketball sleepers is also available.

Chris Paul (PG-OKC) - Fantrax ADP: 41.4, Hashtag Rank: 28

The Rockets and Thunder swapped point guards this offseason leaving CP3 in OKC. He should be back to running the show. Managers can expect elite assists and steals for Paul. He is underrated because of his injury history. Grabbing him in the fourth round of a standard 12-team league is fantastic value as long as Paul plays 60 games.

Mike Conley (PG-UTA) - Fantrax ADP: 39.0, Hashtag Rank: 27

Not sure why fantasy managers are afraid to grab Conley. He is a proven top-35 player when he plays 70-plus games. The transition to Utah could mean a few extra assists. He is a rock-solid third-round pick in any format.

Kyle Lowry (PG-TOR) - Fantrax ADP: 51.6, Hashtag Rank: 39

The last time Kyle Lowry finished outside the top-50 in total value, Breaking Bad was in its final season. It has been six years since we’ve seen both. Kawhi is gone opening up a larger role for Lowry. Grab him in the fourth and enjoy a solid round of value from the pick.

Otto Porter Jr (SF-CHI) - Fantrax ADP: 63.5, Hashtag Rank: 36

Porter Jr. is a steady across the board contributor that can sometimes get overlooked in fantasy. He does everything well, but nothing spectacular. The 26-year-old is in Chicago where he saw his scoring and shot attempts to tick up after the trade. Porter Jr. finished in the top-30 in total value in two straight seasons before only playing 56 games last season. Grabbing him in the 60's presents a massive value.

Robert Covington (SF/PF-MIN) - Fantrax ADP: 59.8, Hashtag Rank: 33

Covington is being slept on because of his injury and lack of points. He is playing in preseason games, so that should alleviate that worry. Covington will only average 13 points, but it comes with elite steals, blocks, and 3-pointers. Do not sleep on him. Covington should be a top-50 pick in every league.

Thomas Bryant (C-WAS) - Fantrax ADP: 78.7, Hashtag Rank: 52

Bryant could be headed for a massive breakout. The 22-year-old looks like the second option on the Wizards behind Bradley Beal. He should produce well in points, rebounds, blocks, and both percentages in 30-plus minutes per game. Bryant is a nice value with top-40 upside.

Josh Richardson (SG/SF-PHI) - Fantrax ADP: 75.5, Hashtag Rank: 57

The fantasy community is sleeping on Richardson. He moved to Philly where he will be the fourth leading scorer on the team, but expect J-Rich to focus more energy on the defensive end. He is a year removed from averaging 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Expect those numbers to return making Richardson a steal at pick 75.

Ricky Rubio (PG-PHO) - Fantrax ADP: 85.2, Hashtag Rank: 71

The Suns have needed a point guard for the last three seasons. They signed Rubio this offseason and should put the ball in his hands plenty. He may the final shot at elite assists in your draft. Rubio should be going closer to 50 than 80 meaning he is fantastic value late in your draft.

Marcus Smart (SG-BOS) - Fantrax ADP: 112.6, Hashtag Rank: 76

Smart is underrated because he is not a big-time scorer. He will provide elite steals with threes, assists, and rebounds. No way he finishes outside the top 100 making Smart a stellar late-round target on Fantrax.

Dwight Powell (PF/C-DAL) - Fantrax ADP: 123.2, Hashtag Rank: 84

Powell is dealing with a hamstring injury that will force him to miss the entire preseason. That said, he is the projected starting center on the Mavericks. He had a strong close to last season in the starting role. He is an efficient big man that could provide one steal, one block, and one 3-pointer made this season. Powell should be drafted inside the top 100.

T.J. Warren (SF-IND) - Fantrax ADP: 107.1, Hashtag Rank: 88

Warren struggles with injuries but is a fantastic option when healthy. Expect that not to change in Indiana. Warren is going 20 spots too late in Fantrax drafts.

Not playing on Fantrax? We also have Yahoo and ESPN versions of this article.

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