Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Finding value in Yahoo drafts

Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Finding value in Yahoo drafts

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

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

The NBA is back. Preseason games are in full swing and opening night is days away. That means the return of fantasy basketball. The fun and madness of any NBA season is enhanced by taking part in fantasy. Trying to find this season’s Paul George or Pascal Siakam has every manager excited.

Today, we will take a look at Yahoo’s average draft position (ADP) to determine where you can get a massive advantage in your league. The goal is to find undervalued players. Yahoo is the toughest site to do it, but there is still plenty of value on the board.

A full list of fantasy basketball sleepers is also available.

Tobias Harris (SF/PF-PHI) - Yahoo ADP: 53.5, Hashtag Rank: 44

The 27-year-old is one of the best values on the board this season. Harris has missed two games in the last three seasons combined. He is coming off a season where he averaged 20.0 points and 7.9 rebounds on study percentages. Harris finished 21st and 38th in 8-cat totals (he was better in 9-cat) the last two seasons. Why he is being picked outside the top-50 is just absurd. Grab Harris and enjoy the value.

LaMarcus Aldridge (PF/C-SAS) - Yahoo ADP: 45.3, Hashtag Rank: 31

Aldridge may be the most hated player in fantasy. He finished 14th and 21st in 8-cat total (also better in 9-cat) the last two seasons. Now he has an ADP of 45th? Aldridge is 34 years old, but he has a game that should age well. LeBron is nearly a full year old, and managers are taking him in the first round. Even if Aldridge slips a bit, he should outperform his ADP handsomely.

Eric Bledsoe (PG-MIL) - Yahoo ADP: 53.7, Hashtag Rank: 51

Bledsoe’s is another slightly baffling ranking. The Bucks guard only played 29.1 minutes per game last season, but still finished 47th per game and 34th in totals according to our 2018-19 fantasy basketball rankings. He has been inside the top-50 for six straight seasons in per-game value. Bledsoe is only 29 and should be a top-50 pick. Don’t overthink it.

Kyle Lowry (PG-TOR) - Yahoo ADP: 55.9, Hashtag Rank: 39

Lowry is ready to lead the defending champion Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is in LA meaning Lowry should have to take on a larger offensive load. Lowry has finished in the top-30 in per-game value for six straight seasons. Last season, he was 44th in totals his worst finish since 2013. Lowry is a top-50 talent going outside that value in drafts.

Josh Richardson (SG/SF-PHI) - Yahoo ADP: 68.3, Hashtag Rank: 57

Richardson will be asked to take on more of a 3-and-D wing role in Philly. That is coming off averaging 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks during the 2017-2018 season. The 26-year-old could return to those numbers plus averaging 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 3-pointers made. Richardson is a solid value with upside in almost every category.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG-OKC) - Yahoo ADP: 77.2, Hashtag Rank: 68

SGA finished 86th in totals playing 26.5 minutes per game as a rookie. He was traded to Oklahoma City and should be asked to take on a larger offensive workload. SGA will see a massive increase in points while continuing to provide elite defensive stats. The 21-year-old should also play 32-plus minutes per game this season. Expect a breakout season for the young Thunder guard.

Ricky Rubio (PG-PHO) - Yahoo ADP: 84.7, Hashtag Rank: 71

The Suns have been looking for a point guard for years. They signed Ricky Rubio in the offseason. Expect Phoenix to put the ball in hands plenty. Rubio has finished inside the top-50 in four of the last six seasons. Both times he failed was injury-related. He should provide outstanding value and will be one of the last chances to grab an elite assists point guard.

Marcus Smart (PG/SG-BOS) - Yahoo ADP: 97.5, Hashtag Rank 76

Smart should be in line to play the largest role in his career. He may not be a big-time scorer, but Smart produces elite steals with solid blocks, rebounds, and assists from a guard. He finished 69thth in totals last season. Add in close to 30-minute per game role, and Smart should well outperform his ADP this season.

JaVale McGee (C-LAL) - Yahoo ADP: 115.9, Hashtag Rank: 92

McGee played 22.3 minutes per game last season and finished 60th in per-game value. It baffles me that he is ranked outside the top-100. Dwight Howard is in town, but McGee should easily play over 20 minutes a game. That means top-85 value. Grab JaVale, and enjoy the ride this season.

Danny Green (SG/SF-LAL) - Yahoo ADP: 121.4, Hashtag Rank: 98

Green will provide important spacing for the Lakers this season. The 32-year-old should average close to one block and one steal per game with 2.5 3-pointers made. Green should see plenty of open looks which should keep his percentages high. As one of your last picks, Green provides plenty of value.

Stay tuned because we will back taking a look at ESPN and Fantrax ADP’s to help you gain the edge in those leagues.

The NBA is back. Preseason games are in full swing and opening night is days away. That means the return of fantasy basketball. The fun and madness of any NBA season is enhanced by taking part in fantasy. Trying to find this season’s Paul George or Pascal Siakam has every manager excited.

Today, we will take a look at Yahoo’s average draft position (ADP) to determine where you can get a massive advantage in your league. The goal is to find undervalued players. Yahoo is the toughest site to do it, but there is still plenty of value on the board.

A full list of fantasy basketball sleepers is also available.

Tobias Harris (SF/PF-PHI) - Yahoo ADP: 53.5, Hashtag Rank: 44

The 27-year-old is one of the best values on the board this season. Harris has missed two games in the last three seasons combined. He is coming off a season where he averaged 20.0 points and 7.9 rebounds on study percentages. Harris finished 21st and 38th in 8-cat totals (he was better in 9-cat) the last two seasons. Why he is being picked outside the top-50 is just absurd. Grab Harris and enjoy the value.

LaMarcus Aldridge (PF/C-SAS) - Yahoo ADP: 45.3, Hashtag Rank: 31

Aldridge may be the most hated player in fantasy. He finished 14th and 21st in 8-cat total (also better in 9-cat) the last two seasons. Now he has an ADP of 45th? Aldridge is 34 years old, but he has a game that should age well. LeBron is nearly a full year old, and managers are taking him in the first round. Even if Aldridge slips a bit, he should outperform his ADP handsomely.

Eric Bledsoe (PG-MIL) - Yahoo ADP: 53.7, Hashtag Rank: 51

Bledsoe’s is another slightly baffling ranking. The Bucks guard only played 29.1 minutes per game last season, but still finished 47th per game and 34th in totals according to our 2018-19 fantasy basketball rankings. He has been inside the top-50 for six straight seasons in per-game value. Bledsoe is only 29 and should be a top-50 pick. Don’t overthink it.

Kyle Lowry (PG-TOR) - Yahoo ADP: 55.9, Hashtag Rank: 39

Lowry is ready to lead the defending champion Raptors. Kawhi Leonard is in LA meaning Lowry should have to take on a larger offensive load. Lowry has finished in the top-30 in per-game value for six straight seasons. Last season, he was 44th in totals his worst finish since 2013. Lowry is a top-50 talent going outside that value in drafts.

Josh Richardson (SG/SF-PHI) - Yahoo ADP: 68.3, Hashtag Rank: 57

Richardson will be asked to take on more of a 3-and-D wing role in Philly. That is coming off averaging 1.5 steals and 0.9 blocks during the 2017-2018 season. The 26-year-old could return to those numbers plus averaging 14 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 3-pointers made. Richardson is a solid value with upside in almost every category.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG-OKC) - Yahoo ADP: 77.2, Hashtag Rank: 68

SGA finished 86th in totals playing 26.5 minutes per game as a rookie. He was traded to Oklahoma City and should be asked to take on a larger offensive workload. SGA will see a massive increase in points while continuing to provide elite defensive stats. The 21-year-old should also play 32-plus minutes per game this season. Expect a breakout season for the young Thunder guard.

Ricky Rubio (PG-PHO) - Yahoo ADP: 84.7, Hashtag Rank: 71

The Suns have been looking for a point guard for years. They signed Ricky Rubio in the offseason. Expect Phoenix to put the ball in hands plenty. Rubio has finished inside the top-50 in four of the last six seasons. Both times he failed was injury-related. He should provide outstanding value and will be one of the last chances to grab an elite assists point guard.

Marcus Smart (PG/SG-BOS) - Yahoo ADP: 97.5, Hashtag Rank 76

Smart should be in line to play the largest role in his career. He may not be a big-time scorer, but Smart produces elite steals with solid blocks, rebounds, and assists from a guard. He finished 69thth in totals last season. Add in close to 30-minute per game role, and Smart should well outperform his ADP this season.

JaVale McGee (C-LAL) - Yahoo ADP: 115.9, Hashtag Rank: 92

McGee played 22.3 minutes per game last season and finished 60th in per-game value. It baffles me that he is ranked outside the top-100. Dwight Howard is in town, but McGee should easily play over 20 minutes a game. That means top-85 value. Grab JaVale, and enjoy the ride this season.

Danny Green (SG/SF-LAL) - Yahoo ADP: 121.4, Hashtag Rank: 98

Green will provide important spacing for the Lakers this season. The 32-year-old should average close to one block and one steal per game with 2.5 3-pointers made. Green should see plenty of open looks which should keep his percentages high. As one of your last picks, Green provides plenty of value.

Stay tuned because we will back taking a look at ESPN and Fantrax ADP’s to help you gain the edge in those leagues.

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