X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Three Undervalued Centers for Fantasy Basketball Drafts

With studs such as Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, and Al Horford at the top of the draft, centers are likely to go early in your fantasy draft.

However, if you miss out on a stud or do not like the downside to players such as Andre Drummond or DeAndre Jordan, there are a few late round players to target.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NBA Subscription, only $29.99 for the full season. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, Sleepers List, Late-Round Fliers, Early-Round Avoids, DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids.

 

Centers to Target in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

Enes Kanter, Oklahoma City Thunder

With the loss of Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, everyone is rightly focusing on Russell Westbrook, however Kanter is also in line to see a huge boost in minutes and usage.  Last year Kanter posted a solid stat line of 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds in just 21 minutes.

He was used as a primary scorer off the bench with a usage rate of 25.4, however with Durant and Ibaka off the floor his usage rate jumped to 27.3.  The downside to Kanter’s game is his lack of defensive stats with just 0.4 blocks and 0.3 steals, however later in a draft you will not find all-around production from many centers.

Although preseason can be a bit tough to read, Kanter did have a monster double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds on a remarkable 20 shot attempts.  He will provide great value with an average draft position (ADP) of 71.3 thus far.

 

Robin Lopez, New York Knicks

The reason Lopez has an ADP of 106 is because he does nothing that stands out to fantasy players.  He will not wow you with any one statistical area, however where Lopez shines is his incredibly consistent play.

Last season he averaged a solid 10.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals, but really proved his worth with a field goal percentage of 53.9% and a ridiculous 79.5% free throw rate.

Those numbers are even more note-worthy in roto leagues where a player such as Dwight Howard will sink you in one category while offering similar stats to Lopez in all other areas.  Lopez should also benefit in an uptick in pace with Chicago as opposed to the slow down tempo of the triangle offense he was in last year in New York.

 

Clint Capela, Houston Rockets

This pick is certainly a boom or bust pick that could help you win your league late.  In his first few years, the young Capela was relegated to a reserve role behind incumbent Dwight Howard, but now with Howard in Atlanta, he should be given ample chance to be the Rockets starting center.

Capela has always provided stellar per minute stats and has almost always produced when given the opportunity.  This is shown by the following: Player A per 36 minutes last year had 13.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.4 steals while Player B had per 36 minute numbers last year of 13.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 0.7 steals.

Player A is of course Capela, currently with an ADP of 115.3 while player B is DeAndre Jordan who has an ADP of 32.5. Given that Capela should see a spike in minutes close to around 30 and is playing in a the hyper-tempo style of Mike D’Antoni, he is a super sleeper last in drafts.  Just beware, for his career the Swiss big man is a 35.9% free throw shooter.

 


By popular demand, RotoBaller has aggregated all of our fantasy basketball NBA waiver wire pickups into a running list of NBA waiver options, so bookmark the page and check back often for updates.

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Cleared to Play on Friday
Jordan Goodwin

Available For Friday Night Against New Orleans
Pelle Larsson

Back on Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.

Ruled Out For Friday Night Against Memphis
Bam Adebayo

Will Miss Friday's Game Versus Atlanta
Justin Champagnie

Downgraded To Questionable For Friday Night
Scottie Barnes

Now Downgraded To Questionable For Friday
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP