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
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

Fantasy Basketball Sleepers: Dark Horse NBA Forwards

It's the final day of the NBA preseason, which means the end of draft season (boo!) and the start of the NBA season (hooray!).  RotoBaller's got one last slate of sleepers for you before starting our regular season NBA fantasy coverage.  If you are looking to think outside the box for your league's last second draft before the NBA's regular season beginning on Tuesday, these three big man sleepers could propel your team to a lightning fast start to the top of your league's standings.

 

Sleeper NBA Forwards

Jae Crowder (F, BOS)

Owned in 8% of Fleaflicker leagues

The number one factor driving the value of Marquette product Jae Crowder's is the fact that the Boston Celtics simply need him more than the Dallas Mavericks ever did. In 181 career games played with the Mavericks since 2012, Crowder averaged just 15.9 minutes per game. Since Crowder was traded to the Celtics, Crowder's playing time leaped up to 24.2 minutes per game in 57 contests. In his increasing time on the floor, Crowder's statistics were able to much a jump up in quantity by averaging 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 9.5 points per game. Crowder's defense is certainly where he can make the biggest impact for fantasy basketball managers, as he has career averages of 0.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per 36 minutes, along with 5.7 rebounds. For being a small forward, Jae Crowder brings big man skills and big time defense in the late rounds of most fantasy basketball drafts.

Otto Porter (SF, WAS)

Owned in 16% of Fleaflicker leagues

Every aspect of Otto Porter's offensive game improved last year over his disappointing rookie season. Last season Porter's FT% went from 66.7% to 73.4%, his 2PT% went from 41.4% to 49.1%, his 3PT% went from a horrendous 19% to 33.7%, his eFG% went from 38.5% to 49.5%, his minutes played per game went from 8.6 to 19.4, and his PPG went from 2.1 to 6.0. While his offensive game may have still been an issue, his defensive game was not. In 19.4 minute per game, Porter averaged 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks per game, which translates to 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per 100 possessions. Porter's performance and opportunity is trending up in a big way, and now without Paul Pierce blocking playing time with the Wizards, Otto is a much safer deep option for fantasy basketball managers to earn contributions in most categories.

Jared Sullinger (PF/C, BOS)

Owned in 47% of Fleaflicker leagues

At 0.9 3PM per game on 3.2 attempts, Jared Sullinger once again improved his 3PT% to 28.3%. Sullinger is one of the few hard hitting Centers in the game who can contribute scoring from long distance. There isn't really a category in which Jared Sullinger can't help out a fantasy basketball manager's team. He averaged a solid 10.1 TRB, 3.1 assists, 1.0 block, 1.0 steal, and 17.7 points per 36 minutes to go along with above big man average figures of 74.4 FT%, and a 47.6 eFG%. Sullinger has certainly struggled with injuries, but when he plays, he averages about 27 minutes per game, and you can bet that those minutes would go up if Brad Stevens is certain Sullinger is healthy enough to see his time go up. Either way, Jared Sullinger should be owned in all leagues going into the season for his ability to produce good figures where all big men will, and produce great figures where other big men can't.

 

NBA & Fantasy Basketball Chat Room

[iflychat_embed id="c-11" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nikola Jokic8 hours ago

Out On Tuesday Night
Kyle Kuzma9 hours ago

Exits Game Early With Calf Contusion
Brice Sensabaugh10 hours ago

Ruled Out For Tuesday
Tanner Scott10 hours ago

Mets Meet With Tanner Scott
Lauri Markkanen10 hours ago

Upgraded To Available On Tuesday
Bogdan Bogdanovic10 hours ago

Will Suit Up On Tuesday
Trae Young10 hours ago

To Play On Tuesday
Derrick White10 hours ago

Unavailable On Tuesday
Dejounte Murray10 hours ago

Upgraded To Available
Anthony Davis10 hours ago

Available For Tuesday's Contest
Justin Verlander11 hours ago

Signs One-Year Contract With San Francisco
LeBron James11 hours ago

To Play On Tuesday
Jalen Green11 hours ago

Available On Tuesday
Bilal Coulibaly11 hours ago

Set To Return Tuesday
Daniel Gafford11 hours ago

Unavailable For Dallas On Tuesday
NFL12 hours ago

Ashton Jeanty Declares For 2025 NFL Draft
Joey Daccord12 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Cam Reddish12 hours ago

Out Tuesday
Colin Miller12 hours ago

To Miss At Least Two Weeks
Justin Faulk12 hours ago

Rejoins Blues Lineup Against Wild
Tyler Herro12 hours ago

Questionable On Tuesday
Igor Shesterkin12 hours ago

Remains Out On Tuesday
Chris Kreider12 hours ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Josh Richardson12 hours ago

Doubtful Versus Warriors
Jacob Middleton12 hours ago

Available Tuesday
Troy Terry12 hours ago

Uncertain For Tuesday's Action
Alex Caruso13 hours ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Gabe Vincent13 hours ago

Upgraded To Probable Versus Dallas
Kyle Lowry13 hours ago

Will Not Play Wednesday Against Washington
Cam Reddish13 hours ago

Likely Unavailable Tuesday
Paul George13 hours ago

Ruled Out For Wednesday
Tua Tagovailoa13 hours ago

Dolphins Have "No Concern At All" About Tua Tagovailoa's Long-Term Health
Las Vegas Raiders14 hours ago

Raiders Fire Head Coach Antonio Pierce
David Montgomery15 hours ago

Expected To Return For Divisional Round
Tyreek Hill15 hours ago

Dolphins Say Tyreek Hill Did Not Request A Trade
Brandon Woodruff15 hours ago

Hopes To Be Ready By Opening Day
Zay Flowers15 hours ago

Not At Tuesday's Practice
Luke Clanton17 hours ago

A Player To Watch At Sony Open
Thomas Detry17 hours ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of Sony Open
Russell Henley17 hours ago

A Course Horse At Sony Open
Stephan Jaeger17 hours ago

A Risky Option At Sony Open
Kurt Kitayama17 hours ago

Makes 2025 Debut At Sony Open
Maverick McNealy17 hours ago

Looks To Stay Hot In Hawaii
Sepp Straka17 hours ago

A Safe Option At Sony Open
Michael Thorbjornsen17 hours ago

A Dark Horse At Sony Open
Tennessee Titans18 hours ago

Titans Retaining Brian Callahan As Head Coach
Tennessee Titans18 hours ago

Titans Fire GM Ran Carthon
Gary Woodland21 hours ago

Aims For Better 2025 Debut In Hawaii
Brent Rooker21 hours ago

Signs Five-Year Extension
Keith Mitchell21 hours ago

Attempts To Put Fall Behind Him
Robert MacIntyre21 hours ago

Tries To Learn Sony Open Lessons
Si Woo Kim22 hours ago

Makes 2025 Debut At Sony Open
Jacob Markstrom22 hours ago

Snaps Losing Skid On Monday
Tom Hoge22 hours ago

Tries To Keep Momentum Rolling In Hawaii
Devon Toews22 hours ago

Busy In Monday's Victory
Nick Suzuki22 hours ago

Tallies Three Points In Monday's Victory
Harris English22 hours ago

Begins 2025 At The Sony Open
Alex Tuch22 hours ago

Scores Twice On Monday
Jared Spurgeon22 hours ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Jiri Kulich23 hours ago

Exits Early On Monday
Corey Conners23 hours ago

In Good Form For The Sony Open
PGA23 hours ago

Byeong Hun An A Strong Bet To Contend Again At Sony Open
Nolan Arenado1 day ago

Red Sox Emerge As Strong Candidate To Land Nolan Arenado
Christian Watson1 day ago

Packers Confirm Torn ACL For Christian Watson
Ezekiel Elliott1 day ago

Signing With Chargers
Michael Lorenzen1 day ago

Signs One-Year Deal With Kansas City
Gavin Lux1 day ago

Traded To Cincinnati
Kyler Murray1 day ago

"100 Percent" Chance That Kyler Murray Will Start For Cardinals In 2025
Brock Purdy1 day ago

Wants Contract Done Sooner Than Later
Christian McCaffrey1 day ago

"Definitely Close" To Being Fully Recovered
Jayden Daniels1 day ago

Commanders "Not Concerned" With Jayden Daniels' Leg Soreness
Amari Cooper1 day ago

Bills Hopeful Amari Cooper Will Be Available In Wild-Card Round
Erik Haula1 day ago

Expected To Miss "A Few Weeks"
Patrik Laine2 days ago

Misses Third Consecutive Game
Adam Larsson2 days ago

Available Monday
Dakota Joshua2 days ago

Out Week-To-Week
Elias Pettersson2 days ago

Remains Out On Monday
Quinn Hughes2 days ago

A Game-Time Decision For Monday
Aaron Ekblad2 days ago

Unlikely To Play On Monday
Chicago Bears2 days ago

Bears Seek Permission To Interview Mike McCarthy For Head-Coaching Job
Jalen Hurts2 days ago

Still In The Concussion Protocol
Anthony Richardson2 days ago

Will Be Colts Starter In 2025
Luis Arraez2 days ago

Yankees Talking With Padres About Luis Arraez
Las Vegas Raiders2 days ago

Antonio Pierce Expects To Return As Raiders Head Coach
Chicago Bears2 days ago

Chicago Requests Interview With Mike Kafka For Head-Coaching Job
Geno Smith2 days ago

Expected To Return To Seattle
Frank Vatrano2 days ago

Nets Two Goals On Sunday Evening
Clayton Kershaw3 days ago

Intends To Pitch In 2025, Expected To Return To Los Angeles
Charlie Morton4 days ago

Signs One-Year Deal With Baltimore
Pete Alonso5 days ago

Angels "Looking At" Pete Alonso

RANKINGS

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