🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE NEW
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

Forwards to Avoid in Fantasy Basketball Drafts

By Mwinog2777 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Jake Finnen looks at three overvalued NBA forwards to avoid as potential draft busts in 2016-17 fantasy basketball leagues. Think twice before drafting them.

Much like the rest of my avoid/busts articles, these are players that lack one or both of the main factors you need from a solid fantasy option, production and consistency. If you have both, good chances your team will do well.

Just because these players may not be as consistent as you would have hoped, DFS relies heavily on finding the right matchups. So by all means, do not feel obligated to avoid these players in DFS and daily games. Just don't waste a draft pick on these guys in seasonal leagues. Let's get rolling.

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.

Featured Promo: New Novig users get a $25 purchase match (50% discount up to $25) on your first Novig deposit, and 3 free months of RotoBaller's "Big-4" Premium Pass (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) which includes exclusive tools for Betting, Props, DFS and more! CLAIM IT NOW

 

Forwards to Leave Alone on Draft Day

Jared Dudley, SG/SF, Washington Wizards

This one shouldn't come as shock but if I had to describe Dudley fantasy relevance in one sentence: he's a veteran that is used more for his experience than his skill. He makes smart decisions with or without the ball, plays great defense but unfortunately, he won't score enough to make it worthwhile.

He has seen an increase in minutes the past three years and the Suns seem to have committed to him as starting power forward in the short term as he helps mentor the team's young, talented lottery picks, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss.

Owners are flirting with him late in drafts, thinking someone is going to have to get minutes and production in the Suns front court. But until one of his production categories climbs toward double digit range, I wouldn't bother picking up Dudley. His floor is pedestrian and his ceiling is low.

 

Andre Roberson, SG/SF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Honestly, I'm glad that everyone is buying high on this Thunder roster. The amount of times I've heard Roberson is the next up and comer is downright scary. Proves Mississippi is clearly a football state. Roberson was not productive in the playoffs. That doesn't help his confidence any.

Now that KD is gone, Andre just unwillingly moved up in the list of players to guard on Oklahoma City’s roster. Roberson is a good rebounder for his position and can provide steals.  However, Steven Adams and Enes Kanter dominating touches down low, and Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo will dominating touches in the backcourt. Roberson will still have to pick up the scraps, but without Kevin Durant there to help leave him quite as wide open as he always was last season.

Fantasy doesn't like bottom feeders. We want the best of the best, and when that's not possible, we settle for the best of the rest. Roberson will not be in that category by the midpoint of the season. There is simply too many mouths ready to feed in Oklahoma City that Andre is not in a position to significantly break out into fantasy relevance.

 

P.J. Tucker, SG/SF, Phoenix Suns

The tough thing about trying to predict how players will play is trying to predict how their teams will fare throughout the season. In this situation P.J. is 30, and the Suns are among the youngest teams in the association. Thicker may take on a nice role as a defensive anchor but that's not what you want to see when looking for fantasy prospects.

While Tucker has seen an increase in minutes and assists since last year, his points and shooting percentages have taken a dip since his entrance into the league. Tucker is similar to Dudley to the point where daily plays are a possibility, but he doesn't have the consistency worth a consideration on draft day.

Couple his historical production with an injury that's caused him to miss the preseason, the continued improvement of fellow wing T.J. Warren, and the chance of a trade deadline deal sending him to a contender as a role player, and that spells all downside for Tucker.  Selecting him late in drafts is just a waste of a pick.


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

Isaiah Stewart

Might Miss Saturday's Game
Cade Cunningham

Questionable Versus Clippers
Andrew Nembhard

in Danger of Missing Another Game
Kawhi Leonard

Questionable for Saturday Night
Isaiah Stewart

Downgraded to Questionable Saturday with Illness
Rui Hachimura

Optimistic to Return vs. Kings
RJ Barrett

Ruled Out for Remainder of Friday with Ankle Injury
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Exits in Second Quarter Friday
Robert Williams III

Exits Early Friday With Knee Injury
Tari Eason

Exits Friday with Ankle Sprain
Kevin Huerter

May Miss Saturday's Game vs. Mavericks
Julian Champagnie

May Sit Saturday vs. Boston
Mark Scheifele

Scores Twice as Jets End Skid
Jalen Smith

Could Sit Again Saturday
Ace Bailey

Misses Second Straight Game
John Carlson

Records Two Assists Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Absence Extends to 10 Games
Karel Vejmelka

Picks Up Win No. 20
Mike Conley

Ruled Out Saturday for Rest
Clayton Keller

Dishes Out Three Assists Friday
Jamie Benn

to Remain Out Saturday
Ilya Mikheyev

Expected to Play Saturday
Alexander Kerfoot

Sustains Upper-Body Injury Friday
Brandon Williams

Won't Play Saturday
P.J. Washington

to Remain Out Saturday
LeBron James

Ready to Face Bucks
Andrew Nembhard

Could Miss Another Game Saturday
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Uncertain for Saturday
John Klingberg

Could Return Sunday
Noah Laba

Could Return Saturday
Travis Konecny

a Game-Time Call Saturday
Kevin Stenlund

Available Friday
Anze Kopitar

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Aliaksei Protas

Back in Action Friday
Connor Bedard

Returns to Action Friday Night
Max Kepler

Receives 80-Game PED Suspension
CFB

Cam Coleman Visiting Alabama on Friday
Omarion Hampton

Expects to Play Sunday Night
CFB

Eric Singleton Jr. Enters Transfer Portal, Trending to Land at Florida
CFB

NCAA Denies Trinidad Chambliss a Sixth Year of Eligibility
Omarion Hampton

Questionable for Wild-Card Weekend
Kyle Tucker

Mets Remain in Mix for Kyle Tucker
Ketel Marte

Will Remain With Diamondbacks
Rashee Rice

to be Reviewed Under League's Conduct Policy
Travis Konecny

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Thursday
Blake Coleman

Makes Early Exit for Precautionary Reasons
Carter Hart

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Thursday
Joel Eriksson Ek

Out Day-to-Day
Joel Kiviranta

Labeled Week-to-Week
Brendan Smith

Out for 3-4 Months After Surgery
SJ

Sharks Acquire Laurent Brossoit
Daniel Jones

Colts Plan to Re-Sign Daniel Jones
Davante Adams

Off the Injury Report, Will Play Against Carolina
Bo Bichette

Phillies to Meet With Bo Bichette
Rome Odunze

Will Return for Wild-Card Game on Saturday
CFB

DJ Lagway Commits to Baylor
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Fire Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Sam LaPorta

Plans to be Back for Training Camp
Owen Caissie

Shipped to Miami as Centerpiece of Trade
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Officially Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
Rome Odunze

Plans to Play on Saturday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Finalizing Deal to Acquire Edward Cabrera From Marlins
New York Giants

Giants "All-In" on Hiring John Harbaugh
CFB

Jackson Arnold Signs with UNLV
CFB

Sam Leavitt Scheduled to Visit Tennessee
New York Giants

John Harbaugh Expected to be Favorite to Become New Giants Head Coach
Baltimore Ravens

John Harbaugh Won't Return as Ravens Head Coach
Bo Bichette

Unlikely to Return to Toronto?
Jordan Love

Ready to Start in Wild-Card Game Against Bears
CFB

Jadan Baugh Staying with Florida for Junior Season
Washington Commanders

Commanders "Mutually" Parting Ways With OC Kliff Kingsbury
CFB

Byrum Brown Officially Commits to Auburn
CFB

Austin Simmons Signing with Missouri
CFB

Ty Simpson Undecided on 2026 Plans
CFB

Quarterback AJ Hill Following Ryan Silverfield to Arkansas
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Have Requested an Interview With Klint Kubiak
Deshaun Watson

Browns Expect Deshaun Watson to be on the Team Next Year
Wan'Dale Robinson

Dealing With Fractured Ribs
Cam Skattebo

Hopes to be Back by Training Camp
Cameron Ward

Won't Need Surgery on his Shoulder
Davante Adams

Rams Expect Davante Adams to Return in Wild-Card Round
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Fire Head Coach Jonathan Gannon
CFB

Trinidad Chambliss Will Return to Ole Miss If Granted Sixth Year of Eligibility
Bo Bichette

Phillies Have Interest in Bo Bichette
Kansas City Royals

Matt Quatraro Signs Three-Year Extension With Royals

RANKINGS

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