Thursday, October 15, 2009

Top-Ten Fantasy Small Forwards


1) Lebron James- I think this is a bit of a no doubter. On his quest to being the best in the league, Lebron's numbers will continue to escalate. He is an outstanding player and should only get better. Don't expect the acquisition of Shaq to affect Lebron's stats in any way. He will continue to produce and should be the number one pick overall in any fantasy draft.

2) Kevin Durant- I may get criticism for this pick but I firmly believe that Durant will continue to excel and his numbers will continue to get better as the team gets better. He is a pure scorer with the size and length to defend, rebound and block shots. I also expect his shooting percentages to increase this year. He will work hard to become one of the elite players in the NBA. I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the top-ten fantasy players at the end of the year.

3) Danny Granger- Granger is one of the best players to have on your fantasy team. He proved last year that he can put up big-time numbers and as long as he stays in Indiana, expect the numbers to rise. His numbers were so good last year, some would think Granger belongs above Durant. Durant's potential intrigues me and is the sole reason he's a spot up on Granger. Both players have the same type of game and are solid fantasy picks because of the teams they play on.

4) Carmelo Anthony- His numbers will stay around his career averages. Melo has dropped on a lot of fantasy lists because oh his lack of three point shooting, blocks and assists. I still expect him to average close to 25 points and 5 rebounds a game and those are solid numbers at the position. Don't sleep on Carmelo.

5) Paul Pierce- His numbers may dip this season but this may be the position with the least amount of solid fantasy talent. Pierce will not carry as much of the offensive load this season with KG back in the scene but he will still get his. Pierce shoots well from the three and can play defense and grab some rebounds as well. He will be a solid pick for any fantasy owner.

6) Andre Igudola- Although he may not hit 20 points per game, he does a lot of other things that make up for it. He is a solid defender and puts up steals, he can rebound with his large frame and shoots well all-around. As he matures, he takes on a lot more of the offensive responsibilities and should lead the team in scoring this year.

7) Shawn Marion- He has been an after-thought the last few years but he proved last season with Toronto that there is still flashes of the Matrix of old. With a point guard like Jason Kidd, his numbers will only improve. The two have chemistry and should bode well for the both of them. Marion has a lot of value in fantasy leagues because he plays multiple positions, is a rebounding beast and has a knack for getting in the passing lanes.

8) Gerald Wallace- Since joining the Bobcats, Wallace has been a solid fantasy player. He is an all-around player. He scores, rebounds, plays defense and shoots a good percentage. Most of his points come from drives to the basket, which means he also gets to the free throw line a lot. Wallace is one of the most consistent guys night-to-night.

9) Stephen Jackson- Jackson has had a lot of problems this off-season with his current team, the Golden State Warriors. This shouldn't affect his play on the court. He has always been tough as nails, and will play hard regardless of what team he plays for. As long as he can stay out of the dog house and continue to log iron-man minutes, he will produce. His only downfall is his shooting percentage and turnovers. He takes a lot of shots. Other than that, he is a solid pick-up. He is more of a point-forward and always has high assist numbers. Jackson has always been a reliable pick for me in the past.

10) Hedo Turkoglu- I would have him higher on the list but his numbers will probably decrease due to the number of offensive weapons the Raptors now have. Shots will be hard to come by in Toronto with all of the new acquisitions but the good things is that Hedo doesn't need the ball to be affective. He is also a point-forward and sees the floor really well. His 6'10 frame also contributes to above average rebounding numbers for his position. He is also a good three-point shooter.

Honourable Mentions- Rudy Gay, Rashard Lewis, Luol Deng, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Jefferson, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza, Josh Smith

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