If you are not crunching sabermetric data like the General Manager of the Houston Rockets – Daryl Morey – is famous for doing, that does not mean you have to suck at fantasy basketball. And when bragging rights are at stake against your friends, you know you want show off your knowledge by squeezing every bit of value out of reserves, surprise injury fill-ins, and players who you know will make that critical jump to the next level, but are merely flying under the radar for others.
This isn’t rocket science, but it’s a bit more complicated that mobile bingo games like Bingo-apps.co.uk; you’re going to need all the help you can get. So, without further ado, here are a few pointers for how to get the edge in your fantasy league.
Pass on Durant and LeBron
That is probably something you thought you would never hear, but it’s true when it comes to the top picks. With rumors of a bad back for the King, and with a stacked team that can coast to the first seed in the East with around 54 wins, James understands it’s all about being ready for the playoffs with as healthy a team as possible. He is going to sit as many games as it takes to feel right come June.
Durantula is coming off major foot questions, so also proceed with caution, not drafting him too high. It’s worth asking, with a stat sheet stuffer like Westbrook playing the point on the same Thunder team, is he even the best player in OKC?
Curry has already started off scorching hot, and Anthony Davis is due to put in an MVP performance. Don’t sleep on Harden or Westbrook either, both of whom had MVP campaigns last season. While there is no clear front-runner for probable MVP, one thing is clear: it’s a tight pack, and it’s going to be fun to watch.
Don’t Sleep on the Rooks
This freshman class looks to be loaded, both with a high ceiling and with plenty of depth. Stacked toward the top, early picks like Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahil Okafor are no joke, NBA-ready bigs who are already making a huge impact on their respective teams. It already looks like both could be double-double threats on any given night, especially the big KIT-KAT on the Timberpups. Finally, depending on how deep your league is, do not overlook top 10 draft picks who will get some burn like Willie Cauley-Stein, Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, and Justise Winslow, nor lower picks with hidden value that are more than capable like Devin Booker, Jerian Grant, or Bobby Portis.
Value Positions of Scarcity
This is always true, but with a dearth of top-calibre two guards, look to use an early pick on players like The Beard (James Harden), the second half of the Splash Bros (Klay Thompson), or the defensive mastermind PG3 (Paul George). All three of them can stuff a stat sheet unlike anyone else at their position. Similarly, while the point guard is one of the deepest positions in the league, the upper crust is worth going after because there is such a drop-off between the A and B levels. The Chris Pauls, Damian Lillards, Russell Westbrooks, and Steph Currys of the world will give you significant more value than the Ty Lawsons, Goran Dragics, and Jeff Teagues.