FANTASY BASKETBALL RANKINGS- CENTERS
FANTASY BASKETBALL RANKINGS- CENTERS (2011-2012)
By: Muntradamus
Opening day in the NBA. The timing is great especially with no football games on Sunday. Happy Holidays everyone, enjoy the rankings and post your comments. Feel free to share the love of MaddenArena with all of your friends.
(Guards Rankings)
(Forwards Rankings)
Centers I am targeting:
Demarcus Cousins– Cousins has serious potential to play like a top tier center. He could be the Rob Gronkowski of Fantasy Basketball.
JaVale McGee– A block machine, he is suppose to be a lot better this year. The sky is the limit for this guy..literally.
(More about McGee)
Chris Kaman– Kaman wants to go back to being the 20-10 we all know he can. He is in a contract year and looks to be the post player for the Hornets.
Nene Hiliario– Nene should have a huge season playing in his comfortable PF spot. Nene will be a great draft day steal if he slips.
Centers I will Draft Late:
Brandon Bass– Jermaine O’Neal and KG combined will give Bass at least ¼ of the season a starting spot with all their DNPs.
Mehmet Okur– Okur will look to be back in his prime days with Deron Williams. He could turn into the #2 option in NJ.
Brendan Haywood– Haywood is the only center the Mavericks have. They will need him to be double-double with blocks every night. He should finally deliver after all his college hype.
Jordan Hill- Jordan Hill has 20-10 potential. If Dalembert does not perform, then Hill will find his playing time. Hill is a good guy to have on your bench now, before it is too late. The Kevin Smith of Fantasy Basketball.
Centers I will Avoid:
Roy Hibbert– I will let someone else deal with the inconsistent 10 points 6 rebounds Hibbert. He is too skinny and the Pacers will throw the ball to West in the post.
Kendrick Perkins– People are excited about his new conditioning, there are still not enough shots as Westbrook, Harden, and a guy name Durant will be firing shots all season.
Chuck Hayes–Hayes is the starter for now, but he is far from the most talented on the squad. Once Thompson, or Hickson start playing better Hayes will get buried on the bench.
Onto the rankings..
Tier 1- Superstars
#1. Dwight Howard– Howard has 20-20 potential every night with steals and blocks. The problem is his FT%, it’s hard to get by it in rotisserie leagues.
#2. Al Jefferson– The safe version of Dwight Howard, Big AL is a always a solid 20-10, sometimes he has the huge nights, but he shoots 76% from the free throw line (way better than Dwight). May not get as many steals, but he will come close in blocks with nearly 2 a game.
#3. Amare Stoudemire (F)- Amare could have a bigger season now that he does not have to play center. The defensive pressure will be on Tyson and Amare can play his regular position at PF. He should be healthier than he was a year ago, making Amare a great draft day pick.
#4. Pau Gasol (F)- Pau needs to step up and get his 20-10 every night, the potential is there easily with Odom gone, but it may not come so easy.
#5. LaMarcus Aldridge (F)- Aldridge only has one concern, if he stays healthy he will be an easy all-star. 20-10 with a block every night. With no Brandon Roy he will get a lot more shot attempts.
Tier 2- Great Players but not elite
#6. Andrew Bynum– He’s only getting better and better every year. With no Odom, Bynum will be asked to play more minutes. He’s due to break out. 20-10 is easily in reach and will wow you with some games. Could be a top 3 center by season end.
#7. Javale McGee– McGee could also be a center who takes his game to the next level. McGee is a block machine and should lead the league. 17-10 would be nice to get. He will hurt your FT%
#8. DeAndre Jordan– Jordan has high expectations, but with CP3 lobbing alley-oops it should be an easy season for Jordan. 15-10 with 2 blocks is easily in reach. Shoots less than 50% from the FT line.
#9. Jokaim Noah– The thing he has over Bynum is you know you’re going to get 100% every night from him. He’s a beast, he can get 20 rebounds a game if he wanted to, but his offensive skills have him limited. Should be a nice year as Noah gets better every season. Medicore (73%) FT shooter.
#10. Al Horford (F)- Again, you want guys who are growing as players. Horford is an athletic Center who gets assists, good FT, blocks and rebounds. The Free throw could be near 80%
#11. Andrew Bogut– Bogut is the man for the Bucks and they will need as many 20-10 efforts they can get. He is good for blocks, bad for FT%.
#12. Andrea Barginani– Andrea is still the man the Raptors need to lead them to the next level. He has a big 3PT shot which is huge for his position. Definitely a guy to nab in rotoleagues. Great FT%, not such a great rebounder. The points will make up for it.
Tier 3- Serviceable Starters
#13. Nene Hiliario– Nene is the Luis Scola of centers. He gets the hustle points, and will help in rebounds, blocks, steals, FT%. Playing PF should help Nene thrive as he can play against players small than him.
#14. Channing Frye (F)- Frye is valuable for 3’s and blocks. He will have the occasional clunker, but he is very solid and should be among the league leaders in his categories, and lead some teams to fantasy championships.
#15. Greg Monroe (F)- He is the Pistons. He improved as a rookie tremendously and is ready to take his game to the next level. Solid 10-10 guy with a block, has the potential for way more as the Pistons need him to be that.
#16. DeMarcus Cousins (F)- I like Cousins to break out and be the player he should be. He has more talent than most tier 2 centers and easily be a 20-10 guy on the reg. Hopefully he puts it all together, will have to deal with plenty of depth though (Hayes, Hickson, Thompson).
#17. Serge Ibaka (F)- Ibaka is a block specialist, and at times can be a 10+ rebound type of guy. Take him with upside as he is very young and only getting more comfortable in the NBA. A star in his home country.
#18. Chris Kaman– Kaman is back to prove that he is a 18-10 guy. Being on a Hornets team with not a lot of offensive weapons I fully expect Kaman to bounce back. He is a solid FT shooter as well.
#19. Marcin Gortat– Gortat will be playing with a bad hand, he is the Polish hammer for a reason and should easily get 12-10 with a block per night. Will not hurt you in the FT category either.
#20. Marc Gasol– The more physical Gasol has good value, but is not a superstar. He will fall asleep some nights, but should be good for 10-10 with a block when it is all said and done.
Tier 3. Guys who will not wow you, but should be solid when they are ready.
#21. Brook Lopez– When Lopez comes back he will be needed for 20-10 right away. Do not drop him, wait for his return and should be solid as he gets more comfortable with Deron Williams.
#22. Samuel Dalembert– Samuel is the guy for Houston, but he will have to make sure he performs like he usually does because Jordan Hill is ready for his chance to shine. 8-10 with 2 blocks is easily in reach. Will not kill you in FT%.
#23. Marcus Camby– When healthy Camby is blocks, steals, rebound beast. He is not healthy to start the season, but there will be a stretch of the season Camby will be valuable.
#24. Jason Thompson– He has the body to be a great NBA player, the skill is there and he should find his groove at some point this season. I am expecting 10-10 and a block from the powerful PF.
#25. Ed Davis (F)- The Dennis Rodman of fantasy basketball. If you need a rebound stud that could get the block, look no further. Center eligible as well.
#26. Emeka Okafor– Emeka is a good block shot center, and he will get you almost 10-10 a game. His FT% will hurt you though.
#27. Roy Hibbert– Hibbert is soft but is getting better. His weight lost was weird to watch him play, maybe he stays consistent and gives you 12-10, best case scenario. Hopefully some blocks and good FT% as well.
#28. Tyson Chandler– On the Knicks Chandler will get to duplicate his 10-10 with a block+ per game. Always solid, nothing special. Tyson Chandler.
#29. Darko Milic– Darko was solid when he was starting last year with nearly 15-10 nights on the reg. He is starting early this season, and could be a nice play if he proves well early.
#30. Kendrick Perkins– Perkins lost weight, but at the same time he is not a great fantasy player to begin with. If you think he will be a better defender then take a risk, because 10 points is not guaranteed a night.
#31. Brendan Haywood– With no more Chandler, Haywood should be a lock for 10 rebounds a game and enough opportunities to get a lot of blocks. Don’t count on points, consistency will be key.
#32. Mehmet Okur– Want a center who will do nothing but give you a couple of 3’s and 6 rebounds. Okur is your stoppage gap. Deron Williams could resurge him a little like his old days in Utah.
Tier 4. Backups with potential to get lots of minutes later in the year.
#33. Jordan Hill (F)- As a Center Jordan Hill as tremendous potential to jump in the second tier if he out plays Dalembert early. The potential is there.
#34. JJ Hickson (F)- JJ is coming off the bench but is a solid player. He will be battling for minutes, but at some point he is going to be very valuable. 15-10 with a block when he has no competition for playing time.
#35. Brandon Bass (F)- Bass has a chance to get some good sleeper games if Jermaine O’Neal and Kevin Garnett don’t stay healthy all season. He is a great player and will be must own if something happens to the aging guys above.
#36. Taj Gibson (F)- He would be great if there was an injury, without he’s too risky to consider a fantasy starter.
#37. Anderson Varejo– A poor man’s Noah, that should be enough for some good cheap stat lines especially with no other big bodies to compete with.
#38. Chuck Hayes– Chuck is a nice hustle guy who will get you some 10-10 games. The Kings are too deep to expect solid production all season. But he is good for the first week or two.
#39. DeJuan Blair– The starter for San Antonio, he does not do much and has Tiago Splitter ready to jump in. Duncan’s age helps with Blair getting playing time, 10-10 would be great.
#40. Ekpe Udoh– If you want a cheap source of blocks at the end of the season this could be the guy to get late.
Ask any questions and debate with me who you think should be ranked higher. Good luck in Fantasy Basketball and stay tuned to MaddeArena as it is a long season..We got your back.
-Muntradamus is the senior chief editor of MaddenArena.com. He has been playing fantasy sports in high stakes league since 3rd grade. He played varsity sports in HS and studies fantasy sports hours upon hours a day. For questions, or looking for advice sign up for the forums to talk to Muntradamus and all of the Fantasy experts at MaddenArena.
Glad to read this! Keep it going!