NBA Fantasy: Ranking the five best rookies
Published Mar 3, 2018 08:30 pm
By Rafael Bandayrel
Every Fantasy GM who drafted a rookie took a risk as we had no idea how these young guns will shape up as the NBA season rolls through. For some Fantasy team owners – like yours truly, who gambled on Markelle Fultz – betting on an unproven prospect was disastrous.
Some fortunate GM’s however, got what they expected or more from their rookie draft picks. Here are the five best rookies in fantasy basketball thus far:
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (Average Fantasy points: 27)
Tatum was putting up ridiculous numbers at the beginning of the season but his recent performances have been lowly. He is one of the biggest fallers coming out of the all-star break but he still produces solid numbers for his real and fantasy teams.
The forward is averaging 13.3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Tatum’s numbers is a sign that the 20-year-old has will be one of the better players from this stacked draft class.
A gruesome injury suffered by Gordon Hayward during his first game in a green jersey, gave Tatum the opportunity to showcase what he brings to the table. Tatum was put in a tough position and he delivered, as his squad sits pretty at the second spot of the East, thanks partly to his efforts.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers (Average Fantasy points: 29.5)
Ball is the most talked about prospect coming into the season, and if you bought into the hype, congratulations. Lonzo will not take his squad to the playoffs – like his father suggests – but he can put up quality numbers for your fantasy squad.
Ball averages 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks this season. He also shoots 32.4 percent from three points and 49.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Lonzo suffered a setback as he missed 23 games this season. But Ball is back with a vengeance as he produced 42 fantasy points behind his 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals against the Hawks last Monday.
Donovan Mitchell (Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (Average Fantasy points: 31.5)
Among the players on this list, Mitchell was selected last at 13th. The promising guard, however, is one of the biggest revelations this season.
Mitchell surpassed all expectations as he averages 19.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.4 blocks a game. Mitchell posted an impressive 43-point career high against Detroit last January.
The rookie guard quickly developed into a reliable scorer and he is one of the reasons why Utah’s playoff hopes are still alive. Mitchell, despite being overlooked in the draft, has turned into one of the better upstarts this season and his Rookie of the Year candidacy proves his worth.
Lauri Markkanen (Kent Smith / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls (Average Fantasy points: 33.7)
Markkanen found himself in Chicago when he, together with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler last off-season.
Bulls fans however, should be happy with how the 20-year-old from Finland turned out for them. Markkanen tallies 14.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.5 steals on average.
For Chicago, let the tanking begin. For your Fantasy team, however, that would not be necessary if you picked up this seven-foot sharp shooter.
Ben Simmons (Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers (Average Fantasy points: 37.3)
The best rookie in Fantasy basketball is also the leader for Rookie of the Year race. Ben Simmons has been a contributor for the Sixers ever since he played his first game.
The “Young King” as LeBron James labeled him, puts up all-star-like numbers. Simmons averages 16.6 points, 7.7 boards, 7.4 dimes, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks a game. In his rookie year, Simmons is showing shades of a superstar as he bagged already his sixth triple-double of the season.
Simmons’ stellar stat-line generated clamor for his inclusion in this year’s edition of the all-star game. He may have been snubbed from being part of Team LeBron or Team Stephen last month, but any GM with sound reasoning will not hesitate to include the Aussie on their Fantasy rosters.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (Average Fantasy points: 27)
Tatum was putting up ridiculous numbers at the beginning of the season but his recent performances have been lowly. He is one of the biggest fallers coming out of the all-star break but he still produces solid numbers for his real and fantasy teams.
The forward is averaging 13.3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Tatum’s numbers is a sign that the 20-year-old has will be one of the better players from this stacked draft class.
A gruesome injury suffered by Gordon Hayward during his first game in a green jersey, gave Tatum the opportunity to showcase what he brings to the table. Tatum was put in a tough position and he delivered, as his squad sits pretty at the second spot of the East, thanks partly to his efforts.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers (Average Fantasy points: 29.5)
Ball is the most talked about prospect coming into the season, and if you bought into the hype, congratulations. Lonzo will not take his squad to the playoffs – like his father suggests – but he can put up quality numbers for your fantasy squad.
Ball averages 10.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.8 blocks this season. He also shoots 32.4 percent from three points and 49.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Lonzo suffered a setback as he missed 23 games this season. But Ball is back with a vengeance as he produced 42 fantasy points behind his 13 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals against the Hawks last Monday.
Donovan Mitchell (Melissa Majchrzak / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (Average Fantasy points: 31.5)
Among the players on this list, Mitchell was selected last at 13th. The promising guard, however, is one of the biggest revelations this season.
Mitchell surpassed all expectations as he averages 19.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.4 blocks a game. Mitchell posted an impressive 43-point career high against Detroit last January.
The rookie guard quickly developed into a reliable scorer and he is one of the reasons why Utah’s playoff hopes are still alive. Mitchell, despite being overlooked in the draft, has turned into one of the better upstarts this season and his Rookie of the Year candidacy proves his worth.
Lauri Markkanen (Kent Smith / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls (Average Fantasy points: 33.7)
Markkanen found himself in Chicago when he, together with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn, was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves for Jimmy Butler last off-season.
Bulls fans however, should be happy with how the 20-year-old from Finland turned out for them. Markkanen tallies 14.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 blocks, and 0.5 steals on average.
For Chicago, let the tanking begin. For your Fantasy team, however, that would not be necessary if you picked up this seven-foot sharp shooter.
Ben Simmons (Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP)
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers (Average Fantasy points: 37.3)
The best rookie in Fantasy basketball is also the leader for Rookie of the Year race. Ben Simmons has been a contributor for the Sixers ever since he played his first game.
The “Young King” as LeBron James labeled him, puts up all-star-like numbers. Simmons averages 16.6 points, 7.7 boards, 7.4 dimes, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks a game. In his rookie year, Simmons is showing shades of a superstar as he bagged already his sixth triple-double of the season.
Simmons’ stellar stat-line generated clamor for his inclusion in this year’s edition of the all-star game. He may have been snubbed from being part of Team LeBron or Team Stephen last month, but any GM with sound reasoning will not hesitate to include the Aussie on their Fantasy rosters.