Ranking position depth

Position Rankings
PG | SG | SF | PF | C | Top 200

More than any other sport in fantasy, basketball features so many players who are eligible at multiple positions. This makes it a little more challenging to determine which position is deepest when approaching drafts. The traditional way we look at the positions could be on the verge of shifting, too, but in terms of fantasy we have five sets to look at.

Depth does not necessarily mean best. Some positions are more top-heavy, so while its heights are in the stratosphere, its lows appear far sooner than the other positions. This can impact your strategy in a number of ways. The thinnest position might be worth attacking early, but if you miss on the best names, you're better off waiting to the end.

Let's break down the positions from deepest to shallowest.

Power Forward

You're not going to see many power forwards taken at the outset of most drafts, but there are so many players who qualify in fantasy that there is plenty of value to be had. Many centers are also eligible at PF. Players like DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Drummond will play the bulk of their time as centers, but they are multi-positional in fantasy.

There are also the odd small forwards who also have power forward status in most fantasy leagues. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Paul George are among the elite at SF and each qualifies as a power forward in most season-long formats. This kind of crossover is more prevalent at PF than any other position.

What this means for draft purposes is that you're likely going to have plenty of players on your roster who qualify at PF without even trying. The depth is astounding. If you want to target other positions in the first round, you can get a PF-eligible player with high upside in the second or third round without giving up much depth.

Center

Because so many PFs are also eligible at center, it's an easy position to fill. Even in leagues that require two centers, it's not a terrible idea to wait on bigs. Miami Heat C Hassan Whiteside can take over a game, but is he worth a second-round pick when Dwight Howard, eligible at PF and C, can be taken in the middle of the draft?

Howard isn't likely to have better numbers, but he, along with a large number of center-eligible big men, can be had later allowing for the focus to land on thinner draft positions. Loading up on elite centers early isn't a great choice as opponents can get comparable results by waiting.

Likewise, the excitement around sophomore Timberwolves C Karl-Anthony Towns may be misguided. He is the top-ranked player who only qualifies at center, while comparable bigs -- Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins -- often boast dual-eligibility.

Point Guard

Point guard has the illusion of being the deepest fantasy position because there is a wealth of valuable names eligible. It's one of Giannis Antetokounmpo's three positions, for example. Point guard is heavy on the elite with no fewer than six who every fantasy owner would be happy to call his first PG.

Even immediately after the six, we have players like Kyle Lowry and Kemba Walker followed by several more players who could, and should, be taken before the fifth round in most drafts. Even a player like Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio is our 20th ranked point guard and will provide enough in the ways of assists to come off the board relatively early.

Outside the top 20 it gets tricky. By this point, chances are every team has one, probably two, PGs. Otherwise, counting on anything more than the occasionally great, but unpredictable, performance of a D'Angelo Russell has to be reserved for depth.

Small Forward

Small forward has some top-tier talent and first round options from Durant to James to George. After the very best options, though, there is a substantial drop, but the position stabilizes fairly well through the middle rounds. Players like Tobias Harris, Andrew Wiggins, and DeMar DeRozan all qualify and will not be off the table in the first two rounds.

Further along, Otto Porter and Jabari Parker can provide decent mid-round boosts with high-risk options like Wesley Matthews and Nikola Mirotic going even later. It's advisable that SF is a position to invest in relatively early, perhaps in the first or second round, and fortify the situation with someone like Thaddeus Young.

Shooting Guard

Get your shooting guards early. Like any position, there is some cross-over, but SG seems like it should have more depth than it really does. After the top names are off the board, it thins out very quickly.

James Harden could be the best fantasy option in season long for his shooting and his usage, provided he doesn't get injured. Stephen Curry has SG eligibility, and after him it's a smattering of very good to pretty good players. The gap between Harden and a player like Nicolas Batum is quite wide. The gap between Batum and Zach LaVine is less pronounced.

If you miss out on one of the best at the position, the next tier isn't exponentially superior to what comes immediately after and it may be worth cornering the market elsewhere. This will come down to a matter of personal preference, but every other position has a greater assortment of high-level fantasy talent. There's considerable value in locking down your wings early in the draft.