2016-17 Fantasy Basketball Rookie Outlook (Updated)

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Before the preseason began, we took a look at this year's crop of rookies. Since then, the picture has crystallized. Most notably, everyone's most-hyped rookie, Philadelphia 76ers SF/PF Ben Simmons, injured his foot. The injury could cost him the season (putting him back on top of this list next year).

Instead of a general ranking, we're going to look at individual performance through the preseason, most importantly at minutes, to see what kind of roles these players might establish once the regular season clock starts ticking. There will be fantasy value to be obtained, but as Denver Nuggets PG Emmanuel Mudiay showed last season, it's not always easy.

SG Buddy Hield, New Orleans Pelicans

Hield is in the best situation to provide value, at least early in the season. The Pelicans were the most injured team in the NBA last season, and 2016-17 is shaping up to be no different with Tyreke Evans sidelined, Jrue Holiday ruled out for the start of the season and Anthony Davis also dealing with injuries. This opens the door for Hield to be a fantasy asset.

An outstanding shooter, he showcased his skills in his first two preseason games, scoring 19 points against the Mavericks and 18 against the Pacers before a two-game set in China. He added decent rebounding numbers, but the draw will be his ability to score at will. Hield's playing starter's minutes, and even if he does initially come off the bench, that doesn't mean he won't get his shots in. He's a late-round flier with excellent upside.

The one person who could stand in his way is offseason acquisition E'Twaun Moore. Neither played well in the second China game against the Houston Rockets, scoring just two points between them, but Hield has shown a steadier scoring ability and could be the top rookie in NBA fantasy this season if he gets and maintains a starting role.

SG Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

Murray seems destined to come off the bench for the Nuggets, but he could still have late-round appeal, or be an early season injury replacement as the leader of the second unit. He's getting an extended look in preseason, and has been doing a little bit of everything.

His best game came against the Lakers where he played 32 minutes, scoring 16 while adding six assists and seven rebounds. Drawing the start against the Timberwolves, he impressed with 14 points over 25 minutes. He continued this hot streak with 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds against Golden State.

Murray led the Nuggets with 34 minutes against Portland on Oct. 17, scoring 15 and adding seven rebounds. After Hield, he's shown the most immediate fantasy promise among rookies even though he'll have to overcome a crowded backcourt rotation featuring Mudiay, Gary Harris and Will Barton.

PF Marquese Chriss, Phoenix Suns

The Suns may have too many moving pieces in the frontcourt with aging veterans like Jared Dudley and Tyson Chandler expected to be the starters ahead of a duo of rookies in Chriss and Dragan Bender. Chriss is exceptionally athletic, though still raw. He will get playing time, but he's more of a tournament play in daily fantasy to start his career.

This could all change if he continues to produce at a high level through the end of preseason and into the early weeks of the regular season. His minutes have ramped up and he's even shown a bit of a three-point touch, shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc against the Mavericks on October 14.

He led all Suns in minutes and scoring against Dallas and is poised to be the more immediate threat than teammate Bender, who has shown glimpses in preseason as well. Bender, for his part, scored 11 points with seven rebounds in 26 minutes in that same game. The youth movement is on in Phoenix.

C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Hope and reality will start out as very different things with Embiid. The 76ers are not going to rush his development now after he sat out his first two years with a litany of injuries. His playing time has increased gradually, but the injury risk is ever present and he has capped out at 20 minutes so far.

But it was a productive 20 minutes. While the 76ers are winless in preseason play, Embiid has done his part, scoring in the double digits in four of five games despite only exceeding 14 minutes once. Our own Andrew Potter detailed why Embiid might not be the best season-long option in 2016-17. He's more of a late-round flier, outside the top-100 picks.

With C Jahlil Okafor (meniscus) and PF Nerlens Noel (groin) still not playing, necessity could warrant more playing time from Embiid, but it's largely uncertain. With fellow rookie PF Dario Saric in the mix as well, the 76ers have a loaded, youthful frontcourt. Trade rumors have swirled, but nothing has happened yet. It leaves everyone in the mix as wait-and-see propositions.

SF Brandon Ingram, Los Angeles Lakers

This might take a while. With Simmons sidelined, Ingram is the next biggest name out of the 2016 draft, but he's almost certainly not going to be a starter at the outset of his rookie campaign. His preseason debut was not good. He played 27 minutes, but went 0-for-5 from the floor, including missing all four three-pointers he attempted.

On the bright side, Ingram filled the stat sheet otherwise with a couple rebounds and blocks to go with an assist and a steal. It's still a mild disappointment and his minutes dropped considerably for his second outing, where he played better but didn't wow anybody.

Starting SF Luol Deng was suffering from a minor knee issue, but continues to play. If it gets worse, Ingram could start by default. Another poor season from the Lakers seems inevitable and its youngest star-in-the-making may be a year away from being truly fantasy relevant.

PG Kris Dunn, Minnesota Timberwolves

There is no immediate clear path to minutes, and his abominable shooting through the preseason may scuttle plans to trade returning PG Ricky Rubio to open the door for Dunn. He's playing in preseason, and has shown the ability to dish excellent passes while scooping up some rebounds.

This isn't a scenario akin to C Karl-Anthony Towns a year ago. Towns pranced in and took hold of the starting position immediately. Dunn will start as a role player off the bench. If he can improve his shooting, he'll become a jack of all trades when he's on the floor and will be a solid daily fantasy flier. But barely shooting 20 percent, as he has in preseason, is not close to good enough.

SF/PF Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

The Celtics' depth reduces Brown's value as his minutes will be limited even though he has played between 21 and 27 minutes in all four preseason games thus far. He'll certainly come off the bench and unless he is absolutely electric, or Jae Crowder suffers an unfortunate injury, Brown's rookie season will not be relevant to fantasy owners in standard leagues.

PF/C Thon Maker, Milwaukee Bucks

There won't be much to like in terms of fantasy upside for Maker. Miles Plumlee will get the starts at center and Jabari Parker will likely be the primary power forward. Veterans Greg Monroe, John Henson and the newly acquired Michael Beasley only further the log jam. Maker has also been dealing with a wrist issue throughout the preseason.

Maker will not be rushed into a starting role. As it is, he might occasionally draw value in daily fantasy, but he needs to be left on the wire in all season-long formats on draft day. He might be a future source of rebounds, but he'll be lucky to touch 16 minutes to start.