DFS: NBA Rookie Power Rankings
The NBA often poses a steep and immediate learning curve.
Some players falter like Anthony Bennett. Others thrive immediately like Lebron James. Greg Oden was broken upon arrival. Meanwhile, Gordon Hayward didn't hit his potential in Utah until his fourth season.
As we inch closer to the 2015-16 season's opening tip-off, it will be important to gauge which rooks will make immediate impact on the court and, as a result, in DFS lineups.
Cream of the Crop
1) C/PF Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves
He's the first overall pick, and first in the rookie ranks. The hype machine is working overtime as even season-long redraft leagues are seeing Towns go fairly early. There's good reason for this. He's poised to start alongside veteran Kevin Garnett and fellow budding superstar Andrew Wiggins.
He will be a consistent double-double threat, posting points and boards freely while notching a handful of blocked shots for good measure.
And if the T-Wolves find themselves down big like they did throughout Kevin Love's tenure, Towns could get a ton of garbage time points. In DFS, it only matters that he scores, not how.
2) PG Emmanuel Mudiay, Nuggets
Are there question marks? Definitely. Mudiay's shooting needs work - both from the field and the line - but he is one of the most talented rookies to hit the NBA. He also has pro experience foregoing college to play in China for the Guangdong Southern Tigers last year.
What should enhance his value is his immediate role in the Nuggets' offense. Ty Lawson is gone, and Mudiay doesn't have much competition. It might not be pretty, but he should be all over the stat sheet. Vegas sportsbook Bovada has him pegged as co-favorite to win rookie of the year.
3) C Jahlil Okafor, 76ers
His knee injury is a bit disconcerting for a team that has not had the best of luck with its recent draft picks - see Embiid, Joel, and Saric, Dario.
Should he finish the preseason healthy - the Sixers have limited his minutes - Okafor looks to be an immediate contributor. What he lacks in prodigious shot-blocking ability, he makes up for in scoring talent and he has been forming a decent tandem with Nerlens Noel.
Sweet.
4) SF Stanley Johnson, Pistons
Johnson has performed admirably throughout the preseason. Enough so that he's poised to be in the conversation for the starting small forward position in the Pistons front court.
Even if Johnson is passed over for Marcus Morris, he won't be invisible. Johnson was picked above players like Justise Winslow for a reason. The Pistons and coach Stan van Gundy see a lot of potential.
5) PF Kristaps Porzingis, Knicks
Porzingis is another injury risk, though he claims the Knicks are simply being cautious. He is part of what could be a youth movement if fellow rookie Jerian Grant can take over the starting PG job.
Porzingis has impressed enough to overtake Derrick Williams at PF. Coach Derek Fisher must have liked what he saw through the preseason where Porzingis was close to double digit points and boards every night.
The Next Five
6) PG D'Angelo Russell, Lakers
7) SF Mario Hezonja, Magic
8) C Willie Cauley-Stein, Kings
9) PF/C Frank Kaminsky, Hornets
10) PG Jerian Grant, Knicks
Russell will eventually excel for the Lakers. They selected him second overall to be a difference maker. He hasn't distinguished himself in the preseason, though, and has been coming off the bench more than he's been starting. Hezonja might start soon, but concerns about his defense are lingering, and could cost him significant floor minutes in Scott Skiles' rotation.
Cauley-Stein has earned coach George Karl's trust, and is being looked at as the starting center over Kosta Koufos. That will make him a much more intriguing option. Kaminsky could develop quickly, but he's more of a wait and see candidate despite his freakish agility for a seven-footer. He needs to show consistency.
Meanwhile, Grant is behind veteran Jose Calderon on the depth chart, but could get consistent minutes off the bench. If he plays up and Calderon stutters, the Knicks won't shy away from the younger option.