Fantasy basketball rankings: Top 150 players

These fantasy basketball rankings of the top 150 players for the 2021-22 season reflect standard scoring formats by accounting for a player's projected production in nine categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-point shots made, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and turnovers.

Tier 1 - Fantasy Superstars

Nikola Jokic enters as the consensus No. 1 pick in fantasy drafts following his incredible MVP campaign. Considering his versatility across the board, high shooting percentages, and consistent availability - Jokic started all 72 games last season - the Denver Nuggets' star big man is poised to have another huge year, especially with Jamal Murray still recovering from a torn ACL. Jokic averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals along with a brilliant 56/38/86 shooting line last season and seems to be improving as he gets deeper into his prime.

Brooklyn Nets stars James Harden and Kevin Durant each possess elite fantasy upside but carry some risk as mid-first-round selections. Both are likely going to get a number of DNPs throughout the regular season given Brooklyn's abundance of depth and probable desire to keep its top-tier talent as fresh as possible for the playoffs. Harden was forced to miss multiple stretches last season with a lingering hamstring injury, while Durant sat for 23 consecutive contests due to his own hamstring ailment.

LeBron James deserves the benefit of the doubt given his historically clean bill of health after appearing in a career-low 45 games last season because of a high ankle sprain. The four-time MVP should still regularly produce big numbers for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 19th campaign despite the offseason additions of numerous veteran pieces, most notably another high-usage player in Russell Westbrook. James should offer consistent production in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and field-goal percentage while also chipping in with around two made threes per game.

Tier 2 - Starters

LaMelo Ball is a trendy pick early in Round 3 following an exciting rookie season with the Charlotte Hornets. Ball became the only first-year player in league history to average 16 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 1.6 steals and should once again have a massive role in the Hornets' offense. Fantasy managers who take Ball in their drafts should be in for a fun ride, although there's always the possibility of a sophomore slump, so be wary.

One player you'll certainly want to think twice about before selecting is Kyrie Irving. The Nets' star guard is arguably the highest-profile player to opt against getting vaccinated, which has left his availability for Brooklyn's home games in question due to New York City's health and safety protocols. While Irving is sure to put up big numbers when he does play - he averaged 26.9 points, six assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals with a historic 50/40/90 shooting line in 54 regular-season contests - the significant number of games he could potentially miss makes his fantasy outlook far from ideal. Irving carries a ton of risk, but if he does wind up playing home contests by eventually getting vaccinated, he's fully capable of offering top-25 value.

A player in the lower end of this tier worth targeting is Dejounte Murray. The San Antonio Spurs floor general is a potential breakout candidate with significant upside, as his team will lean heavily on him to initiate offense and continue disrupting passing lanes on the defensive end. With DeMar DeRozan now in Chicago, the Spurs are unquestionably Murray's team.

Tier 3 - Depth

Tier 3 features a number of talented young guards, including Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton, among others.

Morant offered impressive counting stats as a sophomore last season with averages of 19.1 points, 7.4 assists, four rebounds, and 0.9 steals. However, his efficiency regressed from his rookie campaign, as he shot 44.9% from the field and a below-league average 30.3% on 3-pointers. While he may negatively impact managers' shooting percentages and turnover numbers in standard category leagues - Morant has averaged over three giveaways in each of his first two seasons - the Grizzlies' franchise cornerstone is still only 22 years old and hasn't yet taken the massive leap many young players of his caliber do. Succeeding in fantasy drafts is often the result of targetting high-upside talents on the brink of a star turn, and Morant could be one such case.

One big man to keep tabs on from this group is Isaiah Stewart, who averaged 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and just over two blocks in 14 starts down the stretch last season. Stewart won't provide help with 3-point makes but should improve your team's field-goal efficiency and block totals given he lives around the rim. The undersized but high-motored Pistons center should have a starting job from the opening tip now that Mason Plumlee is elsewhere. Kelly Olynyk, who signed a three-year deal with the club during the offseason, will likely come off the bench and shouldn't impede on Stewart's productivity since Detroit is focused on evaluating and growing its young talent during a rebuild.

Tier 4 - Bench

Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green is an intriguing player to target as a complementary piece later in your draft. The 2021 second overall selection should have plenty of opportunities to hone his craft offensively on a rebuilding team. Green's efficiency and turnovers could be slightly problematic, especially as a rookie who's learning on the fly, but don't be surprised to see the athletic scoring guard improve in all areas as the season progresses.

Honorable mentions: Derrick Favors (OKC), Derrick Rose (NYK), Khem Birch (TOR), Rui Hachimura (WAS), Monte Morris (DEN), Aleksej Pokusevski (OKC), Darius Bazley (OKC), Royce O'Neale (UTA), Immanuel Quickley (NYK), Coby White (CHI), Xavier Tillman (MEM), Davion Mitchell (SAC)