Fantasy rankings: Center
For more fantasy basketball coverage, check out theScore's 2017 Fantasy Draft Kit, with player rankings and new content released daily.
These rankings reflect standard scoring formats, taking into account a player's expected production in the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-point shots made, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage, and turnovers.
Position Rankings
PG | SG | SF | PF | C | Top 150
Tier 1
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | NOP |
| 2 | Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN |
| 3 | DeMarcus Cousins | NOP |
Karl-Anthony Towns' jump from Year 1 (18-11-2) to Year 2 (25-12-3) hints at the potential for even more growth in 2017-18. The fact that he was able to keep his field-goal percentage at 54.2 percent despite tripling his 3-point attempts is a testament to his improvement both in the paint and beyond the arc.
Jimmy Butler will take some touches away from Towns, but he'll also force the defense to be more selective in when they double-team the Timberwolves' dominant center. Target KAT between No. 6 and No. 10 overall.
Tier 2
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Rudy Gobert | UTH |
| 5 | Nikola Jokic | DEN |
| 6 | Hassan Whiteside | MIA |
| 7 | Marc Gasol | MEM |
| 8 | Myles Turner | IND |
| 9 | Blake Griffin | LAC |
| 10 | Paul Millsap | DEN |
| 11 | Kevin Love | CLE |
| 12 | Kristaps Porzingis | NYK |
| 13 | Brook Lopez | LAL |
| 14 | Joel Embiid | PHI |
| 15 | Jusuf Nurkic | POR |
| 16 | Andre Drummond | DET |
| 17 | Al Horford | BOS |
| 18 | DeAndre Jordan | LAC |
With Gordon Hayward's departure opening the door for increased responsibility on offense, Rudy Gobert could be on the cusp of a monster fantasy season. He's the best shot-blocker in the game, as well as an elite rebounder. To become a Tier 1 center, all that's left is for the Frenchman to fully realize his scoring potential.
Since most of his shot attempts are taken near the hoop, he'll make more than 60 percent of his field goals without blinking. Add a pass-first point guard in Ricky Rubio, and the Jazz should have a simple-but-devastating pick-and-roll attack. If Gobert can just expand his output from 7.7 to 12 shots per game, there's an opportunity for him to average 20 points this season.
Tier 3
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Serge Ibaka | TOR |
| 20 | LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS |
| 21 | Nikola Vucevic | ORL |
| 22 | Dwight Howard | CHA |
| 23 | Jonas Valanciunas | TOR |
| 24 | Clint Capela | HOU |
| 25 | Pau Gasol | SAS |
| 26 | Willie Cauley-Stein | SAC |
| 27 | Marcin Gortat | WAS |
| 28 | Steven Adams | OKC |
| 29 | Dirk Nowitzki | DAL |
| 30 | Dewayne Dedmon | ATL |
| 31 | Nerlens Noel | DAL |
| 32 | Tyson Chandler | PHO |
Don't overlook Marcin Gortat. With Markieff Morris set to miss the first month of the regular season after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, the Polish Hammer will be leaned on as the lone true big man in many small-ball lineups.
There's value in experience. While it would be foolish to expect growth from Pau Gasol or Tyson Chandler after 16 years in the NBA, they've proven they can fill up the box score in their mid-30s. Gasol averaged 12-8-2 with 1.1 blocks, 0.9 3-pointers, and 50.2 percent shooting last year. Chandler averaged 8.4 points and 11.5 rebounds, and shot a whopping 67.1 percent. Both are on the decline, but in formats with two center slots, you'll need to load up on some mid-draft big man depth anyway.
Tier 4
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Zach Randolph | SAC |
| 34 | Gorgui Dieng | MIN |
| 35 | Willy Hernangomez | NYK |
| 36 | Robin Lopez | CHI |
| 37 | Ryan Anderson | HOU |
| 38 | Derrick Favors | UTH |
| 39 | Enes Kanter | NYK |
| 40 | Tristan Thompson | CLE |
| 41 | Greg Monroe | MIL |
| 42 | Richaun Holmes | PHI |
| 43 | Kelly Olynyk | MIA |
| 44 | Mason Plumlee | DEN |
| 45 | Cody Zeller | CHA |
| 46 | Taj Gibson | MIN |
| 47 | Frank Kaminsky | CHA |
| 48 | Joakim Noah | NYK |
| 49 | Ian Mahinmi | WAS |
| 50 | Thon Maker | MIL |
Speaking of center depth, draft early and often. The outlook for centers gets dicey into the 40s. Many of these big men are either consigned to bench roles, or, in the case of Zach Randolph and Robin Lopez, could find themselves with limited work while their teams prioritize the development of younger players.
You'll still find plenty of rebounds available late in the draft, but without much scoring upside, these players are better suited for week-to-week streaming when their teams have four or more games.
Honorable mentions: Kenneth Faried (DEN), Jahlil Okafor (PHI), Ivica Zubac (LAL), Andrew Bogut (LAL), Jon Leuer (DET), Cristiano Felicio (CHI), Mike Muscala (ATL), Skal Labissiere (SAC)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)