Fantasy basketball rankings: Top 50 Centers
For more fantasy coverage, check out theScore's 2018 Fantasy Basketball 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 - Fantasy Superstars
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Davis | NOP |
| 2 | Karl-Anthony Towns | MIN |
| 3 | Nikola Jokic | DEN |
| 4 | Joel Embiid | PHI |
Thanks in part to the Minnesota Timberwolves' addition of high-usage wings Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford, Karl-Anthony Towns' usage rate took a hit from Year 2 to Year 3, dropping from 27.5 percent in 2016-17 to 22.9 percent last season. But other than scoring three fewer points per game (down to 21.5) and an almost imperceptible drop in assists per game (down to 2.5), Towns' fantasy production in all other categories took a step forward.
He put up career highs in rebounds (12.5), field-goal percentage (54.5 percent), 3-point shots made (1.5), and free-throw percentage (85.8 percent) while maintaining his contributions in defensive-minded categories. That Towns hit 42.1 percent of his 3-pointers - on 3.5 attempts per game - makes him a lock for one of the top offensive bigs in the game today.
The Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, like Towns, is one of the lone contenders for top fantasy center heading into the year. The 6-foot-10 Serb may be the most skilled player at his size, making up for his relatively uninspiring physique with a surgeon's touch. On only three occasions in NBA history has a player averaged at least 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one made 3-pointer per game in a season: Russell Westbrook the past two years, and Jokic in 2017-18.
Tier 2 - Starters
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Andre Drummond | DET |
| 6 | Draymond Green | GSW |
| 7 | Rudy Gobert | UTH |
| 8 | Kevin Love | CLE |
| 9 | Marc Gasol | MEM |
| 10 | LaMarcus Aldridge | SAS |
| 11 | Blake Griffin | DET |
| 12 | Al Horford | BOS |
| 13 | Clint Capela | HOU |
| 14 | DeAndre Jordan | LAC |
Andre Drummond took a step forward last year in several notable ways. Yes, he led the league with a cool 16 rebounds per game while being a strong contributor in both blocks and steals, but he also surprised with his versatility on offense.
Drummond used to be the final destination of a possession, averaging just 0.7 assists per game through his first five seasons. Last year, he more than quadrupled his career average, tossing out three dimes per night. Similarly, Drummond's free-throw percentage improved dramatically: He connected on 60.5 percent while taking 5.1 free throws per game, well above his previous career standard of 38.1 percent on 4.7 attempts per game.
The Detroit Pistons' addition of Blake Griffin last season could have derailed all of Drummond's progress, but the 25-year-old proved capable of playing alongside his new frontcourt mate. From Griffin's debut in a Pistons uniform on Feb. 1, Drummond averaged 15.3 points, 17.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and two blocks per game while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. With a full offseason to further acclimatize to each other as well as new head coach Dwane Casey, the Drummond-Griffin tandem should prove to be one of the more prolific fantasy frontcourts in basketball.
Tier 3 - Depth
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Nikola Vucevic | ORL |
| 16 | Dario Saric | PHI |
| 17 | Hassan Whiteside | MIA |
| 18 | Paul Millsap | DEN |
| 19 | Enes Kanter | NYK |
| 20 | Dwight Howard | WAS |
| 21 | Steven Adams | OKC |
| 22 | Myles Turner | IND |
| 23 | Julius Randle | NOP |
| 24 | Jusuf Nurkic | POR |
| 25 | Serge Ibaka | TOR |
| 26 | Deandre Ayton | PHO |
| 27 | John Collins | ATL |
| 28 | Jonas Valanciunas | TOR |
| 29 | Marcin Gortat | LAC |
| 30 | DeMarcus Cousins | GSW |
| 31 | Kristaps Porzingis | NYK |
Kristaps Porzingis broke through as an All-Star last season, but also tore his ACL. He's currently on pace to return sometime near the 2019 All-Star break, which doesn't give him much time to work his way back into form ahead of the fantasy playoffs. If your league has the space to stash him in an injury slot, there isn't much of an opportunity cost in drafting him around the 100th overall pick over some of the less heralded names in Tier 4.
With that said, handcuffing Porzingis with a mid-round pick on teammate Enes Kanter could yield massive dividends. Kanter averaged 14.1 points and 11 rebounds per game overall last season. Without Porzingis for at least the first half of the season, expect Kanter to average at least a double-double, with the potential of scoring in the high teens.
Tier 4 - Bench
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Willie Cauley-Stein | SAC |
| 33 | Derrick Favors | UTH |
| 34 | Brook Lopez | MIL |
| 35 | Dewayne Dedmon | ATL |
| 36 | Bobby Portis | CHI |
| 37 | Kelly Olynyk | MIA |
| 38 | Domantas Sabonis | IND |
| 39 | Taj Gibson | MIN |
| 40 | Zach Randolph | SAC |
| 41 | Dirk Nowitzki | DAL |
| 42 | Pau Gasol | SAS |
| 43 | Cody Zeller | CHA |
| 44 | Robin Lopez | CHI |
| 45 | Gorgui Dieng | MIN |
| 46 | Markieff Morris | WAS |
| 47 | Jarrett Allen | BKN |
| 48 | Ryan Anderson | PHO |
| 49 | Tristan Thompson | CLE |
| 50 | Jordan Bell | GSW |
You'll want to grab center-eligible players early and often because the field thins out dramatically after the top 30. That's not to say the players above won't be valuable contributors this season, but each carries question marks.
Outside the top tiers of fantasy centers, don't overlook the golden oldies. Zach Randolph averaged 14.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last year. Dirk Nowitzki put up 12 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with his typical stellar shooting splits. Pau Gasol averaged 10.1 points, eight rebounds, 3.1 assists, and a block per game. If they show signs of erosion early, cut them and take a flier on a younger player off the waiver wire.
Honorable mentions: JaVale McGee (LAL), Mo Bamba (ORL), Jaren Jackson Jr. (MEM), JaMychal Green (MEM), Kyle O'Quinn (IND), Bismack Biyombo (CHA).
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)