Rankings are all well and good, but how close are players in value, really? Is the gap between the top-ranked small forward and the fourth-ranked small forward chasmic? How about the gap from 17-29? Tiers can help to illustrate a closer approximation of value and show which players share similar ranges of outcomes. This is the third in our series of positional tiers (assume 9-cat format), and we’ll be breaking down each position one-by-one over the next week.
Note: Some of these players play more minutes at SG or PF but are included because they have SF eligibility on Yahoo
Top-150 Player Rankings with Notes 
ADP – Average Draft Position
Tier 1: Best of the Best
Kevin Durant, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum
There’s a legitimate argument to be made for Durant in a tier of his own, but the others in this group are well deserving of Tier 1 honors as well. PG13 should thrive as the Clippers’ primary playmaker without Kawhi Leonard this season, and we likely haven’t seen the best from Giannis or Tatum yet.
Tier 2: Elite Options
Jimmy Butler, Michael Porter, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James, Zach LaVine, Khris Middleton, Tobias Harris, Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, OG Anunoby
These guys don’t quite measure up to the Tier 1-er’s, but this is an elite group through and through. MPJ could be ready to take the next step and break into the first-round of fantasy value, while Anunoby is the biggest riser from last season thanks to his all-around game and increased opportunities.
Tier 3: Star Power & Consistency
Mikal Bridges, Gordon Hayward, Caris LeVert, DeMar DeRozan, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Miles Bridges, Jerami Grant, P.J. Washington
Mikal Bridges fell off a bit last season, but he’s still got top-50 upside. There are some unknowns in terms of usage for DeRozan, Grant, and Miles Bridges, though all of the guys in Tier 3 have pretty stable floors.
Fantasy Basketball Injuries to Monitor
Tier 4: Fantastic Forwards
Andrew Wiggins, Robert Covington, Jonathan Isaac, Kyle Anderson, Evan Fournier, Norman Powell, Thaddeus Young, Harrison Barnes, De’Andre Hunter, Keldon Johnson
This is the tier where value starts to get a bit more subjective. Can Keldon Johnson ascend with DeMar DeRozan gone? Will Robert Covington continue to thrive with Larry Nance challenging him for minutes? Can Jonathan Isaac return from a years-long absence to play meaningful basketball?
Tier 5: Good (but not great)
Saddiq Bey, Joe Ingles, Klay Thompson, Aleksej Pokusevski, Kyle Kuzma, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Kawhi Leonard, Dillon Brooks
There are some high-upside guys in this tier, but they’ve got some risk attached to them. How will All-Rookie selection Bey be used with Cade Cunningham now on the roster? Can Poku continue to play meaningful minutes if the rest of the Thunder roster is healthy? Will Kuzma enjoy a resurgence in Washington now that he’s playing in LeBron James‘ shadow?
Tier 6: Serviceable Plays
Marcus Morris, Patrick Williams, Nicolas Batum, Tim Hardaway, R.J. Barrett
We’re getting down to the bottom here, but there’s still value to be found. Morris and Batum should have stable floors with Kawhi Leonard out, and Patrick Williams may be ready to take the next step in Year 2 after a dominant Summer League.
Tier 7: Late-Rounders
Jae Crowder, Duncan Robinson, Kelly Oubre, Danny Green, Bojan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Will Barton
You’ll find mostly 3-and-D guys in this tier, so temper expectations accordingly. There are some useful players in Tier 7, though none have top-100 upside.
Using Early Yahoo ADP & Rankings to Your Advantage
Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.
