Top 5 Players in Fantasy Basketball heading into the season
*Rankings are provided by the ESPN Fantasy App (Basketball, Head-to-Head Points league) *
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1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
The back-to-back NBA MVP is the top player in the ESPN NBA Fantasy Basketball rankings. This comes as no surprise, and I think this ranking is showing Jokić the respect he deserves as a dominant back-to-back MVP and the fantasy basketball workhorse he has been over those two seasons. Jokić is due for another big season in 2022-23, as his supporting cast welcomes some key players back from injury.
The Nuggets will be a problem for teams in the Western Conference this season. If you are lucky enough to get the No. 1 pick in your league’s draft, take Jokić and sit back and enjoy watching the numbers The Joker puts up for you all season.
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2. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak is ready for another season, which means another dominant fantasy basketball campaign. He is ranked second, as his dominance on the court has made him one of the top fantasy basketball assets for years now. The Bucks are again supposed to compete as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and Antetokounmpo is one of the safest plays in fantasy basketball. I would have no problem taking him with the first overall pick this year, you cannot go wrong with Giannis or Jokic to start your draft, so if you have a top-two pick, your team is in great shape already.
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3. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Luka Dončić checks in at No. 3 in the rankings, as many believe he is in for a huge season. He is the favorite for the MVP award heading into the season in most sportsbooks, which bodes well for his fantasy basketball future. Dončić has been able to show that he is capable of contributing to multiple important fantasy categories on a nightly basis. Given his usage rate, he is a great choice to start off your fantasy draft, as he looks primed for a big year in Year Five for him. Getting the third pick, you probably will miss out on Antetokounmpo and Jokić. The next best choice would be to go with Dončić.
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4. Lamelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
No. 4 on the ESPN rankings surprised me, as LaMelo Ball took the four spot just behind three solidified fantasy basketball superstars. I am a huge fan of Ball, and I think he is a great fantasy basketball player, as he was already the fourth-ranked point guard at the end of his second season in the league. Most expect Ball to take another step forward this season, similar to the expectations he came into last season with and delivered upon.
I do not hate the ranking of Ball at four by any means, but personally, I would not be taking him this high in the draft. However, I am in if you can nab him later in the first round or early in the second round. I am rooting for Ball to prove to me that he belongs at the top of these rankings among the other fantasy basketball giants this upcoming season.
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5. Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid comes in at No. 5 on the ESPN Fantasy Basketball rankings. The MVP runner-up had a top-notch 2021-22 campaign on the court and in fantasy. He was the third overall scorer in all of fantasy hoops and the second-ranked center behind only Jokić. He is one of the favorites to compete for the MVP award again this season.
If Embiid stays healthy, he and the 76ers will compete in the Eastern Conference. Embiid is a great choice to start any fantasy draft and should be a consensus top-five pick in fantasy basketball this season. I say go for it if you can pick him up with any pick after number one or two in the draft.
