Fantasy Basketball: Week 2 Player Rankings

With one week in the books and player values all over the map, it becomes quite the task to rank players for the upcoming seven-day stretch. Some resolution between preseason value and recent performance has to be made, and distinguishing whether a player’s extreme (hot/cold) start is telling of future performance or a mere outlier is tricky. Here’s my personal set of rankings for Week 2 with relevant analysis for each position. Keep in mind that these rankings are meant for next week and next week alone, and aren’t meant to determine a player’s value the rest of the way.

POINT GUARDS

1. Chris Paul(notes) – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
2. Rajon Rondo(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
3. Monta Ellis(notes) – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
4. Dwyane Wade(notes) – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
5. Deron Williams(notes) – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
6. Andre Miller(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
7. Stephen Curry(notes) – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
8. Brandon Jennings(notes) – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
9. Mike Conley(notes) – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
10. Raymond Felton(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
11. Jamal Crawford(notes) – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
12. Louis Williams(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
13. Luke Ridnour(notes) – @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU (4)
14. Baron Davis(notes) – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
15. Rodney Stuckey(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
16. Chauncey Billups(notes) – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
17. Russell Westbrook(notes) – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
18. Jameer Nelson(notes) – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
19. Devin Harris(notes) – CHA, @ORL, @MIA (3)
20. Derrick Rose(notes) – POR, NYK, @BOS (3)
21. Steve Nash(notes) – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
22. Tyreke Evans(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
23. Aaron Brooks(notes) – NOR, @SAS, MIN (3)
24. Tony Parker(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
25. Mike Bibby(notes) - @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
26. Jrue Holiday(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
27. Beno Udrih(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
28. Jason Kidd(notes) – @DEN, DEN (2)
29. George Hill(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
30. John Wall(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
31. Mo Williams(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
32. Leandro Barbosa(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
33. Toney Douglas(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
34. Jarrett Jack(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
35. D.J. Augustin(notes) – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
36. Kirk Hinrich(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
37. Daniel Gibson(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
38. Jason Terry(notes) – @DEN, DEN (2)
39. Jordan Farmar(notes) – CHA, @ORL, @MIA (3)
40. Gilbert Arenas(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)

There’s no stopping Monta Ellis right now. The impressive part isn’t that he’s averaging 30.5 points; it’s that he’s doing it on 67 percent shooting while upping his volume of long twos. The work he put in over the summer to improve his jumper has paid off as he now has legit range out to the three-point line, which is downright scary considering how good of a slasher he is … Stephen Curry will miss Sunday’s game against the Lakers, but is aiming for a return for Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies … As I predicted, Nash got off to a slow start this week, but should bounce back this week (especially if Bibby guards him for the majority of Sunday’s game) … Bibby has been surprisingly effective so far, posting top-50 value, but count me out as a believer. I’ll at least somewhat give him the benefit of the doubt for now though … Check Mo Williams’ status (groin) before you start him this week. He should be ready to go on Tuesday but expect Byron Scott to ease him into action … Gibson hangs on to a top-40 spot for another week while Mo nurses his injury. Expect him miss the cut next week … Gilbert Arenas is too much of a wild card right now to be ranked any higher than 40. That might even be wishful thinking … Darren Collison(notes) gets left off with a two-game schedule and because he’s embattled in a timeshare with T.J. Ford(notes).

SHOOTING GUARDS

1. Brandon Roy(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
2. Kobe Bryant(notes) – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
3. Joe Johnson(notes) – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
4. Nicolas Batum(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
5. Paul Pierce(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
6. Monta Ellis – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
7. Dwyane Wade – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
8. O.J. Mayo(notes) – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
9. Andre Iguodala(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
10. Ray Allen(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
11. Manu Ginobili(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
12. Raymond Felton – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
13. Jamal Crawford – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
14. Louis Williams – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
15. Kevin Martin(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
16. Rodney Stuckey – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
17. Linas Kleiza(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
18. Wesley Matthews(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
19. Ben Gordon(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
20. Eric Gordon(notes) – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
21. Jason Richardson(notes) – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
22. Dorell Wright(notes) – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
23. Carlos Delfino(notes) – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
24. Rudy Fernandez(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
25. Tyreke Evans – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
26. Stephen Jackson(notes) – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
27. John Salmons(notes) – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
28. Landry Fields(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
29. Ron Artest(notes) – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
30. George Hill – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
31. Trevor Ariza(notes) – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
32. Vince Carter(notes) – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
33. Leandro Barbosa – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
34. Quentin Richardson(notes) – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
35. DeMar DeRozan(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
36. Arron Afflalo(notes) – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
37. Hedo Turkoglu(notes) – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
38. Austin Daye(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
39. Toney Douglas – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
40. Shannon Brown(notes) – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
41. Omri Casspi(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
42. Francisco Garcia(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
43. Jarrett Jack – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
44. Kirk Hinrich – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
45. Daniel Gibson – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
46. Marcus Thornton(notes) – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
47. Rasual Butler(notes) – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
48. Richard Hamilton(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
49. Jason Terry – @DEN, DEN (2)
50. Gilbert Arenas – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)

Batum has been stellar so far, delivering an ultra-efficient, all-around line that is reminiscent of Shawn Marion(notes) (v1.0). His solid play coupled with a five-game schedule earns him a spot at 4 … More than 50 spots separate Ben Gordon (64) and Eric Gordon (126) in the per-game ranks, but remember that Ben is shooting 65.6 percent from the field while Eric is averaging 4.5 turnovers. Both fluky outliers pulling their value in opposite directions … Salmons owners need to be patient as he is still shaking off the rust from not playing in the preseason. Expect another sub-par week as three of his four opponents (New Orleans excluded) are quite adept at defending the perimeter … The low Ariza rank is more a product of his strength of schedule, not my outlook for him this season … Orlando should go absolutely berserk from the perimeter this week with three of the top-eight in threes allowed on their Week 2 schedule. If VC is still hampered by the general softness that has plagued him his entire career, bump Q-Rich up a few spots … Arron Afflalo was red hot out of the gates but has really come back to earth his last two games … I’m still a Daye believer, but we may have overestimated his ability to make an immediate impact. The potential top-75 payoff is still there – you’ll just have to hope he comes around and is able to realize it like he did in the preseason … I’m buying the Marcus Thornton resurgence but this just isn’t a good week for him matchup-wise.

SMALL FORWARDS

1. Brandon Roy – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
2. Kevin Durant(notes) – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
3. Joe Johnson – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
4. LeBron James(notes) – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
5. Nicolas Batum – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
6. Rudy Gay(notes) – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
7. Paul Pierce – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
8. Andre Iguodala – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
9. Lamar Odom(notes) – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
10. Carmelo Anthony(notes) – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
11. Gerald Wallace(notes) – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
12. Wilson Chandler(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
13. Linas Kleiza – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
14. Jason Richardson – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
15. Dorell Wright – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
16. Carlos Delfino – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
17. Danilo Gallinari(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
18. Stephen Jackson – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
19. Danny Granger(notes) – @PHI, MIL (2)
20. Thaddeus Young(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
21. Rashard Lewis(notes) – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
22. John Salmons – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
23. Landry Fields – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
24. Ron Artest – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
25. Jeff Green(notes) – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
26. Trevor Ariza – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
27. Vince Carter – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
28. Quentin Richardson – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
29. DeMar DeRozan – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
30. Hedo Turkoglu – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
31. Andrei Kirilenko(notes) – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
32. Luol Deng(notes) – POR, NYK, @BOS (3)
33. James Jones(notes) – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
34. Austin Daye – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
35. Marvin Williams(notes) – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
36. Shannon Brown – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
37. Omri Casspi – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
38. Francisco Garcia – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
39. Boris Diaw(notes) – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
40. Al Thornton(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
41. Tayshaun Prince(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
42. Carl Landry(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
43. Antawn Jamison(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
44. Rasual Butler – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
45. Andres Nocioni(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
46. Jamario Moon(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
47. Richard Hamilton – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
48. Thabo Sefolosha(notes) – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
49. C.J. Miles(notes) – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
50. Richard Jefferson(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)

This is definitely a tricky group to forecast with some very slow starters out of the gates – Crash, Lewis, Salmons, Deng, and Jamison. The two I’m concerned about long-term are Lewis and Jamison … I’m bummed that I didn’t get a slice of the Wilson Chandler pie when I had the chance. He is clearly thriving as the Shawn Marion equivalent in Mike D’Antoni’s system. The blocks (3 per game) are certainly unsustainable, but he’s a good bet to post at least top-75 value moving forward … Gallinari’s wrist is clearly bothering him and he should be downgraded significantly in the short term until there is some resolution … I need to see at least another week of games before making any definitive judgments about Casspi and Garcia … Al Thornton has been one of two bright spots (John Wall being the other) in what has otherwise been a near disastrous start for the Wizards. Consider him a solid short-term utility play. Anything extra he gives you in terms of long-term value is a mere bonus.

POWER FORWARDS

1. Pau Gasol(notes) – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
2. LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
3. Marcus Camby(notes) – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
4. Al Horford(notes) – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
5. Josh Smith(notes) – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
6. Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
7. Rudy Gay – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
8. Lamar Odom – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
9. Gerald Wallace – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
10. Wilson Chandler – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
11. Kevin Garnett(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
12. Andrea Bargnani(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
13. Kevin Love(notes) – @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU (4)
14. David Lee(notes) – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
15. Zach Randolph(notes) – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
16. Chris Bosh(notes) – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
17. Paul Millsap(notes) – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
18. Al Jefferson(notes) – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
19. Tim Duncan(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
20. Joakim Noah(notes) – POR, NYK, @BOS (3)
21. David West(notes) – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
22. Nene Hilario(notes) – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
23. Elton Brand(notes) – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
24. Danny Granger – @PHI, MIL (2)
25. Dirk Nowitzki(notes) – @DEN, DEN (2)
26. Blake Griffin(notes) – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
27. Thaddeus Young – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
28. Rashard Lewis – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
29. Luis Scola(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
30. Reggie Evans(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
31. Jeff Green – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
32. Andrei Kirilenko – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
33. Robin Lopez(notes) – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
34. Tyrus Thomas(notes) – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
35. Al Harrington(notes) – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
36. Charlie Villanueva(notes) – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
37. Glen Davis(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
38. Amir Johnson(notes) – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
39. Drew Gooden(notes) – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
40. Marvin Williams – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
41. Boris Diaw – @NJN, @DET, ORL (3)
42. Anderson Varejao(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
43. JaVale McGee(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
44. Troy Murphy(notes) – CHA, @ORL, @MIA (3)
45. Al Thornton – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
46. Tayshaun Prince – BOS, @ATL, CHA, GSW (4)
47. Carl Landry – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
48. J.J. Hickson(notes) – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
49. Channing Frye(notes) – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
50. Antawn Jamison – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)

I had suspicions that Rambis would find a way to limit Love’s value this season with his erratic player rotations, and sure enough, he already has just one week in. Anthony Tolliver(notes) is a decent option near the end of the bench if you need a big body, but to consciously play him instead of Love because of the ‘energy’ he brings is an absolute joke … Nene got off to a rough start but owners need not worry. If anything, this is a real nice opportunity to buy low for owners looking to jump ship … Reggie Evans is a specialist in every sense of the word, but I see no reason why he can’t post top-100 value in his current role. Amir Johnson’s foul troubles leave plenty of minutes for Evans to eat up (no pun intended) … Murphy looks to return on Wednesday, but you still don’t know with him. I erred on the conservative side by ranking him at 44 … Hickson has been productive early on, but Varejao ended up posting the higher per-game value on a nine-category basis in the first week.

CENTERS

1. Pau Gasol – MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR (4)
2. LaMarcus Aldridge – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
3. Marcus Camby – @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL (5)
4. Al Horford – @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO (4)
5. Amar’e Stoudemire – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
6. Andrea Bargnani – @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR (4)
7. Kevin Love – @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU (4)
8. David Lee – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
9. Brook Lopez(notes) – CHA, @ORL, @MIA (3)
10. Zach Randolph – @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
11. Dwight Howard(notes) – @NYK, MIN, NJN, @CHA (4)
12. Andrew Bogut(notes) – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
13. Marc Gasol(notes) - @LAL, @GSW, @PHO, @SAC (4)
14. Chris Bosh – MIN, @NOR, NJN (3)
15. Al Jefferson – TOR, @GSW, LAC (3)
16. Tim Duncan – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)
17. Joakim Noah – POR, NYK, @BOS (3)
18. Nene Hilario – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
19. Elton Brand – @WAS, IND, CLE, @NYK (4)
20. Andris Biedrins(notes) – MEM, UTA, @DET (3)
21. Luis Scola – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
22. Robin Lopez – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
23. Al Harrington – DAL, LAC, @DAL (3)
24. Glen Davis – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
25. Drew Gooden – POR, @BOS, @IND, NOR (4)
26. Anderson Varejao – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
27. JaVale McGee – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
28. Serge Ibaka(notes) – @LAC, @POR, BOS (3)
29. Troy Murphy – CHA, @ORL, @MIA (3)
30. J.J. Hickson – ATL, @PHI, @WAS (3)
31. Channing Frye – SAS, MEM, @ATL (3)
32. Samuel Dalembert(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
33. Chris Kaman(notes) – SAS, OKC, @DEN, @UTA (4)
34. Ronny Turiaf(notes) – ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI (4)
35. Anthony Tolliver – @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU (4)
36. Darko Milicic(notes) – @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU (4)
37. Emeka Okafor(notes) – @HOU, MIA, @MIL (3)
38. Yao Ming(notes) – TOR, LAL, MEM (3)
39. Andray Blatche(notes) – PHI, @NYK, CLE (3)
40. Jermaine O’Neal(notes) – @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC (4)
41. DeJuan Blair(notes) – @LAC, @PHO, HOU (3)

Bedrins had a surprisingly effective first week, and concerns about him being overshadowed by David Lee have been lessened … Dalembert returned to action on Friday and will be breathing down DeMarcus Cousins’(notes) neck to reclaim his starting spot … Turiaf is a useful third center for now while Anthony Randolph(notes) is dealing with an ankle injury. While Randolph is ahead of schedule and may return to action as early as Tuesday, Ronny has at least moved ahead of Mozgov on the depth chart with his recent play … Still don’t understand Rambis’ (or Nellie’s) fascination with Tolliver, but he remains a viable option as long as he’s getting 20+ minutes a game.

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