Top 15 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 2014-15 Season
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The NBA season has officially started and most fantasy drafts have already taken place. However, there are still drafts taking place since the first full week of NBA action begins next week. Everyone knows the obvious players to target such as LeBron James and Chris Paul. What isn't obvious is who the sleeper picks are who will help bring fantasy teams to championship glory. Let's take a look at who the top 15 sleepers are for 2014-15.
15. Steven Adams - C - Oklahoma City Thunder
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15. Steven Adams - C - Oklahoma City Thunder
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Adams was named as the starting center for the Thunder this season and this will really help his fantasy potential. Granted, if anyone drafts him with the expectation for nightly double-doubles, then hopefully it's a dynasty league. However, in redraft leagues, Adams is a great sleeper pick during the late rounds if you need to solidify production in the rebounds and blocks categories. He should easily average eight PPG, eight RPG and one BPG.
14. Chris Copeland - SF/PF - Indiana Pacers
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14. Chris Copeland - SF/PF - Indiana Pacers
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Due to the gruesome broken leg injury that happened to All-Star Paul George, the Indiana Pacers will need to run with a SF-by-committee rotation. Fantasy owners have already aimed their targets at George Hill and David West, but a sneaky late-round option can provide around 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and plenty of three-pointers even with limited minutes. He's not the sexiest sleeper, but he can get the job done.
13. Otto Porter Jr. - SF/PF - Washington Wizards
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13. Otto Porter Jr. - SF/PF - Washington Wizards
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This former Georgetown Hoya has a great opportunity to establish himself as an integral part of the Washington Wizards' rotation while Bradley Beal is out recovering from wrist surgery. He had a rather impressive preseason as he averaged 13 PPG and shot 49 percent. Additionally, he has started this regular season averaging 8.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG and an elite 2.0 SPG in 20.5 minutes of court time. He is definitely worth a late-round flier.
12. Omer Asik - C - New Orleans Pelicans
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12. Omer Asik - C - New Orleans Pelicans
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To be honest, Omer Asik really shouldn't be a "sleeper" because he's proved his elite rebounding ability with the Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets already with limited minutes. This season, it appears that he will receive around 28-32 minutes a game. With floor time like that, Asik is a guaranteed double-double machine. Do not be afraid about the presence of Anthony Davis. There will be plenty of boards to share between him and Asik.
11. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG - Detroit Pistons
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11. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - SG - Detroit Pistons
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With Jodie Meeks out for the first two months of the season, Caldwell-Pope will have every opportunity to justify being a first-round draft pick for the Pistons. With new head coach Stan Van Gundy, there will be an offensive system in place that's very friendly toward complimentary shooters and that is KCP's calling card. He should be a good source of points, three-pointers and an above average amount of rebounds from the SG position.
10. Terrence Ross - SF - Toronto Raptors
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10. Terrence Ross - SF - Toronto Raptors
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Prior to the beginning of this season, Ross recorded 61 starts at the SF position and averaged 12.3 PPG and 2.3 three-pointers while shooting 43 percent from the field, 41 percent from beyond the arc and 86 percent from the charity stripe. Considering the fact that he's only 23 year old, there is definite room for improvement this season as the every-game starter at SF. He is an excellent late-round pick for his upside and breakout potential.
9. Reggie Jackson - SG - Oklahoma City Thunder
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9. Reggie Jackson - SG - Oklahoma City Thunder
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The former Boston College Eagle was already going to see additional minutes and usage based on Kevin Durant recovering from surgery. However, after last night's injury to Russell Westbrook, Jackson may be due for a major breakout simply based on the situation. He will automatically be the No. 2 offensive option after Serge Ibaka and can easily put up at least 15 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 6.5 APG in Westbrook's absence.
8. Gorgui Dieng - C - Minnesota Timberwolves
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8. Gorgui Dieng - C - Minnesota Timberwolves
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If you know anything about Nikola Pekovic, then you know that he tends to get hurt often. Therefore, Dieng is an obvious sleeper to target, especially since he showed that he can average 12.2 PPG, 12 RPG, 0.9 STLPG and 1.7 BPG when Pekovic was out last year. Dieng has elite shot-blocker potential and, as a full starter, could challenge Serge Ibaka and Anthony Davis for the shot-blocking crown. He is a sleeper who you cannot ignore.
7. Darren Collison - PG - Sacramento Kings
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7. Darren Collison - PG - Sacramento Kings
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Last year, as Chris Paul's backup, Collison averaged 14.8 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 STLPG and 1.3 three-pointers per game in 35 starts. This wasn't the first time that Collison has shown his ability as a starter since he was also Chris Paul's backup when they were in New Orleans together. This year, as the full-fledged starter for the Sacramento Kings, Collison will have no issue averaging 16 PPG, 7.5 APG and 1.5 STLPG. His sleeper potential is immense.
The "Greek Freak" got even freakier during this past summer as he grew from 6-foot-9 and 205 pounds to 6-foot-11 and 217 pounds. Head coach Jason Kidd has said that he plans to use Antetokounmpo at multiple positions including PG, but his true upside rests within the forward positions. Due to his unique size and versatility, he remains an intriguing sleeper option in fantasy leagues. If you don't draft him, then keep him on your watch list.
5. Draymond Green - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors
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5. Draymond Green - SF/PF - Golden State Warriors
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If fantasy players weren't sold on Green's sleeper upside, then his double-double while starting in place of David Lee during Golden State's home opener should be an eye-opener. The former Michigan State Spartan proved that he can fill the stat sheet the same way he did last year with limited minutes. He is a good source of points, rebounds, steals and blocks. Additionally, his upside is greater than Lee's, so target him in all league formats.
4. Terrence Jones - PF - Houston Rockets
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4. Terrence Jones - PF - Houston Rockets
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As the fourth offensive option in Houston behind James Harden, Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons, Jones averaged 12.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 0.7 STLPG and 1.3 BPG. Parsons is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks which makes Jones the third offensive option in Houston. There is no need to overthink here. Terrence Jones is a bona fide sleeper and major breakout candidate for this season. Draft him if you can.
3. Carlos Boozer - PF - Los Angeles Lakers
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3. Carlos Boozer - PF - Los Angeles Lakers
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It's amazing how a change of scenery can completely alter a player's fantasy outlook. When he was on the Chicago Bulls, Boozer was an iffy fantasy option due to the different options within the Chicago offense. However, on a weak Lakers team that has now lost their first-round draft pick Julius Randle for the season due to a broken leg, Boozer seems poised to potentially put up numbers similar to his Utah Jazz double-double stats.
2. Tony Wroten - PG - Philadelphia 76ers
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2. Tony Wroten - PG - Philadelphia 76ers
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Many think that Wroten's value is tied into the current absence of Michael Carter-Williams. However, even when MCW returns, Wroten will still hold incredible value as a player who does a little bit of everything. Wroten can fill the stat sheet with points, rebounds, assists, steals and an occasional block. He will also play major minutes even when Carter-Williams returns which helps solidify his value asides from his bad free-throw shooting.
1. Nerlens Noel - PF/C - Philadelphia 76ers
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1. Nerlens Noel - PF/C - Philadelphia 76ers
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When it comes to Nerlens Noel, I can only think of the Roy Jones Jr. song, "Y'all Must Have Forgot," because that's what's happening in fantasy drafts. Due to being out last year while recovering from ACL surgery, it seems that fantasy owners have forgotten about Noel's tremendous upside. He's a player who can be had in the late rounds of drafts and he comes in with the potential to immediately put up 16 PPG, 10.5 RPG and 2.6 BLKPG.
Roje Smith is a Fantasy Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @RoKnowsDFS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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