NBA Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Small Forwards (SF)

These rankings should help you prepare for your draft, and spur some debate.  Some of these players can play multiple fantasy positions.

Point Guard (PG) | Shooting Guard (SG) | Power Forward (PF) | Center (C) | Sleepers | Draft Guide

Top 10:

1. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavilers

King James will fill up every statistical category on the sheet.  If you want to knock him, take a crack at his 72.8 percent career free-throw percentage.  James is a fantastic finisher and hustles on D, setting the pace for small forwards with 138 steals.

The addition of Mo Williams will take ballhandling pressure off 'Bron, and should reduce his turnovers as well as possibly reducing last year's total of 539 assists, which was best amongst small forwards.

2. Shawn Marion, Miami Heat

Marion will be required to hit the boards in Miami and could produce double-digit numbers in this category.  He is a great defender who blocks shots and steals the ball. 

Although not a great shooter, the Matrix has been known to sink threes, and his scoring average will increase as the number two option in South Beach.

3. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets

We all know Melo can score, but he is an underrated defender who can board, with 7.4 rebounds per night last season.  Anthony has really worked on his shot selection and shot an impressive 49.2 percent from the field.

When his points are up, his assists are down, and vice versa—but that's expected, given his situation with AI.

4. Richard Jefferson, Milwaukee Bucks

Fantasy owners should be disappointed in Jefferson’s non-scoring numbers of recent years.  In Milwaukee, he may be required to board up and pass more now that he is not alongside Kidd.

Head-to-head owners should appreciate his consistency, as he was only held to single-digit scoring in two games.

5. Caron Butler, Washington Wizards

Butler knows how to step his game up when Arenas isn’t around, but he has had his own injury problems.  Caron has only played 121 games in the past two seasons.  When healthy, he does not disappoint. 

Last season the wing scored 20.3 points per game, ripped 2.2 steals per game, grabbed 6.7 rebounds per game, and shot 90.1 percent from the stripe.

6. Rashard Lewis, Orlando Magic

Lewis is the Magic’s sweet-shooting big man who is smart with the ball, only turning it over 140 times last season.  Rashard prefers to play outside, draining 226 threes, but can hit the boards, with a 5.8 rebounds per game career average. 

When you draft him, you know what you get.

7. Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers

In his third year last season, Granger blew up.  The New Orleans native averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game.  Danny can still improve upon his passing game, but 171 threes (40.4 percent three point shooter), and an 85.5 percent free throw percentage speak towards his work ethic and potential to be an All-Star. 

Granger will have a target on him as the Pacers number-one option, but new point guard T.J. Ford should be able to find him for open looks.

8. Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies

Gay nearly doubled his scoring average from his rookie season, to 20.2 points per game.  The long armed, former UConn standout is a defensive stopper, and snagged 6.2 rebounds per contest last year.

Gay is confident in his improving three-point shot, but don’t expect him to generate many assists for your squad.

9. Lamar Odom, Los Angles Lakers

Odom is the Lakers' dynamic big man that can play all five positions.  Odom lead all small forwards with 819 rebounds last season, for a 10.6 per-game average.  Lamar limited his turnovers to two per game, a career best, and shot 52.5 percent from the field, over 50 percent for the first time ever. 

Odom can struggle from the stripe.  But as the third option on the Lakers, Phil Jackson will call on his passing ability even more.


10. Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics

Pierce was the catalyst for the Celtics' championship run.  He sacrificed points—19.6 was well below his career 23.2 average—however, he did out-shoot his career percentages to become a more efficient player.  Pierce will steal the ball, pass and board up, but expect his minutes to be limited. 

The championship hype will have him drafted ahead of better fantasy players.


Next Best:

Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans Hornets

Peja lead SFs with 231 three pointers made last season, and shot 92.9 percent from the stripe.

Jamario Moon, Toronto Raptors

Moon is a high-energy player who will block and board.

Ron Artest, Houston Rockets

How will he fit in with his new teammates?

Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Jazz

With his head back on his shoulders, AK47 will be back to his old self.

Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic

Hedo had serious production in the fourth quarter last season.

Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats

Wallace has turned into a legitimate scoring option, but injuries are a problem.


Corey Maggette, Golden State Warriors

Maggette developed a reliable three ball last year.

Don’t Sleep On:

Grant Hill, Phoenix Suns

Hill is aging, but is one of the smartest players in the League.

Shane Battier, Houston Rockets

With the addition of Artest his numbers will drop, but if T-Mac goes down, he’s in. 

Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons

Prince’s shutdown D doesn’t equate to big steal and block numbers.

Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls

Deng scores and boards, but his thin frame makes him susceptible to injuries.

Marvin Williams, Atlanta Hawks

Williams is a good young player who will continue to grow.

Jeff Green, Oklahoma City Thunder

The former lottery pick will need to step up as the Son... Thunders number two option.

Be sure to look at my Point Guard (PG), Shooting Guard (SG), Power Forward (PF), and Center (C) rankings.