NBA Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Power Forwards (PF)

John LorgeOct 2, 2008

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

Top 10:

1. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns

In 33.5 minutes per night, Amare averaged 25.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 59.0 percent from the field and 80.5 percent from the stripe.

The addition of Shaq helped his numbers, and he spent all summer preparing for the season. If you have the top pick in your draft, consider Stoudemire.

2. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks

Dirk is a pure scorer who got to the line 544 times last year, and converted 87.9 percent of the time. Entering his 11th year in the league, he has averaged 20 plus points per game for each of the past eight seasons. Nowitzki is one of the better passing power forwards, averaging 3.5 assists per game last season.

Dirk should have a fantastic year in his first full season with Jason Kidd.

3. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

On the Celtics last season, Garnett saw his points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and minutes fall below his career average. He is still a dominate force on D, who will get your team steals and blocks. Garnett did improve his field goal percentage last season to 53.9 percent and should be above 50 percent again this year.

Championship hype, and a proven history will make him a mid first round pick in most drafts this year.

4. Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz

It’s hard to believe Boozer was a second round pick. He has been a 20 and 10 guy for the past two seasons and is an outstanding 54.1 percent career field goal shooter. Boozer is an average free throw shooter, at 73.8 percent last season. He is also a decent passer and can steal the ball.

5. Elton Brand, Philadelphia 76ers

As long as he comes back from the Achilles injury strong, Brand will have a big fantasy impact this season. His career line of 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 blocks with a 50.5 percent field goal percentage speaks for itself.

Brand could finish the season a top 10 fantasy player.

6. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

With 2.8 blocks per game last season, Josh Smith will help you own the roto-rankings. The College Park native tallied 272 assists, and averaged 8.2 rebounds a night. As he continues to develop his offensive game, don’t be surprised if he improves upon his 17.2 points per game scoring average.

Smith can be a little inconsistent throughout the year, but he is a triple-double threat every night.

7. Antawn Jamison, Washington Wizards

In the absence of Gilbert Arenas last season, Jamison averaged 21.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, breaking the double digit rebound mark for the first time in his career. He has poor assist numbers, but will sink threes, and only averaged 1.3 turnovers per night.

Jamison logs good minutes, which gives him a chance to produce for your squad every night.

8. David West, New Orleans Hornets

Playing with Chris Paul helped West make his first All-Star team last season. The former college player of the year averaged 20.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per night, while blocking 99 shots. West has good shot selection, shooting 48.2 percent from the field and also boasted a 85.0 percent free throw percentage.

If West flies under the radar, pick him up quick.

9. Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors

The addition of Jermaine O’Neal will provide Bosh with another big man to take the defensive pressure off him. He will also be able to play more help-side D, and improve upon his career low 1.0 block per game.

Bosh, who will fall victim to the occasional injury, is a excellent shooter for a big man, hitting 49.4 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the stripe last season.

10. Pau Gasol, Los Angles Lakers

Pau didn’t miss a beat after his trade last season, matching his career average of 18.8 points per game with the Lakers. His rebound numbers were not great, just under eight, but he did finish at 58.9 percent from the field. Pau blocked 1.6 shots, and only committed 1.6 turnovers per contest in LA.

The question mark is how he will play alongside big man Andrew Bynum.

Next Best:

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers

Last season Aldridge upped his scoring average to 17.8, while maintaining a 48.4 shooting percentage.

Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons

Rasheed’s minutes are down, but he still sinks threes, blocks shots, and steals the ball.

David Lee, New York Knicks

In limited time last season, Lee hit the boards, and pulled down 3.0 offensive rebounds per game. He is a career 57.5 percent field goal shooter, and shot 81.9 percent from the stripe last year.

Zach Randolph, New York Knicks

How will Z-Ro and D’Antoni get along?

Troy Murphy, Indiana Pacers

Murphy is productive on the glass and can score also.

Don’t Sleep On:

Al Harrington, Golden State Warriors

Harrington was tops amongst power forwards with 153 threes last season.

Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets

Martin made a solid return from injury last season, but still has never played 82 games.

Antonio McDyess, Detroit Pistons

8.5 rebounds per game were best since his Denver days.

Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves

The rookie's scoring and passing abilities should relate to fantasy production.