Fantasy Basketball Rankings 2011-12: Top Player for Each Point Category

With the start of the NBA season only a mere days away, that means fantasy drafts are furiously taking place to get ready for the tip-off of the season.

Getting your hands on some sleepers is a nice thing, but you can never go wrong having a couple of studs on your team.

Here is a look at the projected leaders in every fantasy category for the 2011-12 season.

Points: LeBron James

Kevin Durant edged out James for the scoring title a season ago and expect the two to be neck-and-neck competing for it this season with Carmelo Anthony right on their tails.

James will barely edge both of them out, though, and reclaim the scoring title.

Early indications are that James will take his game to the post more where he will out-muscle almost any defender and naturally will get to the free-throw line even more.

Rebounds: Kevin Love

Love dominated the glass a season ago—raking in over 15 per game—and there is no reason to think he can't do it again.

Averaging over 15 per game may be tough to repeat, but he should be competing with Dwight Howard for the league lead and should come out on top again.

Assists: Chris Paul

There are a lot of good point guards in the NBA who put up big assist numbers. Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo and Deron Williams are all quality choices, but Paul could be set up to have a big season.

The Clippers will run and they have finishers. Paul averaged 9.8 dimes a season ago with less talent around him, that number could easily jump by two or three assists per game.

Steals: Chris Paul

Plenty of guards can pick it—including Rondo and Monta Ellis—who should both be near the top of the league in thefts, but nobody takes it away like Paul.

As much as he's known for what he can do with the ball in his hand, Paul is just as good at the defensive end of the floor.

Blocks: JaVale McGee

McGee is one of the good young centers in the league that can send shots the other way.

Andrew Bogut led the NBA a season ago and Howard is always a good shot blocker, but look for either McGee or the young Serge Ibaka to step up and lead the league this season.

Three-Point Field Goals: Jason Richardson

Known earlier in his career as a guy who was a high-flyer, Richardson has evolved into quite the long-range shooter.

He will put it up from downtown a lot and while he may not shoot the highest percentage from behind the arc, Richardson has a chance to make the most three-pointers.

Field Goal Percentage: Dwight Howard

Last season, there were only two regulars to shoot over 59 percent from the floor, Howard (.593) and Nene (.615).

Nene had a good season and cashed in on it. He may trend down towards his career .563 field goal percentage instead of shooting above .600 for back-to-back seasons.

No matter what uniform Howard is in this year, he's going to get his touches near the rim, and he's a better finisher.

Free Throw Percentage: Stephen Curry

Curry is as pure of a shooter as there is in the NBA. It doesn't matter if it's behind the arc or at the free-throw stripe, when Curry releases it, it's more than likely going in.

He led the league from the charity stripe last year at .934 and should do so once again.