NBA Weekly Player Rankings: Week 1

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Published on October 26, 2014

This is our weekly cheat sheet based on our player's projected output and number of games. It assumes an eight-category league with the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-pointers made, free-throw percentage, and field-goal percentage.

These are my rankings. They do not necessarily correspond with the RotoWire cheat sheet or our projections for the season. I use both as a rough guide, but I primarily factor in number of games played for the week, current player trends and pertinent information about the team (injuries, time share situations, etc.). The weekly player rankings are written up following Saturday's games. We will try to update the meter with any breaking news that happens on Sunday, but in most cases, any injuries, lineup changes, etc. that happen on Sunday won't be accounted for in the rankings until the following week.

Week 1:	October 27th-September 2nd
Four Games:	LAL
Three Games:	CHA, CHI, DAL, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, PHO, POR, SAC, TOR, UTA, WAS
Two Games:	ATL, BKN, BOS, CLE, DEN, NOP, SAS

POINT GUARDS

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Stephen Curry	[PG,SG]	GSW	3	Multi-category contributor averaged 24.0 points, 8.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.5 threes last year with great %'s (47% from field and 89% from line).
2	Chris Paul	[PG]	LAC	3
3	Russell Westbrook	[PG]	OKC	3	Should see production go up with Kevin Durant out.
4	John Wall	[PG]	WAS	3
5	Kyle Lowry	[PG]	TOR	3
6	Damian Lillard	[PG]	POR	3	Points (20.7 LY) and 3's (2.7 3pg LY) are great but will have to increase assists (5.6 apg. LY) and steals (0.8 spg. LY) to be considered elite.
7	Mike Conley	[PG]	MEM	3
8	Derrick Rose	[PG]	CHI	3
9	Goran Dragic	[PG,SG]	PHO	3
10	Brandon Jennings	[PG]	DET	3
11	Ricky Rubio	[PG]	MIN	3
12	Jeremy Lin	[PG]	LAL	4	Value goes up with Steve Nash (back) out for the year.
13	Kemba Walker *	[PG]	CHA	3	Day-to-day (foot).
14	Trey Burke	[PG]	UTA	3	Looked good in preseason (averaged 15.6 points, 5.4 assists and 2.4 threes in only 29 minutes in last five preseason games).
15	Darren Collison	[PG]	SAC	3	Averaged 14.8 points, 5.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 threes in 35 starts for the Clippers last year.
16	Kyrie Ivring	[PG]	CLE	2
17	Jeff Teague	[PG]	ATL	2	Averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 assists and 1.4 threes on 48% shooting from the field after the All-Star break last year.
18	Deron Williams	[PG]	BKN	2	Ankle issues are still a concern but averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.7 threes after All-Star break last year.
19	Jrue Holiday	[PG]	NO	2	Averaged 14.3 points, 7.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 34 games before getting hurt last season.
20	Tony Parker	[PG]	SAS	2
21	Ty Lawson *	[PG]	DEN	2	Day-to-day (hamstring).
22	George Hill	[PG,SG]	IND	3	Will be asked to do more with Paul George out and Lance Stephenson in Charlotte. Averaged 10.3 points, 3.5 assists, 1,0 steals and 1.3 threes last year.
23	Reggie Jackson	[PG]	OKC	3	Solid play while Kevin Durant is out. Averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1,1 threes in 36 starts last year.
24	Jameer Nelson	[PG]	DAL	3
25	Isaiah Thomas	[PG]	PHO	3
26	Tony Wroten	[PG,SG]	PHI	3	Could be solid short-time play while Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder) is out. Averaged 17.8 points, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 threes in 16 starts last season.
27	Patrick Beverley	[PG]	HOU	3	Should see as many minutes as he can handle at point guard with Jeremy Lin gone. Averaged 10.2 points, 1.4 steals and 1.6 threes in 31 minutes last season.
28	Jose Calderon	[PG]	NYK	3
29	Elfrid Payton	[PG]	ORL	3
30	Norris Cole	[PG]	MIA	3	Looks to have won starting PG job over Mario Chalmers.
31	D.J. Augustin	[PG]	DET	3
32	Mo Williams	[PG,SG]	MIN	3
33	Jarrett Jack	[PG,SG]	BKN	2
34	Marcus Smart	[PG,SG]	BOS	2	Could start at PG this week if Rajon Rondo (hand) is out this week.
35	Rajon Rondo *	[PG]	BOS	2	Day-to-day (hand). Could return this week.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Kobe Bryant	[SG]	LAL	4
2	James Harden	[SG,SF]	HOU	3
3	Eric Bledsoe	[PG,SG]	PHO	3
4	Klay Thompson	[SG,SF]	GSW	3
5	Monta Ellis	[PG,SG]	DAL	3
6	DeMar DeRozan	[SG,SF]	TOR	3	Put up career highs in points (22.7), assists (4.0), rebounds (4.3) and steals (1.1) last year.
7	Dwyane Wade	[PG,SG]	MIA	3	Will be asked to do more with LeBron gone but only averaging 57 games played over last three years.
8	Lance Stephenson	[SG]	CHA	3
9	Wesley Matthews	[SG,SF]	POR	3
10	Brandon Knight	[PG,SG]	MIL	3
11	Kevin Martin	[SG]	MIN	3
12	Alec Burks	[PG,SG]	UTA	3	Projected to start at shooting guard for Utah - averaged 15.1 points and 1.0 steals after the All-Star break last year.
13	J.J. Redick	[SG]	LAC	3	Only played 35 games last year due to injury but averaged 15.2 points and 2.1 threes.
14	Jamal Crawford	[PG,SG]	LAC	3
15	Terrence Ross	[SG]	TOR	3
16	CJ Miles	[SG,SF]	IND	3	Looks to be opening day starter at small forward. Could be decent source for points and 3's.
17	J.R. Smith	[SG,SF]	NYK	3
18	Iman Shumpert	[PG,SG]	NYK	3
19	Jimmy Butler *	[SG,SF]	CHI	3	Day-to-day (thumb). Could miss some time this week.
20	Kyle Korver	[SG,SF]	ATL	2
21	Tyreke Evans	[SG,SF]	NO	2
22	Joe Johnson	[SG,SF]	BKN	2
23	Avery Bradley	[PG,SG]	BOS	2	Averaged 14.9 points, 1.3 threes and 1.1 steals in 31 minutes last year.
24	Eric Gordon	[SG]	NO	2	Played in more games last year (64) than previous to years combined.
25	Arron Afflalo	[SG,SF]	DEN	2
26	Gerald Green	[SG,SF]	PHO	3	Averaged 15.8 points and 2.5 threes last year but minutes could be hard to come by behind Bledsoe, Dragic and Thomas.
27	Otto Porter	[SG,SF]	WAS	3	Has looked good in preseason and could be opening day starter with Bradley Beal out.
28	Mario Chalmers	[PG,SG]	MIA	3
29	Vince Carter	[SG]	MEM	3
30	Quincy Pondexter	[SG]	MEM	3
31	Evan Fournier	[SG]	ORL	3	Projected starter at shooting guard with Victor Oladipo out indefinitely (facial fracture). Averaged 10.8 points and 1.5 threes after the All-Star break last year for Denver.
32	O.J. Mayo	[SG]	MIL	3
33	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope *	[SG]	DET	3	Day-tot-day (knee). Should start at shooting guard with Jodie Meeks (back) out for a few months.
34	Manu Ginobili	[SG,SF]	SAS	2
35	Danny Green	[SG,SF]	SAS	2

SMALL FORWARDS

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Carmelo Anthony	[SF,PF]	NYK	3	Averaged career highs in rebounds (8.7) and free throw percentage (85%) last year.
2	Nicolas Batum	[SG,SF]	POR	3
3	Gordon Hayward	[SG,SF]	UTA	3
4	Chandler Parsons	[SF,PF]	DAL	3
5	LeBron James	[SF,PF]	CLE	2
6	Rudy Gay	[SF,PF]	SAC	3
7	Trevor Ariza	[SF]	HOU	3	Coming off career year (14.4 ppg., 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 2.3 threes) but can he put up similar numbers next to Harden and Howard?
8	Josh Smith	[SF,PF]	DET	3
9	Wesley Johnson	[SG,SF]	LAL	4	Averaged over one steal, one block and one three last year (9.1 points, 1.1 steals, 1.0 blocks, 1.3 threes).
10	Luol Deng	[SF]	MIA	3
11	Matt Barnes	[SF]	LAC	3	Averaged 13.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 2.2 threes in 27 games after the All-Star break last year.
12	Tobias Harris	[SF,PF]	ORL	3	Could see bump in minutes this week with Channing Frye (knee) questionable.
13	Paul Pierce	[SF]	WAS	3	Could be asked to score more with Bradley Beal out but how many minutes can he handle at age 37?
14	Kawhi Leonard	[SG,SF]	SAS	2	Exploded in the playoffs but only averaged 12.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in the regular season last year.
15	Andrew Wiggins	[SF]	MIN	3
16	Mike Dunleavy	[SG,SF]	CHI	3
17	Harrison Barnes	[SF]	GSW	3	Starter over Andre Iguodala but could be in timeshare.
18	Giannis Antetokoumpo	[SF]	MIL	3
19	Andre Iguodala	[SG,SF]	GSW	3
20	Jeff Green	[SF,PF]	BOS	2
21	Wilson Chandler	[SG,SF]	DEN	2
22	DeMarre Carroll	[SF]	ATL	2
23	Marvin Williams	[SF]	CHA	3
24	Corey Brewer	[SG,SF]	MIN	3
25	K.J. McDaniels	[SG,SF]	PHI	3	Averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in only 22 minutes a game in preseason.
26	Caron Butler	[SF]	DET	3
27	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	[SF]	CHA	3
28	Maurice Harkless	[SF]	ORL	3	Could see extra minutes this week with Victor Oladipo (facial fracture) out indefinitely.
29	Kyle Singler	[SG,SF]	DET	3
30	Perry Jones	[SF]	OKC	3	Projected starter at SF with Kevin Durant and Anthony Morrow out. Averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 threes in last two preseason games.
31	Courtney Lee	[SG,SF]	MEM	3
32	Chris Copeland	[SF]	IND	3
33	Hollis Thompson	[SF]	PHI	3
34	Evan Turner	[SG,SF]	BOS	2
35	Danilo Gallinari	[SF]	DEN	2	Back in action after missing last season (ACL) will most likely start the season as a backup to Wilson Chandler.

POWER FORWARDS

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	LaMarcus Aldridge	[PF,C]	POR	3	Averaged career-highs in points (23.2), rebounds (11.1) and free throw percentage (82%) last year.
2	Serge Ibaka	[PF,C]	OKC	3
3	Blake Griffin	[PF,C]	LAC	3
4	Dirk Nowitzki	[PF]	DAL	3
5	Thaddeus Young	[SF,PF]	MIN	3
6	Derrick Favors	[PF,C]	UTA	3	Averaged 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals after the All-Star break last year.
7	Carlos Boozer	[PF,C]	LAL	4
8	Pau Gasol	[PF,C]	CHI	3
9	Anthony Davis	[PF]	NO	2
10	Kevin Love	[PF,C]	CLE	2	Production could decrease a little playing with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
11	Paul Millsap	[PF]	ATL	2
12	Zach Randolph	[PF,C]	MEM	3
13	David Lee	[PF,C]	GSW	3
14	Jabari Parker	[PF]	MIL	3
15	Markieff Morris	[PF]	PHO	3
16	Taj Gibson	[PF]	CHI	3	Role shouldn't change much from last year with Boozer out and Gasol in. Averaged 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks last year.
17	Terrence Jones	[SF,PF]	HOU	3
18	Tim Duncan	[PF,C]	SAS	2	Averaged 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in only 29 minutes last year.
19	Kenneth Faried	[PF]	DEN	2	Averaged 19.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals over last 25 games last season.
20	Jared Sullinger	[PF,C]	BOS	2	Averaged 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 threes after the All-Star break last year.
21	Ryan Anderson	[PF,C]	NO	2
22	David West *	[PF]	IND	3	Day-to-day (ankle).
23	Nerlens Noel	[PF,C]	PHI	3
24	Amir Johnson	[PF,C]	TOR	3
25	Marcus Morris	[PF]	PHO	3	Could be decent short-term play this week with P.J. Tucker suspended for three games.
26	Amar'e Stoudemire	[PF,C]	NYK	3	Has a lot of mileage but averaged 14.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 27 minutes after the All-Star break last year.
27	Julius Randle	[PF]	LAL	4	Should see enough minutes behind Carlos Boozer and Jordan Hill to be fantasy relevant this season.
28	Ersan Ilyasova	[PF]	MIL	3
29	Nene	[PF,C]	WAS	3	Will not play in season opener (suspension).
30	Tristan Thompson	[PF,C]	CLE	2
31	Mirza Teletovic	[PF]	BKN	2	Could be decent source for points and 3's if he can get the minutes. Averaged 11.9 points and 2.8 threes in eight games in April last year.
32	Jason Smith	[PF,C]	NYK	3
33	Jason Thompson	[PF,C]	SAC	3
34	Josh McRoberts	[PF,C]	MIA	3	Missed all of preseason (toe). Quietly had a solid year in Charlotte (8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 threes) and could put similar numbers in Miami.
35	Channing Frye *	[PF]	ORL	3	Day-to-day (knee). Status in question for this week.

CENTERS

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	DeMarcus Cousins	[PF,C]	SAC	3	Career highs last year in points (22.7), rebounds (11.7), blocks (1.3) and FG% (50%).
2	Andre Drummond	[PF,C]	DET	3	Averaged 13.5 points, 13.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals last year.
3	Al Jefferson	[PF,C]	CHA	3
4	Chris Bosh	[PF,C]	MIA	3	Could be in for big year as #1 option on the Heat.
5	Joakim Noah	[PF,C]	CHI	3	Set career highs in rebounds (11.3), points (12.6) and assists (5.4) but numbers could go down a bit with Derrick Rose healthy and Pau Gasol in the front court.
6	Marc Gasol	[C]	MEM	3
7	Nikola Vucevic	[PF,C]	ORL	3
8	Dwight Howard	[C]	HOU	3
9	DeAndre Jordan	[C]	LAC	3
10	Marcin Gortat	[C]	WAS	3
11	Jonas Valanciunas	[C]	TOR	3
12	Jordan Hill	[PF,C]	LAL	4	Averaged 13.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 32 starts last year.
13	Roy Hibbert	[C]	IND	3
14	Robin Lopez	[C]	POR	3
15	Andrew Bogut	[C]	GSW	3
16	Tyson Chandler	[C]	DAL	3
17	Samuel Dalembert	[C]	NYK	3
18	Al Horford	[PF,C]	ATL	2
19	Enes Kanter	[C]	UTA	3	Values goes up a bit if he starts to hit 3's (shot 15 in preseason).
20	Larry Sanders	[PF,C]	MIL	3	Last season was a disaster but can he revert to 2012 form? (9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks).
21	Nikola Pekovic	[C]	MIN	3	Reportedly on minutes restriction (27 mpg) in effort to stay injury free.
22	Spencer Hawes	[C]	LAC	3	Had career year last year in Philly and Cleveland but might not see 25+ minutes in LA behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
23	John Henson	[PF,C]	MIL	3
24	Henry Sims	[C]	PHI	3	Could be starter by default for the Sixers this year. Averaged 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in 26 minutes after the All-Star break last year.
25	Miles Plumlee	[PF,C]	PHO	3
26	Brook Lopez *	[C]	BKN	2	Day-to-day (foot).
27	Anderson Varejao	[PF,C]	CLE	2	Won starting center job over Tristan Thompson.
28	Kelly Olynyk	[C]	BOS	2
29	Omer Asik	[C]	NO	2
30	Mason Plumlee	[PF,C]	BKN	2	Could be solid play for rebounds this week with Brook Lopez (foot) questionable.
31	Tiago Splitter	[C]	SAS	2
32	Timofey Mozgov	[C]	DEN	2
33	Gorgui Dieng	[C]	MIN	3	Averaged 8.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks after the All-Star break last year but production could be inconsistent as backup to Nikola Pekovic.
34	Steven Adams	[C]	OKC	3
35	Rudy Gobert	[C]	UTA	3