Week 8 Fantasy Basketball Player Rankings

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Published on December 14, 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 8:	December 15th-December 21st
Four Games:	BKN, BOS, CHA, CLE, DET, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIL, NO, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHO, POR, SAS, TOR, UTA
Three Games:	ATL, CHI, DAL, DEN, HOU, LAL, MIN, PHI, SAC, WAS
Two Games:	GSW

Point Guards

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Russell Westbrook	[PG]	OKC	4	Averaging 27.4 points, 7.0 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals over last five games.
2	Chris Paul	[PG]	LAC	4
3	Kyle Lowry	[PG]	TOR	4
4	Jrue Holiday	[PG]	NO	4	Averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.8 threes over last five games.
5	Kyrie Ivring	[PG]	CLE	4
6	Damian Lillard	[PG]	POR	4
7	Mike Conley	[PG]	MEM	4
8	Goran Dragic	[PG,SG]	PHO	4	Averaging 18.4 points, 7.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 threes over last five games.
9	Rajon Rondo	[PG]	BOS	4
10	Kemba Walker	[PG]	CHA	4
11	Deron Williams	[PG]	BKN	4
12	John Wall	[PG]	WAS	3	Averaging career highs in assists (10.5), steals (2.1) and rebounds (4.7),
13	Michael Carter-Williams	[PG]	PHI	3
14	Ty Lawson	[PG]	DEN	3
15	Derrick Rose	[PG]	CHI	3	Averaging 27.0 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 threes over last two games.
16	Jeff Teague	[PG]	ATL	3
17	Darren Collison	[PG]	SAC	3	Averaging career highs in points (16.0), assists (6.3) and steals (1.6).
18	Stephen Curry	[PG,SG]	GSW	2
19	Tony Parker *	[PG]	SAS	4	Day-to-day (hamstring).
20	Trey Burke	[PG]	UTA	4	Only averaging 11.2 points on 31% shooting from the field over last five games.
21	C.J. Watson	[PG,SG]	IND	4	Averaging 18.0 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 threes in 32 minutes over last two games.
22	Rodney Stuckey	[PG,SG]	IND	4
23	Reggie Jackson	[PG]	OKC	4
24	Isaiah Thomas	[PG]	PHO	4	Back in action.
25	Patrick Beverley	[PG]	HOU	3
26	Zach Levine	[PG]	MIN	3	Decent short-term play while Mo Williams is out. Averaging 13.8 points, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 37 minutes over last five games.
27	Brandon Jennings	[PG]	DET	4
28	Greivis Vasquez	[PG,SG]	TOR	4
29	Jose Calderon	[PG]	NYK	4
30	Elfrid Payton	[PG]	ORL	4
31	Jarrett Jack	[PG,SG]	BKN	4
32	Norris Cole	[PG]	MIA	4
33	Jeremy Lin	[PG]	LAL	3
34	Devin Harris	[PG,SG]	DAL	3
35	Jason Terry	[PG,SG]	HOU	3

Shooting Guards

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Eric Bledsoe	[PG,SG]	PHO	4	Averaging 17.8 points, 7.2 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.4 threes over last five games.
2	Dwyane Wade	[PG,SG]	MIA	4
3	Brandon Knight	[PG,SG]	MIL	4
4	James Harden	[SG,SF]	HOU	3
5	Kobe Bryant	[SG]	LAL	3
6	Monta Ellis	[PG,SG]	DAL	3
7	Victor Oladipo	[SG]	ORL	4
8	Danny Green	[SG,SF]	SAS	4	Averaging 14.4 points, 1.6 steals and 2.2 threes in 30 minutes over last five games.
9	Wesley Matthews	[SG,SF]	POR	4
10	Jamal Crawford	[PG,SG]	LAC	4
11	Joe Johnson	[SG,SF]	BKN	4	Averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 threes over last two games.
12	J.J. Redick	[SG]	LAC	4
13	Alec Burks	[SG]	UTA	4	Back in action. Averaging 15.3 points, 1.0 steals and 1.0 threes over last three games.
14	Lance Stephenson	[SG]	CHA	4
15	Manu Ginobili	[SG,SF]	SAS	4	Missed two of last five games (rest) but averaging 15.0 points, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 3.0 threes in last three games played.
16	Evan Fournier	[SG]	ORL	4	Averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 threes in 37 minutes over last two games.
17	Lou Williams	[PG,SG]	TOR	4	Averaging 16.0 points and 2.2 threes in 24 minute over last five games.
18	Tim Hardaway Jr.	[SG]	NYK	4	Could see bump in minutes with Iman Shumpert (shoulder) out. Averaging 19.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 threes in 31 minutes over last two games.
19	Jimmy Butler	[SG,SF]	CHI	3
20	Bradley Beal	[SG]	WAS	3
21	Corey Brewer	[SG,SF]	MIN	3	Multi-category contributor averaging 11.4 points, 5.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 steals over last five games.
22	Kyle Korver	[SG,SF]	ATL	3
23	Gerald Green	[SG,SF]	PHO	4	Averaging 13.6 points, 1.2 steals and 2.6 threes in 25 minutes over last five games but minutes and production could decrease with Isaiah Thomas back.
24	Jeremy Lamb	[SG]	OKC	4
25	Terrence Ross	[SG]	TOR	4
26	Arron Afflalo	[SG,SF]	DEN	3
27	Tony Wroten	[PG,SG]	PHI	3	Back in action.
28	Klay Thompson	[SG,SF]	GSW	2
29	Marcus Thornton	[SG]	BOS	4	Averaging 14.5 points and 2.5 threes in 21 minutes over last two games.
30	Marco Belinelli	[SG]	SAS	4	Averaging 14.0 points and 2.2 threes in 23 minutes over last five games.
31	Mario Chalmers	[PG,SG]	MIA	4
32	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	[SG]	DET	4	Minutes and production could go down with Jodie Meeks back.
33	Gerald Henderson	[SG,SF]	CHA	4
34	Bojan Bogdanovic	[SG,SF]	BKN	4
35	Ben McLemore	[SG]	SAC	3

Small Forwards

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	LeBron James	[SF,PF]	CLE	4
2	Carmelo Anthony	[SF,PF]	NYK	4
3	Kevin Durant	[SF]	OKC	4
4	Tyreke Evans	[SG,SF]	NO	4
5	Gordon Hayward	[SG,SF]	UTA	4
6	Nicolas Batum	[SG,SF]	POR	4
7	Jeff Green	[SF,PF]	BOS	4	Averaging 23.2 points and 1.6 threes on 49% shooting from the field over last five games.
8	Josh Smith	[SF,PF]	DET	4	Percentages aren't great (45% from the field, 52% from the line) but averaging 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.0 steals over last five games.
9	Tobias Harris	[SF,PF]	ORL	4
10	Kawhi Leonard *	[SG,SF]	SAS	4	Day-to-day (hand).
11	Rudy Gay	[SF,PF]	SAC	3
12	Trevor Ariza	[SF]	HOU	3
13	Wilson Chandler	[SG,SF]	DEN	3
14	DeMarre Carroll	[SF]	ATL	3
15	Andrew Wiggins	[SF]	MIN	3	Averaging 20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 42 minutes over last three games.
16	Paul Pierce	[SF]	WAS	3	Averaging 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.0 threes in 29 minutes over last five games.
17	Chandler Parsons *	[SF,PF]	DAL	3	Day-to-day (back).
18	Giannis Antetokoumpo	[SF]	MIL	4	Averaging 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 27 minutes over last five games.
19	Courtney Lee	[SG,SF]	MEM	4	Averaging 16.0 points, 1.5 steals and 2.5 threes in 34 minutes over last two games.
20	Luol Deng	[SF]	MIA	4
21	Marcus Morris	[SF,PF]	PHO	4
22	Matt Barnes	[SF]	LAC	4
23	P.J. Tucker	[SF,PF]	PHO	4
24	Tony Allen	[SG,SF]	MEM	4
25	Anthony Morrow	[SG,SF]	OKC	4	Averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 threes and 1.5 steals in 24 minutes over last two games.
26	Khris Middleton	[SF]	MIL	4	Averaging 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 threes in 23 minutes over last five games.
27	Robert Covington	[SF]	PHI	3	Averaging 19.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 3.4 threes in 32 minutes over last five games.
28	Nick Young	[SG,SF]	LAL	3
29	K.J. McDaniels *	[SG,SF]	PHI	3	Day-to-day (ankle).
30	Solomon Hill	[SG,SF]	IND	4
31	James Johnson	[SF,PF]	TOR	4
32	Evan Turner	[SG,SF]	BOS	4
33	Kyle Singler	[SG,SF]	DET	4
34	Mike Dunleavy	[SG,SF]	CHI	3
35	Shabazz Muhammed	[SF]	MIN	3

Power Forwards

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Anthony Davis *	[PF]	NO	4	Day-to-day (chest).
2	LaMarcus Aldridge	[PF,C]	POR	4
3	Blake Griffin	[PF,C]	LAC	4
4	Kevin Love	[PF,C]	CLE	4
5	Serge Ibaka	[PF,C]	OKC	4
6	Tim Duncan	[PF,C]	SAS	4
7	Markieff Morris	[PF]	PHO	4
8	Zach Randolph	[PF,C]	MEM	4
9	Greg Monroe	[PF,C]	DET	4
10	Pau Gasol	[PF,C]	CHI	3	Averaging 19.8 points, 15.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over last five games.
11	Paul Millsap	[PF]	ATL	3
12	Dirk Nowitzki	[PF]	DAL	3
13	Ryan Anderson	[PF,C]	NO	4
14	Jabari Parker	[PF]	MIL	4
15	Amar'e Stoudemire	[PF,C]	NYK	4	Averaging 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 28 minutes over last five games.
16	Jared Sullinger	[PF,C]	BOS	4	Only averaging 7.4 points on 32% shooting from the field over last five games.
17	David West	[PF]	IND	4
18	Derrick Favors *	[PF,C]	UTA	4	Day-to-day (ankle).
19	Amir Johnson	[PF,C]	TOR	4
20	Channing Frye	[PF]	ORL	4
21	Patrick Patterson	[PF]	TOR	4
22	Boris Diaw	[PF,C]	SAS	4
23	Tristan Thompson	[PF,C]	CLE	4
24	Donates Motiejunas	[PF]	HOU	3
25	Kris Humphries	[PF]	WAS	3	Averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31 minutes over last five games.
26	Carlos Boozer	[PF,C]	LAL	3	Numbers have improved since move to bench role. Averaging 13.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in 27 minutes over last three games.
27	Taj Gibson	[PF]	CHI	3	Could see bump in production this week if Joakim Noah (ankle) is out. Averaging 11.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 38 minutes over last two games.
28	Thaddeus Young	[SF,PF]	MIN	3	Shooting career low 44% from the field this season.
29	Nikola Mirotic	[PF]	CHI	3	Could see bump in minutes this week if Joakim Noah (ankle) is out. Averaging 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 threes and 1.0 blocks in 20 minutes over last two games.
30	Luc Richard Mbah a Moute	[PF]	PHI	3	Averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.2 threes in 32 minutes over last five games.
31	Draymond Green	[SF,PF]	GSW	2
32	Nene	[PF,C]	WAS	3
33	Ed Davis	[PF,C]	LAL	3
34	Nerlens Noel	[PF,C]	PHI	3
35	Kenneth Faried	[PF]	DEN	3

Centers

Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Marc Gasol	[C]	MEM	4
2	Chris Bosh	[PF,C]	MIA	4
3	DeAndre Jordan	[C]	LAC	4	Averaging 9.6 points, 14.8 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.2 steals over last five games.
4	Al Jefferson	[PF,C]	CHA	4
5	Andre Drummond	[PF,C]	DET	4
6	Nikola Vucevic	[PF,C]	ORL	4	Back in action.
7	Jonas Valanciunas	[C]	TOR	4	Averaging 15.3 points and 13.7 rebounds over last three games.
8	Al Horford	[PF,C]	ATL	3	Averaging 16.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks over last five games.
9	Marcin Gortat	[C]	WAS	3
10	Tyson Chandler	[C]	DAL	3
11	Dwight Howard	[C]	HOU	3	Back in action.
12	DeMarcus Cousins *	[PF,C]	SAC	3	Day-to-day (illness).
13	Joakim Noah *	[PF,C]	CHI	3	Day-to-day (ankle).
14	Enes Kanter	[C]	UTA	4	Averaging 17.0 points and 8.6 rebounds in 32 minutes over last five games.
15	Roy Hibbert	[C]	IND	4
16	Robin Lopez	[C]	POR	4
17	Larry Sanders	[PF,C]	MIL	4
18	Omer Asik	[C]	NO	4
19	Anderson Varejao	[PF,C]	CLE	4
20	Mason Plumlee	[PF,C]	BKN	4	Decent short-term play while Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett are out. Averaging 14.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in 37 minutes over last two games.
21	Steven Adams	[C]	OKC	4
22	Tyler Zeller	[PF,C]	BOS	4	Averaging 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 26 minutes over last five games.
23	Kelly Olynyk	[C]	BOS	4
24	Gorgui Dieng	[C]	MIN	3
25	Timofey Mozgov	[C]	DEN	3
26	Jordan Hill	[PF,C]	LAL	3
27	Chris Kaman	[PF,C]	POR	4
28	Miles Plumlee	[PF,C]	PHO	4
29	Samuel Dalembert	[C]	NYK	4
30	Rudy Gobert	[C]	UTA	4	Decent short-term play if Derrick Favors (ankle) misses time this week. Averaging 7.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 17 minutes over last five games.
31	Cody Zeller	[PF,C]	CHA	4
32	Brandan Wright	[PF,C]	DAL	3
33	Jason Thompson	[PF,C]	SAC	3
34	Henry Sims	[C]	PHI	3	Averaging 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 23 minutes over last two games.
35	Brook Lopez *	[C]	BKN	4	Day-to-day (back).