Harden Tops Way, Way Too Early Top-150 for 2020-21

Harden Tops Way, Way Too Early Top-150 for 2020-21

This article is part of our Player Rankings series.

With the 2019-20 season currently on hold, we thought we'd take the opportunity to peer into our crystal ball and look way ahead into the future at our top-150 players for next season.

Typically, this is an exercise we do in mid-summer after the draft and free agency, but what better time than now to begin preparing for a season that (hopefully) won't be interrupted by a major global pandemic?

A few notes before we get into the rankings:

  • These are the average of Nick Whalen (NW) and Alex Barutha's (AB) individual top-150 rankings. Players who were unranked on one of the lists were assigned a default value of 160.
  • We're assuming the 2019-20 fantasy season is over. As such, all references to rankings or stats take into account everything that happened up to the NBA suspension on Mar. 12.
  • We're looking ahead, so "last season" refers to 2019-20
  • Injured players are assumed to be healthy to begin next season, though potential regression is factored in for players like Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, DeMarcus Cousins, etc.
  • Rankings are based on eight-category leagues (PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK, FG%, FT%, 3PM)

Note: Column headers are sortable. The default rank on the left is tied to the average (AVG) rank of each player.

RkNWABAVGPlayerTeamPos 
1111James HardenHOUGFinished his fourth consecutive No. 1 overall season in eight-category leagues.
2222Anthony DavisLALF/CLed the league in stocks in addition to hitting a career-best 84.5% of his free throws.
3555Stephen CurryGSWGComing off of a lost season, returns to a rejuvenated Warriors team.
4475.5Giannis AntetokounmpoMILFOn pace for a second straight MVP but drop in free throw percentage hurts his fantasy upside.
5835.5Karl-Anthony TownsMINF/CMissed significant time in 2019-20 after sitting out only five games through first four NBA seasons.
6396Nikola JokicDENCGot off to a slow start in 2019-20 but worked up to his usual All-NBA production.
7687Trae YoungATLGMade another big leap, offensively, in Year 2, finishing second in the league in total points and assists.
81047Damian LillardPORGComing off his best season; set career-highs in points (28.9 PPG), efficiency (61.9 TS%) and assists (7.8 APG).
9967.5Luka DoncicDALGAveraged 29/9/9 as a 20-year-old and still has room to improve.
107108.5LeBron JamesLALFLed the league in assists (10.6 APG) as a 35-year-old, but poor free throw shooting hurts his fantasy upside.
11111312Kawhi LeonardLACFLoad management remains a concern, but Leonard finished fourth in per-game value in 2019-20.
12121212Bradley BealWASGCaught fire in the second half of 2019-20, but John Wall's return could reduce Beal's usage.
13131112Kevin DurantBROFReturns from a serious injury, but even a diminished version of Durant is capable of superstar production.
14151414.5Paul GeorgeLACFProduction dipped slightly with the Clippers amid multiple injuries.
15141615Joel EmbiidPHICInjuries led to a letdown 2019-20 season, but Embiid remains among the league's elite center-eligible players.
16181516.5Russell WestbrookHOUGTurned things around after Clint Capela was traded but remains a non-factor from three.
17171817.5Devin BookerPHOGComing off of the best season of his career; Booker was a top-eight player in 2019-20.
18191718Jayson TatumBOSFHit a mid-season breakout and averaged 29.2 points from Feb. 1 onward.
19201919.5Ben SimmonsPHIGHasn't improved much since rookie year, but Simmons' counting stats help offset poor free throw shooting and lack of threes.
20162721.5John CollinsATLFContinues to make strides in his game but it's unclear how the addition of Clint Capela will affect Collins' role.
21212523Andre DrummondCLECStill the league's premier rebounder, Drummond added a career-best 3.5 stocks per game in 2019-20.
22252123Brandon IngramNORFLikely winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award and made his first All-Star game in 2019-20
23222624Deandre AytonPHOCEarly-season suspension clouded what was quietly an encouraging sophomore campaign.
24262324.5Zach LaVineCHIGSet career highs in points (25.5), rebounds (4.8), threes (3.1) and steals (1.5) per game.
25272224.5Jimmy ButlerMIAFRegression from three is a concern, but Butler posted career-best rebounding and assist numbers last season.
26243127.5Bam AdebayoMIAF/CMade his first All-Star game in 2019-20 -- stuffs the stat sheet.
27233328Pascal SiakamTORFOne of the most well-rounded players in the league, Siakam took another step toward stardom last season.
28333031.5Jrue HolidayNORGTook a small step backward with the emergence of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram as reliable players.
29293532Khris MiddletonMILGHad his best season in 2019-20 and did it all in just 30.1 minutes per game.
30353233.5Kristaps PorzingisDALF/CBecame a better rebounder (9.5 RPG) and shot more threes (2.5 makes on 7.1 attempts per game).
31392833.5Chris PaulOKCGWas a top-10 player in total value last season, but injury history is still a major concern.
32363636Nikola VucevicORLCRemained a good-not-great, reliable fantasy center.
33314236.5Kemba WalkerBOSGTook a step back amid injuries in first season with the Celtics.
34452937Kyle LowryTORGIncreased his scoring in the absence of Kawhi Leonard; turned 34 in March.
35502437Hassan WhitesideMIACOne of the biggest surprises of the 2019-20 season, will Whiteside have the same opportunity next season?
36304638Klay ThompsonGSWGComing off a lost season due to a torn ACL.
37324538.5De'Aaron FoxSACGCounting stats were solid, but Fox's three-point (31%) and free throw (70%) shooting were shaky at best last season.
38374038.5Domantas SabonisINDFIncreased production across the board and made his first All-Star game.
39403939.5Lonzo BallNORGStill inconsistent as a scorer overall, but Ball made a huge leap as a three-point shooter last season.
40413839.5Rudy GobertUTACNumbers remained steady en route to his first career All-Star bid.
41384340.5Donovan MitchellUTAGStill hasn't made The Leap, but Mitchell has been remarkably consistent through first three NBA seasons.
42463741.5Clint CapelaATLCAfter six seasons in Houston, Capela will now catch lobs from Trae Young.
43345042Fred VanVleetTORGAfter a breakout season, where VanVleet lands in free agency will determine his ceiling.
44434443.5Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOKCGMeshed well alongside Chris Paul and posted career marks in points (19.3) and rebounds (6.1) per game.
45286345.5Jonathan IsaacORLFAveraged 4.0 stocks per game and was a top-35 player before a knee injury in January ended his season.
46444846Ja MorantMEMGPresumed Rookie of the Year and a borderline All-Star.
47425247Jamal MurrayDENGComing off of another top-50 season with plenty of room to grow.
48554148DeMar DeRozanSANG2019-20 was the most efficient year of his career (59.7 TS%).
49623448D'Angelo RussellMINGHit nearly 37 percent of his career-high 9.6 three-point attempts per game last season.
50614754Robert CovingtonHOUFVital part of Houston's small-ball plan. Averaged 2.9 threes, 7.9 rebounds and 3.6 stocks per game in Houston.
51595155Ricky RubioPHOGQuietly reasserted himself as one of the league's best passers last season (8.9 APG).
52585355.5Buddy HieldSACGPosted career marks in threes (3.8) and assists (3.1) per game but clashed with coaching staff and moved to bench.
53476556Jaren Jackson Jr.MEMFLow rebounding rate remains a concern, but Jackson hit 39.7% of his threes last season.
54545856Christian WoodDETFWill be a great fantasy player if Detroit doesn't upgrade at his position. Averaged 24.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 stocks after the break.
55516256.5Zion WilliamsonNORFWilliamson was as good as advertised as a scorer and rebounder, but he didn't do much else in his first 19 NBA games.
56526156.5Draymond GreenGSWFPlayed 43 games in 2019-20 in somewhat of a lost year. Failed to succeed without Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson available.
57486757.5Eric BledsoeMILGPlayed well last season but fantasy value was hampered by a drop in playing time (27.2 MPG).
58536358Myles TurnerINDCGreat shot-blocker who can't seem to turn the corner as a scorer or rebounder.
59605859Devonte' GrahamCHAGCame out of nowhere to rank fifth in total threes and fourth in assists last season.
60655459.5Jonas ValanciunasMEMCThrived in a starting role with the Grizzlies but can't seem to crack the 30-minute mark.
61635760Gordon HaywardBOSFStruggled to find his fit, but Hayward is coming off of his best, and most consistent, season in Boston.
62497260.5CJ McCollumPORGStayed the course as a consistent No. 2 option for Portland.
63715060.5Jaylen BrownBOSG/FPosted career-highs in points, rebounds, assists, FG% and FT% last season
64744961.5Victor OladipoINDGStruggled coming back from a torn quad tendon but should be better with another offseason to rest.
65566862Kelly OubrePHOFCould be a 20-point-per-game scorer after an impressive first full season in Phoenix.
66685662LaMarcus AldridgeSANF/CSlight dip in scoring and rebounding in his age-34 season but it's unclear when his production will finally fall off.
67725563.5Kevin LoveCLEFStayed mostly healthy last season, but Love carries significant injury risk.
68646665Tobias HarrisPHIFHas offered steady production over the past five years and isn't showing signs of slowing down.
69697170John WallWASGHasn't played since December of 2018, but Wall should be fully healthy for the start of the 2020-21 season.
70578470.5Brook LopezMILCOne of the best shot-blockers in the league but inexplicably became a bad three-point shooter.
71677571Otto PorterCHIFInjuries limited Porter to 14 games last season, but he has two top-30 seasons in his career.
72707371.5Malcolm BrogdonINDGSuffered a torn hip before the season was suspended. Injuries are becoming a major concern.
73817075.5Mitchell RobinsonNYKCUnderutilized again, but Robinson's elite shot-blocking and field goal percentage buoy his value.
74767676Terry RozierCHAGIncreased production was overshadowed by the emergence of Devonte' Graham.
75757977Marcus SmartBOSGDefensive-minded guard has hit nearly 36% of his threes over the last two seasons.
76807477Lauri MarkkanenCHIFHad development stunted by injuries, which are becoming a concern; Averaged 19/9 during his second season.
77787878T.J. WarrenINDG/FOverall fantasy profile is limited, but Warren scores efficiency from all three levels. 
78778078.5Dejounte MurraySANGBecame a regular starter but saw just 24.9 MPG. Per 36 minutes, averaged 15.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.5 SPG.
79916980Danilo GallinariOKCFComing off of another typical Gallinari season, the 31-year-old heads into free agency this summer.
80858183Will BartonDENG/FMulti-position glue guy who averaged 15.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.7 APG and 1.1 SPG.
81739684.5Marvin BagleySACFNo. 2 overall pick in 2018 has already missed 71 games in two seasons.
826610485Richaun HolmesSACCWill be a very useful fantasy player if he retains a starting role in 2020-21.
83799185Andrew WigginsGSWFHot start may have been a mirage, but Wiggins is in a much better basketball situation with the Warriors.
84838885.5Collin SextonCLEGPlaymaking ability remains suspect but is proving to be a good scorer at a young age.
85868987.5Julius RandleNYKFHad the 2019-20 season most expected: solid scoring and rebounding numbers without much else.
86938388Al HorfordPHIF/CLost starting job late in the year. Efficiency and shot-blocking took a significant dip.
87968289Davis BertansWASFRanked fourth in made threes per game and seventh in 3PT% last season.
881017789Evan FournierORLG/FComing off arguably his best season, setting career highs in points (18.8) and threes (2.7) per game.
89899089.5Bojan BogdanovicUTAFScored a career-best 20.2 PPG while topping 40% from three for the third straight season.
90889390.5Wendell Carter Jr.CHICDealt with injuries again -- has played just 87 games in first two seasons. Still, potential is there.
91849891Norman PowellTORGBroke out with a top-65 finish in 2019-20 behind an efficient 50/40/84 shooting line.
92978792Serge IbakaTORF/C2019-20 was nearly identical to 2018-19, though Ibaka did improve as a three-point shooter.
93929995.5Aaron GordonORLFTook a step back in 2019-20 but the 24-year-old will still have his believers.
941088697Spencer DinwiddieBROGComing off his most productive season, but what will happen with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant available?
959010597.5Caris LeVertBROGAveraged 24.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and shot 41 percent from three over his final 16 games.
969410197.5Larry NanceCLEF/CStill finding sixth-man minutes and set career-highs in points (10.1) and threes (1.0) per game.
978211799.5Brandon ClarkeMEMFAlready an elite finisher, Clarke has room to grow after barely cracking 20 minutes per game as a rookie.
98100100100OG AnunobyTORFPlayed well in expanded role with Kawhi Leonard leaving for the Clippers.
9911885101.5Michael Porter Jr.DENFCould be over-drafted, but Porter showed plenty of glimpses of why he was once considered the best player in his class.
10011392102.5Thomas BryantWASF/CPlayed only 38 games due to injury but may be able to step up into a real starting role in 2020-21.
101103103103Blake GriffinDETFInjuries are more of a concern than ever for Griffin, who's missed significant time in five of the last six seasons.
10211197104Dennis SchroderOKCGHad a bounce-back season for the new-look Thunder.
10311494104Coby WhiteCHIGAveraged 24.7 points on 47/41/90 shooting over his final 10 games.
104104109106.5Kevin HuerterATLGHas proven to be more than just a three-point shooter -- averaged 3.8 assists in 2019-20.
10599120109.5Mikal BridgesPHOGWas a top-50 player in eight-category leagues after the All-Star break.
106110111110.5Markelle FultzORLGMay never be able to shoot threes, but was acceptable from the free-throw line (72.3%), while averaging 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals last season.
107117106111.5Lou WilliamsLACGCeded some scoring responsibility but averaged a career-high 5.7 assists per game last season.
108123102112.5Daniel TheisBOSCUnderrated center who proved to be a viable fantasy option after the New Year.
109112114113Bogdan BogdanovicSACGCould step into a featured role if he lands elsewhere in free agency this summer.
110119110114.5DeMarcus CousinsFACMissed 2019-20 due to torn ACL. Can still be a great fantasy option if he's able to see 25-plus minutes and stay healthy.
111122107114.5Terrence RossORLGTook a career-high 7.2 three-pointers per game last season.
112102129115.5PJ WashingtonCHAFAppears capable of becoming a nice three-and-D forward.
113106130118Josh RichardsonPHIGOften the odd man out in Philly last season, Richardson is a bounceback candidate in 2020-21.
114107131119Tim Hardaway Jr.DALGBecame a 40.7 percent three-point shooter who hit 2.9 triples per contest in 2019-20.
115116123119.5Seth CurryDALGAveraged 16.1 points on 55% shooting, including 52% from three, over his final 25 games.
116109133121Malik BeasleyMINGAveraged 20.7 points (3.5 threes) after joining the Timberwolves. Fantasy value will depend on 2020-21 roster construction.
117134108121Nemanja BjelicaSACFFinished as a top-90 player last season, but a healthy Marvin Bagley could lead to reduced minutes.
118125118121.5Rui HachimuraWASF/CRelatively uninspiring rookie year; needs to improve as a three-point shooter.
119131112121.5Steven AdamsOKCCBounced back from a slow start to post his fourth consecutive top-100 season in eight-category leagues.
120126119122.5DeAndre JordanBROCDefinitively on the wrong side of his prime but still a source of rebounds (10.0 RPG) and efficient scoring (66.6 FG%).
12187160123.5Jusuf NurkicPORCDid not play in 2019-20 but should reclaim starting spot; finished as a top-40 player in 2018-19.
122124125124.5Jerami GrantOKCFProduction decreased in Denver but may step into an expanded role if the Nuggets move on from Paul Millsap.
123136113124.5Marc GasolTORCInjuries took their toll last season, and Gasol's run as a dependable fantasy producer is likely over.
124128122125Derrick WhiteSANGDidn't make significant improvements -- uncler if he'll develop into a true starter.
125135115125Maxi KleberDALF/CShot career-bests from three (37%) and at the line (86%) last season.
12695160127.5Joe InglesUTAFProduction waned with Mike Conley available; entering his age-33 season.
127129127128Joe HarrisBROGThree-point specialist played well last season but couldn't match his 47% mark from three in 2018-19.
12898160129Mike ConleyUTAGLooked awful, at times, in his first year away from Memphis; began to look better before the season was suspended.
129133126129.5Tomas SatoranskyCHIGA borderline-top-100 player last season, Satoransky could lose time to Coby White in 2020-21.
130132128130Taurean PrinceBROFSaw rebounding (6.0 RPG) increase but shot just 37.6 percent from the field.
131127135131Kendrick NunnMIAGCould take on even more offensive responsibility if the Heat don't retain free-agent-to-be, Goran Dragic.
132140124132Derrick FavorsNORFProduction waned once Zion Williamson joined the rotation. Could join a different team in 2020-21.
133105160132.5Luke KennardDETGKnee injury marred a strong start to last season (15.8 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.5 RPG, 40% 3PT in 28 games).
134145121133Marquese ChrissGSWFShould remain fantasy-relevant if he can garner sixth-man minutes in Golden State or elsewhere.
135139132135.5Josh HartNORGChange of scenery proved beneficial for one of the best rebounding guards in the league (6.5 RPG).
136115160137.5Elfrid PaytonNYKGAveraged 8.8 assists and 1.6 steals across the final 22 games of 2019-20.
137138141139.5Danny GreenLALGProduction is average-at-best, but Green contributes threes and steals and rarely misses games.
138120160140Donte DiVincenzoMILGWas productive in sixth-man minutes and posted the NBA's seventh-best steal percentage (2.7%).
139144136140Goran DragicMIAGCareer is at a crossroads as he'll enter free agency at age 34.
140160120140Miles BridgesCHAFMinutes increased and production followed suit, but Bridges didn't make any real strides.
141121160140.5Kris DunnCHIG/FEssentially a steals specialist (2.0 SPG), Dunn adds little else.
142130152141Eric GordonHOUGPlayed only 34 games due to injury and was mostly ineffective.
143137146141.5RJ BarrettNYKGShowed improvement late in rookie season, but above all else, Barrett needs to improve at the line (61% FT).
144146140143Harrison BarnesSACFProduction is empty calories as far as fantasy is concerned.
145148139143.5Paul MillsapDENFProduction dipped a bit in age-34 season, but Millsap shot a career-best 44 percent from three.
146160134147James JohnsonMIAFShould be fantasy-relevant if he retains at least a sixth-man role in Minnesota.
147147150148.5Dillon BrooksMEMG/FSolidified himself as an every-night starter for one of the best young teams in the league last season.
148150147148.5JaVale McGeeLALCProduction fell with Dwight Howard's resurgence. Could be the same story in 2020-21.
149160137148.5JJ RedickNORGPlaying time slumped, but Redick still provided his usual, elite three-point shooting (45% 3PT).
150160138149Patrick BeverleyLACGCan stuff the stat sheet as a point guard, though he isn't much of a scorer.

Next up: Tyler Herro, MIA; Aaron Holiday, IND; Jarrett Allen, BRO; Anthony Edwards, ROOKIE; P.J. Tucker, HOU; Troy Brown, WAS; Darius Garland, CLE; De'Anthony Melton, MEM; Duncan Robinson, MIA; Ivica Zubac, LAC; De'Andre Hunter, ATL

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Alex Barutha
Alex is RotoWire's Chief NBA Editor. He writes articles about daily fantasy, year-long fantasy and sports betting. You can hear him on the RotoWire NBA Podcast, Sirius XM, VSiN and other platforms. He firmly believes Robert Covington is the most underrated fantasy player of the past decade.
Nick Whalen
Now in his 10th year with the company, Nick is RotoWire's Senior Media Analyst, a position he took on after several years as the Head of Basketball Content. A multi-time FSGA and FSWA award winner, Nick co-hosts RotoWire's flagship show on Sirius XM Fantasy alongside Jeff Erickson, as well as The RotoWire NBA Show on Sirius XM NBA with Alex Barutha. He also co-hosts RotoWire's Football and Basketball podcasts. You can catch Nick's NBA and NFL analysis on VSiN and DraftKings, as well as RotoWire's various social and video channels. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @wha1en.
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