Rankings are all well and good, but how close are players in value, really? Is the gap between the top-ranked center and the fourth-ranked center chasmic? How about the gap from 17-29? Tiers can help to illustrate a closer approximation of value and show which players share similar ranges of outcomes. This is the final installment in our series of positional tiers (assume 9-cat format). Check out the other positional rankings and tiers here:
Note: Some of these players play more minutes at PF but are included because they have C eligibility on Yahoo
Top-150 Player Rankings with Notes 
ADP – Average Draft Position
Tier 1: Best of the Best
Jokic is deservedly in a tier of his own here. No other player can stand toe-to-toe with him, as the 2020-21 MVP possesses all of the skills you want with a No. 1 pick: shooting, scoring, assists, rebounds, threes – he’s a true unicorn given his nightly triple-double upside.
Tier 2: Elite Options
Joel Embiid, Karl-Anthony Towns, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Nikola Vucevic, Domantas Sabonis, Bam Adebayo
There’s not much to be said about Embiid on a per-game basis, but his availability is always a looming question mark for fantasy managers. After a rough couple years marked with injury and family tragedy, KAT should be ready to assume his rightful spot as one of fantasy’s most elite players. As for Anthony Davis, fantasy managers are hoping for the best after one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. If he can return to pre-2020-21 form, he’ll likely be one of the best values of the fantasy hoops season.
Tier 3: Upside & Consistency
Rudy Gobert, Richaun Holmes, Julius Randle, Myles Turner, Jaren Jackson, Robert Williams, Clint Capela, Deandre Ayton
One of these players is not like the other. Ok, actually two of these players. When it comes to consistency, JJJ is far from the poster child, and we haven’t seen Time Lord put together a full season of healthy play that includes consistent minutes. You know what you’re going to get from the rest of these guys, and while the aforementioned two players come with plenty of risk, that risk is baked into their rankings and tier placement and includes their massive upsides.
Fantasy Basketball Injuries to Monitor
Tier 4: Super Centers
John Collins, Christian Wood, Kristaps Porzingis, Jusuf Nurkic, Pascal Siakam, Isaiah Stewart, Draymond Green, Jonas Valanciunas, Jarrett Allen
The guys in Tier 4 can be great options, but they’re not the types of players you necessarily want as your top center. Collins and Wood are fairly safe, but Porzingis, Nurkic, and Siakam come with injury risk, Stewart has yet to be given a featured role for an entire season, and JV’s outlook is uncertain in New Orleans.
Tier 5: Good (but not great)
Mitchell Robinson, Brook Lopez, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, P.J. Washington, Robert Covington
Boucher has the upside to move up a tier or two, but his playing time was whacky last season, and he’s likely to split time with Khem Birch this season. Can Blockinson finally live up to fantasy managers’ lofty standards?
Tier 6: Serviceable Plays
Bobby Portis, Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, Thaddeus Young, Derrick Favors, Daniel Gafford, Khem Birch, Wendell Carter, Ivica Zubac, Larry Nance, Isaiah Roby
Plumlee, Olynyk, Young, Favors, and Nance will all play for different teams this season, so their roles are not assured. All of the players in this tier have the potential to be regular starters on your fantasy team, but you can’t count on it. They’re a step above the late-rounders but not any more valuable than that.
Tier 7: Late-Rounders
Evan Mobley, Nerlens Noel, Mo Bamba, Lauri Markkanen, Montrezl Harrell, Marcus Morris, Al Horford, Thomas Bryant
These are the guys to take a shot on late in drafts, but you certainly shouldn’t hang your hat on their production.
Using Early Yahoo ADP & Rankings to Your Advantage
Zachary Hanshew is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.
