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Week 22 Fantasy Basketball Player Rankings: The Playoffs Continue

Week 22:March 23rd – March 29th
Four Games:BKN, BOS, CHR, GSW, MEM, MIA, MIN, NYK, OKC, PHI, POR, SAS, UTA, WAS, IND, LAL, HOU
Three Games:ATL, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, MIL, NOP, SAC, TOR, LAC, PHO, CHI
Two Games:ORL

The first round of the fantasy playoffs saw several key players miss games (Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Ricky Rubio to name a few) which likely led to some first round upsets in your league. If your fantasy team was lucky enough to navigate successfully through the first round, then you'll surely have some tough decisions about who to play in the second round.

To help you with those decisions, here are rankings for Week 22. These rankings are based on each player's projected stats (which you can find here), as well as the number of games they play in Week 22.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. The table above shows the number of games each team plays in Week 22. One team, Orlando, plays only two games, 12 teams play three games, and 17 teams play four games.
  2. RotoWire's recommended strategy for head-to-head leagues (which we covered in detail in the preseason) is to focus on being as dominate as you can in the six positive counting categories (points, rebounds, three-pointers, assists, steals, and blocks), even if that means you aren't competitive in the other three categories (field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and turnovers).

This strategy is even more effective in the fantasy playoffs, because all that matters now is advancing to the next round. As a result, these rankings take into account only the six positive counting categories. If you're using a different punting strategy you can find custom rankings here.

Point Guard

Several top point guards have only two or three games this week: Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe, Kyle Lowry, Kyrie Irving, Michael Carter-Williams, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, and Mr. Triple Double himself Elfrid Payton (whose Magic only play two games this week).

Just because these guys were drafted early, or have been elite lately, doesn't mean you should automatically play them over wavier wire players with four games like Patrick Beverley, Isaiah Canaan, Marcus Smart, Ish Smith, and D.J. Augustin who all rank inside the top 65 this week and are available in over 80 percent of ESPN leagues. Smith is the best bet of this group to help you in the assists category.

POSPlayerTeamRankAuctionESPN %
PG1Russell WestbrookOKC1$81100%
PG2Stephen CurryGSW3$70100%
PG3John WallWAS4$59100%
PG4Ricky RubioMIN5$5972%
PG5Damian LillardPOR7$46100%
PG6Mike ConleyMEM20$3487%
PG7Deron WilliamsBKN22$3172%
PG8George HillIND26$3057%
PG9Kemba WalkerCHA30$2784%
PG10Goran DragicMIA34$2692%
PG11Patrick BeverleyHOU38$2419%
PG12Tony ParkerSAS39$2483%
PG13Chris PaulLAC42$22100%
PG14Isaiah CanaanPHI45$2113%
PG15Marcus SmartBOS55$187%
PG16Jordan ClarksonLAL60$1717%
PG17Ish SmithPHI62$166%
PG18D.J. AugustinOKC64$1612%
PG19Jarrett JackBKN68$1332%
PG20Mo WilliamsCHA69$1363%
PG21Eric BledsoePHO70$1296%
PG22Jeremy LinLAL73$1228%
PG23Mario ChalmersMIA76$1114%
PG24Kyle LowryTOR77$1198%
PG25Trey BurkeUTA81$1029%
PG26Kyrie IrvingCLE82$9100%
PG27Michael Carter-WilliamsMIL110$383%
PG28C.J. WatsonIND111$32%
PG29Shaun LivingstonGSW123$14%
PG30Isaiah ThomasBOS124$164%
PG31Zach LaVineMIN126$13%
PG32Jeff TeagueATL130$190%
PG33Ty LawsonDEN131$195%
PG34C.J. McCollumPOR135$10%
PG35Aaron BrooksCHI143$121%
PG36Ramon SessionsWAS145$10%
PG37Phil PresseyBOS148$10%
PG38Reggie JacksonDET149$172%
PG39Shane LarkinNYK153$10%
PG40Rajon RondoDAL162$-80%
PG41Greivis VasquezTOR166$-3%
PG42Pablo PrigioniHOU173$-0%
PG43Louis WilliamsTOR177$-40%
PG44Dennis SchroderATL179$-12%
PG45Devin HarrisDAL194$-3%
PG46Andre MillerSAC197$-1%

Shooting Guard

Tony Allen played 35 minutes on Saturday with Courtney Lee (wrist) out and had six steals. He could be a great option this week if you are targeting steals. Allen is available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues.

Dante Exum ranks 72nd in our rankings. I point this out to let you know not to trust this ranking. He is playing big minutes, 26.8 in his past 10 games, but the rookie hasn't scored a single point in three straight games. This ranking is inflated by an optimistic preseason projection - you would be better served looking elsewhere.

POSPlayerTeamRankAuctionESPN %
SG1James HardenHOU2$79100%
SG2Dwyane WadeMIA14$3896%
SG3Gordon HaywardUTA18$3595%
SG4Andrew WigginsMIN23$3180%
SG5Bradley BealWAS27$2872%
SG6Danny GreenSAS29$2758%
SG7Kevin MartinMIN31$2775%
SG8Joe JohnsonBKN33$2678%
SG9Alexey ShvedNYK35$2538%
SG10Tony AllenMEM37$259%
SG11Evan TurnerBOS46$2118%
SG12Rodney StuckeyIND54$1843%
SG13Avery BradleyBOS56$1735%
SG14Dion WaitersOKC58$176%
SG15Wayne EllingtonLAL61$166%
SG16Langston GallowayNYK65$1414%
SG17Dante ExumUTA72$121%
SG18Anthony MorrowOKC92$76%
SG19Arron AfflaloPOR96$746%
SG20Rodney HoodUTA99$79%
SG21Marco BelinelliSAS101$51%
SG22Henry WalkerMIA104$51%
SG23Courtney LeeMEM109$37%
SG24Monta EllisDAL115$297%
SG25Jason RichardsonPHI117$21%
SG26Gerald HendersonCHA120$218%
SG27J.J. RedickLAC122$262%
SG28Justin HolidayGSW125$11%
SG29Markel BrownBKN128$10%
SG30DeMar DeRozanTOR129$194%
SG31Eric GordonNOP133$153%
SG32J.R. SmithCLE154$147%
SG33P.J. TuckerPHO156$119%
SG34Elijah MillsapUTA160$-0%
SG35Leandro BarbosaGSW169$-0%
SG36Nick CalathesMEM171$-0%
SG37Bojan BogdanovicBKN174$-1%
SG38Kentavious Caldwell-PopeDET175$-10%
SG39Will BartonDEN176$-6%
SG40Terrence RossTOR182$-10%
SG41Iman ShumpertCLE183$-4%
SG42Randy FoyeDEN187$-8%
SG43Ben McLemoreSAC190$-7%
SG44Jodie MeeksDET196$-4%
SG45Lance StephensonCHA198$-21%

Small Forward

Jae Crowder has a great chance to accumulate 6+ threes and steals this week with four games on the schedule. He also provides solid production in rebounds and blocks, which makes him a solid add. Crowder is available in over 90 percent of ESPN leagues and is higher in the rankings than Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gay, and Chandler Parsons, who all play only three games this week.

POSPlayerTeamRankAuctionESPN %
SF1Kawhi LeonardSAS8$4598%
SF2Draymond GreenGSW10$4281%
SF3Trevor ArizaHOU15$3776%
SF4Josh SmithHOU16$3671%
SF5Nicolas BatumPOR21$3282%
SF6Thaddeus YoungBKN36$2578%
SF7Jeff GreenMEM43$2268%
SF8Wesley JohnsonLAL44$224%
SF9Corey BrewerHOU48$2018%
SF10LeBron JamesCLE49$20100%
SF11Michael Kidd-GilchristCHA50$2030%
SF12Luol DengMIA51$2067%
SF13Paul PierceWAS63$1641%
SF14C.J. MilesIND66$146%
SF15Jerami GrantPHI74$111%
SF16Luc Richard Mbah a MoutePHI78$104%
SF17Andre IguodalaGSW83$917%
SF18Jae CrowderBOS86$86%
SF19Harrison BarnesGSW90$822%
SF20Solomon HillIND91$82%
SF21Rudy GaySAC107$498%
SF22Khris MiddletonMIL112$358%
SF23Tyreke EvansNOP113$386%
SF24Hollis ThompsonPHI118$21%
SF25Marvin WilliamsCHA121$21%
SF26Danilo GallinariDEN132$145%
SF27Kyle SinglerOKC136$10%
SF28Chandler ParsonsDAL137$188%
SF29Michael BeasleyMIA142$11%
SF30Wilson ChandlerDEN144$150%
SF31Giannis AntetokounmpoMIL157$-71%
SF32DeMarre CarrollATL158$-33%
SF33Chase BudingerMIN159$-1%
SF34Jonas JerebkoBOS164$-0%
SF35Matt BarnesLAC172$-8%
SF36Lance ThomasNYK178$-0%
SF37Andre RobersonOKC180$-0%

Power Forward

Mitch McGary's ranking is based on a projection of 25 minutes per game, which seems reasonable since Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison are both out, and Enes Kanter (ankle, forearem) is dealing with injuries. If you are looking for a hail mary on the waiver wire you will have a hard time finding a player with more upside, but McGary's floor is also pretty low because the minutes are not certain.

POSPlayerTeamRankAuctionESPN %
PF1Hassan WhitesideMIA11$4280%
PF2LaMarcus AldridgePOR12$41100%
PF3Derrick FavorsUTA17$3691%
PF4Tim DuncanSAS25$3094%
PF5Donatas MotiejunasHOU40$2328%
PF6Zach RandolphMEM41$2393%
PF7Robert CovingtonPHI52$2027%
PF8David WestIND53$1960%
PF9Mitch McGaryOKC59$172%
PF10Tiago SplitterSAS71$122%
PF11Jordan HillLAL75$1147%
PF12Andrea BargnaniNYK79$1033%
PF13Cody ZellerCHA80$102%
PF14Nene HilarioWAS84$917%
PF15Luis ScolaIND85$84%
PF16Anthony DavisNOP87$8100%
PF17Carlos BoozerLAL88$830%
PF18Paul MillsapATL89$897%
PF19Blake GriffinLAC94$799%
PF20Kevin LoveCLE95$7100%
PF21Thomas RobinsonPHI100$62%
PF22Ed DavisLAL106$417%
PF23Brandon BassBOS108$416%
PF24Joe InglesUTA114$30%
PF25Boris DiawSAS119$23%
PF26Trevor BookerUTA127$11%
PF27Markieff MorrisPHO134$173%
PF28Kenneth FariedDEN138$184%
PF29Adreian PayneMIN140$11%
PF30Pau GasolCHI141$197%
PF31Marcus MorrisPHO147$16%
PF32Drew GoodenWAS150$10%
PF33Mason PlumleeBKN151$114%
PF34Dirk NowitzkiDAL155$197%
PF35Brandan WrightPHO165$-11%
PF36Patrick PattersonTOR167$-4%
PF37Ersan IlyasovaMIL168$-12%
PF38Amir JohnsonTOR181$-14%
PF39Louis AmundsonNYK184$-0%
PF40Jason SmithNYK188$-1%
PF41Tarik BlackLAL189$-1%
PF42Nikola MiroticCHI191$-53%
PF43Derrick WilliamsSAC192$-0%
PF44Jakarr SampsonPHI195$-0%

Center

Steven Adams ranks in the top 50 this week because of the opportunity to produce given the rash of injuries in OKC, and while his ceiling isn't quite as high as McGary's, Adams' floor is much higher, which makes him something close to a must-add this week.

POSPlayerTeamRankAuctionESPN %
C1Rudy GobertUTA6$5065%
C2Nerlens NoelPHI9$4467%
C3Gorgui DiengMIN13$4053%
C4Marc GasolMEM19$3599%
C5Brook LopezBKN24$3182%
C6Marcin GortatWAS28$2882%
C7Al JeffersonCHA32$2797%
C8Steven AdamsOKC47$2116%
C9Andrew BogutGSW57$1725%
C10DeMarcus CousinsSAC67$13100%
C11Cole AldrichNYK93$74%
C12Robin LopezPOR97$735%
C13DeAndre JordanLAC98$797%
C14Kelly OlynykBOS102$58%
C15Roy HibbertIND103$553%
C16Ian MahinmiIND105$50%
C17Andre DrummondDET116$297%
C18Al HorfordATL139$196%
C19Joakim NoahCHI146$190%
C20Tyson ChandlerDAL152$178%
C21Jusuf NurkicDEN161$-5%
C22Tyler ZellerBOS163$-8%
C23Justin HamiltonMIN170$-4%
C24Chris AndersenMIA185$-1%
C25Meyers LeonardPOR186$-0%
C26Timofey MozgovCLE193$-32%
C27Dwight HowardHOU199$-70%
C28Zaza PachuliaMIL200$-7%

More Rankings (Just-for-Fun Section)

Because basketball is fun and rankings are also fun, I've ranked my top-10 favorite NBA highlights of the week. Most of these came from the NBA Reddit, while a few came from Twitter or various sports blogs.

10. This is the first time I've ever seen a player give a T a ref.

9. What do we call plays like these from Whiteside, a Hassan Hammer? An H-Bomb?

https://i.imgur.com/saQkkFz.gifv

8. Look at that handle J.R.

7. LeBron is strong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wilE8oNdnM&feature=youtu.be

6. OLADIPO!!!

https://vine.co/v/OVAKgHIO7ap

5. Check out the behind the back pass in transition from the 20-year-old 7-footer. Unreal.

4. I don't know what's more impressive the outlet pass or the shot. (It loses points since it came against the equivalent of a D-League roster.)

3. This might be Derrick Williams' first and last relevant NBA moment, but boy was it a good one.

https://vine.co/v/OYi5wtQ3gEi

2. John Wall, ladies and gentlemen.

https://vine.co/v/OYi6K7tXEDO

1b. Anthony Davis with the game on the line.

1a. I have no words for what this is.

Anthony Davis is just 22 years old and made both of those plays in the same game. The NBA should be very afraid.