Click here for points-league rankings and reaction.
Read below for roto league rankings and reaction.
Roto-league rankings and reaction
Get ready for a wild and crazy 2018-19 fantasy season. Fantasy managers are going to have their hands full as a number of star players are set to return from serious injuries. Where those players are drafted and how well they perform on the court could make or break many fantasy teams.
Imagine drafting DeMarcus Cousins in the middle rounds while fellow managers steer clear of the big man coming off a devastating Achilles injury, only to see him return to form. Yeah, that'd be nice.
The opposite could also happen, though, and there is risk with taking a Cousins, Kristaps Porzingis or Gordon Hayward too high, given the severity of their respective injuries. Notice, I haven't even mentioned Kawhi Leonard or Kyrie Irving yet, two other stars who missed a large chunk of this past season.
Here is a look at those players and some of the other major angles as I examine the top-100 roto rankings. Note, that I'm not including players slated to be selected in the upcoming NBA draft in these ranks.
Talented top 10
I have Anthony Davis, James Harden and LeBron James at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, and there isn't really a dropoff after them with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Karl-Anthony Towns and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 4-7 range and Nikola Jokic (No. 8) Victor Oladipo (No. 9) and Stephen Curry (No. 10) rounding out the group.
No matter where you end up picking in the first round of your draft -- even in leagues with 12-14 teams -- you're going to get a star you can build around. The league is loaded at the top, and that will make preparing for the fantasy draft all the more vital to your success, as selecting the right combination of players in the first few rounds can often vault a team to the championship.
Injury concerns
As mentioned above, there are more big-name talents coming off of major injuries than any time in recent years, from Leonard to Boston teammates Irving and Hayward to Cousins and Porzingis.
It's worth giving pause before selecting any of these players, though most believe Leonard and Hayward will be back to full speed by the start of next season.
Irving's chronic knee troubles are worrisome, as the question has to be raised as to whether he can play through the pounding of an 82-game regular season.
Meanwhile, Cousins said recently that he hopes to be back by the start of training camp, but even if that happens, there is little history of star big men returning to the same form following an Achilles injury.
As for Porzingis, I left him out of the top 100, as whispers are already circulating that the Knicks may keep him sidelined all of next season to allow the star forward to fully recover from ACL surgery.
Aging stars
At some point, Father Time catches up to everybody, so that's something to think about before drafting players like LeBron and Chris Paul (No. 16) who are entering their 16th and 14th seasons in the league, respectively.
The same can be said for LaMarcus Aldridge (No. 32) and Marc Gasol (No. 33). Aldridge has carried a heavy workload for much of his career and is set to enter his 13th NBA season, while Gasol is set to turn 34 in the middle of next season.
Like Gasol, Paul Millsap (No. 64) is another former high fantasy pick who is set to turn 34 next season, as he enters his 13th season in the league.
Free agents who could be affected
The landscape of the NBA could be significantly altered in free agency, as several of the best players in the league are set to test the free agent waters. It is expected that Durant will remain in Golden State, but there is a chance LeBron could be in a different uniform next season. Paul George may very well end up leaving Oklahoma City after one disappointing season. CP3, Cousins, Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Trevor Ariza, JJ Redick and Will Barton are all notable unrestricted free agents.
If any of these players change teams, there will be a major ripple effect on their respective teams and in the fantasy space. Think about how Davis' game has taken off since Cousins went down, for example. A return to the Pelicans by Cousins would diminish Davis' value.
Up-and-comers
Ben Simmons (No. 23) and Donovan Mitchell (No. 31) steal much of the attention from the group of youngsters who are making an immediate impression, but they aren't alone. The rise of Jamal Murray (No. 40), Dario Saric (No. 47), Jayson Tatum (No. 51) and Lauri Markkanen (No. 58) have them primed for even bigger things to come next season.
Other promising young talents like Taurean Prince (No. 70), Kyle Kuzma (No. 86), Dennis Smith Jr. (No. 87), Kris Dunn (No. 88) and John Collins (No. 91) have shown flashes early in their pro careers and are worthy of attention in the mid-to-late rounds.