Draft Analysis: Should You Pick Jonas Valančiūnas in Fantasy Basketball?
The NBA’s regular season is on the horizon, prompting fantasy basketball enthusiasts to prepare for their drafts. A crucial question arises: Should you draft Jonas Valančiūnas this season? Here’s a detailed analysis of his outlook, projections, and rankings.
Jonas Valančiūnas: An Overview
Jonas Valančiūnas has joined a Denver Nuggets team eyeing championship glory. However, expecting him to replicate his previous season’s average of 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds may be overly ambitious. With Nikola Jokic taking center stage, Valančiūnas’s potential contributions may be limited.
The Team Dynamics
Valančiūnas, now 33 years old, plays behind the MVP candidate Jokic, which significantly influences his fantasy value. Denver’s strategy primarily revolves around Jokic’s playmaking abilities, reducing opportunities for Valančiūnas. While he possesses valuable skills, the team’s roster is not designed to spotlight his strengths effectively.
Fantasy Basketball Projections
As per Emegypt’s metrics, Valančiūnas is projected to earn approximately 1,342.3 fantasy points this season. His anticipated averages are as follows:
- Points per game: 8.0
- Field Goals per game: 3.2
- Three-Pointers per game: 0.2
- Free Throws per game: 1.4
- Rebounds per game: 5.9
- Assists per game: 1.4
- Steals per game: 0.2
- Blocks per game: 0.5
Ranking in Fantasy Basketball
In this season’s fantasy rankings, Valančiūnas occupies the 182nd position overall and is the 35th center. This ranking places him behind notable players like:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- Alex Caruso
- Mason Plumlee
- Marcus Smart
- Jordan Hawkins
Conversely, several players are ranked below him, including:
- Saddiq Bey
- Miles McBride
- Christian Braun
- Cameron Johnson
- Chris Boucher
When focusing on center rankings, Valančiūnas is situated behind:
- Joel Embiid
- Derik Queen
- Goga Bitadze
- Kyle Filipowski
- Mason Plumlee
And ranked ahead of players such as:
- Jusuf Nurkić
- Al Horford
- Neemias Queta
- Jay Huff
- Zach Collins
Conclusion
Given the current dynamics within the Denver Nuggets and Valančiūnas’s fantasy projections, drafting him might not be the best option. Players looking to bolster their fantasy teams should weigh their choices carefully. For deeper insights on additional players, visit Emegypt’s NBA section for comprehensive analysis.
