With many fantasy basketball drafts completed, owners may still be searching for breakout players. The quality of small forwards is top heavy when it comes to fantasy basketball. Here’s my list of small forward sleepers to take a chance on if you have a late draft or on your fantasy basketball waiver wire.
Check out our Fantasy Basketball Primer for help setting your lineups in the first week of NBA action.
Small Forward Sleepers for 2018-19 Fantasy Basketball
Miles Bridges – Charlotte Hornets (63rd ranked SF)
Much like Malik Monk, who I dissected in my shooting guard sleepers, Bridges will see minutes for new coach James Borrego. Bridges has shown his stuff like no other this preseason.
With the lack of talent in Charlotte, Bridges figures to get close to 20 minutes per game to start the year. But that number will inflate if he keeps playing as he did in the preseason. Bridges was not only scoring but also contributing with counting stats, making shots from deep and chipping in on defense. What more could you want from a flyer in the 12th round of fantasy basketball drafts?
At 6’7″, 225 lbs, Bridges brings athleticism coupled with smooth shooting mechanics. His quick first step allows him to create shots and opportunities for his team, and his larger frame lets him absorb contact at the rim with no issues. If you haven’t seen his athleticism on display, check out his two putback dunks in the preseason.
Once again, the Hornets will lean on the bench unit this season under Borrego. Miles will slot in as the backup to Nicolas Batum, who has an injury history and played his least amount of minutes per game since 2012-13. Bridges is someone to hold on to for fantasy basketball owners. All he needs is a bit of time to gain the trust of his coach and he’ll be a nice sleeper at no cost.
Rudy Gay – San Antonio Spurs (42nd ranked SF)
The Spurs have already been hit with the injury bug before the start of the season. While the main victims have been lead guards, player rotations will open up plenty of minutes at small forward.
The turnover has really been remarkable. Gone are Danny Green, Manu Ginobili, Kyle Anderson and of course Kawhi Leonard. Each of them averaged at least 20 minutes per game in 2017-18. The Spurs replaced them with DeRozan, Pondexter, Belinelli, and bubble players in Okaro White and Dante Cunningham. With San Antonio’s guards falling like flies, DeRozan will be tasked with guard duties rather than guarding NBA small forwards.
Gay has the size and the length to keep him on the court at the very least for defensive purposes. What’s more, Gay has the chance to take on scoring duties as the third option with an increased role. He thrived last season despite only playing 21.6 minutes per game. Digging deeper into last season, Gay has shown he hasn’t lost a step, averaging nearly 20 points and 8.5 boards per 36 minutes at an improved FG%.
Gay will need to be heavily involved in Gregg Popovic’s plans this season if San Antonio wants to remain competitive. His versatility and length will be a big asset for them and let’s face it, they need him badly. If you need someone with a high floor, he’s not a bad flier late in fantasy basketball drafts. He’s going behind the likes of Josh Jackson, Jabari Parker and Danilo Gallinari.
OG Anunoby – Toronto Raptors (70th ranked SG)
Unlike the other two players on this list who may take on major roles for their team at some point, OG saw one of the best players in the league leapfrog his starting gig.
The Raptors will squeeze out everything they can from Kawhi’s possible limited stay in Toronto, that includes mentorship. OG will be part of one of the most prolific benches in the NBA, averaging 41.8 points per game on an average of 21.2 minutes per game or 43.8% of games. Anunoby will also get some cracks to play with starters in small ball lineups.
But coming off the bench is an interesting enough fit for young OG. The Raptors’ bench mob ranked second in the NBA last year in assists and blocks per game while leading the league in steals per game. It’s a very opportunistic unit that thrives on getting quick baskets off solid defensive efforts. This team will run a lot, and that’s perfectly suited for OG’s game, who shot nearly 70% when finishing within 3 feet of the basket. Backdoor cuts and fast break finishes are his bread and butter. He also added a three-pointer a game on a modest 37.1 shooting percentage.
If you’re taking part in a 14-team league or even a league with a deeper bench, Anunoby may be worth a look in the later rounds of drafts or even off waivers. He’s also the ideal handcuff for Kawhi Leonard owners should you seek insurance.
Additional small forward sleepers:
Trevor Ariza (45th): The Suns have had a rough time with their most recent top draft picks. Bender looks awful, Chriss is gone and Josh Jackson has been as inefficient as they come. Ariza brings much needed veteran leadership and consistency which will get him minutes on a rebuilding Suns squad.
Cedi Osman (73rd): You’ve got to start somewhere to fill LeBron James’ shoes. Osman got some looks late last season and even in the playoffs. He’s battling Sam Dekker and David Nwaba for the starting gig and comes at a cheaper price than Rodney Hood. I like his chances.
Looking to get in a last minute fantasy basketball league? Head on over to Fantrax.com and check our fantasy basketball offerings.