Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Power Forward Draft Tiers for the 2024-25 NBA Season

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The 2024-25 NBA season is quickly approaching, so in conjunction with my latest fantasy basketball rankings by points and categories, it’s time to break down my tiers position by position. I’ve covered point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards, so up next are the power forwards.

NOTE: Only certain players will be analyzed when they are listed in the tiers listed below. Players with eligibility for multiple positions will only be listed in the positional tier in which they played the most minutes last season or are projected to play this season.

(Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy basketball league for the 2024-25 NBA season)

The fantasy power forward landscape is stacked with talent in the first three rounds. Up-and-coming talents including Evan Mobley and Jalen Johnson are primed to make the jump, while Jonathan Kuminga could be the sleeping giant around the 100th pick. The power forward position is fairly deep, as many veterans can bring value to your roster in different categories. And for points leagues, players like Jerami Grant, Bobby Portis, and rookie Alex Sarr are late-round options to consider.

  • Giannis isn’t just a top-four option in points leagues; he’s a game-changing player. While you’ll have to strategize around his poor free-throw shooting in bracket formats, the consistent 30-10-5 production you’ll get from him as a first-round pick is a safe investment.

  • A perennial first-round pick, Tatum offers the perfect combination of production and durability. As the top option on the best basketball team, Tatum is a valuable player around whom a team can be built for any format.

  • There is some injury risk, but KD is as efficient as anyone. A 50/40/90 threat who touches nearly every category is hard to pass up in any format. Durant hasn’t finished lower than 12th in value per game since his rookie season.

  • Chet Holmgren moves to power forward with Isaiah Hartenstein on the roster. Holmgren costs a second-round pick, which is justified given his production and blocking potential.

  • Scottie Barnes is one of the most versatile small forwards in fantasy basketball. Barnes brings value and stats that are valuable in any format; last year’s explosion was real.

  • Paul George’s departure opens up more opportunities for Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi would be elite if not for his availability issues. That’s why Leonard’s third-round ADP is appropriate because despite his injury history, he’s one of the most efficient, defensively-locking forwards around.

  • The Grizzlies’ season was decimated by injuries, but JJJ managed to play 60-plus games for the third consecutive season. Jackson Jr.’s blocks were down last season, so hopefully playing his more natural position of power forward can revive the defensive numbers fantasy managers look for from the former Defensive Player of the Year.

  • The Cleveland Cavaliers have decided to play again, and while that might be cause for concern, I’m more excited about Evan Mobley’s prospects heading into his fourth NBA season. We’ve seen gradual improvements in his efficiency, and with new head coach Kenny Atkinson on the team, we’ll see Mobley’s versatility show up more than it did under J.B. Bickerstaff.

  • The Hawks are in a weird spot, but that has no bearing on how good Jalen Johnson will be. Johnson is a statistical standout, but his only weakness is his free throw shooting (and even that is improving).

  • I’m optimistic about Paolo Banchero because of his counting stats. After securing his first All-Star invite last season and the Magic clearly moving forward as a contender, he’s going to have a great third season. The lack of 3-pointers and turnovers is a challenge in nine-tier leagues, but he’s a solid, well-rounded player with the right frame. In points leagues, he’s a beast.

  • In Julius Randle’s case, it’s a matter of how much, if anything, he’ll have to sacrifice or give up offensively. A sixth-round ADP is adequate, given what we know he can do as a rebounder and passer from the small forward position.

  • The reports about Zion Williamson’s fitness seem to be true. Considering Zion is coming off 70 games last year, this should bode well for his fantasy future. Few big men offer as much assist potential as Zion in the middle rounds of drafts.

  • Playoff player Tobias Harris should be mentioned in the same breath as playoff player Paul George. Harris clearly got fed up with Philadelphia and now finds himself in a prime position as the second option in Detroit. He’s a boring, consistent, and durable mid-round pick.

  • The arrival of DeMar DeRozan curbed Keegan Murray’s potential, but he remains a coveted three-point specialist who rarely turns the ball over. You can get Murray in the seventh round.

  • Jabari Smith Jr. has made great strides in his second season, improving his scoring, field goal percentage and 3-point shooting. If he can get more action, Smith could take the next step.

  • The Warriors are finally ready to let Jonathan Kuminga go. Kuminga’s athleticism is extraordinary and, with his starting role cemented, he’s poised to have a breakout season as the likely second option in the Warriors’ offense.

  • Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year for a reason: He’s nice. Reid will be a fixture in the Wolves’ rotation and reliable bench depth for any fantasy coach in the ninth and 10th rounds.

  • Taylor Hendricks is gaining ground as the Jazz’s starting small forward. In 23 starts over the last two months of his rookie year, Hendricks has posted a true shooting percentage of 61 percent (league average is 58 percent). Hendricks can shoot 3s, rebound and is an elusive defender who plays late in drafts.

  • Jerami Grant is one of the few 20-point scorers in the ninth or 10th round of the draft. Grant doesn’t fit into the Blazers’ schedule, so a trade to a contender could be what he needs to revitalize the defensive and rebounding stats he used to put up.

  • Bobby Portis Jr. is in Doc Rivers’ inner circle, so his minutes are a sure thing. He’s another 10th-rounder who provides scoring, rebounding and good peripheral offense despite coming off the bench.

  • Remember, the Nets are in reconstruction modeso Noah Clowney will inevitably get a good dose of minutes this season. Clowney ranked 92nd percentile in points scored per shot attempt and 96th percentile in blocks per minute in his rookie campaign, pretty solid numbers for a 20-year-old. With a 13th-round ADP, Clowney is a safe bet.

  • Keep an eye on Matas Buzelis. If Zach LaVine is traded or Patrick Williams doesn’t pan out, the Chicago rookie could emerge as a fantasy asset. Buzelis is athletic, has a good ball handler and possesses some playmaking and two-way skills. Don’t sleep on it.

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