The last big wave of Fantasy basketball drafts is here ahead of the season starting on Tuesday. Managers everywhere are trying to figure out which 2018 Fantasy basketball breakouts will come out of nowhere, which sleepers are waiting in the later rounds, and which busts can send their team into a death spiral. So before you enter any last-minute drafts, you need reliable, accurate 2018 Fantasy basketball rankings like the ones you'll find at SportsLine. Their advanced computer model has simulated the entire NBA season 10,000 times and revealed its latest 2018 Fantasy basketball rankings. Last season, for example, it pegged Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. as one of its favorite Fantasy football breakouts. The result: he went on to finish the season averaging 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds, helping thousands to Fantasy championships. Now, SportsLine has simulated the upcoming season 10,000 times and released its latest 2018 Fantasy Basketball rankings, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. This model is powered by the same people who powered projections for all three major Fantasy companies. And that same group is sharing its 2018 Fantasy Basketball cheat sheets. SportsLine's cheat sheets and 2018-19 Fantasy Basketball rankings, available for leagues on many major sites, are updated multiple times every day. Any time an injury occurs or there's a change on a roster, the team at SportsLine updates its cheat sheets. This season, we can tell you the model is extremely high on Hawks guard Kent Bazemore. Bazemore is coming off his best season of his career, where he averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 65 games. He has also averaged over 11 points per game in his last three seasons and is expected to see even more minutes with Dennis Schroder now in Oklahoma City. Look for career production this season for Bazemore, one of the biggest 2018 Fantasy basketball breakouts in your draft. SportsLine's latest 2018-19 Fantasy basketball rankings project him to be a top-25 shooting guard this season. With an ADP of the 138th player off the board in CBS Sports Fantasy basketball drafts, he's an absolute steal. SportsLine's 2018 Fantasy Basketball rankings are also extremely high on Magic guard Evan Fournier, who wasn't among the top 15 players at his position last season, but is SportsLine's No. 11 shooting guard for 2018-19. In fact, he's ranked similarly to players like Lou Williams, Nicolas Batum, Zach LaVine and Klay Thompson. Fournier averaged a career-high 17.8 points, but missed 25 games with an MCL strain last season. With a frontcourt that now features Mo Bamba and Aaron Gordon, Fournier's backcourt scoring is going to be a critical component for a young Magic team that hopes to move into playoff contention. He's a breakout candidate whose ADP is the 13th shooting guard off the board. The model has also identified a rookie point guard who could have more Fantasy Basketball value than an All-Star at the same position. This pick could be the difference between winning your league or going home with nothing. So what Fantasy basketball breakouts should you be all over? And which guard will come out of nowhere to be a top Fantasy option? Visit SportsLine now to get Fantasy basketball cheat sheets from the proven model that powered all three major Fantasy sites and find out.<doc-sep>Need help making your picks? Head over to SportsLine.com for Optimal Rankings Cheat Sheets to make the right pick every time. We're just about ready for another NBA season, and it promises to be another fascinating one. The Warriors (somehow) got even better; The Lakers (somehow) got LeBron James; The East (somehow) got worse. The young talent we've seen blossom around the league over the past few years is only getting better, and for Fantasy players, that means there are a ton of options at the top of the draft. You can realistically make a case for any one of five players with the top pick, and that's not even including nightly triple-double threat Russell Westbrook -- or nightly triple-double threat Nikola Jokic, for that matter. With less than a week left until the start of the season, it's time to take one last look at the state of the NBA heading into 2017-18. And, for Fantasy players, that means one last look at players to target and others to avoid heading into the final big draft weekend of the year. With that in mind, here are my sleepers, breakouts and busts for the upcoming season, with one for each team. Here's how I'm determining these picks, since those terms can be pretty nebulous: Sleeper – Someone you won't necessarily have to draft as a starter, but who can turn into one Someone you won't necessarily have to draft as a starter, but who can turn into one Breakout – Someone you'll draft as a starter who could turn into a star Someone you'll draft as a starter who could turn into a star Bust – Someone I wouldn't want to touch at their current draft cost* *Based on FantasyPros.com ADP Here are my picks for every team in the league: Breakout John Collins PF • The Hawks are sure to be bad, but they could be the kind of bad team that frustrates Fantasy players with inconsistent and crowded rotations. John Collins showed real potential as a 20-year-old rookie in 2017-18, averaging 10.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in just 24.1 minutes. He flashed range out to the 3-point line as the season went on, and even showed some playmaking ability. If he gets closer to 30 mpg, Collins could be a nightly double-double threat with a couple of assists and blocks thrown in, and he'll be a rare big man who doesn't hurt you in free-throw percentage. Bust I really love Jayson Tatum's game. I think he has legitimate superstar upside, and there were flashes of Kawhi Leonard's all-around game in his rookie season performance. However, he also benefited from the absence of Kyrie Irving and especially Gordon Hayward throughout his rookie season. I expect him to remain highly efficient, but I'm not convinced he'll be able to build on the counting stats from his rookie campaign, given how deep Boston is coming into the season. You can make the same case for Jaylen Brown, but Tatum is the one being drafted in the early fourth round on average coming into the season. He was the No. 63 player in Roto leagues in 2017-18 per BasketballMonster.com, and I would expect similar results across the board in Year Two — unless Irving, Brown or Hayward are going to take a big step back, that is. Sleeper The most important thing about Caris LeVert's 2017-18 season is he was able to stay healthy, playing over 1,800 minutes in 71 games. He didn't show star potential, but he did flash the kind of all-around game that made him an intriguing prospect before injuries derailed him in college. In 21 games after the All-Star break, LeVert averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 assists and just 1.6 turnovers per game, while improving his shooting numbers across the board. And he did that in just 26.5 minutes per game. I would hope we'll see him in a bigger role this season, and something like 15-5-5 isn't out of the question on a Nets team that still needs someone to step up. Sleeper The Hornets aren't a great team for this exercise, because outside of Kemba Walker, there just aren't any standout players one way or the other. I am interested in seeing Cody Zeller get some extended run after dealing with injuries and being buried behind Dwight Howard last season. He's always been an efficient scorer, and if he can get to the 28 mpg range, there's potential for good percentages, along with solid points, rebounds, blocks and assists. There is exactly zero star potential with Zeller, but he could emerge as a viable starter, someone you don't get excited about, but someone you also don't have to worry about hurting you anywhere. Bust I'm honestly not sure about Jabari Parker's upside. In 2016-17, he emerged as a plus scorer who contributed a bit in rebounds and assists, but he wasn't really a standout anywhere else. And that was before his second ACL tear. The Bulls took a risk on a two-year deal that could be worth $40 million, but I don't see why Fantasy players have to invest in him. He has never been much more than an average shooter on middling volume, and he he stopped drawing free throws last season, while attempting his lowest rate of shots near the rim ever. Best-case scenario, you're looking at scorer who likely tops out in the high teens per game, and doesn't contribute much else — and he isn't even a significant discount on Draft Day. You can do better. Sleeper The Cavaliers have already announced George Hill will start for them, and here's hoping we see a bounce-back season. If you're skeptical, I get it, but he can be had with a late-round pick, and is just one year removed from averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game for the Jazz. Injuries have been a real issue, but at this cost, all downside has been taken out of the equation. You could get a starter for essentially free with Hill, who should be asked to do much more in Cleveland with LeBron James out of the picture. Breakout OOK, I'm cheating a bit with Luka Doncic as a breakout, given that he hasn't played a game in the NBA yet. But if you're looking for the rookie who could make the biggest impact this season, it probably has to be Doncic. He's the most decorated rookie by far, having logged a EuroLeague MVP among many other accolades before turning 20. We've seen a flash of his all-around potential in the preseason, as Doncic has averaged 14.0 points, 2.0 3-pointers, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 combined steals and blocks per game in three contests. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 combined blocks and steals in the EuroLeague last season, to boot. You'll have to invest a fifth-round pick if you want him on Draft Day, but that seems like a worthy price to pay for this kind of talent. Breakout Jamal Murray isn't your prototypical point guard, but he might be the perfect fit for this Nuggets' roster. The offense revolves around Nikola Jokic and his generational passing skills, which means Murray's limited playmaking abilities aren't such a hindrance. Still, he put up 3.4 assists per game last season, to go along with 16.7 points and 2.0 3-pointers per game, and upped those numbers to 17.2 points and 4.4 assists in the second half as the Nuggets made a playoff push. If all Murray does is repeat his numbers from last year, he's a fine pick at the end of the fifth round. If the former No. 7 overall pick takes another step forward, he could be someone we're targeting in the third or fourth rounds next year, like C.J. McCollum. Sleeper Lingering knee issues have limited Reggie Jackson to just 97 games over the last two seasons, and his production has suffered as a result. He also had offseason ankle surgery, something that has slowed him in the preseason. He's a walking MASH unit right now. But if he gets right, we know what the upside here is -- he averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game in 79 contests in 2015-16. Since the acquisition of Blake Griffin, the Pistons aren't built around Jackson's pick-and-roll abilities the way they once were, but there's still upside here if he can get healthy, and the price is fair enough to make it worth the risk. Warriors Bust DeMarcus Cousins is still, somehow, a top-100 pick coming into the season. A top-100 pick, despite the fact that he doesn't have a timetable to return to the court. He's coming off an Achilles injury, the kind of injury where there is no guarantee he'll ever get back to full health, let alone in Year 1, and he's playing on the one team in basketball that may not even need him at all in the regular season. Even assuming Cousins gets on the floor before 2019, what does his role look like on a team with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green? I get the upside with Cousin makes him seem appealing at this point in the draft, and it's hard to let that name go by, but the upside just doesn't seem to be here. The hope is Cousins get healthy, contributes a few big games in key moments, and heads into free agency next summer ready to return to a star level. It won't happen this season. Bust Carmelo Anthony wasn't even a top-100 player in Fantasy last season, and now he's going to a team that will almost certainly ask even less of him than the Thunder did. Maybe that leads to a reinvention of his game, and Anthony becomes an efficient, high-volume 3-point shooter like Ryan Anderson at his best, and provides value. The catch is, as we'll discuss later, Anderson might be in an even better spot and is available even cheaper. Why invest a top-100 pick in someone whose best-case scenario sees him provide 3-point shooting and not much else, in an era when everyone shoots 3's? Breakout Myles Turner actually took a step back last season, but I'm betting that was just a minor setback on his path to stardom. Despite entering his fourth NBA season, Turner is still just 22, and has all of the skills you want from a potential star big man in the modern NBA. He can protect the rim and shoot 3-pointers, and he got into even better shape in the offseason. We saw Victor Oladipo take his game to the next level thanks to an offseason transformation after his game appeared to have stagnated, and I'm willing to bet Turner has the potential to take a similar leap. Sleeper The Clippers might be one of those teams with too many role players and not enough stars, making them frustrating to rely on night in and night out. The good news is, nobody on this roster is especially expensive on Draft Day. Patrick Beverley might be my favorite value, coming off a lost season due to knee injuries. Before the injuries, he was averaging 12.2 points, 2.9 assists, 1.7 steals, and 2.2 3-pointers, and he's going undrafted in many leagues right now. In a Rotisserie league, you'll be happy to have him around. Lakers Bust Lonzo Ball's passing makes the highlight reels, but I'm not sure he's best utilized as a primary ball handler. And he probably won't have the opportunity to be one with the Lakers this season, with Rajon Rondo and LeBron James joining the team in the offseason. He'll still have the opportunity for assists, but the 7.2 he averaged as a rookie might be a big ask given the presence of two other high-level playmakers. Ball will get you some steals, rebounds and 3-pointers, but the rest of his offensive game needs a lot of work. I think this is a good situation for his long-term development, but it will likely hurt his Fantasy numbers, and that hasn't been factored into his price yet. Sleeper The per-game numbers won't blow you away, but Jaren Jackson Jr.'s freshman season at Michigan State showed incredible Fantasy upside.<doc-sep>
Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images The 2018-19 NBA season will tip off Tuesday evening, which means it's crunch time for hoops fans as they gear up to make another run at fantasy basketball championships. And if you are an owner who hasn't entered a live draft room just yet, there's still time to tweak your first-round strategy and ensure you wind up with the stud who can lead your squad to the virtual promised land. Below we'll take a look at an updated first-round mock draft for a 12-team league and break down the players who project as league winners. Updated 1st-Round Mock 1. Anthony Davis, PF/C, New Orleans Pelicans 2. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves 3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, G/F, Milwaukee Bucks 4. James Harden, G, Houston Rockets 5. LeBron James, SF/PF, Los Angeles Lakers 6. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors 7. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets 8. Kevin Durant, SF, Golden State Warriors 9. Kawhi Leonard, SF, Toronto Raptors 10. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder 11. Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers 12. Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana Pacers Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon Last season, Karl-Anthony Towns was one of two qualified players who averaged at least 20 points, 12 rebounds and a block. As if that weren't impressive enough, he rattled off career-high shooting clips of 54.5 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three (on 3.5 attempts per night). And here's the thing: There's room for improvement. While those numbers were undoubtedly gaudy and historically efficient for a player of his size, Towns watched his usage rate dip to a career-low 22.9 percent following Jimmy Butler's arrival. However, times are changing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Butler has requested a trade, and he gets his wish, Towns' usage figures to go back toward the 27.5 percent mark it hovered at during the 2016-17 campaign. A certified stat-sheet stuffer and evolving shooting machine, Towns should be a no-brainer top-three pick. Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets Video Play Button McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer" Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll Lou Williams Is Coming for a Repeat of Sixth Man of the Year Pat Beverley Has the Clippers Stealing the LA Shine LeBron Keeps Shredding NBA Record Books Young's Hot Streak Is Heating Up the ROY Race with Luka LeBron and 2 Chainz Form a Superteam to Release a New Album Wade's #OneLastDance Dominated February Warriors Fans Go Wild After Unforgettable Moments with Steph Eight Years Ago, the Nuggets Traded Melo to the Knicks Two Years Ago, the Kings Shipped Boogie to the Pelicans ASG Will Be Competitive Again If the NBA Raises the Stakes Right Arrow Icon If you want a box score All-Star to anchor your fantasy team, Nikola Jokic is the guy to target.