One of the most underrated aspects of a successful NBA fantasy team is versatility and the ability to start players at multiple positions on any given night based on need. That flexibility can substantially improve a player’s overall fantasy value and make them worth taking them higher than they would otherwise go in fantasy drafts if they weren’t eligible to play multiple positions. With an eye towards that flexibility and versatility, let’s take a look at the best combo power forward-center players from last season:
1. C/PF – Anthony Davis, New Orleans
Davis’ emergence as one of the truly elite fantasy players in the NBA was one of the biggest stories of the season as he managed to stay relatively healthy and average 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.9 blocks per game over 68 contests. Davis is one of the most physically dominant players in the league and when he is healthy there aren’t many other players most fantasy GM’s would rather have. His flexibility as a C/PF makes him that much more valuable as he can be moved around on a nightly basis. At center, there is nobody even in his neighborhood in terms of production, which is where you’re going to mostly start him.
2. C/PF – Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
The ageless wonder Duncan managed to play nine more games than Davis this season and he averaged 13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game in 77 contests. While those numbers are below average among power forwards, they are well above average of what you might get from a center. Plus with Duncan, he’s steady as can be.
Duncan is 39 years old but he showed no signs of wearing down this past year and his versatility as a PF/C makes him that much more valuable as a fantasy asset.
3. C/PF – Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls
Gasol was an absolute beast for Chicago this past year where he looked reinvigorated playing for a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. There was a lot of hesitation about drafting Gasol because he was supposed to share time with Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, but the veteran ended up playing the most minutes of the trio.
Gasol will be 35 years old by the time next season starts but he averaged 18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 blocks in 78 games this past year and with a more offensive-minded head coach in Fred Hoiberg coming in, he could very well put up similar averages next season.
4. C/PF – Chris Bosh, Miami Heat
Miami was devastated when Bosh was forced to miss half of the season because of a serious blood clot issue because he was outstanding when he was healthy. Bosh averaged 21.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 three-point shots per game in 44 appearances for the Heat last season. Although the rebounding numbers are a bit light – especially if you were using him at the center position – the points and threes are well above average. The threes are especially hard to get from a big man at the four or five position, so Bosh is an asset in that regard.
There’s a really good chance that Bosh gets to play more with Goran Dragic next season and playing with a quality point guard should help his numbers.
5. C/PF – Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons
Some feel that Monroe still hasn’t reached his potential as an NBA player but he averaged 15.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 69 games last season. Even though he mostly played next to Andre Drummond, people forget that Monroe is actually center eligible.
He might never reach the level that some experts had him pegged to get to but he is still easily one of the top-five combo fantasy players in the league. If he walks in free agency and lands in a place like New York where he’ll get all of the minutes he can handle, his fantasy value will only increase.
