When it comes to shooting guards in fantasy basketball, the early consensus rankings are all over the place. Aside from James Harden and Stephen Curry, I don’t see a can’t miss pick. But that’s why I’m here, to help you figure out who to target and when. Ahead are my shooting guard rankings for 2018-19 fantasy basketball.
Let’s start with the Kawhi and Oladipo debate at the top. I have Kawhi slightly ahead because of his projected role in a top 4 offense in 2017-18. Fantasy basketball owners will fondly remember Oladipo’s season, but you do have wonder whether it was an outlier year. The Pacers ranked 17th in points per game last year. Nick Nurse will continue to mastermind a Raptors offense that finished fourth from a points output perspective. Those numbers climb to second in the league when adjusted to 100 possessions. You can’t really go wrong with either shooting guard.
Looking to get in a last minute fantasy basketball league? Head on over to Fantrax.com and check our fantasy basketball offerings.
Bradley Beal was probably the toughest player to rank for me. His injury history is well known, but he has been able to stay healthy the past two seasons. The Wizards ranked 21st in the league in 3-pointers made and 23rd in attempts. Coach Stotts has been on record saying he wants Beal to take more threes this year, which could make him a primary target for fantasy basketball owners looking to nab the best 3-point shooters in the league. He just makes the cut inside the top-10 of my shooting guard rankings.
The hype may have come and gone when it comes to D’Angelo Russell, but the 22-year-old’s talent is undeniable. Russell has his fair share of issues, inconsistency mainly. But the Nets ranked sixth in the league in pace, and Russell is the best offensive talent on the team as displayed by his 30.8 usage rate. He gets a seasoned Jarrett Allen, and Faried’s addition should lead to more pick and rolls for the Nets. If you’re punting field goal percentage and turnovers, the fourth-year shooting guard could be a sneaky grab in the mid rounds of fantasy basketball drafts.
Fantasy basketball owners searching for multi-category assets in the middle rounds should look no further than Luka Doncic. The Slovenian rookie is coming into the league with an innate feel for passing the basketball. Teammates are already raving about his game and he will have every opportunity to display his skills on a Mavericks team that ranked third-worst in the league in points per game.
Other shooting guards I can see take a leap forward in 2018-19 include Dennis Smith, Markelle Fultz, Mario Hezonja, Josh Hart, Malik Monk, and Delon Wright. I have them all ranked higher than their fantasy basketball consensus ranking indicates.
If you’re looking for a deep sleeper, James Ennis is getting attention as a potential starter in Houston. Even though Ennis’ role is focused on defense, Ariza’s 34 minutes are up for grabs. That kind of opportunity might be just enough for a final pick gamble.
More Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Centers | Power Forwards | Small Forwards | Shooting Guards | Point Guards
2018-19 Shooting Guard Rankings
| Rank | Player | Team | Positions | ECR | Vs. ECR |
| 1 | James Harden | HOU | PG,SG | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Stephen Curry | GSW | PG,SG | 8 | 6 |
| 3 | Kawhi Leonard | TOR | SG,SF | 12 | 9 |
| 4 | Victor Oladipo | IND | PG,SG | 2 | -2 |
| 5 | Kyrie Irving | BOS | PG,SG | 14 | 9 |
| 6 | Jrue Holiday | NOR | PG,SG | 3 | -3 |
| 7 | Paul George | OKC | SG,SF | 10 | 3 |
| 8 | Jimmy Butler | MIN | SG,SF | 4 | -4 |
| 9 | Khris Middleton | MIL | SG,SF | 5 | -4 |
| 10 | Bradley Beal | WAS | SG | 6 | -4 |
| 11 | Donovan Mitchell | UTH | PG,SG | 7 | -4 |
| 12 | Klay Thompson | GSW | SG,SF | 9 | -3 |
| 13 | Devin Booker | PHO | PG,SG | 13 | 0 |
| 14 | DeMar DeRozan | SAS | SG,SF | 11 | -3 |
| 15 | CJ McCollum | POR | PG,SG | 16 | 1 |
| 16 | Gary Harris | DEN | SG,SF | 15 | -1 |
| 17 | Gordon Hayward | BOS | SG,SF | 21 | 4 |
| 18 | Eric Bledsoe | MIL | PG,SG | 20 | 2 |
| 19 | Lou Williams | LAC | PG,SG | 17 | 2 |
| 20 | Josh Richardson | MIA | PG,SG,SF | 22 | -2 |
| 21 | Will Barton | DEN | SG,SF | 18 | -3 |
| 22 | Joe Ingles | UTH | SG,SF | 19 | -3 |
| 23 | Goran Dragic | MIA | PG,SG | 28 | 5 |
| 24 | Jamal Murray | DEN | PG,SG | 23 | 1 |
| 25 | Zach LaVine | CHI | PG,SG | 24 | 1 |
| 26 | Evan Fournier | ORL | SG,SF | 26 | 0 |
| 27 | Nicolas Batum | CHA | SG,SF | 25 | -2 |
| 28 | D’Angelo Russell | BKN | PG,SG | 37 | 9 |
| 29 | Luka Doncic | DAL | PG,SG | 60 | 31 |
| 30 | Tim Hardaway Jr. | NYK | SG,SF | 27 | -3 |
| 31 | Kyle Anderson | MEM | SG,SF,PF | 31 | 0 |
| 32 | Buddy Hield | SAC | SG | 32 | 0 |
| 33 | Kris Dunn | CHI | PG,SG | 33 | 0 |
| 34 | Jaylen Brown | BOS | SG,SF | 35 | -1 |
| 35 | Brandon Ingram | LAL | SG,SF | 41 | 6 |
| 36 | Dennis Smith Jr. | DAL | PG,SG | 42 | 6 |
| 37 | Tyreke Evans | IND | PG,SG | 39 | 2 |
| 38 | Darren Collison | IND | PG,SG | 30 | -8 |
| 39 | Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | LAL | SG,SF | 29 | -10 |
| 40 | Eric Gordon | HOU | SG | 34 | -6 |
| 41 | JJ Redick | PHI | SG | 36 | -5 |
| 42 | Trevor Ariza | PHO | SG,SF | 43 | 1 |
| 43 | Malcolm Brogdon | MIL | PG,SG | 46 | 3 |
| 44 | Josh Jackson | PHO | SG,SF | 47 | 3 |
| 45 | Markelle Fultz | PHI | PG,SG | 49 | 4 |
| 46 | Mario Hezonja | NYK | SG,SF | 50 | 4 |
| 47 | Kent Bazemore | ATL | SG,SF | 38 | -9 |
| 48 | Caris LeVert | BKN | SF,SG | 54 | 6 |
| 49 | Andrew Wiggins | MIN | SG,SF | 52 | 3 |
| 50 | Patrick Beverley | LAC | PG,SG | 55 | 5 |
| 51 | Terry Rozier | BOS | PG,SG | 57 | 6 |
| 52 | Josh Hart | LAL | SG,SF | 59 | 7 |
| 53 | Malik Monk | CHA | SG,SF | 61 | 8 |
| 54 | Jeremy Lamb | CHA | SG,SF | 48 | -6 |
| 55 | Allen Crabbe | BKN | SG,SF | 45 | -10 |
| 56 | E’Twaun Moore | NOR | SG,SF | 44 | -12 |
| 57 | Bojan Bogdanovic | IND | SG,SF | 51 | -6 |
| 58 | Tyler Johnson | MIA | PG,SG | 53 | -5 |
| 59 | Reggie Jackson | DET | PG,SG | 58 | -1 |
| 60 | Danny Green | TOR | SG,SF | 62 | 2 |
| 61 | Avery Bradley | LAC | PG,SG | 70 | 9 |
| 62 | Wesley Matthews | DAL | SG,SF | 56 | -6 |
| 63 | Marcus Smart | BOS | PG,SG | 71 | 8 |
| 64 | Marco Belinelli | SAS | SG,SF | 63 | -1 |
| 65 | Joe Harris | BKN | SG,SF | 64 | -1 |
| 66 | Courtney Lee | NYK | SG,SF | 68 | 2 |
| 67 | Delon Wright | TOR | PG,SG | 78 | 11 |
| 68 | James Ennis III | HOU | SG,SF | 101 | 33 |
| 69 | Lance Stephenson | LAL | SG,SF | 89 | 20 |
| 70 | Jonathon Simmons | ORL | SG,SF | 85 | 15 |
| 71 | Thabo Sefolosha | UTH | SG,SF | 96 | 25 |
| 72 | Jerian Grant | ORL | PG,SG | 80 | 8 |
| 73 | Wayne Ellington | MIA | SG,SF | 66 | -7 |
| 74 | Denzel Valentine | CHI | SG,SF | 82 | 8 |
| 75 | Dillon Brooks | MEM | SG,SF | 87 | 12 |