Where should you pick the Spurs rookie in your fantasy basketball lineup, Victor Wembanyama?
You might be wondering “How early is too early to take Victor Wembanyama?” as you get ready for your fantasy basketball draft.
Since LeBron James or Zion Williamson, the Spurs rookie is the most anticipated prospect.
He is also exactly the kind of player that makes fantasy basketball so entertaining. A fantasy manager’s dream is a 7-foot-4 forward with the ability to score frequently, make three-pointers, and accumulate blocks.
However, should you wait to select the 19-year-old phenom Wembanyama or is he worth a first-round pick?
He has a distinct fantasy value, which The Sporting News breaks down below.
evaluating the special fantasy basketball worth of Victor Wembanyama.
The argument in favor of aiming for Wembanyama.
In comparison to any NBA player in 2022–2023, Wembanyama’s final season with Metropolitans 92 in France’s LNB Pro A would be in a league of its own.
The No. 1 overall pick had a game average of 21 points, 6 rebounds, 10 blocks, 2 assists, and 1 made three-pointer.
Last year, there were no NBA players who attained those particular milestones.
Wembanyama won’t likely post the same averages he did overseas when he enters the country, but it’s a good sign of his versatility and how valuable he can be in fantasy basketball.
In the NBA last season, only Brook Lopez, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Kevin Durant averaged at least two blocks and one 3-pointer per game.
likewise Myles Turner.
All three of those players were rated among the top-40 basketball players for the 2022–23 season by ESPN’s fantasy basketball player rater. Jackson Jr. placed sixth overall, and Lopez came in eighth.
Turner came in 35th, and 20th overall.
Just to give you an idea of how valuable Wembanyama can be as a shot-blocking, 3-point shooting weapon in fantasy basketball, don’t be shocked if he averages roughly the same amount of points (15+) and rebounds (6+) per game as that trio.
I’ll wait for Wembanyama, I say.
Wembanyama is an anomaly in terms of prospects, but he is still only a rookie.
Furthermore, rookies don’t always have the effect on fantasy basketball that you might anticipate.
In category league formats, none of the previous three Rookies of the Year finished among the top 50 fantasy players, according to Hashtag Basketball’s fantasy rankings database.
Final Fantasy Basketball Rankings by YearPlayer2022-23Paolo Banchero1682021-22Scottie Barnes722020-21LaMelo Ball64.
Wembanyama at least has his potential as a shot-blocker to make up for the other shortcomings, which are typically hurt by inefficiency, mistakes, and the absence of defensive counting stats.
When should Victor Wembanyama be selected in fantasy basketball?
The majority of fantasy basketball rankings for 2023–24 place Wembanyama in the 40s so far.
According to the number of teams in your league, that makes him roughly a fourth or fifth round pick.
If you are really enthusiastic about Wembanyama’s potential, I would justify taking him as early as the third round, but not before.
Though managers will be eager to snag the 7-4 unicorn for his first NBA season before someone else does, don’t be surprised if you start to see his name fly off the board in the third round.
