The 2024-25 NBA season tips off on October 22 with a Lakers-Timberwolves and Knicks-Celtics doubleheader. With opening night just three weeks away, the fantasy basketball season is officially upon us, meaning multiple platforms have released rankings. Maybe you already have a preferred platform, you’re playing on multiple platforms, or you’re still undecided. In any case, comparing ratings from multiple platforms is a helpful exercise in determining potential busts and value picks.

We’ll try to “hack the consensus rankings” by comparing fantasy basketball rankings. ESPN, Yahoo!and Fantrax Here at Rotoworld on our own classification.

C Domantis Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Our: 26
ESPN: 9
Yahoo: 17
Fantrax: 10

Sabonis led the NBA in triple-doubles and double-doubles last season, besting Nikola Jokic in the former and setting the NBA record for most consecutive events in the latter. He led the league in rebounds per game and ranked seventh in assists per game. Sabonis finished the campaign with 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 0.4 triples while shooting 59.4% from the floor and 70.4% from the charity stripe. The big man is a huge asset as a scorer, rebounder and facilitator, but his overall value is limited by his weak defensive contributions. He finished 30th in fantasy value per game last season, and we’re projecting a slightly better finish for the 2024-25 campaign. Fantrax and ESPN have him down for the top 10, and Yahoo is thrilled to have him in the top 20. We’ll finish him inside the top 10, where he’ll have a hard time living up to that expensive draft capital.

SF/PF Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)

Our: 55
ESPN: 26
Yahoo: 37
Fantrax: 46

The Roto World team is optimistic about Banchero’s Year 3 production. We’ve made it to the end of the fifth round, but it’s not quite as high as the other sites we’re comparing. Yahoo and Fantrax aren’t far behind in our Rotoworld rankings, but ESPN places Banchero just outside the top 24.

PF/C Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City)

Our: 14
ESPN: 46
Yahoo: 22
Fantrax: 75

My goodness, this rating is all over the place! Holmgren’s incredible rookie campaign would have earned him Rookie of the Year honors if he hadn’t faced off against the extraterrestrial Victor Wimbanyama. Holmgren was a fantasy first-rounder for large parts of the season and finished as the 20th-ranked player in fantasy. The Gonzaga product averaged 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 triples. He shot 53% from the floor and 79.3% from the charity stripe. Rotoworld’s staff is taking a small step forward, while Yahoo expects the same in 2024-25. Fintrax ranks it 75th, giving managers an opportunity to snap it up at a steep discount. The same is true of ESPN, although the discount is less desirable.

PG/SG Kobe White (Chicago Bulls)

Our: 112
ESPN: 56
Yahoo: 81
Fantrax: 67

White finally broke out in Year 5, logging a career-high 36.5 minutes and posting career-best 44.7 averages on the boards of 19.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.2 blocks, and 2.6 triples. Shooting percentage. 83.8% from the floor and free throw line. White’s offensive offense and increased opportunities were largely aided by the absence of Zach LaVine and a true PG on the roster. LaVine is expected to be back and healthy to start the season, and the Bulls added reliever Josh Gaddy in the offseason in a trade with Oklahoma City for Alex Caruso. Rotoworld projects White — who finished 98th in fantasy value per game — to take a small step back with Giddey and LaVine on the radar, but our three comparison sites are more than that in his view. White has his current rankings on these sites, and fantasy managers can likely find much better value than him at a much higher draft value.

C. Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz)

Ours: 85
ESPN: 73
Yahoo: 111
Fantrax: 100

After a strong rookie season that ended with increased minutes, expectations were sky high for “The Ranger” heading into Year 2. Kessler is a clear example of a “post-hype sleeper” who will be overlooked and undervalued in fantasy hoops. Yahoo and Fantrax rank him outside the top 100, which feels a bit low, given the elite production he provides as a shot blocker.

SG/SF Brandon Miller (Charlotte Hornets)

Our: 82
ESPN: Not rated.
Yahoo: 66
Fantrax: 59

Miller was electric as a rookie, getting big minutes out of the gate and producing at a high level. The Alabama product finished the 2023-24 campaign averaging 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 2.5 triples. His shooting percentage left a little to be desired, but Miller’s ineptitude wasn’t surprising for a first-year player. He finished 116th in fantasy value per game, and we’re projecting an improvement in Year 2. That improvement puts him inside the seventh round in our projections, but Yahoo and Fantrax like him in or around the fifth round. ESPN’s current rating only goes to 100, and Miller’s rating is not. Based on his current ranking, he would be a great value on this platform and an end player at Yahoo and Fantrax.

PG/SG Jalen Green (Houston Rockets)

Ours: 120
ESPN: 59
Yahoo: 104
Fantrax: 83

Green is always a polarizing player in fantasy hoops. He’s hyper-athletic and will go up for 40 points in one game and several highlight plays, only to have little frustration on the court the next. Green’s production has essentially been empty calories for fantasy managers throughout his career, with poor points and triple shooting percentages and little in the way of peripherals. He ranked 146th in fantasy value per game last season, and our 2024-25 rankings expect him to improve slightly with consistency in 12-team leagues. Fantrax and ESPN have it in the top 100, but Yahoo’s ranking is closer to us. Green is a valuable points league guy, but he’s a tough sell in a category league. We’re strongly obscuring it in its current rankings on these comparison sites.

Other notable comparisons

ESPN

Alprin Sengen: 17; Our: 34
Stephen Curry: 35; Ours: 17
Grayson Allen: 51; Our: 96
Jonas Valanciunas: 86; Our: 108
Josh Hart: 88; Our: 176
Harford: 97; Our: 159

Fantrax

Immanuel Quickley: 47; Our 90
Anfernee Simons: 63; Our: 74
Brandon Ingram: 81; Ours: 60
Tyce Jones 127; Our: 64

Yahoo!

Kristaps Porzingis: 97; Our: 38
Trey Murphy III: 90; Our 111
Chris Paul 95; Our: 158
Religious Odija: 144; Our: 76