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Top sleeper, bust picks at small forward for 2021-22 fantasy basketball

We go over two sleepers and two busts at small forward who could shape fantasy basketball outcomes this season.

Washington Wizards v Philadelphia 76ers - Game Five
Tobias Harris of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards during Game Five of the Eastern Conference first round series at Wells Fargo Center on June 2, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

The 2021-22 NBA season is almost here, which means fantasy basketball and DFS competitions are back in full swing. The small forward position is loaded in the NBA, which usually means plenty of options and flexibility for fantasy managers. There are several intriguing prospects to break out in this year’s field, while there are some obvious regression candidates. Here’s a look at two small forward sleepers and two “busts”, in relation to their ESPN ADP. A sleeper is someone expected to outperform his ADP while a bust is expected to produce below his ADP.

Small forward sleepers

Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers

ESPN ADP: 43.0

Harris has evolved into a consistent scorer and will get close to 20.0 points per game against this season. However, the 76ers are likely going to get rid of Ben Simmons at some point. That makes Harris the clear top perimeter option for Philly and will also give him more creativity and playmaking duties. There’s a chance for Harris to really take another step forward offensively if the 76ers move on from Simmons quicker than expected.

Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets

ESPN ADP: 109.8

The Hornets are going to have a fast-paced offense centered around dynamic guard LaMelo Ball, and Hayward should benefit. The versatile forward can score from anywhere on the floor and offers some playmaking chops offensively as well. Hayward’s injury history is a little troubling, but this ADP is something he can easily beat.

Small forward busts

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

ESPN ADP: 10.4

Tatum is a fantastic player and one of the top scorers in the league. However, is he really a better fantasy option than Paul George and LeBron James this season? The Celtics are going to look different under new coach Ime Udoka and Tatum’s production will be affected in some way. He’s still a great fantasy player, but shouldn’t be in the top 10.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

ESPN ADP: 24.9

Like Tatum, Butler is a fantastic player. In fact, if he found out he was listed as a “bust”, he’d likely put up one of the best seasons of his career. There’s just too many mouths to feed in Miami for Butler to be a all-around offensive superstar again and that’s okay. The addition of Kyle Lowry will take away some of his scoring opportunities. Growth from Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson will also impact Butler. He’s still one of the best players in the league, but he’ll have a tough time justifying this ADP.