Final Update: 2016 Fantasy Basketball Rankings: Small Forwards

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The NBA preaseason officially starts on October 1. Throughout September and October, theScore will be updating our fantasy rankings, both by position and Top 200 players overall.

These rankings will reflect standard scoring formats, taking into account each player's ability to produce in the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, 3-point shots made, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and turnovers.

Position Rankings
PG | SG | SF | PF | C | Top 200

(updated Oct. 24)

We covered Harden in our shooting guard rankings; every superlative remains valid in leagues where he's eligible at small forward as well (which is most of them). Instead, let's consider the merits of Antetokounmpo, whose hype should reach a fever pitch as we approach opening night.

From March 3 until the end of season, the Greek Freak averaged 19.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.9 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Coach Jason Kidd has openly suggested Antetokounmpo may even play point guard next year, ensuring the ball is in his hands on nearly every possession.

With increased touches and the natural maturation we saw at the end of last season, Antetokounmpo has the physical tools to be a top-5 player in fantasy.

Thompson's value takes a big hit from the Kevin Durant signing, as his 3-and-D skill-set lends itself to marginalization as a role player, albeit one with a massive impact on the game. He'll still have outings where he'll catch fire from the perimeter and score 40 points but his PPG average will shrink overall. And the Warriors will laugh their way to 65-plus wins anyways.

That Hayward is still ranked in the top 15 despite his finger injury is a testament to how quickly the talent level at small forward drops off. The only caveat is that you'll need to have the ability to move him into an injured player slot -- otherwise, it'd be better to get a full season out of a lesser player like Parker.

Once you get past the All-Star tiers, you find a lot of secondary "glue" guys - players that don't necessarily do one thing well but provide a steady stream of statistics across multiple categories. With an injury to a key rotational player, a secondary scoring option like Ariza, Hood, Crowder and Porter can take on a much larger role, owing to their positional versatility.

Mirotic is one to watch in Chicago; with the Bulls waving goodbye to Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, there will be more rebounds available for the tweener. Mirotic will likely also find himself in some small-ball lineups as a means of spacing the floor in sets featuring both Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. In either role, his 25 minutes per game from last year are due to grow.

Don't count on Deng rebounding to his pre-Miami All-Star stats; he's there to be an unselfish on-court mentor to the Lakers' stable of former lottery picks and bring some maturity in the locker room. Make no mistake: he's no babysitter, but he signed-on knowing that his job was to usher in the next generation of Lakers stars, not pad his own All-Star resume.

Beasley is a lottery ticket. He's had solid per-36 minute production in the past but his tendency to grind the offense to a halt and his inconsistency on the defensive end means he's probably better suited to a reserve role. His mercurial nature doesn't project stability. He will not be any means directly replace the lost production of Khris Middleton.

You can still find fantasy role players down the board late in the draft, especially 3-point specialists like Smith, Green, and Korver. For those that loaded up on 3-point shooters early in the draft, turn your attention instead to young developing talents that have shown glimpses of raw potential; imagine if Kidd-Gilchrist or Winslow can iron out passable jump shots.

There are rumors that Ben Simmons' representatives are pushing for the injured blue-chip youngster to sit out the entire 2016-17 campaign, rather return from his fractured foot mid-season. If your fantasy draft is today, Simmons is still worth a speculative late-round pick until his status clears up but he is by no means a candidate to go in the top 100 draft picks anymore.