The center position in the NBA may be changing but the way that the most productive players in fantasy basketball generate points has not.

There likely won’t be much change in the inclusion of individuals that ranked in the top tier at the center position for fantasy scoring last season. There were a few honorable mentions that barely missed out on this list. The three centers that came the closest were Deandre Ayton, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Vucevic. Each player is coming off productive fantasy seasons. There are a few circumstances

There is a wide range of possibilities for Ayton this season. A foundation of averages of 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a rookie were key in his average of 38.5 fantasy points. At the very least, his production in blocks (0.9) must improve and he could use growth in assists (1.8) and steals (0.9) as well before emerging as an elite center option in fantasy.

There is even potential for an increase in scoring for Ayton if the Phoenix Suns involve him more in their half-court offense. Something to watch is the amount of playing time that Ayton receives this season. He averaged only 30.7 minutes during his rookie season and an increase in that load would translate to higher averages, in general, but especially in scoring and rebounding.

It is common for players to see a boost in their production after playing in the FIBA World Cup. However, there is a natural limit to that potential for a player like Gobert given that he is a play finisher that already does the dirty work at a high level. Regardless, his 2018-19 averages of 15.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.3 blocks resulted in 42.0 fantasy points per game. That level of production will likely be closely replicated.

The honorable mention that came the closest to being included was Vucevic but the first-time All-Star barely missed the cut. He averaged 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 blocks. His balanced statistical averages produced 45.4 fantasy points on average and there is little reason to believe that there will be much change in that production.

Here are the projected top-five centers for fantasy basketball during the 2019-20 season:

5. Andre Drummond

Not being an offensive focal point or much for a facilitator limits Andre Drummond’s potential as a fantasy option but he is still a strong option. He averaged 17.3 points, 15.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks last season. Led by a league-best average in rebounding and unique defensive playmaking averages, Drummond generated 46.4 fantasy points per game.

An underrated aspect that comes into play when considering Drummond as a fantasy selection is his durability. He played in 79 games last season and has only missed eight games since the start of the 2013-14 season. It doesn’t hurt that he is entering a contract year and could have extra motivation to produce for that reason.

4. Joel Embiid

From a pure talent perspective, the top center for fantasy scoring is probably going to be Joel Embiid. He averaged a sensational 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks last season, which resulted in an average of 53.7 fantasy points per game. The main concern is durability because he appeared 64 games in 2018-19 and that was a career-high.

There is a possibility that he ends up playing in more games than many may expect given his focus on improving his body. He shed 20 pounds over the summer to improve his health and to be more nimble to play like a guard and to operate under tighter floor spacing. Being lighter will reduce the stress that he puts on his body and could allow him to play in more games.

It is up to your belief in Embiid’s durability to determine how you view him. For the sake of these rankings, his placement was lower because he has to prove it to move up the list. There is certainly a gray area that can be navigated by the user. It is up to the individual to determine how important proven durability is and if they believe Embiid is primed to play more games.

3. Nikola Jokic

There is a chance that Nikola Jokic could compete for the 2019-20 NBA MVP Award but he may not be the most productive center for fantasy basketball. Last season, he averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.4 steals. The unique impact that he provided the Denver Nuggets resulted in an average of 46.9 fantasy points last season.

The fact that Jokic played in 80 games last season was enough to earn higher placement in the rankings than Embiid. The facilitation that Jokic does provides him with a unique edge over Embiid and Towns but both of them score and rebound at a higher volume. If Jokic does manage to shoulder more of a scoring load or grabs more boards, he could rise up the rankings.

2. Karl-Anthony Towns

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The top three options among pure centers are very competitive but the edge goes to Karl-Anthony Towns for a variety of reasons. He is coming off a season playing 77 games with averages of 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks. The statistical output that he produced last season translated to an average of 48.7 fantasy points.

There is even greater potential for Towns in both scoring and facilitation that could further boost his fantasy points total. Based on an interview that The Athletic’s Jon Krawcynski did with NBA skills trainer, Matt Mazarei, it sounds like Towns will be an even greater focus of the Timberwolves’ offense with tremendous freedom with the basketball in his hands.

The durability factor comes strongly into play when evaluating Towns as a fantasy player. He has only missed five regular-season games in his NBA career out of 328 possible appearances. That enables him to get the edge over a player like Embiid who may score more points per game but just simply doesn’t play a comparable number of games.

1. Anthony Davis

While Anthony Davis may be primarily considered a power forward, he has multi-position eligibility on most fantasy sports platforms. He played in 56 games last season and averaged 25.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.6 steals. He is one of the few players that can produce at a high level for his position in all five major statistical categories and that led to an average of 56.1 fantasy points.

That level of production that Davis had last season was impressive but it’s worth noting that those figures are below what he has produced in recent seasons. He experienced a reduction in playing time due to his trade request. He will likely play more a few more minutes this season and will continue to be a heavily involved member of his team’s half-court offense.