By Jeff Andriesse
Rotowhine.com Editor
Oct. 23, 2008

The big fellas. There’s good depth here, don’t be fooled. Different strokes for different league rules for these guys. Dwight Howard is the top center in a point-based format, Amare Stoudemire in a percentage/roto format. Yao Ming is the wild card - if he’s healthy, he’s as good as the aforementioned guys.

Rules: Rotisserie scoring, eight categories (see projections). Injury risk calculated into each ranking. Certain hybrids not ranked here; consult your league’s positional rules before making your final cheat sheets.

1. Amare Stoudemire, PHX
As the one Sun in his prime, Stoudemire will be force-fed the ball this season and have a year for the ages. I’m considering him No. 1 overall in roto leagues where he has center eligibility.
2008-09 Projections: 26.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.9 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 58.1 FG%, 80.0 FT%

2. Dwight Howard, ORL
As sick a specimen as there is in the NBA, Howard unfortunately shoots free throws as if he’s aiming at a dunk tank. He’ll get the Hack-a-Shaq treatment and thus weigh you down in roto leagues. In a points format, and indeed in a head-to-head format, he’s arguably a Top 5 pick on the level with Stoudemire and Messrs. LeBron, Paul and Kobe.
2008-09 Projections: 21.4 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 60.3 FG%, 58.5 FT%

3. Yao Ming, HOU
Yao, or “Ming Yao” as he is known in some circles, has played less than 60 games in three straight years. Even more frustrating than that is the fact that statistically he is enjoying the best stretch of his career. Take him in the late second round and hope for the best.
2008-09 Projections: 22.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 51.8 FG%, 84.4 FT%

4. Al Jefferson, MIN
Big Al, or “Al Big” as he is known in some circles, is simply a fantasy stud. I’d love to see his blocks per game creep upward a little, and also for him to shoot it a little better from the line.
2008-09 Projections: 21.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 50.7 FG%, 73.0 FT%

5. Marcus Camby, LAC
Raise your hand if you think Marcus Camby is going to get hurt this year. Dislocated your shoulder, didn’t you? Now you know what he goes through. After his 79 games played last season, a turn of events which essentially led to the recent financial disaster on Wall Street, he will be back to infuriating fantasy owners.
2008-09 Projections: 9.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 1.0 SPG, 3.1 BPG, 46.0 FG%, 71.0 FT%

6. Pau Gasol, LAL
It’s hard to say how Gasol and Andrew Bynum will coexist, but Pau will probably be more than happy to post up smaller players more often. His field goal percentage could be sublime, but expect a dip in rebounds and blocks.
2008-09 Projections: 17.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 56.8 FG%, 78.0 FT%

7. Andrew Bogut, MIL
Here’s my first big call on this list: Andrew Bogut is going to be a stud. In the second half his numbers were frightening, and he should continue to shine this year with a good perimeter cast around him.
2008-09 Projections: 15.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 52.5 FG%, 60.4 FT%

8. Chris Kaman, LAC
Upon first glance it looks like Kaman’s value takes a hit with the arrival of Baron Davis and Camby. But read those last two names again. Can’t you just see Kaman putting up 18-and-13s in the second half? One problem: he’s had some trouble staying healthy himself.
2008-09 Projections: 14.0 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.5 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 49.3 FG%, 74.9 FT%

9. Andrew Bynum, LAL
I guess Bynum is healthy. Isn’t he? If so, you should be able to get him at a good value. He probably won’t improve statistically too much if Gasol and Lamar Odom are both healthy.
2008-09 Projections: 13.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.3 SPG, 2.2 BPG, 62.0 FG%, 68.2 FT%

10. Greg Oden, POR
He’ll be brought around rather slowly, but he’s a stud. It’s a matter of health and playing time.
2008-09 Projections: 11.6 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.6 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 56.0 FG%, 64.5 FT%

11. Emeka Okafor, CHA
Okafor is supposedly entrenched at center this year, so that’s a good thing. A candidate to miss a game with an ankle injury at any moment, Okafor nevertheless played 82 games last year. A decent statistical year is in the cards.
2008-09 Projections: 13.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.6 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 51.0 FG%, 58.9 FT%

12. Rasheed Wallace, DET
‘Sheed is one of those rare birds who averages more than a three, a steal and a block per game. His rebounding numbers last year (6.6) sucked and his percentages keep dipping as he launches more from downtown. I’m not very high on him.
2008-09 Projections: 12.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.4 3PG, 1.0 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 43.5 FG%, 74.7 FT%

13. Al Horford, ATL
Overrated alert! Hey, I love Horford as much as the next guy, but doesn’t do much but rebound. Still, expect improvements across the board.
2008-09 Projections: 12.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 50.8 FG%, 73.9 FT%

14. Tyson Chandler, NOH
Chandler doesn’t block as much as you’d think, but he does shoot over 60 percent and rebound like a fiend. He is what he is, a decent No. 2 center.
2008-09 Projections: 11.0 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 60.7 FG%, 60.6 FT%

15. Mehmet Okur, UTA
Unless you drafted Josh Smith, I wouldn’t recommend Okur as one of your top two centers. He barely blocks shots. I still think he’ll have a good year if his second half - 17 and 10 with nearly two 3s a game - is any indication.
2008-09 Projections: 15.8 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 45.0 FG%, 80.8 FT%

16. Jermaine O’Neal, TOR
O’Neal will single-handedly put Canada’s socialist medicine system to the test in Toronto. Nice blocks and boards if he can stay on the court.
2008-09 Projections: 14.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.4 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 44.8 FG%, 73.3 FT%

17. Andris Biedrins, GSW
I see Biedrins’ name all over the place on preseason lists. Personally, I think he’s maxed out what he is - a No. 2 center who will play limited minutes. Ronny Turiaf’s arrival will cut into Biedrins’ chances of playing over 30 minutes a game.
2008-09 Projections: 9.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.6 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 63.0 FG%, 60.1 FT%

18. Brad Miller, SAC
Once again, we enter a season with Brad Miller looking like about as good an option as Dennis Miller. Yet somehow he’ll be amazing. He’s supsended for the first five games as well, which will cause him to fall to the point where you might be able to get him as a No. 3 center.
2008-09 Projections: 12.4 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.3 3PG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 45.7 FG%, 82.0 FT%

19. Samuel Dalembert, PHI
Despite him having played 82 games in each of the last two years, I have the impression of Dalembert that he is flighty, injury-prone and unreliable. Perhaps this is the year he lives down to that.
2008-09 Projections: 9.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.4 SPG, 1.9 BPG, 52.6 FG%, 71.4 FT%

20. Joakim Noah, CHI
Noah should take a nice step forward this year, particularly in the key steal and block categories. He may not be a No. 2 center yet, but there will be weeks where you can play him there.
2008-09 Projections: 8.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.0 3PG, 1.1 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 50.1 FG%, 70.3 FT%

The Next 10
21. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, CLE
22. Andray Blatche, WAS
23. Nick Collison, OKC
24. Nene, DEN
25. Marc Gasol, MEM
26. Amir Johnson, DET
27. Kendrick Perkins, BOS
28. Brook Lopez, NJN
29. Shaquille O’Neal, PHX
30. Jeff Foster, IND