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

The power forward position gets thin pretty fast, so I’d recommend grabbing someone early in the draft from the top players here. The first 10 guys are safe. After that, it gets dicey. Don’t wait too long.

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. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL
Dirk remains a rotisserie dream due to his percentages, but he’s not a lot of fun to own. I think he’ll be better than he was last season even though his stats are trending downward. The Mavs will need him to step it up offensively.
2008-09 Projections: 24.7 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 48.7 FG%, 87.9 FT%

2. Elton Brand, PHI
Brand’s decision to sign with Philadelphia is exciting on many levels. He should dominate in the East. The rust should be off from his achilles injury. He’s a solid pick late in the first and a steal in the second.
2008-09 Projections: 21.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.9 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 52.2 FG%, 77.0 FT%

3. Josh Smith, ATL
Smith’s ceiling is scary-high. His problem areas are the percentage categories, so be prepared to make up for his deficiencies. The great part about owning J-Smoove is you don’t have to worry about blocks with the rest of the big men, to a point. Smith will keep you alive in that category.
2008-09 Projections: 17.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.3 3PG, 1.5 SPG, 2.7 BPG, 46.0 FG%, 71.5 FT%

4. Chris Bosh, TOR
Bost is a poor-man’s Nowitzki. Bosh kills at the line where he’s underrated and a high-volume performer. His rebounds and blocks could be better, but he’s a true go-to player who will set you up nicely in a roto league in the key percentage categories.
2008-09 Projections: 23.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.1 3PG, 1.0 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 50.3 FG%, 85.1 FT%

5. Kevin Garnett, BOS
KG saw his minutes limited due to blowouts and even missed 11 games. Very un-KG-like. He’s now a sage veteran trying to get more rings, so expect his once God-like stats to stay down with the common folk.
2008-09 Projections: 18.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 1.3 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 52.5 FG%, 79.2 FT%

6. Tim Duncan, SAS
Duncan is a profile in steadiness. He’ll give you his typical 20 and 11 this season, and if he shoots 73 percent from the line again it’s gravy.
2008-09 Projections: 19.8 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 BPG, 50.6 FG%, 71.1 FT%

7. Carlos Boozer, UTA
Boozer is a top-flight power forward but doesn’t block shots. It’s a pretty big weakness for someone at his position being taken in the third round.
2008-09 Projections: 21.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.0 3PG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 55.0 FG%, 74.5 FT%

8. David West, NOH
West and Chris Paul form one of the league’s most devastating duos. West’s medium-range jumper is a killer and he’ll provide excellent value in fantasy leagues once again since he’s not one of the big names.
2008-09 Projections: 21.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 0.1 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 48.8 FG%, 85.6 FT%

9. Antawn Jamison, WAS
Jamison will miss the final preseason game for the Wizards as he’s visiting my apartment to pick up his “Fantasy Guys I Never Want But Are Amazing Every Year” Lifetime Achievement Award. The news that Gilbert Arenas’ knee continues to be held together by the equivalent of papier mache bodes well once again for Jamison.
2008-09 Projections: 20.5 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 3FG, 1.2 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 43.8 FG%, 75.1 FT%

10. Lamar Odom, LAL
Odom’s stats with the Lakers have been so good that I’m feeling a bit ashamed that I’ve dropped him this low. He even shot a career-high 52.5 percent from the field last year. But Andrew Bynum will return to clog up the middle and Odom is renting with an option to buy in Phil Jackson’s doghouse. Can he man the ‘3′ spot successfully all season? We’ll see.
2008-09 Projections: 13.0 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.6 APG, 0.6 3PG, 0.9 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 51.4 FG%, 70.7 FT%

11. David Lee, NYK
Ok, this is the year, isn’t it? New regime, perfect system… what could go wrong? I really like Lee, and you should, too. Keep in mind that he doesn’t block shots.
2008-09 Projections: 12.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 54.0 FG%, 80.3 FT%

12. LaMarcus Aldridge, POR
Aldridge is just 23 and getting better, but statistically he’s unfortunately treading water. He went from 22.1 minutes per game as a rookie to 34.9 last year and his blocks stayed the same. Be careful here, as he’s rather one-dimensional and Greg Oden will knock his rebounds down a peg.
2008-09 Projections: 16.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 50.2 FG%, 75.1 FT%

13. Charlie Villanueva, MIL
I’ll regret this, but I’m moving Charlie up my list. In what regard?, you or Sarah Palin might ask. First, Yi Jianlian is gone, opening the power forward spot up to Villanueva and Villanueva only. He’s been tearing it up this preseason and should be grabbed as a late starter who can do a little bit of everything.
2008-09 Projections: 16.9 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 44.9 FG%, 76.7 FT%

14. Michael Beasley, MIA
Beasley has all the tools, but when this many fantasy owners are on to him, he won’t be worth the reach. Let someone else have his inevitable ups and downs.
2008-09 Projections: 15.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 0.3 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 47.0 FG%, 75.0 FT%

15. Al Harrington, GSW
I like Harrington a lot this year. He’ll play more than his 27 minutes per game from ‘07-08 and the loss of Monta Ellis will mean at the very least more shots for him on the offensive end. He’s more like a small forward, but if you need three-pointers late he’s a good option.
2008-09 Projections: 14.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.1 3PG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 43.9 FG%, 76.3 FT%

16. Troy Murphy, IND
Murphy’s stats from a year ago - 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds - are a bit deceiving as he was a lot better in the second half. Now with Jermaine O’Neal gone, he should see his 28.1-minutes-per-game average increase substantially. He’s a great source of three-pointers for a big man.
2008-09 Projections: 13.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 45.0 FG%, 78.3 FT%

17. Zach Randolph, NYK
If Randolph fits into Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo offense, he could have nice value. That’s a big if. He should provide solid points and rebounds again, but in nearly every other category he’s been a liability.
2008-09 Projections: 18.0 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.2 3PG, 0.8 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 46.6 FG%, 76.5 FT%

18. Kevin Love, MIN
Love brings a skill set to the NBA that has old-schoolers drooling, but is he going to do enough from a fantasy perspective? He’ll be a good rebounder and above average passer for a PF, but the rest of the stats aren’t there yet.
2008-09 Projections: 11.5 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.2 3PG, 0.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 52.0 FG%, 73.5 FT%

19. Kenyon Martin, DEN
Marcus Camby is gone, meaning Martin, Nene and Chris Andersen are the only real big men on Denver. Imagine a world in which Martin plays a full season with no injuries? Dare to dream. In the meantime, he should be much better in the games in which he does play.
2008-09 Projections: 13.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.0 3PG, 1.3 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 53.0 FG%, 62.7 FT%

20. Drew Gooden, CHI
Gooden became a nice fantasy play after his trade to the Bulls, and the team is trotting out virtually the same frontcourt this season. He should play 35 minutes a night and contribute points, boards, and some welcome blocks. He averaged an un-Gooden-like 1.3 per game as a Bull.
2008-09 Projections: 12.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.0 3PG, 0.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 46.8 FG%, 74.7 FT%

The Next 10
21. Hakim Warrick, MEM
22. Chris Wilcox, OKC
23. Paul Millsap, UTA
24. Boris Diaw, PHX
25. Yi Jianlian, NJN
26. Luis Scola, HOU
27. Sean Williams, NJN
28. Udonis Haslem, MIA
29. Jason Thompson, SAC
30. Jason Maxiell, DET