Fantasy Basketball: 10 Players to Target on Tanking Teams

D'Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers

Like I said, the Lakers are the prime candidate for a tank job. At the head of it is their point guard, D'Angelo Russell, who currently ranks 103rd in Yahoo's fantasy rankings. In other words, he's disappointed for those hoping Russell would fulfill or even surpass his O-Rank of 83 this year.

The former Ohio State standout is already playing 27.4 minutes per game, with averages of 15.4 points and 4.7 assists while connecting on 2.2 three-pointers. What's left to gain, and how's he going to get in the position to move up in the fantasy ranks?

Well, in the last 11 games, Russell has played 30 or more minutes on nine different occasions. Luke Walton's all but completely eliminated Jose Calderon from his rotation and Lou Williams is losing minutes by the week, so maybe the transition toward youth and the tank job have already begun.

When it all comes to a head, Russell is bound to have even more minutes come his way. If it's anything near 36 a game, expect Russell to climb the fantasy rankings quickly. Given his field goal percentage and turnover struggles, Russell is a ninth-round value, but if you don't mind losing turnovers Russell's the 49th-ranked player, by per-36 numbers.