In fantasy basketball the center position is much like running backs in fantasy football - very productive if you get an elite one, but there are few to choose.  The NBA game has gone to using more versatile smaller players, and though this speeds up the game and increases scoring, it reduces the number of quality big men in the league.  If your searching for a fantasy center this draft day, this is how I would rank the top 15.

1 - Amare Stoudamire - He is a power forward playing in the center position on the right team.  He has the size, strength and athleticism to play with any bigger center, but they aren’t quick enough to guard him, and put someone smaller on him and he is goes over the top.  Now that he has developed a mid-range jumper his offensive game is limitless, especially playing alongside Steve Nash.  He rebounds well, gets blocks and the scary thing is he is only getting better.  He has fully recovered from knee surgery and this year will be playing starter minutes in game 1. 

2 - Yao Ming - Ming is a traditional center.  He is huge and has developed an offensive game that noone can stop due to his size.  At his height he clears the glass and gets blocks without even trying.  Small hook shots and put back shots easily get him 25 ppg.  The downside on Ming is his inability to stay on the floor so far with an assortment of foot ailments and other similar injuries.  If Ming can’t put together 75 games this year, he will be labelled an injury risk and will drop down these ratings. 

3 - Dwight Howard - The new Man-Child in Orlando is a rebounding beast.  He will carry your team in that category if you draft him and if rebounds is all you need move him up one slot as he is a safer play than Ming injury wise.  His only knock so far is his ability to score every night with the same aggression.  Some nights he looks unstoppable going to the rim for dunk after dunk, while other nights you don’t see him.  This is only his 4th year so watch for more improvement in his offensive game as he better learns post moves, not just overpowering defenders.  Once he figures out how to score 20 ppg he will be a fantasy force.

4 - Pau Gasol - For a number of years Gasol was considered a very good fantasy power forward.  After starting enough games last season to be eligible at center, it makes him even more valuable in the fantasy game.  He doesn’t quite rebound at the level of the top 3, but there is no question about his offensive game and he gets enough blocks to be ranked high.  He is a much better passer than the three players above him, averaging 3.5 assists per game last season from the slot.  If your team needs more rebounds stick with the top 3, but if you are in search of assists, then rank Gasol higher.

5 - Emeka Okafor - Meka finally started to show a well rounded game last season and it moved him into the top 5 of my list.  While he always rebounds and blocks with the best big men in the NBA, he finally found some resemblance of an offensive game last season and posted 14 ppg.  With his high blocks and rebounds, 14 ppg is very acceptable.  The one area of concern is Meka has horrible ankles, which seem to roll at will.  He was on the floor more last season, but always seems to miss time.  For such a young player, playing on an improved young team I am banking on him to put in close to a full season this year and earn this top 5 spot.

6 - LeMarcus Aldridge - After watching Aldridge in summer camps, watching Randolph get traded away and then finding out that Oden was out for the season, I am very high on the potential of Aldridge this season.  He looked great in summer play and this season the middle will be all his in Portland meaning lots of playing time.  He is a natural rebounder and blocker, and this year they will need him to score to stay in games.  The upside on Aldridge this season is huge.

7 - Mehmet Okur - Okur only goes this high for one reason.  His ability to make threes as an eligible center.  He does not rebound or block that well, so he will not give you traditional center numbers, but if you are after threes he is worth a look, as he will also give you 17-20 ppg to go with those downtown shots.

8 - Marcus Camby - Camby in 8th??? Every other ranking has Camby around 4-5th amongst centers, but I refuse to put him that high.  The guy is hurt constantly so his number of missed games, drastically reduces the effectiveness of his numbers.  The bigger problem is he will just sit random games which kills owners when they can’t plan for benching him, and therefore get no stats, not just a lack of his stats.  Camby played around 70 games last season (with a number of games where he actually left the game early taht everyone forgets) and that is called a great year for him.  The guy is a fantasy stat machine when on the floor, but I prefer players who are actually in my lineup each week.

9 - Tyson Chandler - I think it took a move from Chicago and then 20 games from last season, but Chandler finally started to find his game in the NBA.  He is not a scorer, but he is an above average rebounder and a great blocker.  Last year he averaged 9.5 ppg with an impressive FG%, so if he can just duplicate his scoring numbers Chandler is a great play.  His averages are actually deceiving, as if you take away the first 25 games of the season, all of his numbers are up as he gained more playing time, so I expect better scoring numbers this season.  The only reason you may need to move Chandler down is if your league counts free throw percentage and you need a good shooter from the line.  Chandler has a very poor FT%, but he gets few attempts.

10 - Samuel Dalembert - Gets beat out by Chandler because he does not clean the glass like a 7 footer should.  Dalembert averages 9 rebounds a game, but really with his jumping ability should be able to gather 11+ easily.  Chandler gets 12.5 and even more if you look at his last 50 games only.  Dalembert’s blocks have also dropped while his all-around game has improved.  Much of this is because the coaches want him on the floor more, and don’t let him go after every ball (to avoid fouls), but he still has a very respectable 2 bpg.  Dalembert is not going to continue to improve much beyond his current game, so expect 10 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 bpg.

11 - Andrew Bogut - The former first overall pick had a great season going last year until an injury shut him down heading into the final month of the season.   Though Yi Jilian will be in the mix this season, and Charlie V should be healthy and playing more minutes, don’t expect Bogut’s numbers to change much from last year.  He is an agressive player, and still improving.  A better team around him should actually help him get open and play within the offense better than last year.

12 - Chris Kaman - Kaman was a disappointment last year but he moves up the 2007 rankings because Elton Brand is going to be out for the season.  Kaman will be the main player in the paint for the Clips, and should see a big improvement in scoring and rebounding.  I am still being cautious as the big fella seems to play his worst when you expect the best, but with Brand he was able to average 10 ppg, 8 rpg, so I can easily see an improvement this season to 15-10 with 1.5 blocks to vault him into the top 10 next season.

13 - Shaq - How did Shaq slip to 13 amongst just centers?  Well injuries every season is basically the only reason why.  If you are one who feels he will play 75 games move him up to around 7-8th on your list, but I have been burned too many times recently to trust the Diesel will put up over 55 games.  His stats will be 17 ppg, 8-10 rpg and 1.5 blocks, but it all depends on how many games you get at that level.

14 - Brad Miller - Miller used to be the triple double from the center position.  In a run and gun Sac-Town offense he produced an average 10 ppg, but could also put up 10 assists on any given night to go with his 10 rebounds.  Miller’s age finally seems to have caught up to him, and with a King’s team that no longer resembles that running squad he doesn’t have a game that can excel fantasy wise as he gets virtually no blocks.  He is a good shooter for a center though, so this season will tell a lot for where Miller’s game is at - whether he can be a 10-10 guy and a source of assists from the center position, or if he is just a 10-8 guy with backup center like stats. 

15 - Ben Wallace - Giving Wallace the last place in the top 15 out of respect.  He will still give you above average rebounding, steals and block numbers and should be more comfortable in Chicago this season.  This year though he will be battling Tyrus and Noah for minutes, of which the Bulls like to share.  Also remember you have to completely look past his lack of scoring, FG% and FT%, and ensure they won’t hurt your team overall. 

Centers to watch:

Andrew Bynum - Started to really come on last year, but hit the wall a number of times.  Should be better prepared this season.

Eddy Curry - A guy who scored 19+ ppg last season should make the top 15, but he cannot rebound or block at all, and those numbers should be even worse with Randolph in the paint with him.

Kendrick Perkins - With the new Celtics around him, he could get great rebound and blocks and still 10 ppg on put backs.

Nenad Krystic - Before the knee injury he was a top 8 center.  No timetable on when he will really be back yet to rank him this season.