As the NBA season inched closer to the All-Star break during Week 16, we saw a solid mix of fantasy basketball power rankings mainstays and younger upstarts combine to form the upper echelon of the fantasy hierarchy via some outstanding stretches of all-around play.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum)
Week 16 Fantasy Basketball Power Rankings
#1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
Last Week: 68.3 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (69.1 FP/G)
While there are a couple of surprising new faces in this week's top five, the name at the top of the heap is a highly familiar one. Jokić was in prime form over the Nuggets' three games last week, averaging 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals over 37 minutes per contest. The perennial All-Star wasn't even close to his most efficient, as he shot just 44.8% in that span, including 30.0% from behind the arc, making his offensive production all the more impressive. An 85.7% success rate from the free-throw line helped make up for the shortfall, and Jokić finished the week with back-to-back instances of his signature triple-doubles.
#2. Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 4 (55.8 FP/G)
Johnson continued his stellar stretch of play over the Hawks' 2-1 week, spearheading the charge with 27.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 54.4%. Johnson also connected on 75.0% of his 6.7 free-throw attempts per contest, and he continued to
As the NBA season inched closer to the All-Star break during Week 16, we saw a solid mix of fantasy basketball power rankings mainstays and younger upstarts combine to form the upper echelon of the fantasy hierarchy via some outstanding stretches of all-around play.
The following players averaged the most fantasy points per game last week (one-game minimum)
Week 16 Fantasy Basketball Power Rankings
#1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
Last Week: 68.3 FP/G Season Rank: 1 (69.1 FP/G)
While there are a couple of surprising new faces in this week's top five, the name at the top of the heap is a highly familiar one. Jokić was in prime form over the Nuggets' three games last week, averaging 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals over 37 minutes per contest. The perennial All-Star wasn't even close to his most efficient, as he shot just 44.8% in that span, including 30.0% from behind the arc, making his offensive production all the more impressive. An 85.7% success rate from the free-throw line helped make up for the shortfall, and Jokić finished the week with back-to-back instances of his signature triple-doubles.
#2. Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
Last Week: 67.0 FP/G Season Rank: 4 (55.8 FP/G)
Johnson continued his stellar stretch of play over the Hawks' 2-1 week, spearheading the charge with 27.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 54.4%. Johnson also connected on 75.0% of his 6.7 free-throw attempts per contest, and he continued to flash elite versatility by churning out his ninth and 10th triple-doubles of the campaign against the Heat and Jazz to open the week. While Jonathan Kuminga (knee) will eventually make his team debut and there are several solid complementary options around Johnson, the latter remains the unquestioned main cog in Atlanta's engine now that Trae Young is off the roster.
#3. Isaiah Collier, Jazz 
Last Week: 62.1 FP/G Season Rank: 115 (30.8 FP/G)
Collier is the most surprising entrant into the Power Rankings for not just this week, but the campaign as well, considering his season-long ranking. Keyonte George's absence due to an ankle injury opened the door for a trio of Week 16 starts for Collier, who capitalized on the opportunity by churning out three double-doubles and averaging 20.7 points, 14.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals across a massive 42.7 minutes per game. Collier also found the net on 49.1% of his 17.7 shot attempts per contest, and he got his week started off in memorable fashion with a 17-point, 22-assist double-double that also included five rebounds and three steals in a wild 131-122 win over the Pacers.
#4. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers 
Last Week: 60.5 FP/G Season Rank: 10 (50.7 FP/G)
Mitchell gained quite the new backcourt mate in James Harden at the trade deadline, with the latter making his team debut Saturday. Mitchell seemed to immediately benefit from his new teammate's presence, recording 35 points on 13-for-24 shooting in a win over the Kings. Mitchell's other Week 16 game was impressive as well, as he totaled 29 points, nine assists, five rebounds and four steals in a comfortable victory over the Clippers on Wednesday. If Saturday is any indication, Harden's presence could actually help boost Mitchell's production more often than not by drawing away defensive attention.
#5. Stephon Castle, Spurs 
Last Week: 57.9 FP/G Season Rank: 40 (41.4 FP/G)
Castle's week started off ordinarily enough in wins over the Thunder and Mavericks, when he averaged 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. However, his Saturday night performance in a 138-125 win over the Mavericks vaulted him into the top five, as he contributed a 40-point, 12-rebound, 12-assist triple-double that also included three steals and one block across 32 minutes. The scoring total was a career-high figure for the second-year pro, who also joined Hall of Famer David Robinson as the only other player in team history to achieve a 40-point triple-double.
This week's preview
The following players are top fantasy point producers and play at least two games next week with fewer than two matchups against top-10 defenses:
Jalen Johnson, ATL
(55.8 FP/G) - @MIN, @CHA
Donovan Mitchell, CLE
(50.7 FP/G) - @DEN, WAS
Kevin Porter Jr., MIL
(45.4 FP/G) - @ORL, @ORL, @OKC
Lauri Markkanen, UTA
(42.7 FP/G) - @MIA, SAC, POR
Chet Holmgren, OKC
(37.1 FP/G) - @LAL, @PHO, MIL

