We're barely even a week into the NBA season, so I suppose that I'm bound by some sort of unwritten contract to warn you about the dangers of panicking this early in the season. There, I fulfilled my obligation; now let's get to the introductions.

When my editors told me that I could freelance and write about whatever I wanted in my column as long as it related to fantasy hoops and included my top-130 rankings, I imagine I felt a lot like Steve Nash when he learned that the Suns would be going back to the up-tempo offense. I have a feeling my editors might regret that decision when I turn this in considering that this might be double the word count that they were expecting when it's all said and done. What can I say? It's the first week of the season and thanks to NBA League Pass, I've watched more than my fair share of hoops (almost enough to get me banished to the couch, I might add). I might as well get my money's worth. So I figured that I'd take a run through the league and offer my thoughts on the first week of action for all 30 teams, focusing mostly on players who have been hot topics in my reader e-mails during the past few weeks.

A few quick notes about the top-130 rankings before we start. Ranking 130 players may seem like an arbitrary number, but it's not. That is the exact number of players who are owned in standard ESPN formats. Basically, this is a list of all the players whom I feel should be owned in standard fantasy leagues. I should also note that my personal preseason rankings were fairly different from the draft kit rankings prior to the season. So don't put too much emphasis on the change in value this first week. Take Marcus Camby for instance. He's dropped 18 spots in the rankings despite playing very well in early action. That's only because I felt that his initial ranking of 48 was a little too high for the injury-prone big man.

Eastern Conference

The Top 130
Note:Brian McKitish's Top 130 are ranked for their expected performance in ESPN standard leagues from this point on, not on the statistics that have already been accrued. ESPN's preseason ranking is indicated in parentheses.

1. LeBron James, SF, CLE (2)
2. Chris Paul, PG, NO (1)
3. Dwyane Wade, SG, MIA (6)
4. Kevin Durant, SG/SF, OKC (3)
5. Danny Granger, SF, IND (4)
6. Kobe Bryant, SG, LAL (5)
7. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, DAL (7)
8. Dwight Howard, C, ORL (8)
9. Deron Williams, PG, UTA (9)
10. Chris Bosh, PF/C, TOR (10)
11. Steve Nash, PG, PHO (15)
12. Brandon Roy, SG, POR (16)
13. Amar'e Stoudemire, C/PF, PHO (13)
14. Carmelo Anthony, SF, DEN (18)
15. Al Jefferson, C, MIN (12)
16. Pau Gasol, PF/C, LAL (11)
17. Andre Iguodala, SG/SF, PHI (14)
18. Joe Johnson, SG/SF, ATL (20)
19. Chauncey Billups, PG, DEN (17)
20. Gilbert Arenas, PG, WAS (33)
21. Paul Pierce, SF/SG, BOS (23)
22. Josh Smith, PF/SF, ATL (40)
23. Jason Kidd, PG, DAL (24)
24. Rajon Rondo, PG, BOS (29)
25. Devin Harris, PG, NJ (31)
26. Brook Lopez, C, NJ (36)
27. Kevin Martin, SG, SAC (30)
28. Tim Duncan, C/PF, SA (21)
29. Kevin Garnett, PF, BOS (19)
30. Vince Carter, SG/SF, ORL (38)
31. Gerald Wallace, SF/PF, CHA (34)
32. David West, PF, NO (22)
33. Caron Butler, SF, WAS (35)
34. Monta Ellis, PG/SG, GS (37)
35. Troy Murphy, PF/C, IND (26)
36. Jose Calderon, PG, TOR (25)
37. Rashard Lewis, SF/PF, ORL (43)
38. Baron Davis, PG, LAC (39)
39. Russell Westbrook, PG, OKC (47)
40. Nene, C/PF, DEN (44)
41. Carlos Boozer, PF, UTA (32)
42. Andris Biedrins, C, GS (46)
43. David Lee, PF/C, NY (28)
44. Jason Richardson, SG/SF, PHO (76)
45. Derrick Rose, PG, CHI (41)
46. Andrea Bargnani, PF/C, TOR (67)
47. Stephen Jackson, SG/SF, GS (45)
48. Mehmet Okur, C, UTA (49)
49. Al Harrington, PF, NY (50)
50. Mo Williams, PG, CLE (51)
51. Ben Gordon, SG, DET (52)
52. Jeff Green, SF/PF, OKC (66)
53. Eric Gordon, SG, LAC (54)
54. Hedo Turkoglu, SF, TOR (64)
55. Tony Parker, PG, SA (56)
56. Rudy Gay, SF, MEM (57)
57. Shawn Marion, SF/PF, DAL (77)
58. Antawn Jamison, PF, WAS (42)
59. O.J. Mayo, SG, MEM (53)
60. Jameer Nelson, PG, ORL (55)
61. Ray Allen, SG, BOS (60)
62. Tyrus Thomas, PF, CHI (61)
63. Boris Diaw, PF/SF, CHA (63)
64. Emeka Okafor, C, NO (72)
65. Al Horford, C/PF, ATL (80)
66. Marcus Camby, C/PF, LAC (48)
67. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, POR (58)
68. Chris Kaman, C, LAC (99)
69. Andrew Bynum, C, LAL (74)
70. Zach Randolph, PF, MEM (65)
71. John Salmons, SG/SF, CHI (70)
72. Thaddeus Young, SF, PHI (71)
73. Jason Terry, SG/PG, DAL (73)
74. Joakim Noah, C/PF, CHI (100)
75. Michael Redd, SG, MIL (59)
76. Allen Iverson, SG/PG, MEM (75)
77. Lou Williams, PG/SG, PHI (106)
78. Trevor Ariza, SF, HOU (97)
79. Elton Brand, PF, PHI (27)
80. J.R. Smith, SG, DEN (84)
81. Raymond Felton, PG, CHA (87)
82. Marc Gasol, C, MEM (141)
83. Andre Miller, PG, POR (62)
84. Anthony Randolph, PF/SF, GS (89)
85. Paul Millsap, PF, UTA (83)
86. Richard Hamilton, SG, DET (91)
87. Luis Scola, PF/C, HOU (82)
88. Manu Ginobili, SG, SA (78)
89. Rodney Stuckey, PG, DET (96)
90. Mario Chalmers, PG, MIA (79)
91. Aaron Brooks, PG, HOU (112)
92. Mike Bibby, PG, ATL (90)
93. Lamar Odom, PF/SF, LAL (105)
94. Michael Beasley, PF/SF, MIA (128)
95. Charlie Villanueva, PF/SF, DET (68)
96. Wilson Chandler, SF, NY (108)
97. T.J. Ford, PG, IND (95)
98. Luol Deng, SF, CHI (111)
99. Greg Oden, C, POR (115)
100. L. Barbosa, SG/PG, PHO (118)
101. Grant Hill, SF, PHO (119)
102. Jermaine O'Neal, C, MIA (121)
103. Andrew Bogut, C, MIL (88)
104. Jamal Crawford, SG/PG, ATL (98)
105. Ron Artest, SF, LAL (69)
106. Josh Howard, SG/SF, DAL (81)
107. Mike Conley, PG, MEM (85)
108. Tyreke Evans, PG, SAC (143)
109. Roy Hibbert, C, IND (189)
110. Stephen Curry, PG/SG, GS (149)
111. Richard Jefferson, SF, SA (107)
112. Ronnie Brewer, SG, UTA (116)
113. Jonny Flynn, PG, MIN (122)
114. Andrei Kirilenko, SF/PF, UTA (92)
115. Channing Frye, PF/C, PHO (227)
116. Brad Miller, C, CHI (109)
117. Jason Thompson, PF, SAC (131)
118. D.J. Augustin, PG, CHA (86)
119. Spencer Hawes, C, SAC (94)
120. Andray Blatche, PF/C, WAS (177)
121. Mike Miller, SG/SF, WAS (117)
122. Brandon Jennings, PG, MIL (157)
123. Marvin Williams, SF, ATL (132)
124. Randy Foye, SG/PG, WAS (130)
125. Yi Jianlian, PF/SF, NJ (219)
126. Chris Duhon, PG, NY (129)
127. Courtney Lee, SG, NJ (138)
128. Danilo Gallinari, SF, NY (209)
129. Marreese Speights, PF/C, PHI(165)
130. Kirk Hinrich, SG/PG, CHI (113)

Boston Celtics
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