https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/sports/nba-top-100-players-2016/Washington post - Favors ranked no. 29 in their preseason player rankings.It's taken some time, given how young and raw Favors was when he entered the league, but he has become an excellent player for the Jazz. Like Hayward, though, Favors need to prove he can be a leading man on a leading team if Utah is going to take the next step as a franchise.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarank39/nbarank-39-utah-jazz-forward-derrick-favorsESPN Rank - Favors ranked no. 39 in their player rankings pre-seasonScouting report
+ Combo big man who is a plus at either position
+ Excellent finisher who can post up most power forwards
+ Mobile defender who blocks enough shots to anchor defense
Analysis
Already a six-year NBA veteran at age 25, Favors has established himself as a solid 16-point, eight-rebound a game contributor who has the ability to play both frontcourt spots effectively. Though Favors still has two years left on his contract, since he's making just $23 million over that span, he could be a candidate for a renegotiation and extension that would lock him in past the summer of 2018 at a below-max rate.
Favors creates a reasonable number of his own shots for a big man. Besides putbacks, those come mostly in the post, where he scored twice as many points (198) as the rest of the Jazz combined (97), according to Synergy Sports tracking on NBA.com/Stats. Favors has a little hook with either hand and likes to face up slower defenders when playing center to use his quickness. Favors is also Utah's best option in the pick-and-roll game, though the presence of Rudy Gobert around the basket sometimes forces him to pop to the perimeter. Favors is less effective there, having shot just 33.1 percent on 2-point attempts beyond 16 feet, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Favors' versatility is valuable defensively, as he can swing between the two frontcourt spots depending on teammates. He's a strong pick-and-roll defender who can capably switch out on guards -- a particularly effective weapon at center -- but he is also a shot-blocking presence. Playing alongside Gobert depresses Favors' individual stats. He averaged 9.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes with Gobert on the bench, per NBA.com/Stats, as compared to 8.2 and 1.3 playing with him. But the Jazz's defense is 2.0 points better per 100 possessions with Favors and Gobert, and somewhat surprisingly, Utah scores better with both big men despite limited floor spacing.
https://www.si.com/nba/2016/09/12/nba-top-100-player-rankingsSports Illustrated - Favors was ranked no. 28 in the league in their top 100 players rankingThe Jazz are zigging where a lot of teams are zagging, and Derrick Favors’s comprehensive two-way game makes it all possible. With so many teams hoping to play smaller and faster, the 25-year-old Favors makes for a nightly mismatch. His strength, honed scoring ability and motor are tough to handle for perimeter-oriented fours, as he can pound the glass on both ends and work his way to high-percentage shots against undersized defenders. At the same time, Favors (16.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG) moves well defensively for a man of his size, meaning he can be played for stretches alongside a true center without being exposed. As a result, the Jazz can trot out traditional lineups featuring Favors and Rudy Gobert that control the tempo, force lots of tough and contested looks, dominate the glass and suck the life out of the opposition. But, wait, there’s more: Favors can also shift up to play center, giving coach Quin Snyder a strong backline defender at his disposal for all 48 minutes. This year, Utah should be able to downshift into spread looks more easily thanks to the additions of Boris Diaw and Joe Johnson, plus growth from Trey Lyles. With extra space, Favors should be in even better position to operate one-on-one in the paint against overmatched defenders. If Utah takes a step forward in the standings, as expected, it will be fascinating to see how the rest of the West will handle matchups with Favors in the postseason. Do you stay big in hopes of neutralizing him, thereby going along with Utah’s preferred style? Or, do you try to go small in hopes of playing him or Gobert off the court while running the risk that he might pound you into submission? (Last year: No. 37)
+ One of just eight players to average at least one steal and one block last season, he graded out well defensively by the major advanced metrics and can comfortably handle both fours and fives
+ His physicality and skill make him hard to stop when he works up a head of steam going to the hoop, whether he’s making decisive moves from the post, crashing the offensive glass, cutting hard to the basket off the ball, or rolling with purpose in the two-man game
– He missed a career-high 20 games last season, including an extended stretch due to a back injury
– He forms a beastly pairing with Rudy Gobert on the defensive end, but he needs to continue to improve his shooting if the Jazz are going to find enough offensive spacing with that duo.
https://www.nba.com/article/2016/10/25/ranking-top-power-forwards-2016-17-nba-seasonNBA.com - Favors ranked no. 6 PF in the leagueThe big man is a throwback in the era of the stretch-four, hanging around the basket to score his points and acting as rim protector along with Rudy Gobert in the Jazz’ strong defensive front line. It’s been a slow and steady work in progress to coax the 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game that Favors delivered a year ago. Now there are some impatient fans in Utah that might be inclined toward Trey Lyles and his shooting range. But it would be unwise to turn the page on Favors just when he’s hitting his stride. He's strong, lengthy and, perhaps most notably, doesn’t mind at all mixing things up on the inside and doing the dirty work. There could be a breakout season waiting to happen.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/ranking-top-100-nba-players-lebron-still-reigns-two-warriors-on-his-heels/CBS Sports - Favors is ranked no. 29 in their Top 100 players ranking from before the season: This is a major move for a player who was statistically similar last season to the season, similar enough to suggest he plateaued. Or maybe it's just belated appreciation for all that the Georgia Tech product provides, with the promise -- at 25 -- of the next leg up.
He rebounds. He defends in the post. He blocks shots. He plays perfectly off his center, Rudy Gobert, on both ends. He scores efficiently even while a metric misfit; he stepped out more into the 10 to 15 feet area last season, but still has attempted only one three-pointer in eight seasons. Now he'll get more overall looks until Gordon Hayward returns, and to make that long-ago Deron Williams deal look even better.
https://www.slamonline.com/nba/slam-top-50/derrick-favors-48/SLAM Magazine - Favors was ranked no. 48 in their top 50 players in the league rankingThe Jazz are a sexy pick to make the Playoffs this season and Favors is a big reason why.
Derrick Favors dropped a career-high 35 against the Pacers last season. It was the biggest offensive explosion of his career, only the second 30-point game he’s had in six years. But he was nice during that game. He was hitting jumpers, dropping his left shoulder into every defender that tried to stop him from getting to the rim, getting dunks. He put his old-school game on full display that night.
Favors uses mid-range shots, post-ups, duck-ins and throw downs to get his buckets. On defense, the 25-year-old uses his brute strength to gain position for rebounds, blocks and stops. He’s not out there shooting threes. He’s not jumping out the gym like these new-age athletes. But he’s getting the job done.
Now entering his seventh season, his maturity and poise has turned him into a rock for a Jazz team trying to make the Playoffs.
When he spoke to SLAM last month, Favors was all about capitalizing on being a leader:
“When I started out last year, I was like, Man, I’ve been in the NBA six years. I’m now an established vet. I’m getting old now,” he said.
It might sound funny to hear a 25-year-old say that, but that’s really how Favors operates. He’s all business, a big picture kind of a guy. He’s not about the numbers, although 16 points, 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at.
He’s been chipping away at getting to the Playoffs his whole career. All the while, his individual game has grown, making him a force to be reckoned with. On both sides of the ball, Favors is for real.
He carries the responsibility of reliability on his shoulders, knowing how much the Jazz need from him. On any given night, the power forward runs the offense from the elbow, dishing, shooting and driving. He and Rudy Gobert anchor one of the League’s best defenses. While Gobert makes the loud, flashy plays, Favors is the one holding down the fort.
With Gordon Hayward and Rodney Hood taking all the risks with the ball, Favors has to be the one that head coach Quinn Snyder can trust to come through no matter what.
“This offseason, I’ve been busting my ass in workouts to reach that next level,” Favors told us last month. “Working on everything. Jumpshot, post moves. Working out on my body because I got injured last year. Making sure I’m healthy going into next year. I’ve just been working on everything.”
Yeah, it took him six years to have a big scoring night. But don’t let that fool you. Derrick Favors has all the tools to get buckets every night. He also has the IQ to understand that scoring doesn’t always lead to winning. And all he wants to do is win..
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-53-best-franchise-players-in-the-nba-2016-17-edition/Favors was ranked no. 29 in fivethirtyeitht's preseason Top NBA franchise players ranking. 
