What does LeBron’s ass-stabbing mean for fantasy drafts?  Or rather, who will go #1 in drafts this fall?  Fortunately, we have a couple months to let the rest of the smaller and less important dominoes fall into place… but if Miami can’t flip Michael Beasley for a decent center (or in fantasy terms, someone who could steal away a couple rebounds per game from LeBron), the King could actually average a triple-double next year.  Think about it: instead of having to make perfect passes to Anderson Varejao or praying that Anthony Parker hits an open three, all LeBron has to do is hit Bosh in the chest for a mid-range jumper or lob the ball in the general vicinity of the rim for a Wade throwdown/easy assist.  And while his scoring might slide, LeBron will still easily average 20+ ppg, probably closer to 25.

For the time being, my gut still tells me Kevin Durant should go #1 in fantasy drafts because of his amazing efficiency and ability to hit the three consistently, but as LeBron’s supporting cast (or is it Wade’s supporting cast?) becomes clearer these next few weeks, we’ll have a better idea who should top draft boards.

On a related note: LeBron James also kicks New York in the Asshole.

All-around: Reggie Williams and Jarrett Jack

Williams has proven that he’s not just a 3-pt shooter anymore, and with Monta Ellis out (Ellis is questionable for Sunday), he has stepped into something resembling a point forward role.  Look for this GSW @TOR matchup to provide plenty of fantasy gold.  Meanwhile, even though he’s coming off the bench now, it’s a relatively safe bet Jack will see solid minutes against Golden State on Sunday.  He could provide a mixed bag of FT, threes, assists and steals.

3PM: Bill Walker and Matt Bonner

Walker has been on fire lately, with 11 treys in his last 3 games, and he has a fairly favorable matchup @LAC on Sunday.  As for Bonner, I don’t think he will hit the most treys on Sunday, but if you could use some treys from the C spot on Sunday, Bonner has averaged a respectable 1.5 treys per game vs. the Lakers this season.

AST: Terrence Williams and Steve Blake

Don’t look now, but T-Will the point forward has totaled 23 assists in his last two games.  Since you can start him from the F position, those ast could be even more valuable.  Meanwhile, Blake has filled in admirably in the ast department for Baron Davis.  Even if B-Diddy returns Sunday, the Clippers have a nice matchup against NY so Blake is still worth a look.

REB: J.J. Hickson and Kris Humphries

With Anderson Varejao expected to miss Sunday’s game against BOS, Hickson — who had 16 boards in his last game — is the big beneficiary.  Meanwhile, Humphries had an absolute monster effort against a reeling NO team on Saturday, going off for 10 and 12 with 4 stl and 5 blk.  I wouldn’t expect the stl/blk totals, but he has a good chance to rack up the reb against WAS on Sunday.

FT%: James Harden

Harden connected on 90% of his FT attempts in March, going to the line 4 times per game.  It’s always hard to predict how many FT attempts someone will get (unless, apparently, if you’re Kevin Durant playing vs. BOS), but Harden could go to the line plenty against MIN on Sunday.  As a bonus, he also averaged 1.4 threes and 1.8 spg in March.

STL: C.J. Watson

Again, with Ellis questionable for Sunday, Watson has a chance to rack up some minutes and thus steals against the Raptors.  Other guys that might be worth a desperation heave: Corey Brewer, Toney Douglas, and Earl Watson.

BLK: Ronny Turiaf and Darko Milicic

Turiaf is finally somewhat healthy, and he delivered a huge 5-blk effort against NY in his last game.  Toronto’s front line isn’t much bigger, so Turiaf could be worth a calculated gamble.  As for Darko, he’s been up-and-down when it comes to blk lately, but if you’re in a deep league and need an Easter miracle, how sweet would it be to beat your opponent with DARKO MILICIC?  (Also, keep an eye on DeAndre Jordan vs. NY in deeper leagues.)

Good luck and Happy Easter, bitches.

Not to rain on T-Mac's parade, but another former Magic/Rocket, Steve Francis, also had a solid Knick debut with 16, 5, and 4. Just saying... (Getty)

Cavs lose!  Cavs lose!  Cavs lose!

That’s right, the new-look Cavs are 0-3 after acquiring Antawn Jamison.  Is it the curse of Big Z?  Or is it a hex of fantasy owners of Jamison, Ilgauskas, J.J. Hickson, and Anderson Varejao?  Of course, the trade had obvious fantasy ramifications (basically, it sucked for all the guys mentioned above), but why is the losing streak so important?  Because it means the Cavs and Lakers are in a near-dead heat for the top record in the NBA… which is great news if you own guys like LeBron or Kobe, who probably can’t afford to rest late into the season as the race for home court advantage comes down to the wire.

(Meanwhile, Jamison put up a dud in his first game but bounced back on Sunday.  All those other bigs in CLE?  I’m not sure they’ll ever bounce back.)

T-Mac + D’Antoni = WTF

If you look at my rankings of the biggest trade deadline winners (and losers), I had Tracy McGrady ranked near the top of the second tier (although of course qualified that by saying he had the biggest upside of anyone on the list).  Well, he made his case for being ranked near the top of the first tier in his first game as a Knick, going off for 26, 4, and 5 with great percentages.  Hell, he even shocked himself, as he didn’t expect to play more than 20 min and was admittedly exhausted by the end of the OT game.

I’ve always said the main reason I would own McGrady would be to sell high on him after a hot streak.  Well, this might be the right time if you can get a good bounty in return.  However, Mike D’Antoni has said the Knicks are going to run the rest of the way (See: Wilson Chandler starting at PF instead of SG, where he has started all year).  And with T-Mac playing nice and saying he’s willing to come back to NY at a discount next year, D’Antoni just might keep running him out there for 30+ mpg to build chemistry.  Because of his injury risk, I’d be inclined to sell high, but don’t sell yourself short.

Fantasy ROY Race

First it was Tyreke Evans vs. Brandon Jennings.  Then it was Evans vs. Stephen Curry.  Now is it Curry vs. Darren Collison?  Okay, that’s an overstatement.  But over the last three weeks, it’s been pretty close:

Of course, when Chris Paul returns, this race ends, but it just goes to show how valuable both have been over the last three weeks, and how valuable Curry will be the rest of the year.

WEEK 18 PICKUPS

I’m going to steal from myself and just reiterate some of the biggest trade deadline winners, with some slight adjustments given 3 days-worth of new info.

First of all, trade deadline winners like Andray Blatche (62%) , Tyrus Thomas (63%), T-Mac (74%), and Josh Howard (76%) have already cleared the 50% ownership mark in Yahoo leagues and will thus be excluded.  (I like them in that order by the way.)  The rest:

Casspi & Butler. Ambiguously gay photo, unambiguously solid fantasy pickups. (Getty)

Omri Casspi (33%)

Casspi posted 15, 5, and 3 with 3 steals in his first game with the new-look Kings.  Nothing flashy, but he should get relatively consistent minutes in SAC the rest of the way, as he and Evans are the clear building blocks of that team’s future.

JaVale McGee (17%)

It’s tough to find 11 ppg, 7.3 rpg, and 2.7 bpg off the FA list, but that’s exactly what McGee has delivered in 3 post-trade starts… and all while playing with a sprained wrist.

Rasual Butler (31%)

He can be streaky, but right now he’s streaking the right direction with 17 treys in his last 5 games.  It might take some time, but with Al Thornton out of the way and Travis Outlaw’s indefinite return, Butler could slowly make his was off this list by clearing the 50% hurdle.

C.J. Watson (18%)

Watson has reemerged with Monta Ellis starting to burn out.  Don Nelson recently stated he would not be running guys out for 40+ mpg sometime soon, which means Watson should/might start getting consistent playing time again.  So while I wouldn’t expect the 27, 4, and 4 with great percentages and ~2 treys/stl per game that Watson posted last week, I’d still expect useful fantasy stats.

DeAndre Jordan (5%)

Jordan had a mixed bag of results in the Clips’ first 3 games without Marcus Camby, averaging 8 and 8 with 2.3 bpg.  Those numbers might not be worth taking on his atrocious FT%, but if you’ve already punted that category, he’s a nice pickup.  If not, approach with caution.  (Also keep in mind that Drew Gooden has decided not to take a buy-out and will stay with the Clips.  Obviously Gooden cares about winning and not living in sunny southern California…)

Sergio Rodriguez (9%) and Eddie House (13%)

Rodriguez was the hot pickup after whispers that he might start in New York.  And even though he had a lackluster debut, he’d still be a big catch running the Knicks’ new old up-tempo offense.  Meanwhile, House — who has played and excelled for D’Antoni before — stepped right in and had a huge first game as the Knicks’ super-6th man.  Looks like they both have a chance to make a splash in NY, but just remember that Rodriguez has a real chance to average 8+ apg if/when he steps into that starter’s role before you give up on him.

Keep an eye on… everyone from my trade deadline post, with some tweaks:

Taj Gibson (24% — I’m slightly downgrading him from my previous list because Joakim Noah has already returned; check Noah’s status and think about selling high on Gibson if Noah’s foot starts feeling better), Nate Robinson (52% — been dropped so much he might actually be available; keep an eye on his new role in BOS), Al Thornton and Hakim Warrick (45% and 14% — slight upgrades after debuts on new squads), Jonas Jerebko (9%), Shannon Brown (6% — check Kobe’s status), Mario Chalmers (33% — check Rafer Alston’s status), and last but not least, Anthony Tolliver (6%)

MUST-OWNS

Andray Blatche

First game post-Jamison and Haywood said it all, even if it came against the undersized T-Wolves.

Omri Casspi

Put up top 50 numbers when Martin was out earlier this year, and is a clear building block of the franchise.

Tyrus Thomas

With ample playing time, expect some wild stl/blk stat lines in the future.

JaVale McGee (at least in deeper leagues)

Like Blatche, he had an eye-opening effort against the T-Wolves,  Before that, he’s been very promising in stretches, albeit inconsistent.  He’s in the top tier because of his upside and the fact that his FT% isn’t nearly as bad as another C I’ll mention below.

NICE-TO-OWNS

Taj Gibson

Should see a nice boost while Joakim Noah is out.  Otherwise, at least he should enjoy a nice boost in confidence with Thomas gone.

Sergio Rodriguez

This guy might belong in the top tier if he can take Chris Duhon’s starting job, as has been rumored.  He’s probably a must-own in deeper leagues based purely on speculation.

Tracy McGrady

It’s kind of sad I would rather own Sergio Rodriguez right now, but T-Mac probably has more upside than anyone on this list.  He’s the true wild card of this group.

Josh Howard

Okay, he’s probably already taken in your league.  But if not, I’d rank him right below T-Mac.

Rasual Butler

Al Thornton’s exit and Travis Outlaw’s uncertain return mean big minutes for Butler.

DeAndre Jordan

Mixed bag in first two games post-Marcus Camby.  His upside is equal to McGee’s, but in his career as a starter he’s shooting a putrid 36% on a substantial 4.4 FT attempts per game.  His inconsistency might not be worth that negative pressure.

Craig Smith

Doesn’t do much besides score and score efficiently.  Those looking to make a last minute charge up the FG% ranks in roto leagues should consider him.

Francisco Garcia

He was a stud last year after the Kings traded away John Salmons.  The only problem this year — Tyreke Evans, Donte Greene, and Omri Casspi are all emerging and playing well.  And who knows what Larry Hughes’ role will be.

Donte Greene

See: Garcia, Francisco.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Nate Robinson

I dropped Nate for JaVale McGee in what was a needs-based move in one league, but BOS might actually be a good situation for Nate.  You know they want to rest Ray Allen for the playoffs, so it’s possible Nate could get 25-30 mpg as an instant offense sixth man.  Or, he could get the same minutes Eddie House was getting.  Who knows?  So keep an eye on him.

Nick Young

WAS is playing for the future, and Young would qualify as such.  If you need 3′s, they might start falling soon…

Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless

Even with Steve Blake gone, these guys kind of cancel each other out.  If Brandon Roy continues to be hampered by his hammy, both would enjoy instant upgrades.

Jared Jeffries and Hilton Armstrong

Jeffries’ skills are a perfect match for Houston’s style of play.  However, he probably won’t get close to the minutes he was getting in NY.  We’ll have to wait and see what that averages out to.  And speaking of playing time, Armstrong will be battling Jeffries for the minutes that Carl Landry vacated in Houston.  He hasn’t done much this year, but has been useful for stretches in the past.

Hakim Warrick

He doesn’t do much besides score, but CHI chose him over more defensive big men like Kurt Thomas and Francisco Elson for a reason.  With Salmons gone, Warrick could be leaned on for some (unorthodox) post scoring.

Beno Udrih

Udrih was useful the first time Martin was missing games, but the return of Francisco Garcia complicates that backcourt enough for me to be cautiously optimistic about Udrih the rest of the way.

Al Thornton

A change of scenery might do him good, but he’s still playing behind Mike Miller and Howard.

IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME…

You might not want to cut some of these guys right away, but if you have to in order to snatch one of the “Must-Owns” I’d probably make the move.

Channing Frye

I’m sticking Frye on this list because he was probably hurt the most by the Suns’ inability to trade Amare Stoudemire.  He could still very possibly get hot for multiple games at a time, but Robin Lopez is entrenched as the starter now, killing Frye’s consistency.  (I’d hang onto him in deeper leagues though.)

J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao

Again, maybe wait at least a couple days before dropping these guys, but that CLE frontcourt is awfully crowded now. But do what you gotta do and don’t look back.

Drew Gooden

Looks like he’s staying in Clipperland, where he might actually be somewhat useful, but his upside is limited.

Ronnie Brewer and Charlie Bell

Brewer and Bell are headed to the MEM and MIL benches, and there are definitely more attractive fish in the sea.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas

If his contract is bought out, he’s worthless for 4 weeks.  If he rejoins CLE or goes to DAL, it’s not much better.

Erick Dampier

I was down on him from the start.  A broken finger sealed his fate.

Did I miss anyone?  Of course I did.  Feel free to let me know below…

The fantasy fallout?  No immediate hot pickups (that I haven’t already discussed in detail) jump out at me.  Here’s the quick rundown:

Biggest winner: Besides the entire city of Cleveland?  Thornton might have a chance to jumpstart his season, but I’m not rushing to own him as he’s still behind Mike Miller, Josh Howard, and possibly even James Singleton on the depth chart.  And oh yeah, Andray Blatche is a must-own now (I’ve mentioned him so much lately I almost forgot to include him), while JaVale McGee deserves a long look.

(The other winners here?  Amare Stoudemire and Troy Murphy owners, as they won’t have to worry about their big men being destroyed by that CLE frontcourt situation.)

Keep an eye on: Rasual Butler and Travis Outlaw now only have each other to compete with for minutes at the SF spot in LAC.  Both should be solid weekly plays the rest of the way, with Butler especially roster-worthy as long as Outlaw is still injured.

Biggest loser: The entire city of New York.  The much-anticipated LeBron sweepstakes of 2010 might not even happen if the LeBron/Jamison experiment works out.

From a fantasy perspective, Jamison takes a hit in value, as do all the other bigs in CLE: J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ilgauskas (when he returns).  Hickson made my last weekly pickups list because I assumed the team willing to deal their stud PF would at least get him in return.  WAS failed me, and Hickson’s fantasy value is on life support now.  Damn you, Wizards!

If you are taller than 7 feet and live in Portland, chances are your knees look like silly putty. (AP)

I was talking with a friend the other day about how there are so many more quality C’s (or C-eligible players) in fantasy now as opposed to five years ago.  Well, last night was a reminder why you still need to be deep at the center position on your fantasy teams.  Joel Przybilla suffered a ruptured patella Wednesday night versus the Mavs.  It wasn’t as ugly as, say, Shaun Livingston’s ruptured ‘everything’, but it was still painful to watch.

I still find it hard to believe Przy only made it up to 39% ownership in Yahoo leagues (he was averaging exactly what everyone who owned him was hoping for as a starter: 10 rpg and 2 bpg), so if you own him, chances are you originally had Greg Oden or you play in a deeper league.  Since Przy is likely done for the season, here are some guys available in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues:

Roy Hibbert (45%)

See last post.  He also added 6 blk versus Boston Tuesday night despite a subpar offensive game.

Tyrus Thomas (44%)

Even though he’s not a C, he’s a nice option to replace some of those boards and blocks while adding more steals as well.  Grab him if he’s still available, although in deeper leagues he’s probably been stowed away for at least a few days now.

Erick Dampier (45%)

Quietly averaging 10.4 rpg and 2.1 bpg in 10 December games.

Anderson Varejao (47%)

Probably won’t get as many blocks as Przy, but he’s a sneaky source of steals (1.0 spg).

Tyson Chandler (46%)

After being called out by Gerald Wallace recently, Chandler responded with a 13 and 14 double-double versus the undersized Knicks.  He’s maddeningly inconsistent, but he’s a decent filler for REB with potential for more.

Marreese Speights (35%)

He doesn’t block the ball nearly as much as you’d hope for a big, but he’s getting quality minutes in Philly.  Although Elton Brand was hot Tuesday night, Speights was very solid in the 3 previous games.

Serge Ibaka (2%)

Who?  The third-string C for the Thunder of course!  Well, he’s averaging 8+ rpg and 1.5 bpg over his last 4, including a nice 8 and 14 outing against the Lakers Tuesday night.

Josh Boone (4%)

Boone doesn’t do much besides rebound and block, but that’s probably what you’re looking for right now.  If you’re scared (and rightfully so) by that putrid 26% FT percentage, take comfort knowing that he only averages 1 attempt per game.  In 11 December games he’s averaging 6.9 rpg and 1.4 bpg.  Not a huge dropoff from Przy’s stats.

Hasheem Thabeet (9%)

He’s disappeared in recent games with Zach Randolph blowing up and Marc Gasol playing well again, but Thabeet had a 3-game run earlier this month where he tallied 11 blk.  Keep an eye on him.

Juwan Howard (3%)

Since Portland’s only other listed C, Anthony Tolliver, only has 1 career block, I’d lean towards the veteran Howard if you’re really strapped.  Even though half his old Fab Five teammates (for those of you young’ns, that’s not a T-Mobile plug…) are now doing commentary for TV, Howard posted respectable stats the last time he had to log big minutes — in Houston during the 2006-07 season when Yao Ming missed 3 months.  Don’t expect much more than double-digit points and 5-6 boards though.  And if Portland signs another big man (which is likely), you probably can’t even expect that much.

And by the way: Yes, LaMarcus Aldridge owners, LA might finally start averaging double-digit boards…

7 minutes in heaven? Seventh graders are getting more play than T-Mac is right now... (Getty Images)

In Week 8, some of the most important fantasy happenings occurred off the court, with several fantasy stars on the verge of returning to the court.  It also featured Superman returning to form, T-Mac getting “out-played” by seventh graders, and a possible new contender in the fantasy ROY race.

Lou Williams, Jameer Nelson, and Tyrus Thomas (and Marreese Speights)

Hopefully you heard some of my barking (as well as some of the guys on my message boards) and were quick enough to pick up Williams, Nelson, or Thomas over the past week.  Williams actually already returned to action with a subpar outing versus the Clippers, but with Allen Iverson out at least a week due to arthritis, Sweet Lou will have plenty of time to get back into form… and before we know it, Iverson will be the one adjusting to him instead of the other way around.

Meanwhile, Nelson is expected to return early in Week 9, while Thomas will likely return at the end of the week.  And another guy who returned to the lineup after an extended absence and has already turned in 3 solid (including one great) game is Marreese Speights.  With both Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert healthy and playing decently, I’m not expecting too much consistency from Speights.  But if you need help at C, he’s definitely worth a look, and he’s only taken in 30% of Yahoo leagues right now.

By the way, if you missed out on any of the above guys, the next (mini) wave of injured guys returning includes Leandro Barbosa (expected to return around mid-to-late week) and in deeper leagues, Yi Jianlian (expected back mid-week).

Dwight Howard

Meanwhile, Superman returned to form, averaging 17 and 18 with 4.5 bpg in 4 games.  It’s no coincidence this Superman-esque stretch occurred after a Dec. 11 game at Phoenix in which the Suns went Hack-a-Howard and allowed D-12 to only get off 1 (yes ONE) field goal attempt.  I unsuccessfully tried to buy low on Howard all year in one H2H league where I already own Rajon Rondo and Andrew Bogut (FT% punt, anyone?), and that window has probably slammed shut for good now.  Oh well.

By the way, I happened to play against this same guy who owns D-12 in that H2H league this week and still managed to eke out a 5-3-1 win with a classic anti-D-12 strategy: targeting FT%, 3PM, AST, and STL; punting FG% and REB; and churning to go after one of his strong categories — BLK, which I ended up tying him in.  (I also happened to win TO.)  Just in case anyone has to face the reborn D-12 anytime soon…

Caron Butler

Thanks to a few fantasy-friendly matchups and an injury hampered (but still active) Antawn Jamison, Butler had possibly his best week of the year, averaging 18.5 and 7 with 3.3 spg and solid percentages in 4 road games.  Even with an expected drop in AST, I thought Butler had the all-around game (and track record playing alongside Gilbert Arenas in 06-07) to have a top 30 season this year.  Well, he needed a favorable schedule and injury to a teammate to have a top 30 week.  But is this a buy low point or a sell high point?  The safest thing to do is probably wait and see when Jamison gets healthy again, but if you can sell him (or get him) at a nice price, by all means go for it.

Brandon Jennings vs. Tyreke Evans (vs. Stephen Curry?)

The matchup of the two best real-life and fantasy rookies played out on Saturday night, so I was of course having a holiday dinner with my girlfriend’s parents (and I also failed to negotiate the rights to my own smart phone — so alas, no stat checking until later that night).  The box score didn’t feature anything too eye-opening, with Jennings chipping in 15, 6, and 9 while Evans delivered 24, 7, and 3.  In fact, that’s pretty much what both have been doing all year — Evans with better FG%, Jennings countering with AST, Evans stepping up his STL, Jennings coming back with 3′s, etc.

But in real life the game was much more exciting, and Evans may have delivered the perfect counter-punch to Jennings’ double-nickel in the real life ROY race, scoring the go-ahead bucket with 0.9 seconds left.

But in the fantasy race, we just might have a new contender in Stephen Curry, who had the best game of his career on Friday versus the Wizards with 30, 8, and 4, including 5 threes and 3 steals.  Don’t look now, but over the last month Curry is ranked #33 in Yahoo leagues by averages, averaging 14, 4, and 4 with 1.4 3pg and 2.5 spg.  I don’t believe in selling low on any of my players, but I’ve even been considering offering Russell Westbrook for Curry in a roto league where I need a boost in FG% without sacrificing too much elsewhere.  Just a thought; I’ll keep you posted if anything happens.

Other Week 8 Highlights

A couple fantasy “surprises” continue to roll.  Raymond Felton posted another top 50 week, punctuated by a studly 27, 9 and 7 line against the Knicks on Sunday.  Yes, the Bobcats were without Gerald Wallace the entire game and Stephen Jackson during crunch time, but Felton still hit 11-22 shots and only turned the ball over 3 times.  His efficiency continues to amaze me, and each week it looks more and more like a 45+ FG% might actually be possible…

Meanwhile, Danilo Gallinari might have had his best (real life, not fantasy… but also very solid in fantasy) game of the year in that same game on Sunday, chipping in 22 pts and 2/2/2 3pm/stl/blk, including the game-saving/winning block.  His starting spot seems pretty safe for now.

Also, don’t look now but the Knicks are 9-8 after a 1-9 start (and 6-2 in their last 8).  Looks like their D’Antoni’s decision not to sign AI has really inspired the team to play better ball.  Al Harrington has been a big part of that, but the two most important ingredients have been Chris Duhon (65% owned) and Wilson Chandler (76%).  Make sure both those guys aren’t available on waivers.  Jared Jeffries (3%) is also worth a look if you need help in the defensive categories.

And in other news…

Andre Miller is starting but not doing too much with the extra vote of confidence yet.

Jason Thompson is rapidly approaching center-eligibility (at least in Yahoo leagues).

And Tracy McGrady is spending less time on the court than seventh-graders spend locking lips in the closet on a Friday night.

WEEK 9 PICKUPS

If you missed out on Lou Williams (56% owned), Jameer Nelson (76%), or Tyrus Thomas (41%), check out Leandro Barbosa (54%) or Yi Jianlian (21%).  I’ve also already mentioned Marreese Speights (31%) and for deeper leagues Jared Jeffries (3%).  Here are some more potential short-term and long-term pickups.

Roy Hibbert (43%)

Given my man-crush on Hibbert, after he dominated Tim Duncan Saturday night (20 and 7 with 6 blk), I absolutely had to drop Tyrus Thomas (who I had just picked up) for him in one league.  (I already own Hibbert in all my other leagues.)  Just click on Hibbert’s name in the Tag Cloud to the right to see why, but mainly it’s because I think Hibbert will average close to a double-double with 2 bpg when all is said and done, with an added boost in points this next month while Danny Granger mends.

Omri Casspi wishes Gilbert Arenas a Happy Hanukkah by delivering a kosher facial. (Getty Images)

Omri Casspi (16%)

It looks like Casspi will be a fixture in the starting lineup for now, at least until Kevin Martin (and Francisco Garcia) return.  He contributed back-to-back 20-pt games in his first two starts, and Paul Westphal seems determined to keep him in the starting lineup for now, starting him at — get this — PF then SG then SF to see where Casspi best fits.  It doesn’t hurt that the Kings have gone 2-1 in those 3 games as well.

By the way, this move initially sent Spencer Hawes to the bench in what was likely a motivational ploy.  Hawes has since returned to the starting lineup, and I still own him in most my leagues, although as I mentioned in an earlier post I dropped him for Thomas (then Hibbert) in one league.  In other words, he should still be rostered in most formats.

Quentin Richardson (13%)

Yes, that’s right.  Q went 7-7 on 3′s against the Blazers Sunday.  The Heat need his defense to help spell Dwyane Wade from guarding the other team’s top wing player, and of course Q responds by hitting some 3′s too.  He’s just as likely to go 0-7 his next game, but I’d be willing to find out if I needed 3′s in a deeper league, especially with 1 of the Heat’s 3 games this week against the Knicks (Christmas day).

Delonte West (18%)

West’s minutes and production have steadily increased his last 3 games, culminating in an 18, 7, and 4 performance against the Mavs on Sunday.  I’m not sure whether the bigger fantasy story here is West’s increasing production, or Mo Williams’ sub-par last 3 games though…

Earl Watson (4%)

Not only do the Pacers have a nice 4-game schedule this week, but Watson started his second game of the year over T.J. Ford on Saturday and the Pacers nearly upset the Spurs.  Watson’s stats (3 pts, 5 ast) were nothing spectacular, but keep a close eye on this situation.

Tim Thomas (1%)

Thomas had a nice spot-start for Dirk Nowitzki on Sunday and might be worth a fantasy spot-start if Dirk can get the teeth kinks out of his elbow by the Mavs’ next game on Tuesday.

Other guys I’ve mentioned before and still like: Joel Przybilla (39%), C.J. Watson (17%), Anderson Varejao (47%), Martell Webster (12%), Jonas Jerebko (7%), C.J. Miles (3%), Josh Boone (4%).

Other guys to keep an eye on: Andray Blatche (38%), Jarrett Jack (35%), Jose Juan Barea (12%), James Harden (36%), Kyle Lowry (9%), Dorell Wright (3%), Willie Green (3%).

Week 5 featured the return of an old fantasy friend, the departure of a new fantasy stud, and the comings and goings (and potential returnings) of a fantasy legend.

"Brett Favre ain't got nothing on me!" (AP)

Allen Iverson

Iverson was probably my favorite player over the past decade, as I’ve always admired his “fight” and determination.  That’s why the announcing of his retirement came as a total shock to me.  Turns out, it might have been a little premature.  A week ago, the Knicks seemed like the only team desperate enough to give Iverson a starting job again.  Well, it’s funny what a broken jaw can do to a team’s desperation factor.  If the 76ers pick up Iverson, I don’t like him as much as I did had he become a Knick, but he’s probably too good to be a FA in most fantasy leagues.  (He’s currently available in 64% of Yahoo leagues; so keep a close eye on this situation.)

Lou Williams

Speaking of that broken jaw, Williams was absolutely killing it when I finally admitted I might have underestimated him in my last article.  If you own him, I’m sorry… I take all the blame for jinxing him.

It looks like Lou will be out 8 weeks.  I was just telling some readers that I might hang onto him if I’m in or near the lead in my league (or at least see how my team does for the next week).  On the other hand, if you’re in the middle of the pack in a H2H league, you might not be able to afford the roster spot.  Adding a wrinkle to the situation is Allen Iverson’s possible un-retirement, which would put a damper on William’s eventual return and might push me over the edge in dropping Lou.  By the way, so far the big “winners” from Williams’ injury are Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday (although beware of FG%’s!).

Mike Dunleavy

Dunleavy had a successful return last week, chipping in 13 pts against the Mavs in only 15 min (while adding 1 3pm/stl/blk).  That Indiana wing position suddenly looks crowded with Brandon Rush and Dahntay Jones in the mix too, but Dunleavy might have the most upside of all three.  And he’s currently available in over half (53%) of Yahoo leagues.

Marc Gasol

Gasol is showing no signs of slowing down, even with Hasheem Thabeet getting quality minutes now.  It’s probably a little too late, but there’s still a chance his current owner might think he’d be “selling high” if you traded for him.  It’s looking like he’ll finish ranked higher than much more popular names like, say, LaMarcus Aldridge or Emeka Okafor, for instance.  Just saying…

Roy Hibbert

Meanwhile, another up-and-coming center, Hibbert, had a rough week adjusting to Troy Murphy’s return.  That was expected.  What wasn’t expected was that Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansbrough would be getting more run than the second-year big man in that suddenly-crowded frontcourt.  I know I’ve said this a dozen times already, but I still like Hibbert to average a near double-double with ~2 bpg when all’s said and done.  However, it looks like it might be the really inconsistent, annoying type of averaged double-double a la those Anthony Randolph and Tyrus Thomas-type players.

Tyreke Evans vs. Brandon Jennings

And in the fantasy ROY race, Tyreke Evans continued to make his case last week, while Brandon Jennings hit an ugly shooting slump (which means now is not the time to trade him!).  Now that opposing defenses have made the proper adjustments to contain Jennings (namely, being more physical with him), it’s up to Jennings and Scott Skiles to form a proper response.  Or maybe they’re just waiting for Redd and Bogut to return and take some pressure/attention/second/third/fourth defenders off the kid.  Ultimately I still like Jennings to average somewhere around 18, 4, and 6 although the sub-45 FG% might drop him a bit out of the top 50.

WEEK 6 PICKUPS

Nate Robinson (currently owned in 55% of Yahoo leagues)

This is more a reminder than a hot stock tip, but Krypto-Nate is available in almost half of Yahoo leagues.  He lit it up last week (sending Larry Hughes’ value in the opposite direction), hitting 14 treys in 5 games.  Yes he can be streaky, but when he’s feeling it there are few better values off the waiver wire.

Jason Williams (25%)

White Chocolate had an up-and-down week that averaged out to a spectacular #19 ranking by averages, highlighted by a 25 point/8 assist/4 trey effort and a 12 point/10 assist/3 trey encore (albeit with a goose egg in between).  I wouldn’t expect him to keep shooting 50+%, but he should be a solid source of assists and threes for the next several weeks.

Ersan Ilyasova (39%) and Luke Ridnour (18%)

Ilyasova has been a popular pickup the past couple weeks, as he has stepped up his game as a starter.  Last week I warned/wondered about his value with Michael Redd returning (and sure enough, Ilyasova only got about 20 mpg during Redd’s short-lived return), but he was still productive with those minutes.  With Redd out again and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Andrew Bogut still sidelined, Ilyasova should be a solid source of pts, reb, and a little bit of everything else.

Jason Williams is White Chocolate. Luke Ridnour is just white. But both are sold pickups right now. (Getty Images)

As Jennings has struggled, Ridnour has found his shooting (and passing) touch, averaging about 19 pts and 7 ast while shooting above 50% the last 3 games.  With Redd out again, Ridnour should continue to get plenty of run.  And even when Redd returns, it looks like Scott Skiles might shift Jennings to SG and Redd to SF at stretches, leaving Ridnour as a sneaky fantasy PG option.

Anderson Varejao (40%)

During Varejao’s absence, J.J. Hickson seemingly solidified his place in the starting lineup, or at least the Cavs’ rotation.  So, while Sideshow Bob might not be a regular double-double threat anymore, he’s still a pretty useful F-C option, especially if you’re looking for stl from a big man (1.1 spg on the year).

Samuel Dalembert (42%)

The formula seems pretty simple with Sammy D: When Elton Brand is out of the lineup, he puts up sick stats — especially blocks.  Even before Brand turned back the clock in Week 4, Dalembert was putting up decent numbers (depending on the matchup), so he could still be useful if you need defensive stats, especially if Brand is slow to get back to his Week 4 form this week.  Or ever.

James Harden (38%)

Harden followed his best week as a pro with a 2-15 dud (including 0-10 from downtown) against the Lakers, but he has been solid in a couple games since.  He earns a mention here not only because he is rosterable in many leagues, but because his emergence (coupled with Kevin Durant’s increased ball-handling responsibilities) has eaten into Russell Westbrook’s assist numbers.  Don’t panic if you own Westbrook, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

Jamaal Tinsley (8%) [update]

Poor Mike Conley.  He always seems to have someone lurking over his (sprained?) shoulder.  This time, it’s Tinsley, a player who can be as hot and cold as Larry Hughes.  I’m not sure if this is truly a position battle or if Conley is just stinking up the place lately, but after Sunday night, Tinsley has put together back-to-back solid games while playing more minutes than Conley.

Martell Webster (13%)

Since being reinserted into the starting lineup, Webster has averaged 14 pts and 6 reb with 2.7 3pg.  On the year, he’s right at 2.0 3pg as a starter.

Donte Greene (5%)

Greene burst out onto the fantasy scene with a dominating performance against the lowly Knicks, going off for 26 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast, 6 blk and 6 threes in what might have been the most dominating fantasy line of the year thus far.  He’s come back to earth since, but he could be a nice spot-starter, including a game against the Suns this week.

Jamario Moon (15%)

Moon has seemingly found his niche in the Cavs’ rotation lately, earning 26+ min in each of his last 3 games, and totaling 4 treys, 3 stl, and 3 blk in that span.  Not exactly sexy, but those are pretty productive stats in deeper leagues.

JaVale McGee (5%)

McGee was a hot item for a brief period last year but never quite panned out.  Recently he’s become a Chris Andersen clone, tallying 14 blocks in his last 4 games.  If he keeps this up, he could be a sneaky addition at the end of your roster.

David Andersen (3%)

If Luis Scola’s injury is serious, Andersen is worth a look.  He notched 12 and 8 after Scola went down Sunday against the Thunder.  (Of course, make sure Carl Landry isn’t available first.)

Other guys to keep an eye on:

Hakim Warrick (18%), Kurt Thomas (3%), Carlos Delfino (5%), Arron Afflalo (4%), Tim Thomas (2%), Darren Collison (21%), Marcus Thornton (9%), Sergio Rodriguez (1%), Omri Casspi (4%), Amir Johnson (2%), Jason Smith (1%).

Don't call it a comeback, Brand's been here all year long. He's just finally making some noise. (Getty Images)

WEEK 4 RECAP

They’re Ba-aaack

Week 4 featured the return of several fantasy studs: Rashard Lewis, Devin Harris, Troy Murphy, and Pau Gasol.  (Thanks for playing, Ryan Andersen and Rafer Alston.  Here are some nice parting gifts…)

As for Murphy and Gasol, their fantasy impact is a little more complicated.  Murphy will definitely take away some of Roy Hibbert’s stats, but I think the young center will still be valuable contributing a near double-double with 2 bpg.  Meanwhile, if you didn’t sell high on Andrew Bynum before Gasol’s return, please don’t panic and let someone buy low on him these next few (or more?) games as he readjusts to Gasol.  19 and 11 might be a little much to expect, but he’ll be much better than 11 and 8 (his first game with Pau back).

On the flip side, Week 4 also saw some key injuries, including Jameer Nelson and Andrew Bogut.  If you’re looking for replacements, Jason Williams has had a couple decent games thus far, while Kurt Thomas/Hakim Warrick have each had a nice game (depending on the matchup) in Bogut’s absence.  (There are some more exciting pickups further below.)

They’re “Ba-aaack”

Week 4 also featured the “return” of two stud centers: Elton Brand and Al Jefferson. With Marresse Speights out of the way due to injury, Brand absolutely erupted, averaging 20 and 10 with 2.7/3.7 spg/bpg this week, good for the #2 ranking by averages in Yahoo leagues.  I’m not sure what to make of this unexpected outburst quite yet, as the 76ers lost two of those games and barely beat a new-look CHA team in the other game, but I’ll have my thoughts on whether Brand is a sell high or buy low guy shortly.

As for Jefferson, he put up back-to-back strong outings (in the form of 20 and 10 games) as well.  The most telling number here might be his 36 minutes played in a blowout loss to POR.  Looks like Big Al is finally getting his legs back.

ROY = Brandon Jennings.  Fantasy ROY = Not so fast…

Brandon Jennings has already bagged ROY honors, but Fantasy ROY is still up for grabs... (Getty Images)

In week 4, Tyreke Evans continued to give Brandon Jennings a run for fantasy rookie of the year.  Before missing his last game with a sprained finger, Evans was on a torrid 6-game run averaging about 24, 6, and 6.

WEEK 5 PICKUPS

First, just wanted to make sure I dotted my I’s and crossed my T’s.  These first six guys are likely not available in your leagues anymore, but before moving onto the pickups below, please make sure they’re already taken.  (Current % ownership in Yahoo leagues in parentheses)

Larry Hughes (68%)

Hughes has shown flashes of brilliance over the past few years, but they usually end after a week or so.  Under Mike D’Antoni, it looks like he’s flashed back to his fantasy prime back in WAS.  After 10 games, Hughes is flirting with that elusive 15, 5, and 5 status from the G-F spot, not to mention chipping in 1.3 3pg and 2.2 spg.  There are two stats that hint he might actually be able to keep this up (well, maybe everything but the 2+ spg): he’s averaging 34+ mpg, his most since his CLE days, and he’s hoisting 3.9 3-pt attempts per game, his most ever.

I keep waiting for Nate Robinson to eat into his minutes, and the addition of Allen Iverson would have certainly hurt Hughes as well, but neither seems to be happening for now, so unless you can score something great in a trade, I’d enjoy the ride.  (And by the way, if you already own him, I agree he’s a sell high candidate… but you have to own him before you can sell him.)

Chris Douglas-Roberts (60%) and Peja Stojakovic (69%)

Here are two guys at opposite points in their careers who are making the most of starting gigs due to injury.  Well, CDR had already posted a couple nice lines before Yi Jianlian got hurt, but he absolutely took over the offensive load for the Nets after Devin Harris’ injury.  Well, Devin returned Saturday night off the bench, and CDR still managed 24 pts on 19 shots.  This is scary, but it looks like CDR has a chance to at least maintain his 18 ppg this year.  Is it any wonder the Nets are 0-13?

Meanwhile, even though they obviously play different positions, Peja has been a huge beneficiary to Chris Paul’s injury.  Even though he doesn’t have CP3 setting him up anymore, the main reason is because Peja’s shot attempts have increased from below 10 per game to about 15 per game, translating into 20+ ppg over the four games Paul has missed.  I’m not exactly sure what will happen once CP3 returns, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Peja continuing to get at least 10 shots per game when that happens.

Rudy Fernandez (48%), Anthony Morrow (44%), and Stephen Curry (66%)

Just a friendly reminder, but here are three guys I mentioned in my last Pick Me Up post.  (You’ll notice Allen Iverson is no longer on this list.  And as long as AI isn’t a Knick — probably the only team desperate enough to start him — I’m not owning him.)  All three are benefiting from injury/trade, with Curry potentially benefiting from a Monta Ellis deal as well.

Now onto some more readily available guys…

Ben Wallace (47%)

Wallace is another guy (joining the ranks of Andrei Kirilenko and Jermaine O’Neal) who has seemingly found the Fountain of Youth this year.  He won’t help you on offense at all, but with his measly 1.7 FT attempts per game, he won’t hurt you as much as he did in the past.  And after a month of games, he looks like he has a legit chance at maintaining his 9+ rpg and 1.2/1.5 spg/bpg… especially if he can keep getting 30+ mpg.

Dahntay Jones (40%)

Here’s a guy who crushed the value of a popular preseason sleeper, Brandon Rush.  In 7 games as the starting SF, he’s averaging 19 and 5 with 1+ spg/bpg.  Keep an eye on this situation, as Murphy returned to action over the weekend, which will likely push Danny Granger to the SF spot again.  If Jones slides into that starting SG spot, Rush’s value drops even more (if that’s even possible), and Dahntay should probably be owned in more than 2/5 of leagues.

Mickael Pietrus (14%)

Pietrus is averaging 30+ mpg, 12.7 ppg, and 3.0 3pg in 3 games as the starting SF since Rashard Lewis returned.  Of course, he’s also shooting 9-13 from 3-pt range in that span, which is unmaintainable.  With Matt Barnes as a more-than-capable backup, it’s hard to recommend Pietrus with high confidence, but as long as he’s starting and getting minutes (it doesn’t hurt that the Magic are winning), he could be a nice play as he contributes a little everywhere.

James Harden (33%)

He's already on the Evite, but is James Harden finally ready to join the Class of '09 rookie PG party? (Getty Images)

Harden followed a 24 pt/6 3pm garbage time performance with a 25 pt with 4 3pm/stl performance in a more highly contested game versus WAS.  Maybe it’s just a hot 2-game stretch, or maybe Harden is finally turning the corner and playing up to the hype.  If he’s someone you’ve had your eye on, now is the time to pounce.  Although don’t be surprised if he’s back on waivers by week’s end.

Beno Udrih (40%)

While Tyreke Evans has gotten most of the attention post-Kevin Martin’s injury, Udrih has resurrected his fantasy career.  I’m not sure what happens to Udrih whenever Martin comes back, but he’s been very solid in his absence.  As a starter he’s quietly averaging 17 ppg and 5 apg with 1.3 3pg with great %s.  Martin is out at least 6 more weeks, so Udrih should probably be on more rosters.

Steve Blake (15%)

Blake was an unflashy yet highly productive fantasy play last season, and he’s slowly creeping back to that status, having averaged 2+ threes and 4+ assists in November (while average more mpg than Andre Miller).  He’s worth a look in deeper leagues if you need a PG.  Personally, I’d rather own him than Miller because of the threes.

Jared Dudley (19%)

Again, here’s another guy who’s not doing anything flashy, but he’s quietly a top 100 player (by Yahoo averages) because he hits 1.8 3pg and 1.2 spg.  His upside is limited with the talent on that team, but you could do worse on the end of your bench.

Ramon Sessions (33%)

I abandoned Sessions, one of my preseason sleepers before Jonny Flynn started impressing, in all my leagues long ago.  But if you’re looking for assists, Sessions has averaged nearly 5 over his last 5 games.

Luke Ridnour (7%)

With Michael Redd out of the lineup, Brandon Jennings has actually shifted over to SG much of the time with Ridnour running the point, including a 12-assist effort on Saturday night.  With Redd on the verge of returning, who knows what will happen to Ridnour’s minutes (Redd could spend more time at SF in the aforementioned arrangement, or he could squeeze Ridnour’s minutes altogether).  But if you’re desperate for a PG or are in a deep league, Ridnour’s worth a look.

Flip Murray (4%)

For some reason, Stephen Jackson’s arrival in CHA has caused Flip to catch fire, including a 31-point effort and a more well-rounded 17, 5, and 6 outing.  If anyone has theories, please let me know.  It’s most likely a coincidence, but keep an eye on the situation if it keeps happening.

Marco Belinelli (9%)

Before his latest goose egg, Belinelli had nailed 11 threes in a 4-game stretch.  He’s always been streaky, but if he can manage 24+ mpg like in that 4-game stretch, he might be worth owning in deeper leagues.

And finally, a look at some temporary rentals with long-term potential:

Will Bynum (42%) has been tearing it up lately with both Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince out.  Personally, I’d sell high if you can (by packaging him with someone else for an upgrade of that certain someone else).

Drew Gooden (25%) has been a double-double machine (even notching 3 blk against the Spurs) without Erick Dampier.  Once Dampier comes back, it will be interesting to see who starts, as Gooden was rumored to be the starter during the preseason.  Note: Both Gooden and Dampier’s strong play probably kills any (preseason) rumors of Dirk Nowitzki starting at C, gaining F-C status, and turning into the potentially most valuable player in fantasy this year.

J.J. Hickson (15%) has been a FG% machine with Anderson Varejao out of the lineup.  He’s certainly made the case for more playing time in CLE, but we’ll see what happens when both Varejao and Shaquille O’Neal return.

Ersan Ilyasova (13%) has made the most out of Michael Redd’s injury.  We’ll see if he can keep his spot in the rotation once Redd returns.

While most of the hype immediately after Chris Paul’s injury centered on Darren Collison (11%), Marcus Thornton (3%) has been slightly more relevant because of his 3-pt range.

It probably makes more sense to own Andres Nocioni (14%), but for those of you in deep, deep leagues, Omri Casspi (3%) and Donte Greene (1%) are worth a look after posting some solid lines without Kevin Martin.

The only thing that can stop Kaman so far is Kaman himself. Or Reggie Evans' right hand. (AP)

Week 2 had plenty of surprises, including a fantasy stud who keeps getting better, some old-timers rising from the dead, some sleepers living up to the hype, and plenty of potential free agents who might be able to help your squad.

THE RICH GET RICHER

Chris Paul

First of all, I just want to point out one of the sickest stats of this young season.  As if there was any doubt who the (statistically) best fantasy player in the league is, Paul has hit a ridiculous 72% of his threes this year.  (He’s only hitting 64% of his overall shots though.  Slacker.)

ZOMBIELAND

Meanwhile, a handful of fantasy old-timers (some older than others) have seemingly risen from the dead to put up top-notch fantasy stats.

Andrei Kirilenko

In 4 November games, AK-47 approached his pre-Boozer/Deron AK-47 numbers with 1.8 spg/bpg to go along with 13 ppg and solid %’s, good for a top 25 Yahoo ranking by averages.

Chris Kaman

Kaman’s monster season continued in week 2.  His game log speaks for itself.  Sell high, anyone?

Andrew Bogut

It’s been a couple years since Bogut was a top-tier fantasy C, but last week he sure played like one, averaging 18 and 10 with 1/2 spg/bpg.  With Michael Redd coming back in the next week or so, I’m not sure Bogut will continue to get 14 shots per game, but he’s clearly found his offensive rhythm again.

Erick Dampier

Before putting up mediocre stats in a blowout on Saturday night, “Ericka” was averaging a double-double with 3+ blk in his previous 4 games.

Shaquille O’Neal

While the other aging O’Neal has gotten much more attention thus far, the original posted back-to-back solid games this week.  Looks like there’s still some Diesel in the tank, although this mention is more out of respect than anything else.

Allen Iverson

Just kidding.  Two weeks into the season, AI has already gone AWOL.  Congratulations, Mike Conley owners.

SLEEPERS RISING

Roy Hibbert

Hibbert busted out in a big way this week.  It didn’t hurt that Troy Murphy was out, and the Pacers played a couple fantasy friendly teams in NY and DEN (apparently Nene Hilario loves being blocked).  As much as I’ve touted him since the pre-season, he might be at a sell-high point right now.  In 3 November games, Hibbert is averaging 14 and 12 with 3.7 bpg, good for #11 in Yahoo leagues by averages.

Clap if your fantasy value just went up. (AP)

Tyreke Evans

Evans didn’t really have a great week, but he had a monster performance in the Kings’ first game sans Kevin Martin, putting up 32 pts and 7 ast, including 16-19 from the stripe, and against Deron Williams nonetheless.  As with fellow rookie Brandon Jennings, Evans could be a huge beneficiary of a team injury, although expect inconsistency.

Joakim Noah

Noah isn’t really a sleeper, but I didn’t know where else to put him on this list.  He’s already had a solid season, but he exploded for 21 and 16 with 4 blk against CHA on Saturday night.  With Tyrus Thomas out another 4-6 weeks, Noah’s owners should expect some nice numbers.

POTENTIAL PICKUPS

Dahntay Jones (9% owned in Yahoo leagues)

The Pacers only play twice next week, with one game against fantasy-friendly GS and one on the opposite end of the fantasy-friendly spectrum against BOS.  While all those off-days should give Brandon Rush’s ankle some time to heal, Jones was already stealing minutes when Rush was healthy and has averaged 19 and 7 in 3 November games.

Chris Douglas-Roberts (40% owned)

Even before Yi Jianlian went down, CDR was putting up useful fantasy stats.  Since Yi’s been gone (no, that’s not a Kelly Clarkson song), CDR managed to put up a third consecutive solid game with 19 and 7 and 1/1/1 3pm/stl/blk before contracting, yes, swine flu.  He’s said to be getting better though and should continue to get touches with Yi out.

Brendan Haywood (58% owned)

In his last 3 games, Haywood is averaging a filthy 13 reb to go with 1.3/2.3 spg/bpg.

Anderson Varejao (52% owned)

Varejao is quietly averaging a double-double in his last 3 games with 1.3/1.0 spg/bpg.

Not only did Varejao have a great week 2, he completes the trifecta of NBA centers with insane hair on this list. (Getty Images)

Chuck Hayes (19% owned) and Carl Landry (23% owned)

Somebody’s got to get those frontcourt minutes in Houston.  In 30+ mpg over his last 3 games, Hayes is averaging nearly 10 rpg and more impressively 2.3 spg.  Landry is averaging ~25 mpg while putting up 17 ppg and 7.7 rpg with excellent %’s.

Quentin Richardson (27% owned)

In his last 3 games, Richardson has hit 10 threes and perhaps more importantly has played 37+ mpg.  Daequan Cook is nearing a return, but it looks like Q has the green light from downtown after attempting only 2 threes in his first couple games in MIA.

Oleksiy Pecherov (7% owned)

We had an Oleksiy Pecherov (Pride of Ukraine!) siting in the pre-season when Kevin Love went down.  Well, he’s back and putting up 12 and 7 with nearly 1 bpg and solid %’s in 4 November games.

Danilo Gallinari, Brandon Jennings, and Channing Frye have already graduated from this list.  But other guys to keep an eye on include: Corey Brewer (31%), Beno Udrih (13%), J.J. Redick (36%), Anthony Morrow (25%), Rafer Alston (17%), Raja Bell (12%), Charlie Bell (4%), Taj Gibson (4%), Omri Casspi (4%).