Late Pickups

As we wind down the Fantasy Basketball season, injuries are becoming a problem for our Fantasy teams. Below is a list of players that might prove valuable…

These players need to be on your team

I have a lot of love for Chris Andersen of Denver. He's averaging over 7 rebounds per game and an impressive 3.1 blocks per game over the past 30 days. That's tops in the league by over .5 blocks. Owned in only 7% of leagues, owners are looking at his 7 points per game and missing out on the goodness.

With Biendris down, Ronny Turiaf is a must pickup. He'll contribute 2-3 blocks per game and decent rebounding as well, although to-date, the rebounds have not been as plentiful as I would have anticipated.

Antonio McDyess is playing like he did when he first came into the league, averaging 13.3 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 51% from the field, and 95% from the line over the past 30 days. Why he's only owned in 38% of leagues is beyond me. I do believe McDyess can keep it up the rest of the season as his legs should be relatively fresh given his playing time early in the season.

There's not much going on in Sacramento-land, but Jason Thompson doesn't know it. Averaging 10.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and almost a block per game, Thompson will make a nice addition to your squad down the stretch.

I don't know the reason, but Jarrett Jack is putting up monster numbers: 19.8 ppg, 1.3 three pointers per game, 3.6 asg, while shooting 51% from the field and 85% from the line over the past 30 days. Why is he only owned in 36% of leagues????

With Devin Harris out, Keyon Dooling is the pickup, averaging 10.3 ppg and 5.8 asg over the past two weeks.

All the injuries in Washington are providing opportunities for Darius Songailia. Over the past two weeks, Songailia has averaged 11.1 ppg, 1.5 spg, while shooting 54% from the field and 93% from the line. If Caron Butler or dare we say it, Glibert Arenas ever play again this season, it will hurt Songailia's value, but I like the odds; get him into your lineups.

Thabo Sefolosha, a name that's hard to say, but he's shown the Oak City brain trust that he can play when Durant went out. Sefolosha has averaged 2.3 steals per game and 1.8 blocks per game over the past two weeks. Yes Durant is back, but something tells me that Sefolosha will continue to get minutes.

Kelenna Azubuike continues to excel in Golden State, but is only owned in 27% of leagues. Here's his line over the past two weeks: 15.4 ppg, 1.4 3PM, 5.7 rpg, shooting 50% from the field and 85% from the line. What's not to like???

Predictions coming true

Two months ago, I examined players on a per minute basis and compared them to their overall output and saw Fantasy gold surfacing. Well, for JR Smith and Brandon Wright, it's happening.

Over the past month, JR Smith has finally gotten his minutes and has rewarded his owners with 18 ppg, 2.3 three pointers, 3.9 rpg, and 3.1 apg, while shooting nice percentages. Owned in less than 50% of leagues, don't let JR slip by you.

Brandan Wright was hurt for two months with a shoulder injury, but he's back and getting playing time in Golden State. Since returning, Wright has averaged 10.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, and .8 spg and that's with only averaging 21 minutes per game. He's got a great pedigree from UNC and will be a player the rest of the season and an intriguing player for next year.

Pick up at your own risk

Three point specialist are the ultimate risk reward player. If they are shooting well, it's great, if not you've just killed your FG%. Three guys that are playing well over the past two weeks are Rasual Butler, Roger Mason, and Anthony Morrow.

Rasual Butler is averaging 2.0 three pointers and is the safest and most productive pick of the three.

Roger Mason is averaging 1.9 three pointers per game and is really streaky.

Anthony Morrow is really interesting. A pure jump shooter, he can go off at any time, but with Nellie at the helm, no telling what kind of playing time he'll get. Watch him carefully.

Digging deep

The remaining players should be considered for deep leagues only.

Ronald Murray – no idea what's happening here, but over the past two weeks, you have to like the line; 13.4 ppg, 1.1 spg, and 1.3 three pointers.

Renaldo Balkman – got a run when Kenyon Martin went down, but is now taking playing time from Chris Andersen. You can't ignore his double double over the past two weeks.

Steve Novak – It's dicey picking up Clippers, but Novak has hit 3.6 three pointers over the past two weeks.

Dominic McGuire – 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, and 0.9 bpg. Intriguing.

Nenad Kristic – He's the starting center for an NBA franchise and he's only owned in less than 3% of Fantasy clubs. I guess owners don't like the 6.5 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game. 15 team leagues need to have Kristic on their team.