Wesley Matthews Replaces Nicolas Batum in Starting Line Up

Portland Trailblazers head coach Nate McMillan has elected to move Wesley Matthews into the starting line up over Nicolas Batum. Matthews responded to the promotion with 26 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Matthews has been hot recently and that is likely why he's been promoted to the starting five. He's scored 20+ points in four of his last six games and he's even playing well with Brandon Roy back in the line up. Mainly known for his defensive prowess, Matthews is turning into a great all-around player now that his offense is picking up. Fantasy owners who took our advice last week and pounced on Matthews may have picked up a player who can be a major contributor for the rest of the season. He's now a must own in all formats while he's starting. Many team managers failed to show the patience we recommended and dropped Matthews after his 4-point game recently, leaving him available in over 60% of leagues. Be sure to snatch him if he's unowned.

As for Batum, this is a huge blow to his value. Nicolas was having a great season and putting up career-best numbers across the board. We doubt he can produce enough off the bench to be worth rostering in standard leagues. His value is strictly limited to deep leagues for the time being. Owners in standard leagues may still want to hang onto him a little longer if nothing worthwhile is available in your free agent pool. With Brandon Roy still dealing with his knee injury, he could miss a few games. The Blazers are even considering resting him in the second game of back-to-backs. Batum would likely see extended minutes when Roy sits out. Roy's knee troubles are obvious as he wasn't himself tonight, scoring just 10 points. Now it's looking like Batum's value will hinge on Roy's health.

Tim Duncan Registers Triple-Double

San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan recorded the third regular season triple-double of his career. His line: 15 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists.

The Breakdown
Although he didn't shoot the ball well, Timmy showed fantasy owners he's still capable of putting up big games. With such a great supporting cast around him that has the Spurs sporting the best record in the NBA, Duncan doesn't need to have big nights all that often anymore. After this performance, it may be a good time to find a taker for Duncan. Because Duncan is a big name, you may be able to pull off a deal for a player who you can rely on nightly. Also, consider that Duncan will lose a lot of value during the fantasy playoffs as the Spurs will rest him for a deep playoff run. Now is a good time to make a move. Duncan currently sits at #35 in our player ratings.

Carl Landry Moved to Kings' Second Unit

Sacramento Kings power forward Carl Landry has been replaced in the starting line up by Jason Thompson.

The Breakdown
Head coach Paul Westphal continues to shuffle his starters and the rotation, so this move isn't surprising. Landry, though, has thrived in previous seasons as a sixth man so this move doesn't necessarily hurt his value. Fantasy owners in standard leagues should wait a couple of weeks before making a move.

As for Thompson, he's a worthwhile speculative add in deep leagues. He has some value as long as he's playing over 20 minutes a game, but it's anyone's guess how long his stint as a starter will last.

Five Most Added Players: November 24-30

1. Darko Milicic (9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks): Milicic tops our most added players list for the second consecutive week. We had previously noted that Darko should be owned in all leagues purely for his shot blocking, but fantasy owners only started taking notice now that he's come alive offensively and strung together five consecutive games in double figures. In addition to the shot blocking, he is also a decent source of rebounds, though he's inconsistent because Kevin Love is out there dominating the glass on most nights. While last week he was available in nearly 60% of leagues, this week he's unowned in just 7% of leagues.
2. Grant Hill (13.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 53.2% FG%): We recently mentioned Hill as one of top fantasy producers that was under 50% owned. Ever so slightly, that is no longer the case as Grant is now owned in 58% of leagues. Hill's major contributions to a fantasy team come in the form of points and percentages, but he can also chip in rebounds with the occasional steal and block.
3. Kyle Lowry (8.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists): Lowry's been given big minutes in the wake of Aaron Brooks' injury. As a starter, he's averaging 8.9 points, 7.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2 steals in 35 minutes of action. Be reminded that Lowry only has value in standard leagues while Brooks is out. Brooks is expected to return in early December, though, so don't drop a more reliable player for him. He remains unowned in 56% of leagues.
4. Landry Fields (11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 54.9% FG%): Fields is a player we've been urging fantasy owners to snatch up for weeks now. It's looking like team manager's are finally starting to buy in. Fields' value comes from his great rebounding from the wing position, along with a great FG% and his ability to help out in three-pointers, assists, and steals. He recently strung together back-to-back double-doubles and looks like a great play for the rest of the season. He's still available in just over half of leagues.
5. Jose Calderon (8.3 points, 5.9 assists, 1.2 steals): In the aftermath of the Jarrett Jack trade to New Orleans, Calderon appears to be revitalized and he's playing big minutes as the team's starting point guard. In his four games as a starter, Calderon is averaging 10.5 points, 7.8 assists, 1.3 three-pointers, and two steals in addition to being one the NBA's top free throw shooters. He is a must own now that's he's back playing over 30 minutes a game. He's available in just over 12% of leagues.
   

Chris Douglas-Roberts Returns With a Vengeance

After missing the team's first 15 games after being poked in the eye in the preseason, Milwaukee Bucks wing Chris Douglas-Roberts came out with his scoring guns blazing. In his first two games, CDR is averaging 15 points and 2 three-pointers on 50% shooting from the field.

The Breakdown
Much like Larry Sanders, CDR is taking advantage of increased playing time in the face of numerous injuries in Milwaukee. It remains to be seen what his role will be once Carlos Delfino and Corey Maggette are both healthy. For now deep leaguers will want to pick him up and ride him while he's getting extended playing time. Once the Bucks start getting healthy, we'll have to see what CDR's role is and decide whether he's worth keeping on your roster.

Following Jack Trade, Jose Calderon Playing Heavy Minutes

Following the trade that sent Jarrett Jack to New Orleans, Toronto Raptors point guard Jose Calderon is playing big minutes. In the four games since the trade, Calderon is averaging 32.3 minutes per game, up from the 23.4 minutes he was seeing previously. As a result, his stats across the board have increased.

The Breakdown
It appears that Bayless will only play a limited role and Calderon has locked down the starting point guard spot. Calderon's value is now very high and he should be owned in all leagues. Calderon has potential to be one of top assist men in the league and he's an excellent free throw shooter who can contribute threes and steals as well. He remains available in 14% of leagues.

J.R. Smith Erupts For Season-High 30 Points

After a shaky start to the season and a stint in George Karl's doghouse, Denver Nuggets sixth man J.R. Smith put up a season-high 30 points tonight.

The Breakdown
Smith also played a season-high 30 minutes, though the performance could be chalked up to Carmelo Anthony leaving the game in the early minutes due to an illness. With Smith averaging 29 minutes in Denver's last two contests, now may be the time to pick up Smith who had been dropped by many frustrated fantasy owners. He's unowned in about 60% of leagues.

Aaron Brooks Nearing Return From Ankle Injury

Houston Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks is recovering from an ankle injury and could return within the next two weeks.

The Breakdown
Word is that Brooks is targeting Houston's game on December 4th, though he may actually return a few games after that. Some frustrated owners dropped Brooks, so he's available in 5% of leagues. Grab him now and stash him if he's available.

Joey Dorsey Starts in Place of Injured Reggie Evans

With Reggie Evans suffering a broken foot, the Toronto Raptors started little-used forward Joey Dorsey. He finished today's game with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes.

The Breakdown
The fact that Dorsey saw 20 minutes was surprising as we expected Amir Johnson to see the bulk of the playing time. Johnson only played 21 minutes. Dorsey is worth a speculative addition in very deep leagues in case he continues to play in the range of 20 minutes a game. Because Evans missed 51 games last season due to a foot injury, he could once again be sidelined long term and Dorsey could become a useful addition.

Deep leaguers will also want to keep rookie Ed Davis on their radar. Davis is scheduled to have a short stint in the D-League to work on his conditioning, but could see some minutes once he's called up to the Raptors with the team's lack of front court depth.

Five Players on the Cusp Of Moving Into Our Top 150

152. Josh McRoberts (5.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals): While his stats are not particularly overwhelming, McRoberts is contributing in a number of categories and that is where he's deriving his value. He's currently outside the top 150 only because Indiana has played the fewest games in the league. McRoberts could be of help in category leagues if you can afford to take on his terrible percentages.

154. Shaquille O'Neal (12.3 points, 7 rebounds, 69.3% FG%): As we recently noted, Shaq has been coming on strong in recent games. He only sits outside our top 150 at this time because he missed five games in early November, but he's clearly producing like a player that should be owned in all standard leagues. Shaq is currently 65% unowned.

163. George Hill (9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals): We expected Hill to have a much better season thus far, but he's failed to significantly improve on his numbers. Although he's playing more minutes, he's giving us about the same per-minute production as he did last year. George is starting to see even more minutes of late and has a good chance of moving into our top 150 in the coming weeks.

166. Al-Farouq Aminu (7.6 points, 0.9 three-pointers, 3.3 rebounds, 1 steal): The rookie has climbed up the player ratings after being a non-factor in the early going. He's failed to show consistency, as expected, but he's also shown he can have some big nights. He'll be sure to move into the top 150 as long as he continues to play around the 27 minutes a game he's been getting as a starter.

170. Marco Belinelli (12.7 points, 2.1 three-pointers, 2.3 rebounds): Like McRoberts, Belinelli ranks this low because New Orleans has played fewer games than most teams up to this point. While Belinelli can only help in points, three-pointers, and FT%, he is seeing nearly 30 minutes a night and has Chris Paul setting him up for open looks.

Player Ratings Updated

FBB's player ratings have been updated. You can check them out by clicking on the link below.

2010-11 Player Ratings

Dorrell Wright Hits Nine Three-Pointers On Way to Career-High 30 Points

Golden State Warriors small forward Dorell Wright went off tonight against Minnesota. He hit a career-best and Warriors record nine three-pointers, finishing the game with a career-high 30 points.

The Breakdown
Dorell Wright remains the best free agent acquisition in fantasy this year. He was virtually unowned to start the season and now sits just outside the top 50 of our player ratings. Wright owners should feel fortunate to have found the proverbial diamond-in-the-rough because Wright will have value all season in Golden State's high octane offense.

Rookie Larry Sanders Making Best of Opportunity Amid Injuries

After struggling to get off the bench all season, Milwaukee Bucks power forward Larry Sanders has been given a chance to play big minutes in the team's last two games as a result of injuries to Andrew Bogut and Drew Gooden. Sanders has responded with averages of 8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks in those two games and replaced Jon Brockman in the starting line up tonight.

The Breakdown
Entering the season, we felt Sanders was one rookie who was ready to contribute right away. Now that he's had a couple of solid games, he may get an opportunity to play with more regularity. Deep leaguers will want to make a speculative addition and see what happens when both Bogut and Gooden return to action.

Nick Young Heating Up

In the wake of injuries to John Wall and Al Thornton, Washington Wizards guard Nick Young has stepped up his game. Young is averaging 19.5 points and 2.3 three-pointers in Washington's last four games.

The Breakdown
We're not sure if this production will last once Wall and Thornton both return, but Young is worth a speculative addition in deep leagues if you need help in scoring or three-pointers. Young, though, doesn't offer much else outside of those two categories.

Carlos Boozer Expected to Practice Monday

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer is nearing a return from a broken hand. He's expected to practice with the team for the first time on Monday and is projected to return in about two weeks.

The Breakdown
With Boozer nearing a return, Taj Gibson's fantasy value is about to plummet. He's currently ailing, but if you can find a reasonable deal, make sure you pull the trigger soon. Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng are going to play big minutes, leaving very little playing time in the front court for Gibson.

Russell Westbrook Goes Off For Career-High 43

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had a monster night on Friday. His line: a career-high 43 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and a block while hitting 17 of 18 free throws.

The Breakdown
Westbrook has taken his game to another level this season, well above what even the most optimistic fantasy owners had anticipated. Russell's scoring has taken a huge leap up to 23.8 a game this season thanks in large part to his ability to get to the line nearly 10 times a game while hitting a career-best 90.3% of his attempts.

Westbrook had already established himself as a nightly triple-double threat even last season, but now that his percentages and scoring have risen, he could be a top 10 fantasy player for the rest of this season and a top 10 preseason pick entering next season. As of today, he ranks second in our player ratings. If he can sustain the great free throw shooting, which is almost 10% higher than his career average of 81.4%, he remains a strong candidate to finish at the top of the player ratings at season's end.

Bradon Roy Returns, Wesley Matthews Struggles

After missing a stretch of games due to pain and swelling in his left knee, Portland Trailblazers star Brandon Roy returned to action last night and scored 27 points.

The Breakdown
While Roy played well, the knee still remains a concern for the foreseeable future. The discomfort could return at any time, putting him back on the shelf. We recommend seeking out a trade while Roy is healthy and producing.

Roy's replacement, Wesley Matthews, returned to his bench role and scored just 4 points in 20 minutes. As we previously noted, Matthews' fantasy value hinges on Roy's health. If you're one of the owners who picked up Matthews in a standard league, you'll have to show some patience for the next couple of weeks before making a decision on whether to drop him.

Shaq Becoming a Viable Fantasy Option

Although he's playing only 22.7 minutes a game, Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal is putting up some good numbers. In his last five games, Shaq is averaging 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and a block on a scorching 75% shooting.

The Breakdown
Shaq appears to be a viable option for owners in standard leagues in need of help at center. Snatch him up while he's playing well. Be ready to cut him loose, though, if he goes through a bad stretch. With only 22.7 minutes a game, we're not sure how long he can keep producing solid fantasy lines. The Celtics are trying to keep him rested for a deep postseason run, so the minutes are unlikely to increase.

Center Merrygoround Continues in Houston

This season, the Houston Rockets have used four different starters at center.

The Breakdown
With Yao Ming injured, head coach Rick Adelman has used all of his centers in the starting line up and is continually shifting minutes. Without any clear center rotation, deep leaguers should drop Brad Miller, Chuck Hayes, and Jordan Hill and find a more steady player to fill that roster spot. When Yao Ming returns, things will get even more muddled in Houston.

Rashard Lewis Improving Offensively

After a terrible start to the season, Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis has put together a nice stretch of games offensively. In his last five, Lewis is averaging 15.2 points and 2.4 three-pointers on 56.8% shooting from the field and a sizzling 63.2% from downtown.

The Breakdown
It's good to see Lewis upping his scoring and percentages. If he can keep it up, he can get back to the numbers he averaged last season. While his rebounding is just slightly better than last year, we're not sure if Lewis can stay around five rebounds a game for the season. His numbers in other stats are slightly down and his free throw shooting is at just 73.7%, down from his career mark of 80.7%. Lewis is looking like he's going to end up a major disappointment for fantasy owners this season unless he has a major turnaround.

Interestingly, we've observed that Rashard's numbers have dipped in each of his seasons with Orlando. This may be a sign his game is starting to decline if he doesn't significantly improve this year and is something worth noting for owners in keeper leagues.

J.J. Hickson's Fantasy Value Falling

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward J.J. Hickson has seen his value take a hit of late. He has failed to score in double figures in the team's last six games. With his low scoring output and modest rebounding totals, Hickson is just not worth rostering in standard leagues.

The Breakdown
Head coach Byron Scott has given the bulk of the playing time back to the veteran Antawn Jamison. Although Jamison is not putting up the numbers we expected out of him entering the season, he is the better option right now. He's getting the bulk of the playing time and putting up the better lines.

J.J. Hickson continues to start, but he's playing right around 20 minutes a night and he's just not producing enough to help most fantasy squads. Owners in standard leagues will want to start looking for an upgrade via the free agent pool. Hickson is still owned in over 70% of leagues, but that's still far too many teams hanging on to him.

Wizards Deploy Three-Guard Line Up

With forward Al Thornton sidelined due to an ankle sprain, Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders used the three-guard starting line up of Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, and Kirk Hinrich that he deployed in the preseason.

The Breakdown
The move was inevitable whether Thornton was hurt or not. Arenas had been coming on very strong in recent games and deserved the starting nod. Thornton owners will just have to monitor what happens when Al returns from his ailment in the next couple of games. This could be a huge blow to his value, which was already going to drop with the eminent return of Josh Howard. If Thornton is moved to the bench, he may not be worth rostering in standard leagues.

John Wall owners should also closely monitor the situation. Arenas is a talented player who will take away scoring and assist opportunities from the rookie phenom. Wall had a poor game tonight while Arenas played well. If this trend continues and Arenas doesn't return to a reserve role, Wall owners may want to look into potential trades.

Baron Davis Practicing, On Verge of Returning

Los Angeles Clippers points guard Baron Davis has begun practicing with the team and could return in the next week.

The Breakdown
Davis' injury opened the door for rookie Eric Bledsoe to emerge as one of the biggest surprises of this year's rookie class. It will be interesting to see what happens when Baron returns to action. With Bledsoe's scoring and shooting percentage starting to cool, the rookie may be moved to the bench in favor of the experienced Davis, thought it's not certain.

Even if Bledsoe moves to a reserve role, fantasy owners may want to wait a few games before dropping the youngster. Davis has shown over the years that he's injury prone and it would not surprise us if he was sidelined again in the near future. He actually came back from his present injury for one game and then sat the team's next eight games. The Clippers are also likely to shop Baron around the league, though it's unknown whether many teams would be interested. The Clippers know they have their future point guard and are going to find a way to get him minutes.

Rookie Rankings Updated

1. Blake Griffin (19.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 51.1% FG%): With nine double-doubles, one amazing performance, and an injury to John Wall, Blake Griffin ascends to the top of the rookie rankings. He's a proven double-double threat every time he steps on the court and he's greatly outperformed his average draft position. Griffin has a good shot of being this year's top rookie. He's moved up to #14 in FBB's player ratings.

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Top 100 Players That Are Under 50% Owned

Here are a few players sitting in the top 100 of FBB's player ratings that could very likely be free agents in your league:


75. Grant Hill (14.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 52.5% FG%): The veteran small forward has been fairly consistent so far this season. He hasn't had many huge games, but he's a good source of points, rebounds, and percentages with the ability to contribute steals and blocks on occasion.

80. Landry Fields (10.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 55.9% FG%): We asked why you hadn't picked up Landry Fields, but few listened. Fields has actually moved up in our player ratings since then. He's a great source of rebounds for his position and he won't hurt you in any category. It's a crime that he's still available in over 80% of leagues.

85. Kris Humphries (7.7 points, 8 rebounds, 63.3% FG%): Humphries continues to play well in the absence of Troy Murphy. Murphy, though, is expected to return in the near future, so it may not be worth picking up Humphries now as there's likely to be a battle for minutes between New Jersey's three power forwards that may hurt all of their fantasy values.

86. Matt Barnes (9.4 points, 1.2 three-pointers, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists): While he's only playing about 21 minutes a night, Barnes is putting up viable fantasy lines on a regular basis. Like Hill and Fields, Barnes is another one of those players that doesn't wow you in any category, but instead gives you steady across-the-board production. He's still out there in over 95% of leagues.

90. Amir Johnson (8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks 58.8% FG%, 90.7% FT%): It's easy to see why fantasy owners have overlooked Johnson, who's playing just under 20 minutes a night. Still, he's ranked higher than starting power forward Reggie Evans (#93) because of his better all-around game. Much of Johnson's value is coming from his great percentages. His free throw shooting, though, is well-above his career mark and doesn't appear to be sustainable for the length of the season. Much like Humphries, there may not be enough minutes to go around in Toronto when rookie Ed Davis is ready to play in the next few games.

O.J. Mayo to Come Off the Bench?

After Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo came off the bench for the second consecutive game tonight, it appears that head coach Lionel Hollins is planning to use Mayo in a sixth man role for the time being.

The Breakdown
Hollins told USA Today that he's looking for more scoring off the bench, so it looks like Mayo could be used as a sixth man for the foreseeable future. The move doesn't necessarily hurt his fantasy value unless his minutes drop, which they have over the last two games. Mayo owners will just have to stick out this rough stretch and hope Mayo thrives in his new role or returns to the starting line up.

O.J. has been replaced by rookie Xavier Henry as the team's starting shooting guard. Henry doesn't appear to be a player who's ready to make an impact, but owners in very deep leagues may want to make a speculative addition.

Matt Bonner Eating Into DeJuan Blair's Playing Time

San Antonio Spurs center Matt Bonner has been playing over 25 minutes a night in the team's last five games. In the same period, starting center DeJuan Blair's minutes have dipped to just 16 a game including a low of 6 minutes tonight.

The Breakdown
Head coach Gregg Popovich appears to be favoring the experience of Bonner and Antonio McDyess over the younger Blair and Tiago Splitter. Bonner's had a couple of good games since his return from a back injury, but he's been fairly inconsistent. With the minutes he's seeing, though, owners in deep leagues should jump on him. Be aware that Bonner's only real contributions are in scoring and three-pointers, with a few rebounds here and there. Bonner is available in almost all leagues.

Reggie Evans Continues to Dominate the Glass

Early in the season, we noticed Toronto Raptors power forward Reggie Evans had been a monster on the boards. Evans is still snatching up all loose balls in his sights, including a 22-rebound performance tonight.

The Breakdown
For a player in the top five in rebounding, fantasy owners have failed to jump on him. True, he doesn't give you anything but rebounds, but he remains a valuable addition in any category-based league. Because the players around him are such poor rebounders, Evans will put up big rebounding numbers for as long as he's getting starter's minutes. Our only worry is whether rookie Ed Davis will hurt Reggie's playing time when he returns shortly, though it's likely Davis plays limited minutes in the early going. Evans is unowned in nearly 90% of leagues.

Delonte West Fractures Wrist

Boston Celtics reserve guard Delonte West fractured his wrist in tonight's game against the Nets. Although no time timetable has been set for his return, he'll be out for at least the next six weeks.

The Breakdown
The news is unfortunate considering West was playing decently and getting nearly 20 minutes a night. For those that had picked up West recently, it's time to start looking for a replacement.

Brandon Rush Emerging as Sixth Man for Pacers

Since returning from a five game suspension to start the season, Indiana Pacers wing Brandon Rush has emerged as the team's sixth man. After eight games, Rush is now averaging 11.8 points, 1.3 three-pointers, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 28.5 minutes.

The Breakdown
Rush is coming off the bench and playing big minutes for the Pacers. He's played very well and is slowly creeping his way into the top 150 of our player ratings. Based on per-game averages, Rush would currently be rated #116. He is a must own in all leagues at this point. He's available in about 93% of leagues, so go out and snag him.

JaVale McGee Has Career-Best Night

Washington Wizards center JaVale McGee had a monster night. His line: 24 points, 18 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks.

The Breakdown
He's actually had a string of three games where he's taken his game up a notch. He's been a good source of rebounds and blocks all season, but now the point totals are starting to rise as well. He's still available in a handful of leagues, but he should be universally owned. Be sure to pick him up if he's still out there.

Udonis Haslem Goes Under the Knife, Out Until at Least March

Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem has undergone surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left foot. He's likely done for the season.

The Breakdown
We earlier reported that Haslem would miss only two months because it was initially believed he could recover from the injury without surgery. After seeing a specialist, Udonis opted for the surgery. There's a chance Haslem could return just before the end of the regular season, in time for the fantasy playoffs. If you have an IR slot to play with, you may want to consider keeping Haslem stashed in case he does indeed return this season. If you don't have an IR slot, you should be looking for the best available replacement.

Five Most Added Players: November 17-23

1. Darko Milicic (8.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks): After being owned in only a few leagues even though he is one of the league leaders in shot blocking, fantasy owners have jumped on Milicic after back-to-back 20+ point performances. It's unclear how long the scoring numbers will stay in the double digits, but he should be universally owned purely for his blocks. Darko is still available in nearly 60% of leagues.
2. Kirk Hinrich (12.1 points, 5.5 assists, 1.3 threes): Hinrich has been quite a surprise this season. No one expected him to be a starter yet he's started every game and currently ranks #92 in FBB's player ratings. We're not sure how long he'll stay in the starting five, though. Gilbert Arenas has come on strong in recent games with John Wall sitting out. Head coach Flip Saunders could go back to starting three guards as he did in the preseason or he could shift Hinrich to the bench. Hinrich should be added in all formats for as long as he's starting. He's unowned in 37% of leagues.
3. Wesley Matthews (12.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1 three-pointer): Matthews became a hot add after a couple of good games with Brandon Roy out of the line up. While we're a bit worried about Roy's health for the rest of the season, be sure not to drop a reliable player for Matthews at this point. He was a non-factor when Roy was in the line up and Matthews' fantasy value hinges on Roy's health. It will take an announcement that Roy is out long term to make Matthews a must-add in standard formats. Matthews is available in over 60% of leagues.
4. Channing Frye (9.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 threes): Frye has been a hot add since Robin Lopez went down with an injury and with good reason. Frye has stepped into the starting line up to play big minutes and put up double-figure scoring in every start. The one negative about Channing is that he just doesn't give you much in categories like rebounding and blocks that you expect from your center. We also worry that he may go back to his disappointing play when Lopez returns in mid-December. Frye is still a free agent in nearly 40% of leagues.
5. Drew Gooden (11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds): Gooden has strung together four strong games in the last week or so after a slow start. What bothers us about Gooden is his lack of consistency, something he's shown throughout his career. Drew, though, is currently rated #88 in FBB's player ratings and appears to have the starting power forward spot locked down. If you decide to nab him, don't be surprised if he goes through another disappointing stretch. He was a hot add in the first week of the season, only to be one of the most dropped players in the following weeks. He's available in 60% of leagues.
   

Danny Granger Puts Up His Best Game of the Season

Indiana Pacers star forward Danny Granger put up his best overall game of the season. He finished the night with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. He also chipped in 6 assists, 3 steals, and a block, though he shot a poor 6 of 21 from the field.

The Breakdown
We anticipated Granger would step his game up this season when we had him ranked in the top five of our preseason rankings, but Granger hasn't met those expectations. The issue is that his scoring is down this year. He's right around 21 points per game, down from his previous two seasons. He just hasn't gotten to the free throw line as often as he has in previous years, which appears to be the reason why his scoring has dipped. Additionally, his number in other categories are about the same as last year, although his rebounding has slightly dropped as well.

Because Granger is not living up to preseason expectations, he appears to be a good buy-low candidate. The numbers we are seeing out of him in the early going are the very worst you'll get out of him. Right now, he's giving us the production of a third or fourth round pick but he still has potential to up his numbers as the season progresses.

Jarrett Jack Debuts For Hornets, Plays 16 Minutes

Newly acquired point guard Jarrett Jack made his debut for the New Orleans Hornets tonight. He played 16 minutes and finished with 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Breakdown
Not a bad debut for Jack, but the minutes are right where we expected. Jarrett just can't remain a viable option in standard leagues if he's going to play under 20 minutes a game. It will take a Chris Paul injury for Jack to return to fantasy relevance.

Arron Afflalo Continues Strong Play

Denver Nuggets shooting guard Arron Afflalo is putting up career-best numbers. He finished tonight with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 three-pointers, 2 assists, and 2 blocks.

The Breakdown
A great all-around game from Afflalo, who is one of the early season front runners for Most Improved Player. He's currently ranked #95 in FBB's player ratings and should be owned in all formats. He's still avaiable in 43% of leagues.

Chris Andersen Makes Season Debut

Denver Nuggets power forward Chris Andersen made his season debut tonight. Andersen had been out due to offseason knee surgery.

The Breakdown
Andersen is consistently one of the NBA leaders in blocks and he can also chip in a few rebounds. Fantasy owners in category leagues may want to grab Andersen if you need the boost in blocks. With Kenyon Martin out until January at the earliest, Chris could see more playing time than he has in recent years once he's in game shape. For this reason, deep leaguers may also want to consider picking up the Bird Man.

Heat Set to Sign Free Agent Center Erick Dampier

The Miami Heat are planning to sign free agent Erick Dampier to a one-year contract in the wake of Udonis Haslem's injury.

The Breakdown
Once Dampier signs, it will take a few games to see whether he plays a prominent role for the Heat. Tonight, both Juwan Howard and Jamaal Magloire took over Haslem's minutes but neither was very effective. There is an opportunity for Dampier to step in and be fantasy relevant, so deep leaguers may want to add him and see what happens.

Udonis Haslem Tears Ligament in Left Foot

An MRI revealed that Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem has a torn ligament in his left foot. The injury could cause him to miss the next two months, putting his return around the All-Star break.

The Breakdown
Another key injury for a Miami Heat team that's not all that deep. It is not immediately known who will step in and fill Haslem's rotational spot. Chances are Juwan Howard will be the beneficiary, though Jamaal Magloire or Joel Anthony could also get more run. Deep leaguers will have to watch who Miami uses tonight against the Pacers.

Donte Greene, Luther Head Move Into Kings Starting Line Up

Sacramento Kings head coach Paul Westphal has shaken up his rotation, moving Donte Greene and Luther Head into the starting line up. As a result, forward Omri Casspi has fallen out of the rotation.

The Breakdown
We're not exactly sure what triggered this move because Casspi and Beno Udrih had been playing well before being replaced in the starting line up. Both Greene and Head had good games today, especially Greene with his 15-point, 10-rebound double-double. Deep leaguers may want pick up one of these two, but keep in mind Westphal has been known to fiddle with his line ups and Greene or Head could easily be moved back to the bench within a few games.

Rookie Ed Davis Practicing, Set to Make NBA Debut in the Next Week

Toronto Raptors rookie Ed Davis is almost fully recovered from a knee injury suffered in the preseason. He's currently participating in full-contact scrimmages and is set to make his NBA debut in the next week or so.

The Breakdown
Following their recent trade, the Raptors lost the one true center they had off their bench, David Andersen. This should allow both Davis and Amir Johnson to see regular roles in the rotation. Davis, though, is considered a project and it could take a while before he begins to produce. Fantasy owners in very deep leagues may want to take a gamble on Davis in case he's able to contribute sooner than anticipated.

Five Surprise Players in Our Top 100

After recently posting FBB's updated player ratings, we noticed a few players that we are surprised to see in our top 100 that may still be available in your league.

63. Darko Milicic (17% owned): Milicic's value is coming almost primarily from his 2.8 blocks per game, which currently ranks third in the NBA. He had a big game this week that allowed him to make a sizable leap up the charts. He should be owned in all leagues purely because of his shot blocking ability.

64. Eric Bledsoe (84% owned): The rookie point guard has been playing well all season and fantasy owners finally took notice. He's been one of the hottest additions in the last week. While we're slightly worried his role may be affected when Baron Davis returns, chances are Bledsoe is given the starting job for the rest of the season after the Clippers 1-13 start.

67. Nicolas Batum (98% owned): The young Frenchman has quietly put together the best numbers of his career. He's averaging 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 three-pointers on 49.3% shooting. Though you may think he's taking advantage of Brandon Roy missing recent games, Batum has actually put up his best games while Roy was in the line up.

87. Matt Barnes (4% owned): Barnes was signed as a free agent this offseason and immediately fit in perfectly with the Lakers. Barnes is ranked highly because he's giving fantasy owners production in every single category, including the percentages. It would not shock us if he was able to maintain this level of play for the entire season.

94. Kris Humphries (13% owned): Humphries is the most surprising player on this list because he didn't play significant minutes in the first seven games of the season. But ever since he was inserted into the starting line up, he's put up four double-doubles in six games. While he's the most surprising, his value is the least likely to last. Once Troy Murphy returns, we're not sure Humphries will see enough court time to remain a factor in fantasy. You may as well get on the bandwagon while it lasts.

Blake Griffin Has Monster Game, Scores Career-High 44

Los Angeles Clippers rookie power forward Blake Griffin had a monstrous game tonight. His line: 44 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block. His great game overshadowed Amare Stoudemire's 39-point, 11 rebound performance. The Knicks had the last laugh, though, winning the game 124-115.

The Breakdown
This performance, along with John Wall's recent injury, have moved Griffin to the top of our rookie rankings. We still feel John Wall's triple-double was a slightly better performance, but these two are clearly the cream of the rookie crop. Fantasy owners who drafted Griffin with the 80th pick or later are getting amazing value out of their selection and have found themselves a stud for the rest of the season.

C.J. Miles Erupts in Fourth Quarter, Leads Jazz to Victory

Utah Jazz sixth man C.J. Miles was on fire from downtown in the fourth quarter tonight. He hit five three-pointers in the final 12 minutes, finishing the game with 25 points.

The Breakdown
This was easily Miles' best game of the season. He's getting slightly over 20 minutes a game, but he hasn't been productive enough to warrant consideration in standard leagues. You may want to keep an eye on him over the next few games in case this performance sparks the fifth year veteran.

Yao Ming to Miss Another Two Weeks

The Houston Chronicle reports that Rockets center Yao Ming, who's already been out for a week, is expected to miss another two weeks of action due to a bone bruise on his ankle.

The Breakdown
Entering the season, fantasy owners knew they were taking a risk drafting the oft-injured center. The good news is that this injury is not related to the foot problems that caused him to miss all of last season. For the sake of Yao's owners, let's hope he can get back on the court in early December and become a regular contributor.

J.R. Smith Returns to Action

Following a string of three games where he played a total of one minute, Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith played 19 minutes tonight.

The Breakdown
Smith finished with 11 points and 3 assists. Let's hope Smith is now out of George Karl's doghouse and can return to his regular sixth man role.

Hornets, Raptors Agree to Five Player Swap

Sources are reporting that a trade has been agreed upon that would send Jarrett Jack, David Andersen, and Marcus Banks to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Peja Stojakovic and Jerryd Bayless.

The Breakdown
New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets made this move to improve their bench, most notably with the addition of Jack to back up Chris Paul after being the starter in Toronto. If you own Jack, this is horrible news. Paul is playing about 35 minutes a night, leaving very little playing time for Jarrett at the point. Although he may see some minutes alongside Paul, Jack is going to struggle to get even 20 minutes a night in New Orleans. Owners in standard leagues may want to start looking for other options.

Andersen will provide New Orleans additional front court depth. He may see some time at center behind Emeka Okafor because New Orleans doesn't have great center depth. Still, he figures to only have relevance in the deepest of leagues. As for Marcus Banks, he should continue being a back of the bench player and a non-factor for fantasy purposes.

Toronto Raptors: Toronto made this trade solely for Stojakovic's expiring contract. Stojakovic had fallen out of the rotation in New Orleans, so he may see more playing time in Toronto. He'll have to compete with Sonny Weems and Linas Kleiza for court time, though. Deep leaguers may want to take a flyer on Peja as a speculative add in case he takes on an increased role with the Raptors, though we are not expecting much out of him.

As for Jerryd Bayless, he has the most fantasy upside following this trade. As the back up point guard, he could see around 20+ minutes a night. Although we expect Jose Calderon to take over as the team's starter, Calderon won't be playing Chris Paul type minutes. That will give Bayless enough minutes to prove he is fantasy viable. Deep leaguers may also want to take a shot on Bayless in case he gains some value in Toronto.

Joel Przybilla Expected to Return Within the Next Week

Portland Trailblazers center Joel Przybilla is expected back in the line up within the next week. He's been out of action for nearly a year after rupturing his right patella last season.

The Breakdown
This is good news for the injury-depleted Blazers. Once Przybilla returns, he'll back up Marcus Camby and is in line to see in the neighborhood of 20 minutes a night once he shakes the rust and gets into game shape. With the news that Greg Oden is out for the season, Przybilla is guaranteed a regular rotation role for the rest of the season. And because Marcus Camby is a bit of an injury risk himself, Przybilla may be a good player to stash in standard leagues if you really need center help. He's particularly useful in category leagues if you need rebounds and blocks. Przybilla is available in nearly every league.

Monta Ellis on Path to Career Year

Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis is off to a fantastic start. With his 40-point performance tonight, the second time he's reached 40 this year, Ellis finds himself behind only Kevin Durant in scoring. His scoring and FG% are currently at career best marks.

The Breakdown
Ellis has emerged over the last two years as one of the best scorers in the NBA. Even while he's pumping in points, he still provides nearly 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and he's consistently one of the league leaders in steals. Monta is putting up the type of lines we expect from first rounders, although many fantasy owners were able to nab him in the third or even fourth round this year. If Ellis can maintain his FG% up in the area near 50% where it currently stands and slightly improve his three-point shooting, Ellis could be a threat to finish in the top five of fantasy hoops this season.

Darko Milicic Puts Up Career-Best Performance

Minnesota Timberwolves center Darko Milicic put up the best line of his career tonight. Milicic put up an unlikely 23 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 5 assists, and 2 steals.

The Breakdown
Where has THIS Darko been all these years? Milicic had only been averaging 6.1 points and 5.5 rebounds on a poor 33.3% shooting for the year. The 6 blocks are a career-high, but not surprising considering Milicic is now averaging nearly 3 blocks a game.

Darko is currently ranked #78 in FBB's player ratings, almost completely due to his shot blocking. Additionally, he's now moved into the top five shot blockers in the NBA this season. Milicic is worth adding in all leagues because he's been seeing increased playing time in recent games. Even if he fails to follow up on his recent success, he'll lend a hand to your block totals, which can be a hard category to fill.