Court Report: Week 16 Dashboard, Part II
Each Sunday, the Dashboard centralizes all the crucial information fantasy managers need to dominate their weekly head-to-head matchups or climb the standings in their rotisserie leagues. The Dashboard covers schedule analysis, status updates, adds, drops, watch list candidates, and deep league targets for managers of all skill levels. Quite simply, it is a comprehensive weekly cheat sheet that is packed with so much information that we’ve devoted two writers to producing it.
Add List - players currently owned in less than 40% of Yahoo! leagues
• Carlos Delfino(notes), GF, MIL (37% owned)
It’s certainly been a rocky season for Carlos Delfino, who has spent the majority of the season sidelined with concussion symptoms. Since his return, Delfino has quietly carved out a role for himself in the crowded and confusing wing rotation in Milwaukee. Delfino has flashed some of his fantasy potential over the course of the past couple of weeks. In that span, Delfino has posted averages of 12.0 points, 35 FG%, 78 FT%, 2.0 threes, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.1 blocks and 1.5 turnovers. Examining his line further, Delfino’s fantasy value is primarily derived from steals and threes, while his value is mainly dragged down by a poor field goal percentage. Delfino’s career average is 40 percent shooting from the field, so we can expect some normalization there. However, if your team is punting field goal percentage or can absorb Delfino’s poor field goal percentage, he makes a great addition going forward.
• Kendrick Perkins(notes), C, BOS (27% owned)
Much like Delfino, Perkins is still working his way back into shape after missing most of the beginning of the season due to injury. Unlike Delfino, however, Perkins faces much less competition for minutes at his position at this point in the season as a result of injuries. Shaquille O’Neal(notes) has been ruled out of Boston’s next game with injuries to his hip and Achilles, and possibly through the All-Star Break. Jermaine O’Neal(notes) is slated to miss the next 6-8 weeks as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery. Rookie backup center Semih Erden(notes) should spell Perkins off the bench but make no mistake the lion’s share of minutes at the five in Boston belong to Perkins going forward. Perkins’ first start of the season provided a glimpse of what kind of production we can expect from the sour-faced big man going forward (13 points, 6-7 FG, 1-2 FT, 12 rebounds, 1 block, 4 turnovers).
• Chuck Hayes(notes), FC, HOU (36% owned)
It’s no secret that the writers at Roto Arcade have been big proponents of Hayes recently. In fact, my colleague Justin Phan did a fairly extensive breakdown of why Hayes is criminally under-owned last week, so I won’t spend too much time recapping what he already said. Instead, here is a list of guys that Hayes has out-performed over the past two months based on per-game value in nine-category formats: Paul Millsap(notes), Jason Kidd(notes), David West(notes), Wesley Matthews(notes), Danilo Gallinari(notes), Josh Smith(notes), Tim Duncan(notes), Wilson Chandler(notes), Lamar Odom(notes), Dwight Howard(notes), Danny Granger(notes), Chris Bosh(notes), Andrew Bogut(notes), Tyson Chandler(notes) and David Lee(notes). I’m not sure how else we can put it, but Hayes deserves near universal ownership. It’s nice to see a six percent increase since last week, but Hayes remains under the 40 percent ownership mark and should be rostered in standard-sized leagues. In the short-term, Houston also has very favorable matchups in Week 16 (@DEN, MIN, DAL), providing another reason to swoop up Hayes if he is sitting on your waiver wire.
• Ersan Ilyasova(notes), F, MIL (34% owned)
Another guy Justin covered last week, Ilyasova’s ownership levels are still low in standard-sized leagues. Since Justin pimped him last week, the Bucks announced that Drew Gooden(notes) would miss 4-6 weeks as he consults with a foot and ankle specialist over his ongoing struggles with plantar fasciitis. Gooden provides another clear example of why plantar fasciitis is one of the most dreaded phrases for fantasy managers. In the past week, Ilyasova has also posted averages of 14.8 points, 46 FG%, 100 FT%, 0.8 threes, 9.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.3 blocks and 1.5 turnovers. During that span, Ilyasova attempted 20 shots in two separate games, meaning he’ll be getting plenty of touches for the Bucks. Milwaukee also has a decent slate of four games this week (TOR, @WAS, @MEM, IND), making Ersan a good play in standard-sized leagues.
• Corey Brewer(notes), GF, MIN (15% owned)
Outside of Kevin Love(notes) and Michael Beasley(notes), it is difficult to rely on anyone else in Minnesota consistently for fantasy production. Corey Brewer has had periods of fantasy relevance this season followed by periods of fantasy uselessness. It appears that Brewer is at the beginning of a period of quality fantasy production, and should be rostered as a result. Brewer has strung together two solid back-to-back games, averaging 15.0 points, 55 FG%, 80 FT%, 2.0 threes, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.5 blocks, 1.5 turnovers in over 31 minutes of action. Brewer’s field goal percentage over the past two games appears unsustainable for the balance of the season (career 41 FG%), but any improvement above his career average would be welcome and result in a boost in overall value. Also note that Corey’s steals were low during the past two games (career: 1.8 steals per 36 minutes) and expect some normalization there going forward as well. So in all likelihood any decrease in field goal percentage could be offset by an increase in steals. Minnesota also has a fairly favorable schedule in Week 16 after they face New Orleans on Monday (@HOU, @IND, PHI), making Brewer a decent gamble for the upcoming week.
Cut List - players who should not be rostered in standard formats
Al Harrington(notes) (77% owned); Corey Maggette(notes) (67% owned); Shawn Marion(notes) (65% owned); Charlie Villanueva(notes) (55% owned); Chris Kaman(notes) (53% owned); Brandon Roy(notes) (52% owned); Troy Murphy(notes) (49% owned); Evan Turner(notes) (41% owned); Leandro Barbosa(notes) (37% owned); Robin Lopez(notes) (37% owned); Drew Gooden (37% owned); Anderson Varejao(notes) (33% owned); Reggie Williams(notes) (31% owned); Linas Kleiza(notes) (24% owned).
Watch List - players currently owned in less than 40% of Yahoo! leagues to monitor closely in standard leagues
•Anthony Parker(notes), GF, CLE (6% owned)
Somebody has to suit and play for Cleveland, who continue to lose in historic fashion. Parker has posted two solid lines in his last three games, and has returned to Cleveland’s starting lineup. Parker also remains a strong candidate to be traded, and would be a great fit in a place like Chicago. Wherever he ends up after the trade deadline, Parker makes a great deep-league addition if you are looking for points, threes, assists and steals.
• Paul George(notes), GF, IND (9% owned)
The replacement of Jim O’Brien with Frank Vogel marks Paul George’s best chance at establishing fantasy value. The message from Larry Bird during the press conference was clear; develop the young players more. George’s numbers over the past week are about what we should expect going forward: 12.3 points, 44 FG%, 81 FT%, 1.0 threes, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks and 1.3 turnovers in 24.5 minutes per game. While George’s per-minute upside is certainly unquestioned, consider the fact that George’s recent success has all occurred while Brandon Rush(notes) has been sidelined with a sprained ankle.
• Tyler Hansbrough(notes), PF, IND (13% owned)
Like his teammate Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough figures to gain from the youth movement in Indiana. However, Psycho T has not yet taken advantage of the coaching change. He has struggled mightily in the four games under Vogel in terms of field goal percentage (14-39 FG; 36 FG%) but has seen his minutes rise. Keep an eye on Hansbrough as he challenges Josh McRoberts(notes) for the starting power forward spot in the suddenly bright Vogel-era (4-0) in Indy.
• Marcus Thornton(notes), SG, NOH (28% owned)
Marcus Thornton’s short-term value is bolstered by Trevor Ariza’s(notes) ankle injury, which is expected to keep Ariza out of action until at least next week. While rookie Quincy Pondexter(notes) moved into the starting unit instead of Thornton, Marcus is much more likely to have some semblance of value instead of Pondexter. Consider New Orleans’ last game in which Thornton (14 points, 2 threes, 4 rebounds) outplayed Pondexter (0 points, 1 block) despite coming off the bench.
• Richard Hamilton, SG, DET (27% owned)
Just when it appeared that Rip had played his last game as a Piston, word came down from general manager Joe Dumars for head coach John Kuester and Hamilton to kiss and make-up. While this is clearly a transparent ploy to boost Hamilton’s value in the lead-up to the trade deadline, it makes no difference for fantasy purposes what the motivation is. After sitting out for 13 straight games, Rip was activated and given 20 minutes of playing time and the result was 15 points, one three, one rebound, three assists and one turnover. Regardless of where Hamilton ends up, his role should be greater than it has been in Detroit so far this season.
Others to consider: Anthony Randolph(notes), FC, NYK (35% owned); Francisco Garcia(notes), GF, SAC (21% owned); Brad Miller(notes), C, HOU (18% owned); Toney Douglas(notes), G, NYK (15% owned); Jonny Flynn(notes), PG, MIN (15% owned); Rodrigue Beaubois(notes), G, DAL (7% owned).
Deep League Specials – players currently owned in five percent or less of Yahoo! leagues who warrant a roster spot in deep leagues (14 teams+)
Timofey Mozgov(notes), C, NYK (6% owned); Eddie House(notes), G, MIA (6% owned); Sam Young(notes), GF, MEM (6% owned); Jodie Meeks(notes), SG, PHI (6% owned); Reggie Evans(notes), PF, TOR (4% owned); Christian Eyenga(notes), GF, CLE (3% owned).
Additional notes: Mozgov recently returned to New York’s starting lineup after a breakout game of 23 points and 14 rebounds against the Pistons. Mozgov obviously won’t put up numbers like that consistently but should be a deep league source of boards and blocks going forward … House looks like a great three-point specialist in deep leagues after working his way back into coach Spoelstra’s rotation. Also, hitting game winners doesn’t hurt your case when trying to solidify your role … Young has played admirably in O.J. Mayo’s(notes) absence, posting fourth round value over the past week. However, Young’s increased role should only last another four games while Mayo finishes up his ten-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy … Evans is a forward-looking add in deep leagues, as he should return to Toronto’s starting lineup sometime shortly after the All-Star Break.
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photos via Getty Images
