Schedule Breakdown

Four-game teams: ATL, CHA, CLE, DET, HOU, IND, MIA, MIL, NOR, OKC, ORL, POR, TOR

Three-game teams: BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, GSW, LAC, LAL, MEM, NJN, NYK, PHI, PHO, SAC, SAS, UTH, WAS

Two-game teams: MIN

Also see: Basketball Monster's ease rankings and Rotowire's value meter

Pickups/Plug-ins

• Carl Landry(notes) - Landry has averaged 15.4 points on 61-percent shooting, 5 boards, 0.6 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 85-percent foul shooting over the past seven games, and that includes Friday night's stinker (2 points, 1-of-6 shooting). Houston has arguably the best schedule of the week (PHO, @MIN, @ATL, SAC) and Landry remains the team's premier offensive threat off the bench.

• Kirk Hinrich(notes) - Saturday night was an indication of Hinrich's potential when shots actually fall for him (19 points, 2 threes, 4 boards, 7 assists). As mentioned last week, the playing time isn't going anywhere and he won't shoot 38 percent all season. Week 4: @SAC, @LAL, @DEN

• Anthony Morrow(notes) - Kelenna Azubuike(notes) is expected to be out for at least a little while, meaning Morrow's playing time is relatively safe for now. He's struggled to find his shot thus far as a starter - while you should expect that to be temporary, the Warriors do have some tough upcoming matchups. Week 4: @CLE, @BOS, POR

• Beno Udrih(notes) - Udrih is starting, playing plenty, and delivering good numbers while Kevin Martin's(notes) hand heals. Exclusive, in-depth analysis: he shouldn't be unrostered in two-thirds of Yahoo! leagues. Week 4: CHI, @DAL, @HOU

• Matt Barnes(notes) - Barnes' versatility has proved invaluable for the Magic during their struggles with injuries and has translated to the box score; he's averaged 11.6 points, 1 three, 8.3 boards, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks in his seven starts. Rashard Lewis(notes) is back, but he'll rejoin the lineup at power forward, leaving Barnes to handle the other forward spot. Week 4: CHA, OKC, @BOS, @TOR.

• Rudy Fernandez(notes) - Travis Outlaw's(notes) injury should open up a bit more consistent playing time for Rudy, who has yet to find a groove this season. This might be a good time to get back on board if you were high on him entering the season. Week 4: @ATL, DET, @GSW, MIN

• Andres Nocioni(notes) - there isn't a lot of upside or downside from Nocioni's numbers over the past five games (30 minutes, 13.8 points, 1.6 threes, 4.8 boards, 1 steal), but they play just fine as they are. Week 4: CHI, @DAL, @HOU

• Thabo Sefolosha(notes) - the Thunder don't need Sefolosha to score, but he's been doing a bit of everything else in recent games (33 minutes, 6.7 points, 0.8 threes, 6 boards, 2.2 assists, 2.3 steals, 1.2 blocks over the past six). It's getting harder to argue that he's not rosterable in standard leagues given his recent defensive production. Week 4: @MIA, @ORL, WAS, @LAL

• Udonis Haslem(notes) - Haslem's monster game on Saturday (28 points, 12 boards) was his fifth double-double of the season as a reserve, a role he's taken to well. He's posted big-man averages that include 12.4 points on 50-percent shooting, and 9.7 boards in 31 minutes; he's low-volume just about everywhere else, however (0.9 assists, 1.4 turnovers, 0.1 steals, 0.3 blocks). Week 4: OKC, @ATL, @TOR, NOR

• Ben Wallace(notes) - Wallace needs to be handled with care, thanks to 3.3 points and 47-percent foul shooting, but there aren't a lot of good reasons to leave 9.2 boards, 1.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks on the wire. Although he'll have some matchup issues along the way, the numbers seem less flukey with each passing game. Week 4: @LAL, @POR, @UTH, @PHO

• Jared Dudley(notes) - Dudley has carved out a significant reserve role for the Suns and reasonable production in fun-and-gun has followed. Over the past six games, he's averaged 12.2 points on 53-percent shooting, 2.5 threes (on 58% shooting), 3.5 boards, and 1.5 steals in 23 minutes per game. The deeper the league, the more sense it makes to roster Dudley. Week 4: @HOU, @NOR, DET

• Chuck Hayes(notes) - while big-time overall numbers all season clearly aren't in the cards for Hayes, an exceptional Week 3 schedule (PHO, @MIN, @ATL, SAC) makes him a solid add for defensive stats at the very least. 

• Brandon Rush(notes) - Rush's numbers are starting to come around, as he's averaged 2 threes, 6.8 boards, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks over the past four games. He's still struggled with his shot overall (37% FG) but at least they are starting to fall from long-range (38% 3PT). Grab him in advance of the Pacers' solid four-game slate (@NJN, NYK, CLE, @CHA). 

• Toney Douglas(notes) - he's not going to solve the Knicks' point guard woes, but Douglas can (and has) provided scoring punch off the bench. In 26 minutes over the past four games, he's averaged 18.8 points on 55-percent shooting, 2.3 points, and 1 steal. Week 4: @IND, @NJN, BOS

• J.J. Hickson(notes) - the Cavs appear comfortable with Hickson in the starting lineup, and the feeling is mutual. While he doesn't project to compile many defensive stats, he's totaled 38 points over the past two games and the Cavs' Week 4 schedule is a good one (GSW, @WAS, @IND, PHI).

• Raja Bell(notes) - need some threes? Bell has been making plenty (1.8 per game on 38% shooting) and the Bobcats are looking at a favorable four-game week (@ORL, @PHI, @MIL, IND).

• Will Bynum(notes) - Bynum will play consistency for as long as Richard Hamilton(notes) remains sidelined. Over the past six games, he's averaged 14.5 points on 48-percent shooting, 0.5 threes, 4 boards, 4.7 assists, and 0.8 steals in 29 minutes. Week 4: @LAL, @POR, UTH, @PHO

• Darren Collison(notes) - Chris Paul(notes) could be out up to a month, meaning that Collison will start and play plenty in the interim. Look for some assists and steals with low-volume offense. And while the Hornets have four games in Week 4, they have just four combined games in Weeks 5 and 6. Week 3: LAC, PHO, ATL, @MIA

• Anthony Parker(notes) - Parker hasn't exactly been tearing it up, but he's been good for threes (2.2 per game, 60% shooting) and steals (1.3 per game) and the Cavs' Week 4 schedule is a thing of beauty (GSW, @WAS, @IND, PHI).

Status Updates

• Chris Paul's ankle injury could sideline him for up to a month, and he's out a few weeks at minimum.

• Nothing is certain, but the Lakers hope to have Pau Gasol(notes) back in practice (and, subsequently, the lineup) sometime during the coming week. 

• Antawn Jamison's(notes) shoulder has healed, but he missed Saturday night's game with flu-like symptoms. He's now expected to make his season debut on Wednesday.

• Eric Gordon(notes) is expected to be out at least another week due to a strained left groin. Rasual Butler(notes) will continue to start in his place. 

• Michael Redd(notes) hopes to return to the lineup sometime this week, and Sunday and/or Tuesday practices could determine if that becomes a reality. 

• Marreese Speights(notes) has a partial tear in his left MCL and will miss the next six to eight weeks of action. First and foremost, it will be interesting to see if this leaves Eddie Jordan no choice but to put Elton Brand(notes) in a better position to succeed (as the center in a small lineup and in the lineup for more than 27 minutes per game). In general, Brand, Samuel Dalembert(notes), and Jason Smith(notes) will play more as a result of the injury.

• Josh Howard(notes) had enough trouble during and after a three-game stint in the lineup that he's now out again, and the timeframe is indefinite. 

• Shaquille O'Neal(notes) was not in the lineup on Saturday because of a shoulder strain, but the Cavs also called the move a preventative measure, with two sets of back-to-backs in the coming week. Don't be surprised if a healthy O'Neal gets another planned day off at some point during the week.

• Jermaine O'Neal(notes) (hip) did not play Saturday and is day-to-day in advance of the Heat's next game, Tuesday against Oklahoma City.

• A pair of Nets groin updates: Devin Harris(notes) has been ramping up his activities, but nothing definite has been determined in terms of a return date ... Courtney Lee(notes) is targeting Tuesday for a return.

• Troy Murphy(notes) has now been day-to-day with a back injury for the past week or so - the team's next game is Tuesday (@NJN).

• Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince(notes) remain out indefinitely.

Related: Fantasy Basketball