Schedule Breakdown

Four-game teams: DAL, GSW, HOU, LAC, MIN, NOR, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, TOR, UTH

Three-game teams: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, DET, LAL, MEM, MIA, NJN, NYK, ORL, SAS

Two-game Teams: IND, MIL, SAC, WAS

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

Pickups and Plug-ins

• Kirk Hinrich - shots haven't been falling for Hinrich thus far (36% FG, 25% 3PT), but the counting stats are there (3.5 boards, 4.3 assists, 1.2 steals) thanks to 30 minutes per game. The playing time is going to stay north of the 30-minute mark, so there's no doubt that he'll be off the wire once a few more shots - particularly from three-point range - start to fall. If you need guard depth, give him a hard look. Week 3: DEN, @TOR, PHI

• Andres Nocioni - Nocioni is back in as the Kings' starting small forward and will see a reasonable share of the team's usage while Kevin Martin is sidelined.You'll want to keep in mind that the Kings only play twice in Week 3 (OKC, HOU).

• Ryan Gomes - Gomes started slow but has been showing signs of improvement (12.5 points, 1 three, 8.3 boards, 2.3 assists, 1 steal over his past four) and the T-Wolves have a very nice four-game slate lined up (@GSW, POR, DAL, @MEM).

• Kelenna Azubuike/Anthony Morrow - it's always a wild ride in NellieLand, but Azubuike saw 33 minutes of playing time in a start on Friday (13 points, 1 three, 7 boards, 1 steal, 1 block) and can usually be found on Nelson's good side. Stephen Curry's penchant for fouls (4.3 per game) means Morrow will continue to play, and his ridiculous percentages (53/53/89) mean that he'll also continue to produce volume offense (14 points, 2 threes).What is of particular note for both players is the Warriors' excellent Week 3 schedule (MIN, @IND, @NYK, @MIL). 

• Marreese Speights - Speights has done more with his playing time than both Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert to this point. While he's not going to be a candidate for starts in the short-term, there's no downside from his current role (22 minutes per game) and the resulting numbers have been good so far (13.2 points, 61% FG, 84% FT, 6.8 boards, 1.2 blocks). Keep in mind that the game-to-game consistency won't be there, but the aggregate stats should be just fine. Week 3: PHO, @NJN, UTH, @CHI

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If you're looking for last minute advice, please stop by Fantasy Football Live, beginning at noon ET.

If we're lucky, someone will ask Evans why he thinks Michael Crabtree(notes) is a better start this week than Wes Welker(notes), Roddy White(notes), Hines Ward(notes), Miles Austin(notes), Dwayne Bowe(notes), Donald Driver(notes), Calvin Johnson(notes), both Seahawks and both Steve Smiths.

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Third Quarter

• At halftime in New Orleans, DeAngelo Williams had 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He went practically untouched on his 66-yard first quarter TD. If you don't think the Saints are missing DT Sedrick Ellis, check the tape.

Carolina led New Orleans after two quarters, 17-6, but it typically takes 40-something to beat the Saints. 

• San Francisco is the Land of Misfit Quarterbacks today, as Vince Young and Alex Smith are dueling. Both QBs have touchdowns to their credit. Young scored on the ground, per his usual, and Smith hit Jason Hill for a 12-yard TD with just 20 seconds remaining in the first half.

• You won't get many short-yardage touchdowns out of Julius Jones, but his three-yard score against the Lions was excellent. He took a shot from Larry Foote behind the line of scrimmage, then simply recalculated his route and kept going. 

• Note the way New York put Steve Smith in motion on his 6-yard TD, getting him matched with a rookie safety who had no chance whatsoever. Highlight here. Easy throw, great design.  

• The final numbers are in for the Houston backfield. Ryan Moats had 16 carries for 38 yards against the Colts and he added three catches for 15. Moats had a 1-yard TD reception, though he also lost a fumble. Steve Slaton carried six times for just 17 yards, but he broke the plane on a 1-yard rushing score and caught six passes for 12 yards. Uncharacteristically, he did not fumble.

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Each week the Noise will guide desperate, deep-thinking owners into the dark corners of the waiver wire to mine a last-minute diamond. Turn on your helmet light and pack a pickaxe. We're digging for drop-jaw surprises owned in less than 10 percent or started in five percent or less of Yahoo! Plus leagues.

Before summer gave way to fall and a single down of meaningful football was played, the fantasy masses truly believed Chris Henry was an alien life form.

Based on his preseason numbers, the unique-looking wideout was undeniably extraterrestrial. In four exhibition contests he tallied 14 catches for an NFL-high 224 yards and four touchdowns. His stirring effort combined with behind-the-scenes buzz – Carson Palmer told our own Michael Silver that Henry, not Chad Ochocinco, was Cincinnati's best receiver – launched expectations into another galaxy.

As a result, mantasies were fostered, hyperbole was spewed and tendons snapped. Owners outstretched arms and slapped wallets – he went for $15 in one of the Noise's local auction leagues – convinced the troubled target was on the precipice of a breakthrough. In the Friends and Family draft, Average Joe, Michael Gehlken, proudly selected him at pick No. 150 (Round 11), three spots ahead of Jeremy Maclin. As long as he avoided incarceration, fortunes were sure to be reaped.

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A few major injury notes and a full state of games from a Friday night around the NBA...

• The good news is that clarity in regards to Kevin Martin's wrist injury came fairly quickly. The bad news is that he'll undergo surgery and is expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks. Although nothing is official as of yet, Beno Udrih is expected to rejoin the starting lineup, pushing Tyreke Evans to shooting guard. Udrih's ceiling is fairly well-established – he's averaged 12.3 points (47% FG, 84% FT), 0.7 threes, 3.2 boards, 4.8 assists, and 1 steal in 129 career starts – but as a starter he's absolutely rosterable in standard leagues. I'm convinced that Evans is miscast as an NBA point guard and like the move for his potential impact. Don't count on the efficiency getting much better than poor, but "addition by subtraction" (subtract Martin and some of Evans' distribution responsibilities) should be good for his line.

After a slow start, Andres Nocioni is back on the fantasy radar (his DUI arrest aside). His offensive responsibilities increase significantly with Martin out of the picture, and you can give Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson a bump, as well. Omri Casspi has posted very good per-minute production thus far and should have a larger role in the rotation, although the Ime Udoka signing muddies the backup picture a bit. As for Martin himself, he's not a player you can cut in standard leagues. In roto, it's a bit easier to deal with carrying an injured player. Those of you in h2h leagues need to calculate your chances of making the playoffs while playing a man down for the next two months – if you aren't feeling confident, then add Martin to your trade block and see if you get some offers worth considering (and certainly be ready to produce some counter-offers). 

• Tyrus Thomas' season went from bad to worse in a hurry. He broke his left forearm during a weight session on Friday and will miss the next four-to-six weeks, or somewhere around 15-20 games. It's not a bad move to make an add/drop in standard h2h leagues. Taj Gibson will continue to start at power forward – he posted 11 points, seven boards, one steal, and one block on Thursday and his college numbers project well to the NBA. Give him a look in deeper leagues. Brad Miller should see close to 30 minutes while Thomas is out, as well, meaning that he should be universally owned in roto leagues and largely owned in h2h formats. 

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Friday is the most important practice day of the week from a fantasy perspective; let's take a good look around.  

• The Colts held Donald Brown (shoulder) out of Friday's practice after letting him work the previous two days. He's questionable and will probably be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup with the Texans. At least we get a break with the game, it's an early start. All of the Yahoo! experts view Joseph Addai as a Top 14 back this week even with Brown expected to play; Addai's value obviously gets a mild push forward if Brown winds up being scratched.

• Anquan Boldin (ankle) did some work Friday and has a shot to go against the Bears; he's questionable on the report. The Cardinals took it easy with Steve Breaston (knee) Friday but that's standard operating procedure; he's been battling this issue all season. On Boldin, it comes down to a depth call; I wouldn't use him for fantasy this week unless I felt backed into a corner.

• Roddy White (ankle) had a limited day Friday after sitting out the two previous days and head coach Mike Smith is optimistic that White will be able to go in Atlanta's critical game against Washington. It's an early start, so fantasy owners don't have to sweat it out here.

• Kevin Smith (shoulder) and Calvin Johnson (knee) both practiced Friday and should play at Seattle, though Jim Schwartz would give out his ATM password before he did anything to help our fantasy pursuits.

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In Friday's life-affirming episode of the Yahoo! Fantasy Freak Show, we discussed all the Week 9 matchups, answered a few dozen Jamaal Charles(notes) questions and took the first steps toward designing the perfect Washington Redskins drinking game. Please gather the family around the laptop and give it a listen. (This week, all the links actually work!)

Fantasy Freak Show, Part I

Fantasy Freak Show, Part II

Fantasy Freak Show, Bonus Time

Many thanks to our friends at The Score WSCR-AM 670 in Chicago. 

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Photo via Getty Images

Every Friday during the NFL season we'll review the Yahoo! weekly position ranks. If an expert breaks from the herd, they'll be asked to show their work. We try to focus on names near the start/sit line in public leagues, or on complete acts of lunacy. Let's play the feud…

Michael Crabtree - Evans rank 12, composite rank 22

I'm heavily invested in the gold market this week, despite the improvement of the Titans secondary. The return of corner Cortland Finnegan and safety Vincent Fuller in Week 8 was exactly what the doctor ordered for Tennessee’s battered D. The added help crippled the Jags' passing attack, limiting standout receiver Mike Sims-Walker to his worst performance since becoming a starter (2 catches for 9 yards). But David Garrard has struggled on the road and when the Titans were at full-strength earlier this season, they were slapped around routinely.

Though he’s played in just six quarters, Alex Smith has made tremendous advancements in his development. More poised and aware, he’s turned to Crabtree early and often in back-to-back games. The first-round wideout, who’s unbelievably transitioned seamlessly despite an extensive holdout, has attracted 7.5 targets totaling 11 catches for 137 yards in two games. This week, I'm confident he snags his first career TD reception. Tennessee has surrendered 15 scores to WRs on the year, the most in the NFL. -Noise

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Hey, we finally have an update on Sammy Morris that includes references to specific body parts and a recovery time frame!

Patriots running back Sammy Morris could be back in two weeks, the Herald has learned.

The veteran suffered a torn MCL on his first carry against the Titans and is close to returning. He’ll miss the Dolphins game and likely the visit to the Colts.

Presumably, the Boston Herald reporters who extracted this information from Pats sources relied on barbaric interrogative methods, so perhaps the reports cannot be trusted. Not sure. But those are some of the first meaningful, non-speculative notes we've seen.

If Morris only misses two more games, he'll make it back for the home matchup with the Jets on November 22. Laurence Maroney now has two weeks to demonstrate that he deserves a serious role; recall that the Patriots end-of-season schedule is extremely RB-friendly (CAR, at BUF, JAC, at HOU).

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I'm not one for long introductions. Let's get right to the info, immediately actionable or otherwise.

* The big news of the day broke just over an hour ago. Kevin Martin has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his left wrist and treatment options are currently being discussed. Technically it could be much worse, as it's his non-shooting wrist, but this still figures to be a blow for fantasy owners and a very thin Kings roster. The Kings waived Desmond Mason today, meaning that rookie Omri Casspi would likely be the main benefactor if Martin were to miss time. Another plausible scenario would be Beno Udrih moving back into the starting lineup, pushing Tyreke Evans to shooting guard. 

• Another does of reality for Channing Frye owners on Wednesday, as early foul trouble resulted from his matching up with Dwight Howard, and he finished with five points, 1 three, and four boards in 19 minutes. It should also be a cautionary tale for those of you with trade offers rolling in from current Frye owners. He should be good in general, but don't pay for production from his first three games alone. Also keep in mind that we'll get a Robin Lopez update next week and, while Frye is light-years ahead of him on offense, he's a much better defensive option against the "true" centers of the league.

• Leandro Barbosa missed another game because of the cyst in his right wrist, but he should be back soon, barring any complications.

• Vince Carter (ankle) did not play Wednesday and he'll be a game-time decision on Friday.

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