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Rest of the Giants...

Sorry folks, we're back with a few PF and C sleepers for you.

Nick Collison (OKC): Collison returned from a sore knee and dropped in 18 and 7 boards. He can get hot and provide consistent boards, with the occasional decent scoring effort while keeping the percentages.

Jonas Jerebko (DET): Jerebko is getting serious PT with Tayshaun Prince out. His past week's stats: 13 points, 6 boards, 1.3 3's, 1 steal, with solid percentages. He can definitely help those in larger leagues out, even with Prince's eventual return as the Piston coaching staff says he'll remain part of the regular rotation.

Hasheem Thabeet (MEM): If you can handle the ultra-low point totals, Thabeet can help out in blocks at a very, very shallow position.

Waking the Giants - #2

After a bit of a technical hiccup, we are back to highlight some potential sleepers in fantasy hoops.

POINT GUARDS

Darren Collison (NO): Kind of a no-brainer here, but with Chris Paul hobbled, Collison steps in. There's no chance Collison will put up Paul-like numbers, but 13-15 points, 5-6 assists with a steal, 3 and decent percentages very possible. Paul could be up to 2 weeks away from returning, so you can still get mileage out of Collison.

Luke Ridnour (MIL): Somehow, Ridnour is only owned in 6.5% of ESPN leagues. He'll remain a favorite of Scott Skiles and will benefit when/if Brandon Jennings hits the proverbial rookie wall. Ridnour has been making the most of his opportunities lately and could certainly serve as a decent backup PG in all leagues.

C.J. Watson (GS): With all the injuries the Warriors are faced with, Watson, who just returned from illness, has posted a couple solid efforts. He's likely SG-eligible, which is always good. If you're seeking a guy who plays in an up-tempo offense who could help you out in bigger leagues, Watson's your pick.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Corey Brewer (MIN): When Brewer is good, he's good (22 points, 13 boards on November 25th). When he's bad, he's pretty bad (5 points on 1 of 11 shooting and 3 turnovers on November 27th). He's only owned in 30% of Yahoo leagues, and should probably be on more given his penchant for big games.

James Posey (NO): Those of you that are fantasy hoops vets know Posey. He'll hang around, have an OK game here and there, and then a switch will be flipped and he'll average 10-15 points, 4-5 boards, 4-5 assists, a 3 and 1-2 steals for a 20-game stretch. Hornet fans are hoping this switch is flipped sooner rather than later.

SMALL FORWARDS

Chuck Hayes (HOU): Everyone is jumping on the Carl Landry bandwagon, but we actually like Hayes almost as much. He's got the position flexibility and will definitely not kill you in any category.

---- Check back later for Power Forwards and Centers!

The Week that Was - November 15th

With Sesame Street celebrating its 40th anniversary, let's take a look at TWTW using our good ole ABC's.

A is for Trevor ARIZA, who averaged 18 points, 2 3s, 5.3 boards, 4.7 helpers and 3 steals this past week. He's fitting in nicely with the Rocket system. Question is, will his numbers dip at all with the return of one Tracy McGrady?

B is for BRANDON Jennings, who is absolutely setting the NBA on fire. Granted he only played in 2 games last week, but averaged 43.5 points and 7 assists. He's going to be in the race for the ROY award for sure. He's pretty much all the Bucks have with Michael Redd seemingly always dinged.

C is for CHRIS Bosh, who shot well from the line this past week (91.4%) and averaged a double-double. He'll get his block totals up as the season progresses.

D is for DIRK, DUNCAN and DURANT, who are all playing well. That is, when they're actually on the floor (Duncan). Dirk's playing lights out and Durant is putting up sick stats (but needs to stop turning the dang ball over).

E is for EARL Watson, who is a hot free agent (in larger leagues) right now, after a 2-game week with 14 ppg, 5 apg and crazy good percentages. T.J. Ford is a nice PG, but could definitely disappear in spells and allow a backup to get serious PT.

F is for Channing FRYE, who has settled in nicely for the Suns, and in a 4-game week, was in the top 60 (in Yahoo leagues that count turnovers). This, after being originally ranked in the 180's. In larger leagues, Frye is certainly a solid fantasy option, and could be used in shallower leagues as a fill-in.

G is for Danny GRANGER, who is playing lights-out basketball, filling up the stat sheet with points, boards, steals, 3s and even blocks. He's definitely playing like a first-round fantasy pick.

H is for Al HORFORD, who had a huge week. Shot 67% from the field, averaged 17 points and 9 boards. Threw in 1.7 steals and a block per to boot. Definitely an underrated fantasy PF/C.

I is for, who else, Allen IVERSON. He's missed four games in a row to deal with "personal issues". Cut bait in all but the deepest of leagues.

J is for JASON Thompson, who in Yahoo/turnover scoring, ranks #16 over the past week. He's putting up big-time points and boards, and has been blocking shots too. There really isn't much to get excited about for the Kings, except maybe this guy and Kevin Martin. Both guys remain under-rated fantasy contributors.

L is for, who else, LEBRON James. He's got sick across-the-board numbers, although you'd anticipate the blocks to be a bit higher. No worries, he's still going to lead many a fantasy team to their league championship.

M is for LeBron's teammate, MO Williams. He ranked #7 in Yahoo/turnover scoring this past week after posting big scoring numbers, backed by 3.3 3s per game and 1.3 spg. Williams is definitely the second-best option, fantasy or otherwise, on the Cavs, and might actually be a better VALUE than The King. Shocking, I know.

N is for Steve NASH. Man, this guy still has it. In a 4-game week, Nash posted a double-double with points/assists and didn't miss a free throw. I think he'll be playing at age 50.

O is for Greg ODEN. The big man finds himself well into the top-50 this week after blocking 2.4 shots per game in a 5-game week. He's even dropping a few points in for his fantasy owners.

P is for PAUL PIERCE. The numbers aren't bad, but he's not performing up to par. There's some more "P's" for ya. He bruised his knee Friday night and could be slowed a bit for the next few games.

Q is for QUENTIN Richardson. While Q didn't have a great week, he's still worth a mention because he's a cheap source of 3s (and is the best "Q" name we could find).

R is for Anthony RANDOLPH, who is living up to his big-time-sleeper-bust-out-candidate billing. In a 5-game week, Randolph scored (13.8 ppg), boarded (6.4 rpg) and had nice block and steal numbers. This all, while turning the ball over less than once per game. Yahtzee!

S is for Thabo SEFOLOSHA, who busted out this past week and ranked #28 on the Yahoo/turnover scoring system. Wow? He's not going to score much, but the guy finds a way to keep himself involved and is getting serious playing time. We thought Jeff Green was a poor-man's Scottie Pippen... Sefolosha could be a very, very poor man's version.

T is for TYREKE Evans, who's probably the guy you want to most watch on the Kings, not Thompson or Martin. Well, all three of these guys have flown a bit under the radar (at least in some fantasy circles) and are performing well. Evans could give that Brandon Jennings kid a run for his ROY money. Evans had a solid week, but he may hurt you in the turnover category.

U is for UDONIS Haslem. I guess it's a Miami Heat thing, who provided us with a Q and now a U (since you can't really spell a word with a Q without a U!). Haslem had a decent week, nearly averaging a double-double (13.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg). His percentages aren't half bad, either, so he makes for a nice backup in larger leagues.

V is for Charlie VILLANUEVA, who along with Ben Gordon, has made quite a splash in the Motor City. Villanueva was your #14 performer this past week in Yahoo/turnover formats, and is really scoring well for the Pistons. The eybrow-less one will remain a very, very solid fantasy option this season as he's certainly the best forward the Pistons have.

W is for WILL Bynum. Sticking with the Pistons, let's take a look at the young PG who has mad hops. He was the #72 player this week in Yahoo/turnover scoring, and is doing it with points, helpers AND boards. If he can keep his minutes around 27-28 per game, he'll be a nice little option in most leagues.

X is for ... well ... it has to be for the "X-FACTOR", who I contend is Ty Lawson, at least for the Nuggets. Despite Chauncey Billups putting up nice numbers, Lawson is the #68 overall player in Yahoo/turnover scoring. He had a bit of a quiet week, but his speed and playmaking ability will continue to be the x-factor for the Nuggets.

Y is for Thaddeus YOUNG, who's off to a bit of a disappointing start. He had an alright scoring week, but is weak in other categories, and is turning the ball over at a 2.2/game clip. The young Young will have to get his act together to turn his fortunes around.

And finally, Z is for ... well ... all three Z's in the NBA. ZAZA Pachulia has nice percentages in only 13 minutes per game. If his minutes somehow increase, he'd be a solid sleeper in larger leagues. ZYDRUNAS Ilgauskus has been rendered all but useless with the arrival of Shaq in Cleveland. His FG% is dismal, but you have to consider him if Shaq gets hobbled. And the last Z, ZACH Randolph, is having a solid fantasy season for the hapless Grizzlies. He had a poor showing this week, but will remain a nice option for points and boards for your fantasy squad.

Waking the Giants - Issue #1

Welcome to the first installment of Waking the Giants, a look at the hottest (probable) free agents and sleepers that might help your fantasy basketball squad. We'll divvy these guys into two blocks of players: some players that may or may not be available in most 10 or 12 team leagues, and some players that you'll only look at in the deepest of leagues.

SLEEPERS

Corey Brewer (SG/SF - MIN): I mentioned Brewer in The Week that Was. He's looking like a cheap source of steals. If your team is lacking in the steals department, here's a quick way to get back into the category. He's starting for the Wolves now, and really don't have much aside from Al Jefferson, who's struggling. As he breaks out of his funk, guys like Brewer may continue to score at a higher clip too.

Marreese Speights (PF/C - PHI): Speights was mentioned in TWTW too, and as mentioned there, he's rendering Sam Dalembert all but useless. He's not quite the shot-blocker Dalembert is, but will score more than ole Sam. Both guys are capable of getting solid board numbers, but will continue to vulture either one's potential.

Chase Budinger (SF / PF): Gotta feature at least one rook here. Budinger is a terrific athlete who'll give the Rockets some scoring punch off the bench. He might not be available, in which case you can probably grab him on the cheap now that he's day-to-day with a sprained ankle. He'll get back into the swing of things and average 12-13 points, and a few boards and threes mixed in.

DEEPER SLEEPERS

Will Bynum (PG/SG - DET): Is Bynum more of a pure point guard than Rodney Stuckey? Perhaps. You might see some 3-guard sets with Bynum, Stuckey and Ben Gordon on the floor. Bynum had a solid week last week, but his turnovers per minute are a bit high, so if your league counts them, you've been warned.

Aaron Afflalo (SG - DEN): Afflalo is getting used to the George Karl offense and is putting up good across-the-board numbers. Look at this stat line from the past week (14.3 ppg, 0.8 3s, 0.8 steals and a handful of boards/assists per game to boot). He's a poor man's Trevor Ariza, potentially.

Oleksiy Pecherov (PF/C - MIN): With Kevin Love shelved, it was thought that Ryan Gomes would step up big time. Gomes has looked good, but Pecherov has also been impressive, putting up solid percentages and scoring well.

The Week that Was

Greetings, folks. We were getting all of our ducks in a row, figuring out the best way to bring you the most pertinent fantasy basketball, all of last and this week and have come up with a pair of weekly blog posts that should help you out.

Every Sunday, we'll bring you "The Week that Was", a team-by-team look at who's hot and who's not. This should give you an insight as to who you should be looking at starting on a nightly basis, and who you should only be using as fill-in-the-blanks.

Every Monday, we'll take a look at the hottest "sleepers" who are more than likely available in most leagues.

So without further ado, the initial edition of The Week that Was.

Boston Celtics: It's been an interesting couple of weeks for the C's. No one is scoring more than 19 points (Pierce, 18.8 ppg) and five players averaging double digits (with Kendrick Perkins just behind at 9.5 ppg). Rajon Rondo got his fat contract and has been putting up good numbers. KG has gotten off to a slow start, averaging 12.9 points and 8.2 boards. If you're able to snag him from a desperate owner in this early part of the season, I don't need to tell you that it's probably worth it.

New Jersey Nets: All we really have to say here is: Brook Lopez, wow. Dude is really stepping it up in a season where he was expected to step it up even more. Can't argue with 18 points, 2.3 blocks and nearly 8 boards a game. A bit of a surprise on the Nets is Chris Douglas-Roberts, who's scoring 15.6 ppg. Courtney Lee, even with Devin Harris in the backcourt, will remain a good option in larger leagues.

New York Knicks: The young Knicks have some good scoring options (Gallinari, Lee and Harrington all over 17 ppg). Larry Hughes and Wilson Chandler are also solid options in larger leagues. Nate Robinson has been somewhat disappointing, but the little guy can heat up at any moment. Chris Duhan remains a decent and cheap option for assists (6.6 apg).

Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala is everything we expected, no surprise there. Louis Williams is scoring well, and so is Marreese Speights, who is all but rendering Samuel Dalmebert useless in many leagues. Elton Brand is off to a slow start, and one must wonder if he'll ever be the same.

Toronto Raptors:As a Andrea Bargnani owner, you have to be tickled pink (I am!). 20.7 ppg, 6.8 boards and a block per to boot. And you gotta love all the 3s. Hopefully he can keep it up, even with Chris Bosh doin' what Chris Bosh always does. Hedo Turkoglu has fit in well, but remains only a decent fantasy option. DeMar DeRozan is seeing plenty of time, and shows some promise in deep leagues.

Chicago Bulls: Tyrus Thomas has been a bit of a disappointment (he's been sick, however). In his stead, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and John Salmons have stepped up their games, and Derrick Rose has played rather well, although you'll want to see more than 12.3 ppg out of the budding star. Thomas should bounce back, so he's a buy-low candidate at this point. (Edit: Updat on Thomas: he's now out until early December after breaking his arm)

Cleveland Cavaliers: Not shockingly, LeBron James is off to a good start. No news here. Mo Williams is apparently the only guy who's also going to score on a regular basis for the Cavs, but we figured that. Shaq appears to be fitting in well, and already has 12 blocks on the season. Anderson Varejao is rebounding well this season, even with the addition of the Shaq-ster. Big Z looks like a Big Zero with Shaq in town.

Detroit Pistons: Ben Gordon looks to be fitting in nicely, averaging nearly 25 points per game. Rip Hamilton is now out, but dropped 25 in his first outing, which signals perhaps that Gordon will only be scoring at this high clip until Rip returns. Charlie Villanueva has also fit in well, and somehow Tayshaun Prince flies below everyone's fantasy radar and is posting respectable numbers. Even with a low apg number, I think Rodney Stuckey is the most valuable Piston moving forward.

Indiana Pacers: Any time your PF, in this case Troy Murphy, is leading your team in assists, you know you're in some trouble. They appear to be turning the corner, but it appears that it's not the only turn they're going to take this season. Danny Granger is putting up solid stats, but everyone else has been pretty up-and-down. Troy Murphy only has 10 field goals (granted he's only played in 3 games). The exciting thing is seeing Dahntay Jones step up and score well (16 ppg). He's hot right now, so if you snagged him off the waiver wire, you might consider dumping him before he turns back into... well... Dahntay Jones.

Milwaukee Bucks: It's been the Brandon Jennings show in Milwaukee. Jennings is certainly the front-runner for rookie of the year and is leading the Bucks in scoring and assists. His assist numbers may remain low, but he'll score well for a PG (and especially a rookie PG). Michael Redd has only 2 games under his belt, and needs to get healthy. In the meantime, Jennings will score even more. Hakeem Warrick, especially with Redd out, might be another nice option.

Atlanta Hawks: The Hawks are off to a good start (5-2) and are getting good numbers from their best players. Joe Johnson is scoring well, Al Horford is averaging 10.7 boards, and Josh Smith is putting up sick across-the-board numbers. Jamal Crawford is instant offense off the bench, and is really eating into Mike Bibby's potential. Bibby is certainly not the same player he once was, and Crawford appears to be the better option for the Hawks at this point.

Charlotte Bobcats: The young Bobcats don't really have a to-go scorer, and have 6 regular players averaging in or near double digit points. That's really spreading it around. Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw are filling up the box scores, but will rarely have huge scoring nights. Doesn't appear that Tyson Chandler has fully figured out his role with this team, and might be a buy-very-low candidate right now if your team looks to be struggling in the rebound department. He'll likely turn it around, as there's no one else at his position that's worth a look.

Miami Heat: The Heat are... well... HOT. 5-1 and D-Wade is scoring at will yet again this season. Jermaine O'Neal looks healthy... healthy enough to score well and grab some boards. If you got him late in the draft, he is shaping up to be quite the steal. But he comes with some risk, so if you're able to ship him off for some quality talent in return, you might want to look at it. Quentin Richardson has been providing some firepower from deep, dropping 13 3s already. Mario Chalmers looks like a solid PG option, although he won't score much.

Orlando Magic: Like their Floridian counterparts, the Magic are also off to a good, 5-1 start. This, all without Rashard Lewis. Dwight Howard is scoring well, and is even shooting nearly 70 percent from the line. Ryan Anderson is filling in well for Lewis, but will be relegated to a reserve role when Lewis gets back. Good news for Brandon Bass owners is that while he'll still be a bench player for the Magic, his playing time shouldn't be affected too much. He's going to be a cheap source of boards, blocks and good percentages. J.J. Redick has been a nice surprise for the Magic, hitting 3s and shooting 90+ percent from the line.

Washington Wizards: Even with Gilbert Arenas back and healthy, the Wizards are going to struggle this season. Doesn't mean you can't find good fantasy options on this team. Andray Blatche has been a nice surprise, as has Randy Foye. Brendan Haywood is averaging a double-double. But both Blatche and Haywood's numbers will dip with the return of Antawn Jamison, who appears to be ahead of schedule on his rehab.

Dallas Mavericks: Not surprisingly, Dirk Nowitzki's off to a good start and Jason Terry and Josh Howard are scoring well even with Dirk's offensive explosions. New Mav Shawn Marion has fit in well and J-Kidd is dishing dimes to the Mav scorers. The mild surprise is Erick Dampier, who is not only rebounding well, but is on fire from the field (almost 65%) and is scoring right around 9 ppg. Definitely a nice backup C option.

Houston Rockets: Even with Yao Ming, the Rockets are off to a solid start, and the newcomer Trevor Ariza is leading the way. He's scoring well (20.2 ppg) and dishing the ball (4.0 apg) and boarding (4.5 rpg) and even hitting threes and stealing the ball (we knew that would happen). Young Aaron Brooks is scoring well too, and is dropping dimes (7.7 apg). Carl Landry has been a surprising scorer, but his points may taper off while Luis Scola's rise. Rookie Chase Budinger has looked pretty good to start the season; check him out in deeper leagues.

Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizz are off to a grisly start, but of course Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph are putting up points. O.J. Mayo has kept up with his solid stats from his rookie season. The surprise has been Marc Gasol, who's not only scoring, but grabbing nearly 12 boards a game and getting almost 2 blocks per. He looks like a keeper at a position that is somewhat thin this season. The AI experiment looks to be failing.

New Orleans Saints: The Hornets are off to a shocking bad start, but you gotta think Chris Paul and Co. will turn things around. Paul is off to a hot start, with a sick assist-to-turnover ratio. David West's scoring is a bit down, but he'll bounce back. Emeka Okafor looks to have fit in well, and this team will surge ahead sooner rather than later.

San Antonio Spurs: The old fellas are plodding along and have the record to prove it. Tony Parker is leading the team in scoring, and it's only 14.8 ppg. Tim Duncan doesn't look very good and Richard Jefferson has only looked good in spots. Rookie DeJuan Blair has been a nice find, shooting at a nearly 66% clip. The Spurs are a savvy bunch and will figure out a way to get Duncan more scoring opportunities.

Denver Nuggets: The Nuggets are off to a good start behind the scoring of Carmelo Anthony. This might be the year he breaks out even more. Chauncey Billups is again a steady force, providing scoring from the backcourt. Nene also looks good, but it's the play of rookie Ty Lawson that has been the best story.

Minnesota Timberwolves: It's going to be a long season for Kurt Rambis and his T-Wolves. Al Jefferson is slimmed down, and so is his scoring. Rookie Jonny Flynn looks good in spells, but would the T-Wolves be better overall with Ramon Sessions running the squad? Corey Brewer is an under-rated swing-man who can probably come cheap. He's worth a look.

Oklahoma City Thunder: The young Thunder squad looks good so far, playing together and getting scoring from both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Jeff Green is again playing well across the board. James Harden is feeling his way out slowly, but could be a 10 ppg scorer at some point this season. Kevin Durant's 3-ball hasn't been falling, but he'll find the range sooner or later.

Portland Trailblazers: Rip City is excited to watch this young and energetic squad led by Brandon Roy. Andre Miller has been welcomed with open arms and is looking good. Travis Outlaw is providing a scoring punch off the bench and is going to be a cheap source of steals this season. Spaniard sensation Rudy Fernandez is no longer a fantasy option with Outlaw and the young Martell Webster playing well.

Utah Jazz: The Jazz is off to a slow start and it could be a long season for Deron Williams, although the stats say otherwise. He's scoring and dishing the ball like crazy and really is just a step behind Chris Paul in terms of the best fantasy PG. Not surprisingly, Ronnie Brewer, Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer are all contributing. The surprise is Andrei Kirilenko, who is showing flashes of his once-studly play. Paul Millsap has been a bit of a disappointment, though. No matter what the Jazz record is, Williams will continue to be a top fantasy option. If the season continues like this, you gotta think the Jazz brass will look to move Boozer and Millsap's stats will jump.

Golden State Warriors: More of the same for the Warriors. Lots of flash, little results. You have six (almost seven) Warriors scoring in double digits, which is a fantasy gold mine. But some of the FG%'s are downright nasty and the turnovers are high. Andris Biedrins isn't scoring much and his boards aren't where you'd like them to be. He'll likely turn things around.

Los Angeles Clippers: Holy moly Chris Kaman! Kaman's stock was way down last season, but he's off to a superb start this year. He's shooting well from the field and the line and boarding/blocking like a stud fantasy center should. Al Thornton, who looked to continue playing well, is off to a slow start and the loss of Blake Griffin was a bummer. Griffin will be back in a few weeks and it'll take him a week or two to get up to speed.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant is leading the Lakers to a great start and will continue scoring at will. Andrew Bynum has looked dominating in spells and will be a solid option, especially if Pau Gasol is limited. Ron Artest has looked solid in Laker gold and will provide good assist and steal stats, but the percentages hurt.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns are off to a blistering 6-1 start, and Amare Stoudemire looks great. His scoring isn't where it could be, but you won't complain with 19.3 ppg and nearly 9 boards. He's shooting well from the field, too... which was to be expected. Channing Frye has been the surprise (and hey, he was listed as a sleeper in this very blog!). Grant Hill looks re-energized and is averaging a healthy 8.7 rebounds per outing. If he can come anywhere close to the 82 games he played last season, he'll end up being a fantasy steal.

Sacramento Kings: They may be 3-4, but the Kings are probably one of the worst teams in the NBA. Kevin Martin is scoring like crazy, but his FG% is a bit lower than you'd like. Tyreke Evans is a rookie name to watch and the young frontcourt pair of Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes are putting up solid numbers. Beno Udrih flew a bit under the radar with the arrival of Evans, but he's putting up good numbers to boot. Keep an eye on Andres Nocioni, who will continue to put up good numbers, especially with the Kings needing a veteran presence on the court.

--- CHECK BACK LATER FOR A LOOK AT SOME BIG FREE AGENT SLEEPERS ---

2009 - C Sleepers

And finally, let's take a gander at three sets of big man sleepers.

SURFACE SLEEPERS

Chris Anderson (DEN): Oh come on, every fantasy basketball squad needs a tatted-up, mohawked white guy who is all arms and legs and blocks at least a pair of shots every night out! The guy won't average anything over 9-10 points per game, but why limit yourself to guys that just score? With the few shots that he does take, though, he'll make over 50% of them, and actually shoots decent from the line and is going to get you a good number of boards, too.

Jermaine O'Neal (MIA): This is one of those calls that could make or break your team. If you're lucky, and cut bait early enough (assuming O'Neal is not himself), it may not break you too badly. But if he IS back to form - or even 75% back to form - he'll be a late-round steal. O'Neal was once a dominant fantasy force; scoring, rebounding and blocking shots. If his knees hold up, he will not only provide those blocks, but could potentially score 15-17 points and take down 7-9 boards.

Antonio McDyess (SA): Slated to start for the Spurs, McDyess will provide some in-the-key relief for Tim Duncan. He won't be a scoring machine, not by any stretch, but he'll rebound effectively and he should shoot well from the field. As a backup fantasy center, he's more than serviceable, and actually has some upside with Duncan's penchant for injury.

REGULAR SLEEPERS

Darko Milicic (NYK): It's now or never for the big guy. He can certainly block some shots, but he'll need to add another dominant category (will probably be rebounds, although David Lee will limit that potential). Mike D'Antoni's system may work in Milicic's favor, so pay careful attention to his early season minutes and pounce if he's in the 10-12 point, 6-7 rebound range from the outset.

Hasheem Thabeet (MEM): You can probably copy and paste the info on Milicic here with Thabeet. We know he'll block shots and will likely shoot well from the field, but what else will he do in the NBA?

Erick Dampier (DAL): If you have 2 or 3 20+ ppg scorers on your fantasy squad and can afford the hit with Damp's 6-9 points per game, he may help you in other categories. Damp will block a shot per game, pull down a good handful of boards and will shoot well from the field (assuming he actually shoots the ball). Think of him as a super-cheap source of boards and blocks that you'll plug in your lineup a couple times a week.

DEEP SLEEPERS

DeAndre Jordan (LAC): There's some serious talent around Jordan, and there will have to be a significant injury for Jordan to matter (like last season). But with regular playing time, Jordan was a stat-gobbler, namely blocks and boards. Now, if both Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby would to go down, Jordan's stock would be through the roof. If nothing else, Kaman and Camby owners should have an itchy trigger finger with Jordan.

Eddy Curry (NYK): This guy is Mariana Trench deep (you might need to Google that one). But hey, if Curry gets shipped out of the Big Apple, he'll provide some team with 13-16 points and good FG%. He won't do much else, of course.

Zaza Pachulia (ATL): Al Horford is really the only big man - other than Pachulia - worth a darn on the Hawk roster, so Pachulia's a shoo-in for at least 15-20 minutes per game, which could translate into decent fantasy stats for a backup center in deeper leagues. His FT% is good for a big guy, and while he won't board or block shots particularly well, he can score a bit and would be far more valuable if Horford were to miss extended spells.

2009 - PF Sleepers

WIth the season just a day away, let's wrap things up from a sleeper perspective by taking a look at some power forwards (and centers, later) that can help you this season. Don't worry, if you're already done with your draft, many of these names will be on your league's waiver wire, and if they start the season off hot, you'll want to pounce.

SURFACE SLEEPERS

Jason Thompson (SAC): Yes, Thompson is on just about every site's sleeper list this season, but I wanted to add my two cents. He's a shoo-in for 50-plus percent from the field, and could easily average in double digits, points-wise, as the Kings have little else in the middle. 8-plus boards is also a very good possibility. Don't let a sub-par summer session scare you off. Thompson is a solid second PF in most league formats.

Drew Gooden (DAL): Gooden moves north to Dallas after a somewhat decent spell in San Antonio. His skill set actually favors the Spurs, but he'll be an important cog in the Dallas offense as a rebounder for the second unit.

Andrei Kirilenko (UTA): The big Russian has SF eligibility in most formats, and was once a fantasy monster. With regular playing time (which he'll get more of if Carlos Boozer departs), he could post solid numbers across the board. Definitely worth grabbing late and using in certain situations.

NORMAL SLEEPERS

Brandon Bass (ORL): Bass is likely the one to benefit the most with Rashard Lewis out to start the season. But even when Lewis returns, Bass will be a super-cheap source of boards, blocks, FG% and good FT% for his position.

Matt Bonner (SA): Bonner may not be starting anymore, but he'll have tons of value in the Spur system as a guy that can come in and hit the big three, and won't kill you in percentages. In deep leagues, you'll want the position flexible guy that can hit threes and score right around 9-10 points per game.

Andres Nocioni (SAC): Nocioni could actually move up into the next category of sleepers, as he'll be a solid frontcourt option - along with Jason Thompson - in terms of scoring. But Nocioni's game won't vulture from Thompson, and vice versa. Nocioni will be the top scoring option off the bench and could drop a three or two per game.

DEEP SLEEPERS

JaVale McGee (WAS): McGee's blocks-per-minute stats are off the charts, and with regular playing time, could be a fantasy monster. Yup, I said it. He could be a top-tier-or-two fantasy center if he gets the minutes. With the plodding Brenden Haywood ahead of him, anything is possible. If he's able to get significant minutes, the points and boards will follow.

Channing Frye (PHO): Frye is actually starting for the Suns, and while their may not be many points to go around with Amare Stoudemire dominating the middle, Frye is an athletic big man that can keep up with the Suns' frenetic pace. Plus, a return home to the desert could mean big things for the big man. If nothing else, 8-10 points, 5-6 boards to go along with decent percentages is more than doable in larger leagues.

Kosta Koufos (UTA): He'll be spelling Mehmet Okur, and actually has a pretty similar skill set (minus the threes, unfortunately). He'll shoot well enough from the field and line, though, and could block a shot every time out.

2009 - SF Sleepers

Most of the time, a solid fantasy basketball squad starts with a do-everything small forward. To put you over the edge, and of course deal with eventual injuries, targeting some sleepers will keep you competitive. And once again, we'll split them up into sleepers in shallower leagues (surface sleepers), regular ole sleepers, and deeper sleepers for those in larger leagues.

SURFACE SLEEPERS

Richard Jefferson (SA): Yeah it's kinda funny to see his name on this list after being a fantasy stalwart for many seasons. Moving over to the Spurs to join the "Big Three", many think Jefferson's stats will take a serious hit (and he's ranked accordingly). Probably true, but he'll still offer good across-the-board numbers. The Big Three all come with potential injury concerns, so Jefferson, at some point in the season, could see his value skyrocket. Either way, as a 2nd SF on your squad, Jefferson is money.

Tayshaun Prince (DET): Poor Tayshaun. The guy does so much for his team, and yet he's always overlooked as a fantasy performer. He won't excel in any one category, but he contributes in all of them. The guy never, ever gets hurt, too. So not only is he consistent across the board, he's about as reliable as they come.

Ryan Gomes (MIN): Gomes can score and board in bunches, and with Kevin Love out, he'll be looked to for increased scoring and rebounding. He's likely got PF eligibility, which is helpful, and he added three point shooting to his skill set last season.

NORMAL SLEEPERS

Peja Stojakovic (NO): When healthy, Peja is nearly a fantasy stud. Even when healthy, he doesn't rebound or dish the ball well, but he's gonna get you a couple 3s every game, potentially a steal, and will be in the top-5 in the NBA in FT%. If he can remain healthy, he can be a difference maker.

Matt Barnes (ORL): Barnes comes over to Orlando to replace the departed Hedo Turkoglu. Of course, everyone's looking to Vince Carter to replace Turkoglu's stats, but Barnes' game is more similar to Turkoglu's. While he may not score as much as Carter, he'll still rebound, grab a steal or two, hit a 3 or two and with serious minutes logged, could be a nice backup SF.

Jason Kapono (PHI): The Sixers are no strangers to having a guy like Kapono in their offense. He's a sharpshooter that offers little else than 3s and solid percentages. Don't expect more than that for your fantasy squad. But if you need 'em, he'll be a cheap source of 'em.

DEEP SLEEPERS

Jared Dudley (PHO): Dudley will assume the Matt Barnes role for the Suns, who will go back to the run-n-gun offense. His FG% is great for a SF and he'll contribute in most categories. With the Suns scoring in bunches and Dudley's game matching that style well, he's a perfect sleeper candidate, especially with increased minutes.

Rodney Carney (PHI): Carney is terrific athlete who doesn't shoot particularly well, but he'll only have the somewhat unproven Thaddeus Young and the 3-point specialist Jason Kapono in front of him.

Vlad Radmanovic (CHA): Cheap sources of 3s can be found late in the draft, and Radmanovic is one such option. His percentages aren't terrible, and the Bobcats will need a scorer off the bench. You could do worse in the last round or as an in-season pickup if you're short on 3s.

2009 - SG Sleepers

Time to look at the guys that provide you with 3s, points and sometimes a handful of steals. Hopefully these guys don't kill your FG% and they should have solid FT% too. As with the PG sleepers, we'll break them apart into three categories.

SURFACE SLEEPERS

Lou Williams (PG/SG - PHI): Sweet Lou could actually classify as a PG sleeper, too. He's the starting PG for the Sixers, a team bereft of a true deep threat (outside of Jason Kapono, who's just a one-dimensional role-player). Williams could average a three per game, 16 points and a handful of assists. His position flexibility helps, and no matter where you slot him, he's gonna get you solid stats.

Ronnie Brewer (UTA): This cat simply gets no love. Now, he doesn't get you 3s, and his FT% isn't especially great, but if you need steals, points and incredible FG% from your backup SG, here's your guy. Plus, he's got a solid amount of upside.

Courtney Lee (NJ): Swaps spots with Vince Carter after breaking out a bit for the Magic. We know that this position will have the opportunity to score, and Lee will bring you good FT%, 3s, and steals. Could be a draft-day bargain.

"NORMAL" SLEEPERS

Anthony Parker (CLE): Delonte West has legal troubles and will likely see a decline in production even if he misses no time. Parker was a solid, under-rated performer on the Raptors and could become a good source of off-the-bench points (or perhaps as a starter if West misses time). He'll grab a handful of boards and could dish out 3-4 helpers each game too. And you know the 3s and FT% will be there.

Anthony Morrow (GS): We realize there are a ton of promising young guards on the Warriors (and a couple nice vets), but Morrow's 2009 stats bear mentioning here. He led the league in 3-point shooting percentage, and nothing points to that changing this year. He could average 1.5 3s with 48% from the field. Plus his FT% is solid and he'll swipe the ball at least once a game, too. Any injury to the stable of guards the Warriors have will only increase his value. Perhaps the very definition of "sleeper".

Kyle Korver (SG/SF - UTA): I just love adding Korver to my yearly sleepers list. All the guy does is knock down 3s (figure 1.5 per), shoot well from the line (bordering on 90%) and get you around 9-10 points per game. Obviously not numbers that would translate into a nightly starter, but pop him in when you need to fill a spot and you'll be happy with the production.

DEEP SLEEPERS

James Harden (OKC): The Thunder is certainly not lacking in the young scoring threat department. Westbrook, Durant and Green will all score 15+ points, not leaving much for Harden. But Harden IS a natural scorer and could easily vulture a couple points from each player, giving him the opportunity for 12-15 a game. And he'll likely rebound well for a SG and could shoot well from the field. There are always rookies that outperform their fantasy draft position; Harden could certainly be one of them.

Charlie Bell (MIL): Bell was a fantasy somebody just a couple years back, and is backing up an aging, injury-prone starter. Bell could be a cheap source of FT%, 3s and steals. Pay careful attention to Michael Redd's health and be ready to pounce if he gets hurt again.

Rashad McCants (FA): Real deep sleeper here. McCants averaged 10.3 points, nearly a steal, and a 3 per game for the Kings in 24 games last year. If he can sign on somewhere to a team that needs some instant offense, he could be a very, very cheap source of points and 3s.

2009 - PG Sleepers

There's always a difference of opinion when you drop the word "sleeper" on fantasy owners. In order to avoid any difficulties, we're going to break up the sleepers into three categories: surface sleepers (guys that will likely be drafted, but have the potential to break out big time), "normal" sleepers (guys that are the more traditional sleepers; some drafted, some not, who have the opportunity to help out your fantasy team) and deep sleepers (guys that are likely not drafted, but have a chance to make a splash this season).

So, without further ado, let's take a peek:

SURFACE SLEEPERS

Mario Chalmers (MIA): Chalmers is floating right on the surface of the sleeper pond and should be snatched up quickly if you want a super-cheap source of steals. He's currently drafted as the #23 PG, but could easily move into the top-20 if the Heat can avoid huge injuries (that means you, Mr. Wade). Chalmers won't score much and his assist potential is limited with Wade also handling PG type duties, but don't let that scare you off. The steals will be there, and he'll hit a 3 or two every outing too.

Nate Robinson (NYK): The mini-dynamo is instant offense, and while he won't help you in assists, he's vastly under-rated in 3s, FT% and steals. If your swing-men are getting you assists, grab Robinson as your 2nd PG and watch him fill up the box score on a nightly basis.

Rodney Stuckey (DET): Taking a poll of many fantasy basketball websites' rankings, it looks like Stuckey is about the 25th-best PG. How is this possible? This guy is so good that the Pistons let Chauncey Billups go. Stuckey is the real deal. He can score, will get a solid assist total with the pure outside shooting of Ben Gordon and Rip Hamilton on the wings, and posts solid percentages. Stuckey will be drafted as a 2nd PG, but has the potential to be your #1 guy.

"NORMAL" SLEEPERS

Jarrett Jack (TOR): Jack was an unheralded fantasy performer last season, even as a backup. His stats could dip a bit in Toronto, but will be given plenty of opportunities. And, of course, if Jose Calderon gets hurt, Jack's stock rises big time. In the meantime, he will help you in both percentage categories, will rebound and dish the ball, and will even record a steal in every contest on average.

Derek Fisher (LAL): Why can't D-Fish get any love? The guy's the starter on one of the best teams in the NBA. He doesn't kill you in any category (OK, his FG% could be higher, and should average more assists) and will get plenty of minutes even with a couple solid youngsters giving him breathers. If Fisher can up the assists to the 4 per game region, he'd be a nice 2nd PG. If you do draft him, though, be mindful of the minutes he logs. Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown are going to get time, and could limit Fisher's potential.

Chris Duhon (NYK): OK, look at these stats: 9.4 points, 8.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds 1.4 steals, 1.3 3s, 80% FT. No, those aren't Duhon's projected stats, they're Jason Kidd's. But many, many rounds later you can get almost the same numbers (minus the boards, unfortunately). Duhon will be an assist machine if the New York Kids can move the ball up the court quickly.

DEEP SLEEPERS

J.J. Barea (DAL): Jason Kidd is no spring chicken and Barea showed that he could post big time numbers when given regular playing time. The Mavs are going to run, and Kidd can't play 48 minutes every night.

Jeff Teague (ATL): Mike Bibby isn't the player he was in Sacramento, and if he were to go down, Jamal Crawford would likely get the bulk of the minutes, but isn't a traditional pass-first PG. Teague has some talent, and would post nice #2 PG numbers if he was given 20+ minutes a game.

Ty Lawson (DEN): Another one of those "just an injury away" calls here. If Chauncey Billups were to get injured, the swift Lawson would run this high-powered offense well. He wouldn't post the scoring numbers Billups is capable of, but would keep you satisfied in FT%, assists and steals.

2009 Player Rankings - The Final 25

76. Andrew Bynum (C - LAL)
77. Mario Chalmers (PG - MIA)
78. Allen Iverson (PG/SG - MEM)
79. Thaddeus Young (SF - PHI)
80. Luis Scola (PF/C - HOU)
81. Al Horford (PF/C - ATL)
82. Anthony Randolph (SF/PF - GS)
83. Mike Bibby (PG -ATL)
84. Paul Millsap (PF/C - UTA)
85. Josh Howard (SG/SF - DAL)
86. D.J. Augustin (PG - CHA)
87. Francisco Garcia (SG/SF - SAC)
88. T.J. Ford (PG - IND)
89. Ramon Sessions (PG - MIN)
90. Trevor Ariza (SF - HOU)
91. J.R. Smith (SG - DEN)
92. Kevin Love (PF/C - MIN)
93. Mike Conley (PG - MEM)
94. Andrew Bogut (C - MIL)
95. Chris Kaman (C - LAC)
96. Richard Jefferson (SF - SA)
97. Richard Hamilton (SG - DET)
98. Rodney Stuckey (PG - DET)
99. Joakim Noah (PF - CHI)
100. WIlson Chandler (SF - NYK)

2009 Player Rankings - The Next Set of 25 (51-75)

51. Ben Gordon (SG - DET): You know what you're going to get with Gordon, despite him moving to a new, defensive-minded Piston squad. He'll score, shoot well from the line and will hit 3s. He's rarely hurt, so pick him up if you need a solid scorer.
52. Mehmet Okur (C - UTA): If you're in need of 3s and have yet to fill your C spot, why not look to one of the better fantasy centers out there. Sure, he won't block shots or really board with regularity, but you can't deny the decent points, excellent percentages, and of course the 3s.
53. Mo Williams (PG - CLE): The arrival of Shaq may mean better numbers for Williams, as he may be wide open for more 3s (Shaq's a solid passing big man) and could dish some more assists. Williams' percentages are always very good, too.
54. Michael Redd (SG - MIL): Yeah, he pretty much just excels in two categories (scoring and 3s), but his percentages are also decent and he'll steal a ball or two every game too. The injury concerns may be a bit more pronounced now that he's 30, but don't deny his ability to score and drop 3s.
55. O.J. Mayo (SG 0 - MEM): Mayo's probably one of the more underrated fantasy hoopsters coming into 2010. He not only shoots well in terms of FT and behind the 3-point arc, but also steals the ball. The FG% could use some improvement, but he's a solid, 4-category performer.
56. Al Harrington (PF/C - NYK): The center-eligibility is a huge bonus, as the big guy hits a ridiculous number of 3s. He'll grab a handful of boards but won't block shots. But you can't argue with 20+ points and a couple 3s. Plus his FT% is solid for a PF/C.
57. Jameer Nelson (PG - ORL): If you waited on PG and can land Nelson a bit later in the draft, consider yourself very lucky. He won't lead the league in assists, but he's gonna help your squad in a bunch of categories. His scoring won't carry your team, but won't kill you either. He'll hit 3s, shoot well and can steal the ball. Definitely a solid starting PG.
58. Jeff Green (SF/PF - OKC): This might be the highest you'll see Green ranked by any fantasy basketball site, but I think he's totally worth it. Look at the numbers, and of course the dual position eligibility. Dude scores (17ish ppg), rebounds (probably 6-7 per), shoots well enough from the field and line, hits a three and steals one a game. Probably the best player you've never heard of, at least fantasy-wise. Grab him 40 picks after Andre Iguodala and enjoy the nearly-same stats.
59. LaMarcus Aldridge (PF/C - POR): Aldridge is a rather unheralded cog of the improving Trailblazer squad. If he could somehow bump up his blocks a half or so a game, he'd be borderline elite. He'll get you right around 18 points and 8 boards a game, and adds fantastic percentages and even a steal per game.
60. Rudy Gay (SF - MEM): Gay could shoot the ball a bunch this season, so you're going to hope he shoots the ball much better this season, especially from 3-point land. If he bucks the downward trending of his overall numbers come this season, he might be a nice find in the early 60's.
61. Ron Artest (SF - LAL): This move might re-energize Artest and ground him all at the same time. The steadying influence of Kobe and Phil Jackson will only be a good thing. If you're looking for a big-time source of steals and 3s, Artest could be a fantastic pick for you. He won't shoot particularly well from the line, and just average from the field, but he won't kill you in either category either.
62. Ray Allen (SG - BOS): What's not to like about the incredible FT%, 3s, and solid points and FG%? Those are all outstanding, but the bottom line is he's not getting any younger and there are plenty of solid options on the C's that could eat into his numbers. The 3s and FT%, though, will always remain a constant.
63. Jason Terry (PG/SG - DAL): The two-position eligibility is a nice bonus, but the real worth is in his ability to put up big points, including 3s. He's also an adept thief of the rock, and will help in percentages as well. The addition of Shawn Marion could eat into the numbers a bit, as could the health of Josh Howard, but Terry is instant offense, for both the Mavs and your fantasy squad.
64. Tyrus Thomas (PF - CHI): Thomas is a hard one to figure out. He'll look dominant in spells, especially later in the season. He'll once again average at least 2 blocks and a steal this season, a rare feat for any NBA player. He'll never be a dominant scorer, but 14 points isn't horrible.
65. Andrea Bargnani (PF/C - TOR): Bargnani has the potential to put up incredible, non-traditional PF/C numbers (3s and FT%) as well as solid blocks and points. Even though the Raptors brought in some players (especially Hedo Turkoglu) that may eat into his production, Bargnani has a pretty nice upside.
66. Trevor Ariza (SF - HOU): Ariza could become a do-everything, stat sheet filler a la Andre Iguodala if he can get the playing time and remain somewhat consistent.
67. Boris Diaw (SF/PF - CHA): If he can keep up the torrid pace he showed he was capable of in Charlotte, Diaw could be a top-40 (or perhaps) player. His ability to fill up the box score in all categories (except FT%) is unreal. He could approach a block, steal and 3 per game to go along with 15 points and 7 boards.
68. Hedo Turkoglu (SF - TOR): Turkoglu is probably one of those talents that is a better NBA player than fantasy player. He doesn't shoot particularly well from the line and the field. He'll hit 3s and steal the ball, but the rest is pretty average. The Raptors will be an improved team and he will likely be the 2nd option on offense, so he could have some fantasy worthiness.
69. Zach Randolph (PF - MEM): Randolph, no matter what uniform he wears, will score points and rebound the basketball. He won't bring other big man stats to the table (FG% and blocks) but is a very, very steady source of boards and points. It'll be interesting to see how he meshes with the young talent in Memphis.
70. Charlie Villanueva (SF/PF): The new-look Pistons could actually score some this season with Villanueva and Gordon along with their "regulars" Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey. Villanueva has the potential to go 1/1/1 in 3s, steals and blocks, which is deceptively valuable.
71. John Salmons (SG/SF - CHI): With Ben Gordon gone, Salmons will have the opportunity to once again post very respectable numbers. Salmons' percentages are outstanding, And his 1 steal and 1 three a game don't hurt either. However, with Derrick Rose and Luol Deng stealing stats, it wouldn't be a shock to see his numbers flatten out, especially in assists and points.
72. Shawn Marion (SF/PF - DAL): Oh how the mighty have fallen. Or have they? If you can wait 71 spots to pick Marion, there's a very good chance you got real lucky. He's already battling nagging injuries, but the up-tempo style of the Mavs, which will include a reuniting with a stud PG, could mean Marion's numbers leap up once again.
73. Manu Giniobili (SG - SA): His minutes will be carefully monitored, but he's entering the season pretty healthy, and could once again post very solid fantasy stats. His very good FT%, 3s and steals make him an important fantasy contributor. If he can stay healthy for 75 games, he'll be a top-50 fantasy player.
74. Emeka Okafor (C - NO): Moving to New Orleans could mean a solid bump-up in Okafor's value, but his FT% shooting will still be a problem. He'll average a double-double, though, and will approach two blocks per game. If you can mitigate the poor FT%, he's a huge asset.
75. Jason Richardson (SG/SF - PHO): All the guy does is drop 18-20 a game, a couple 3s and steal at least one ball per game. With the return to the up-tempo game in the desert, J-Rich could approach top-50 numbers.

2009 Player Rankings 26-50

26. Rajon Rondo (PG - BOS): Rondo was a stat sheet filler in the playoffs, and the hope is that he can continue that into 2010. If his near triple double the other night was any indication, he will have a good chance at 14 points, 8 helpers, 6 boards and at least a steal or two per game. The FT% is a little debilitating, but his contributions elsewhere could make that a moot point.
27. David Lee (PF - NYK): To say Lee is a double-double waiting to happen is an understatement. If he averages any less than 10 or 11 boards will be a shock. And he'll give you 15 or so points too. And his percentages are outstanding. Don't let him slip by you if you're in need of a big man who won't kill you on the FT% side of things.
28. Jose Calderon (PG - TOR): I actually heard some rumors of him going in the FIRST round of some larger league drafts. His percentages are off the charts (both FG and FT) and will approach 9 assists per game for an improved Raptor squad. He'll also get you the requisite three and steal a game, too.
29. Kevin Martin (SG - SAC): All the guy does is score, hit threes, and shoot well from the line. But he'll get a sneaky steal or two, and grab a few boards. He's all the Kings have in terms of a consistent scorer and will put up gaudy numbers if he can stay healthy.
30. Devin Harris (PG - NYJ): Like Martin, Harris has been handed the keys to his organization, and if he can stay healthy (a bigger "if" than Martin), then he'll put up some big numbers. He'll likely average more than 20, will dish out 6 assists, and won't kill you in the percentages.
31. Gilbert Arenas (PG - WAS): Speaking of injuries, Arenas has been the epitome of walking wounded over the past two seasons. He claims to be 100% coming into this season, and if that's the case, you all know what he's capable of. The FG% might not be the best, but the guy's gonna contribute in points, 3s and will get you some steals and assists to boot.
32. Gerald Wallace (SF/PF - CHA): Wallace plays with reckless abandon, which makes him an injury risk, but also can be a fantasy monster. He'll probably settle in with around 17 points, a good number of boards for a SF (with PF eligibility in most leagues) and will steal the ball and offer solid percentages.
33. Elton Brand (PF - PHI): Plenty of injury risks here in the early 30s. Brand has the potential to be a top-tier fantasy PF, but he'll need to be on the floor to prove his worth. Few PFs offer the combination of points, FG% and blocks. There will be a few guys siphoning off some stats from Brand, but if he stays healthy he should be a welcome addition to any fantasy squad.
34. Carlos Boozer (PF - UTA): Yet another injury risk, Boozer presents a very interesting set of potential stats. He can put up double-doubles with regularity, but will Paul Millsap eat into his stats? If Boozer is traded, his value could inch up a bit. Boozer's percentages make him a solid fantasy PF.
35. Caron Butler (SF - WAS): Butler could actually be much higher on this list, as he's provided plenty of stat-filled games for the past few seasons. With the return of Arenas, we could see some of the stats slip ever so slightly. Still, he's a box score filler and his percentages are very solid.
36. Vince Carter (SG/SF - ORL): Carter moves south to Orlando, where he'll essentially fill the Hedo Turkoglu role, and could post similar stats. Carter will hit 3s, shoot well from the line, and have some big scoring outbursts. Don't expect huge board or assist numbers, though.
37. Josh Smith (SF/PF - ATL): Smith's ridiculous ability to block shots and steal the rock give him so much upside, but his poor FT% shooting and potential to dip into the 10-12 ppg region makes him a mild risk. Still, he'll fill up the box score on many an occasion and the blocks/steals will do nothing but help your squad.
38. Brook Lopez (C - NYJ): Lopez should build on his excellent rookie campaign and continue to block shots, shoot well from the line and field, and rebound the ball. Some project him to score a bit more this season, but I'd be shocked if he scored more than 13-14 a game.
39. Monta Ellis (PG/SG - GS): Ellis returns from an injury-marred 2009 season to the Warriors, who will lose some stats to the likes of Stephen Jackson and the newly-drafted Stephen Curry. Ellis doesn't hit threes, but he'll get solid steal numbers and decent boards and assists.
40. Baron Davis (PG - LAC): If Davis can stay healthy, he'll return to form and put up decent points (although Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin could eat into those numbers) and dish some assists and drop 3s. He'll of course steal the ball once or twice a game, too. The Clippers could win 40 games this year, and if that's the case, it's because Davis is on the floor and contributing.
41. Marcus Camby (PF/C - LAC): Three Clippers will land right in the 40-50 region and could actually perform better if they all mesh with Blake Griffin. Camby's boards could slip a bit, but he'll still block a ton of shots and won't kill you in FT%.
42. Stephen Jackson (SG/SF - GS): Like Ellis, Jackson's numbers could slide a bit with the arrival of Stephen Curry, but he'll still fill up the box score. Basically, he does everything but block shots. Is his reluctance to act as team captain a signal that he's not off to a good start?
43. Derrick Rose (PG - CHI): He'll be a star in this league sooner or later, but his value as a fantasy PG will depend on his ability to get steals (or 3s, or both) at some point. He'll drop 20 a game, and dish out 7 assists, and won't kill your percentages. Is this the year he adds the next category to his game?
44. Tony Parker (PG - SA): Parker is typically undervalued only because he doesn't get the huge assist numbers. But you can't argue with 20 points, 50% from the field and one steal a game. If you land a swingman that gets good assists in the first couple rounds and are looking to round out your roster with a steady PG, Parker can't be missed.
45. Nene (PF/C - DEN): Nene can singlehandedly change your fortunes in FG% and could up his scoring and rebounding this season if he can stay healthy for another season. Another positive is that he can block shots (1.3 last season).
46. Antawn Jamison (PF - WAS): Jamison doesn't offer the typical PF stats (FG%, blocks) but can get 7-8 boards along with his 20 points. Don't expect more than 20, though, with Arenas back. But he's been steady, even as he approaches the downside of his career.
47. Rashard Lewis (SF/PF - ORL): If you can survive the first 10 games of the season without Lewis, he'll arrive in time to post 18 points, 1.5 to 2 3s and will have solid percentages. The departure of Hedo Turkoglu may actually allow him to post better numbers.
48. Andris Biedrins (C - GS): If you can handle the poor FT%, his FG%, boards and blocks can make a huge difference in the health of your fantasy squad. Of course, he really doesn't get to the line much, so the effect really isn't too huge.
49. Russell Westbrook (PG - OKC): Westbrook is a perfect second fiddle to Kevin Durant for the Thunder. He is a quick guard with an uncanny ability to grab boards. And of course he'll get the occasional steal or two, and shoots well from the line.
50. Eric Gordon (SG - LAC): Gordon probably has the biggest upside of the "big Clipper 3" (or 4 if rookie Blake Griffin impresses). Gordon's gonna be a scoring machine with solid percentages, and his ability to hit the 3 will improve this season.

2009 Player Rankings 1-25

1. Chris Paul (PG – NO): Now The King of fantasy basketball. 50%-plus from a PG is ridiculous, and the assists/steals pile up. He even grabs a solid amount of boards for a guard. Only lacking category is 3’s, but he’ll improve on that stat this season. Plus, 3’s are an easy category to cover later in the draft.
2. LeBron James (SF – CLE): Call me crazy, but the numbers could dip ever-so-slightly with the arrival of the Big Vagabond. At very least, the board numbers could be in the high 6’s and we may see the points closer to 27 rather than 30. Still an absolute elite fantasy monster, but the guy’s fantasy ceiling may have been reached. Not that you’re complaining or anything.
   
   
3. Kevin Durant (SG/SF – OKC): The across-the-board numbers are impressive, and he could get even better. He scores, shoots for a solid percentage from both the field and line, and gets you the “other” stats (3s, steals, blocks) and while none of them jump out as absolute difference makers, his ability to matter in so many categories is untouchable.
   
   
4. Dwayne Wade (PG/SG – MIA): He’s got PG eligibility in most league management sites, which is a huge plus. Injuries have been a concern over the past few years, but if last season’s 79 games is any indication, he may have shook that tag. He set career highs in five categories last season, and could be right there again.
   
   
5. Danny Granger (SG/SF – IND): He’s actually got PF eligibility in some league management sites, which is tremendous. Not that you’d want to have him plugged into your PF spot permanently, as he certainly doesn’t add to the categories typically dominated by PF and C. But his percentages, 3s and steals/blocks are off the charts. He had a career season, so his ceiling could have been reached (and a decline could be in order), but he’s a safe bet to at least post very solid fantasy numbers across the board.
   
   
6. Kobe Bryant (SG – LAL): Kobe obviously has the talent to be a top-3 fantasy player, but with Ron Artest and Pau Gasol in town, the ceiling is somewhat limited. Kobe will get you points, boards and assists, and the percentages are solid. But don’t expect blocks and the absolutely huge games are most likely behind him.
   
   
7. Dwight Howard (C – ORL): Howard is by far the most improved fantasy player coming into this season. He’s improved his FT% and his scoring will be up this year. The blocks, boards and FG% are difference-makers.
   
   
8. Dirk Nowitzki (PF – DAL): The Mavs will again open the offense up and run, so expect the big German’s scoring numbers to remain consistent if not go up a slight tick. He’ll contribute in 3s, steals and blocks along with the solid board numbers.
   
   
9. Chris Bosh (PF/C – TOR): The position flexibility makes Bosh an attractive option, as does his fantastic percentages and scoring. He’s got some talent around him now, so a motivated Bosh could put up very solid numbers this season.
   
   
10. Amare Stoudemire (PF/C – PHX): Like with Bosh, the position flexibility moves him just above the likes of Al Jefferson and Kevin Garnett. Stoudemire is supposedly 100% after off-season eye surgery, but there’s always an inherent risk for injury with Stoudemire. But the potential for huge numbers is always there, too. Great percentages, and of course contributions in points, boards and blocks.
    
    
11. Deron Williams (PG – UTA): Williams and fellow draft alum Chris Paul are revolutionizing the PG position to a degree. Both are scoring in the low 20’s, while still dishing out double-digit helpers and have solid FG% for a PG.
    
    
12. Pau Gasol (PF/C – LAL): Once again, position flexibility moves Gasol up a notch, but of course the solid, consistent numbers don’t hurt either. The FG% is a difference-maker.
    
    
13. Al Jefferson (C – MIN): Jefferson had shed some extra pounds, which will help in his comeback from ACL surgery. His upside is limitless, being able to score at will and can put up solid board and block numbers while having incredible percentages.
    
    
14. Andre Iguodala (SG/SF – PHI): Another guy whose value has a slight up-tick with position flexibility, but it’s his overall contribution in every category that gives him his true worth. The FG% won’t be a difference-maker, but he’ll put up steal and board numbers to go along with the solid contributions in points and assists from the SG/SF spot.
    
    
15. Kevin Garnett (PF – BOS): The scoring will be down again, but he’ll contribute in boards, blocks, steals and always shoots well from both the field and stripe. I guess you have to expect some missed games, after two injury-riddled seasons, but Garnett is a warrior and could easily play 75+ games.
    
    
16. Steve Nash (PG ­– PHX): Let’s just say this: Nash’s percentages are off the charts. The assists, steals and 3s will be up there again, which makes him an elite fantasy PG. Still.
    
    
17. Tim Duncan (PF/C – SA): Gotta be a fan of the position flexibility again, and his boards, blocks and FG% keep him in the top tiers of fantasy basketball. The FT% won’t be a huge issue, and the Spurs will again be contenders, so expect Duncan’s numbers to remain solid.
    
    
18. Brandon Roy (SG – POR): Roy is the best player not everyone knows much about. He’ll be solid in percentages, score for your fantasy squad, and offers decent assist and board numbers for a SG. And he’s only getting better.
    
    
19. Joe Johnson (SG/SF – ATL): Position flexibility, once again, catapults Johnson over a few other similarly-ranked players. He’ll put up solid scoring figures, and usually contributes in assists and boards. He’ll continue to drop a couple of 3s every night, too.
    
    
20. Carmelo Anthony (SF – DEN): He’ll be scoring 27 a game yet again, and contributes in 3s, steals and boards. Probably one of the most underrated fantasy players in the game.
    
    
21. Chauncey Billups (PG – DEN): The assist numbers aren’t great for a PG, but you’re getting solid contributions in just about every other category. His FT% will help big time, and he’ll be dropping a pair of 3s every game too.
    
    
22. David West (PF – NO): West’s outstanding FT% to go along with points and boards makes him a special fantasy PF. The Hornets will again make a buzz in the West and Mr. West will be a big part of their success.
    
    
23. Paul Pierce (SG/SF – BOS): Mr. Consistency will once again lead the C’s to wins out East. He’ll again be right around 20 points, and will of course contribute across the board, shooting well and hitting treys.
    
    
24. Troy Murphy (PF/C – IND): Once again, the position flexibility bumps him up a tad, but of course the ridiculous 3s and board numbers isn’t too shabby either. He’ll shoot well from both the stripe and field, making him a fantastic fantasy option – and likely an underrated one.
    
    
25. Jason Kidd (PG – DAL): Don’t let the lack of points scare you off. He’s still a monster in terms of assists and board contributions from the PG spot. He’s discovered his long-range game, so his increased 3s will also help.
    
    

After the Dust Settles

After the deadline has past there has been a lot of faces in new places. Here's a few guys that have been affected positively from deadline moves that you can still pickup. Rafer Alston- Ever since being moved from Houston to Orlando has scored in doubled digits in all but one game. He shoots an awful percentage but the assists, steals, and the one three he manages to get gives him some fantasy value. Available in 37% of yahoo leagues. John Salmons- Since coming from Sacramento and Luol Deng going down Salmons has been given plenty of opportunity. He is owned in most leagues but for those you did hold tight onto Salmons are realizing how good of an overall fantasy player he is. With Deng potentially out for the year look for him to keep it up. Aaron Brooks- He didn't get traded but with Alston getting moved he has moved right into the starting role and has been putting up some considerable numbers. Since being plugged into the starting role he has been almost averaging 2 3PTM. His scoring is inconsistent going up and down but will get you double digits pretty consistently. His FG% is not very good but FT% is in the high 80's. Available in 68% of leagues. There are many other guys that have been affected as well from the trade deadline but these are just a few that have being making an impact and are somewhat available. Other mentionable names include: Brad Miller, Andres Nocioni, Thabo Sefolosha, Larry Hughes, and Jamario Moon.

Stretch Run

Here is a few things to note down your stretch run for you fantasy basketball contenders. Expect star players on playoff bound teams to see less time. Also, pick up players that got starting jobs due to injuries. Jarrett Jack- After Danny Granger going down, Jack has been shooting almost 50% from the floor, nearly 85% from the line, 1.5 3's a game, 18 points a game, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and a steal a game. With Danny Granger out of the lineup continue to see Jarrett jack to put up big numbers. Jack is still available in 45% of yahoo leagues. Rasual Butler- Butler has been gold for whoever has owned him lately and if he is a free agent in your league hop on the Rasual Butler bandwagon. Still available in 58% of yahoo leagues. Butler has been really hot in the last month. 47% FG, 75% FT, 2.3 3PTM, 16 points a game, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal, and only averages .8 of a turnover a game. Bobby Jackson- Jackson is a great pickup for deep 12 man leagues. He is only owned in 5% of yahoo leagues and since Beno Udrih's ankle injury has been inserted into the starting lineup and has put up respectable numbers. He has been getting a lot of minutes even before he became a starter. Last month, 45% FG, 82% FT, 1 3PTM, 11 points, 4 boards, 2 assists, and 2 steals a game.

Starbury the remix

I am a Boston native so needless to say I follow the Celtics very closely. They were recently able to acquire Stephon Marbury after the knicks bought him out. What does this do for you? Well I watched his first game for the C's and it was a pretty nice stat line(13min, 8pts, 2 rebs, 3 assists, and a steal). I am not saying he will be the 20 pt 6+ assist per game guys again, but if you need a solid fill in get him now cause in the next week i can see him becoming the 6th man the Celtics have been missing. He has tons to prove and will be out to show all those critics, myself included wrong. I could see him producing 10+ pts and throwing in some assists in about 20 min a game. I say get him now as a bench player so you can plug him in once he has the offense down and is able to start really contributing. The Bay State Scout

Birdman

Is your team lacking blocks or field goal percentage? A great short-term option is Chris"Birdman" Anderson. Anderson averages over 2 blocks a game and shoots 57% from the floor. He doesn't start or get major minutes but with Nene going down for a week and an injury prone Kenyon Martin opportunity is there. Anderson is an excellent option in deeper leagues and if you feel your team is just lacking that premier shot blocker. Only Dwight Howard, Marcus Camby, and Ronny Turiaf average more blocks per game than Birdman. He's available in 79% of Yahoo leagues so check your waiver wire for Birdman.

Injured players can hurt and help you

Are you one of the few team owners that drafted a player that was injured? Are you now starting to wonder how profitable that was. Players such as Manu ginobli, Monte Ellis, and Gilbert Arenas were defenitely a risk when you drafted them, but will they win your league when it comes down the stretch. How about some calculations to see: In ESPN leagues, Gilbert Arenas was drafted around 65th. Last year Gil averaged 19.4 ppg, and 5.1 apg. However let's be generous and say that he can average 21 ppg, 5 apg, and 2 threes per game. At that position in the draft, a player can easily average 15 ppg and 3 apg or 5 rpg. So, in Arenas' case he will be out for about 30 games. In those 30 games, that average player drafted at or around that position could have gotten you 420 points, 90 assists, and/or 150 rebounds. For Arenas to make up for those numbers for the season, he would have to score 23.7 points, and that's just to catch up to the average player at that position. That is also not accounting how he will play coming off of an injury. What's the verdict you may ask? Well, if you have a player that is going to be hurt for a while, you may want to capitalize with a trade for a less valued player. In this situation you would go for a trade such as Mike Bibby for Gilbert Arenas, depending on how long the injured player has to go before coming back. On the other hand, when would you want to trade for an injured player? Well, this gets stickier, if you notice that a player is getting ready to gome back you can be sure that that team's owner notices it. Therefore you wanna jump on trades for that player rather early. This is where you break out the calculator and crunch it out. For example, if Arenas is 15 games from his return, you may want to come out of pocket a little deeper to entice a team owner to trade him to you. At this point, you should really consider giving up a player such as Ron Artest, Hedo Turkoglu, or even Micheal Redd packaged with another role player. You may have to give up a little more than you want to because at this point, you are paying for the storage. You are paying for that roster space given up by that awaiting team owner. However it can be worth it. So, with many good fantasy players getting ready to come back from injuries, don't be afraid to bust out that calculator and crunch some numbers!

Fantasy Basketball Hibernators Part II

Semi Hibernators (honorable mention) Nate Robinson can barely be called a hibernater at around 30% owned but he can make the honorable mention because of his increased production within his team. Nate Robinson has the chance to be a stat sheet filler with a few more minutes which he is likely to get with Mike D'antoni's style of play. In 3 games this season, Nate got 13 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.7 spg, and 4.7 rpg while being one of the knick's threats from 3 point land. Nate Robinson can get a little of everything on your stat sheet and every once in a while a lot of something. He is a good player to top-off your roster. Tyrus Thomas is a player that looks to be finally coming into his own as a power forward with the chicago bulls. Dont let Thomas' numbers at the time fool you (9.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 2.3 bpg). His production will likely increase as the season goes on. Some of his production hike can be attributed to the bulls electing to run two point guards at once with Derrick rose and Kirk Hinrich often. Pick up Thomas depending on your team. If you need many points, look somewhere else; if you need rebounds and blocks, pick Thomas up out of you free agency list.

Fantasy Basketball Hibernators Part I

You all know what sleepers are and how they can help your fantasy basketball team. That's all good, but a hibernator is a little something different. A hibernator is a player that is producing adequately now, but will more than likely see a hike in production soon. Hibernators are not usually very high on the percent owned in your leagues, but passing on a hibernator could lead to someone picking him up and leaving you wondering why you stalled. Hibernators are worth the chance of a bench spot on your roster. So, let's start with this week's hibernator! The biggest hibernator right now is rookie Jason Thompson from the Sacramento Kings. There is a good chance that you haven't heard of JT. If you haven't, don't feel like a fantasy b-ball nerd, he has not gotten much hype from ESPN or other national sports scenes as a rookie. As a rookie in his first 4 games (not that this is enough games to determine) JT has averaged 14.3 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists with a 62.5 fg%. Hold on, you may say; those are not spectacular numbers. However, JT got those numbers off the bench. Jason Thompson's minutes will only increase with the kings being in a rebuilding phase. Jason Thompson is not a one-dimensional power forward. He can put the ball on the floor and draw fouls, rebound intensely, and dish the ball, among other good court qualities. With JT playing off the bench he has put up competitive numbers with fellow starting rookies Michael Beasley (17ppg, 5.7 rpg in 3 games), Derrick Rose (17.3 ppg, 3.5 apg in 4 games), and Kevin Love (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg in 3 games) and still has only received a small percent of love in the rookie watch. So what does that mean for you? You get to scoop him up now before he starts getting more attention. While JT is less than 10% owned in leagues you can snatch him, and you should.

Draft Strategy - Part II

#3: O.J. Mayo: Mayo is a player that will put up good rookie numbers. His 3-point stroke in preseason has been surprising. It looks as though Mayo is ready to challenge for the rookie of the year award. It is not only Mayo's 3-point shooting that should attract your fantasy eye but he also has shown that can drive to the mid-range jumper, and also go to the foul line. If Mayo is not content with shooting 3's (like some of his other rookie class members, ex- Eric Gordon, Donte Greene, to be discussed later) and uses more of his game he will surprise many fantasy owners. On top of that Mayo will likely start for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies will need scoring, and Mayo will get his opportunity to become one of their main scoring threats. He will also likely get open shots from the double teams and extra attention of Rudy Gay. O.J. Mayo is definitely a player to take a chance on earlier than the late round. O.J. Mayo may be a rookie sleeper but he is a not a hibernator. Pick him up -around your third-to-last round. He may surprise you. #2: Greg Oden: The NBA considers Oden to be a rookie this season so I will insert Oden into this list as a rookie. Oden will get many attempts on a young Blazers team. He will get you a little less than ten points, rebounds here and there, a couple assists from a few double teams, a block or two, and plus he's not bad at free-throws like many centers tend to be. However, Oden is paired in a frontcourt with scorer Lamarcus Aldridge and will not be as good as expected during his first year, partly due to playing on the west. Hence the number one rookie you should draft is... #1: Micheal Beasley: Beasley will receive attention in drafts. Depending on the IQ of your league he could go anywhere from 5th round to the last round. Where should you draft him, you may ask? You should draft him around the 5th to 7th round. If he slips past that far, take him with a grin and laugh at your competition, figuring it will be a fun season. Beasley is just about a lock to be a starter with Miami. Beasley appears to be already put into a steady starting position with Miami, either starting night or a few weeks after starting night. With a healthy driving Wade, Beasley should do fine in his rookie year. If you get 10 points and 7 rebounds from Beasley he will have been a good pick at that position. Any more than that (a good chance) should result in you being happy from taking the risk. Players not to draft: Russell Westbrook: Westbrook may score a couple points here and there, but as a point guard he will not do very well. He will also be splitting time with other guards. Don't draft him. Donte Green: Green put up 40 points in a summer league game, however don't be fooled by summer league. Donte Greene will not play many minutes for the kings, and did not play well in preseason, don't draft him. Jerryd Bayless: Bayless will be a good point guard for the blazers. But according to them, he is not ready yet. He will have too much competition for his minutes also. Hope this information helps with your draft, good luck!

Draft Strategy - Part I

With this edition of Fantasy Basketball help, we will be discussing the league's newcomers. Usually you want to stay further away from most rookies on draft day than Josh Howard does camera phones. However, if you can nit-pick through the busts and developers, you can pull some real sleepers out of there. If you are a regular with fantasy basketball, you know that sleepers can definitely win leagues for you. That's what I will help you do for this upcoming season of fantasy basketball. During summer league and preseason, almost all rookies are entitled to break-out games and hot streaks. However, not being fooled by those will help in your pursuit of fantasy dominance. So, I've put together a list of rookies you should consider drafting late in drafts, and some rookies that you you should probably stay away from. However, rookies are unproven and don't play much in the NBA, and you should in most cases not draft rookies in the first 3-4 rounds unless noted. #8: Joey Dorsey: Dorsey may be worth a chance in the last round of your draft. Among Ming, Scola, Landry, and Hayes he will have to battle for his playing time. However, his rebounding ability along with aggressiveness in the paint can get him some PT. If Dorsey does happen to see some consistent minutes in Houston, they will be focused on rebounding. Think of him as a Tyson Chandler mini-me. He can help you out with rebounding and can get you a couple assisted points here and there. For your last draft pick, you may want to assess the board and give Dorsey consideration. #7: Derrick Rose: You may be wondering why Derrick Rose isn't lower on this list. The reason can be found with his position. Point Guards generally take a while to learn their team and be effective with their teams. Rose is no exception. He is definitely worth looking at late in your draft though. Rose will not be the assist leader on your team but he can get you some utility points. The Bulls seem set to put Rose in a position where he will see consistent minutes and many chances to prove that he could compete with Hinrich for the starting position. Don't get your hopes up though. Be happy if rose gets you 6-8 points with 3 assists per game. No wait, very happy. #6: Robin Lopez: Lopez will be a utility player for the Suns. His minutes are very questionable as a rookie though. On one side, with Shaquille O'Neal not likely to play many minutes, he could see some PT at the PF and/C position. But on the other hand, there are many players that are likely ahead of Lopez. Robin Lopez is a risk due to playing time, he is worth watching in the free agency list, but probably not for draft purposes. #5: Rudy Fernandez: Rudy Fernandez has experience will pro basketball and it will show. Fernandez will not start, however he will see consistent minutes as a shooter. Fernandez, through preseason has also proved that he will rack up assist as well. #4: Joe Alexander: Joe Alexander has the potential of being a sleeper for a late pick. On a team that doesn't have great depth, Alexander will see minutes worth fantasy consideration. He looked pretty solid for a rookie in preseason action and could be put into a role in his rookie season with Milwaukee. Again, a last round chance of a pick.