Horford primed for big year
Waiver Wired was a little tricky for Week 1, given that a game had yet to be played in the regular season, but I think it was an effective column. Of the
12 guys previewed last week, most of them were worthy and will not be visited again this week. Yeah, as much as I want to put
John Salmons on the list again, I'm going to hit on some other guys. Here's the list from last week, in case you don't feel like going back and looking it up.
G - Salmons,
Jason Williams,
Rashad McCants and
Linas Kleiza
F
Damien Wilkins,
Ronny Turiaf,
Walter Herrmann,
Stromile Swift
C
Theo Ratliff,
Jeff Foster,
Jason Smith,
Aaron Gray
Kleiza, Herrmann, Swift, Smith and Gray didn't work out, but the rest have been very solid this week, with Salmons being the hot guy everyone wants. And while I had Stro on the list, I didn't exactly give him a ringing endorsement:
"This is a tough one for me, but because good big men are so scarce these days, the fact that Swift is starting in front of Darko Milicic is worth mentioning. Swift has burned fantasy veterans year after year and many of us aren't going to get suckered in again. But the simple fact of the matter is that he had a decent preseason and could be a nice source of boards, steals and blocks, as well as some points. I can't sit hear and tell you to expect much if you pick him up, but you never know.
Well, the reality of the situation is that he has surprisingly come off the bench to average a measly six points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in two games. I'm fairly pleased I didn't buy into what he was selling.
Guards Ronnie Brewer - SG Jazz
I picked Brewer up shortly after the League Freak draft and took a chance and started him last week based on his strong preseason and the fact he played four games in Week 1. The move paid off, although I have already cut him for
Hedo Turkoglu (more on him later). Brewer was averaging 15.5 points and 3.5 steals through his first two games, and then went off for 19 points, two steals and two threes on 8-of-14 shooting on Saturday night. He's locked and loaded at SG for the Jazz and should be a nice pick up in almost any league or format.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Cuttino Mobley - SG Clippers
Mobley was ignored in some leagues due to the fact he was coming off the bench, but he looked great in Friday's opener. He had 21 points, five boards, three assists, a steal and two threes on 9-of-16 shooting. It's just one game, but he's a proven scorer on a team desperate for scoring. He shouldn't be available in many leagues, but if he is, go get him.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Daniel Gibson - G Cavaliers
Gibson is averaging 16 points, two rebounds, three assists, 1.5 blocks and 3.0 threes after two games. He's starting at point guard, but also seeing minutes at shooting guard. Most of his stats came on Friday, when he hit six treys on his way to 24 points in a win over the Knicks. The return of
Sasha Pavlovic concerns me slightly, but Gibson should be ready for his breakout season either way. Pick him up, but make sure you don't have safer options to start for the time being.
Recommendation: Should be added in deep leagues.
Nate Robinson - G Knicks
There was talk this summer that Robinson wasn't even going to make the team, but he led the summer league team to a 5-0 record and was named MVP. He also had a strong preseason and then lit it up in his first game of the season, going for 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal and four threes on 7-of-13 shooting.
Stephon Marbury was awful in Game 1, and while Robinson is not the right pickup in every league, he should be given a hard look in deeper ones.
Recommendation: Should be considered in deep leagues.
Others to consider:
Acie Law Not starting yet, but minutes will increase every week
Willie Green Not dialed in yet, but super-sleeper in Philly
Carlos Delfino Starting to figure out what
Sam Mitchell wants
Tyronn Lue Back from knee injury, plenty of PG minutes coming
Daequan Cook Would have been featured if not for return of
Dwyane Wade Kyle Lowry Pushing
Damon Stoudamire and rendering
Mike Conley useless in Memphis
Mike Wilks Deepest of sleepers in Denver
Francisco Garcia Started at PG for Kings on Saturday
Forwards Hedo Turkoglu - G/F Magic
Turkoglu is probably the safest pickup you can make right now. I'm still not sure why he was ignored in nearly every draft, but he's the starting SF and can also play SG when needed. He's off to a tremendous start, averaging 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 threes per game on 47% shooting after his first two games for the Magic. Then he lit it up on Saturday night, going for 25 points, seven boards, eight rebounds, two steals and two threes on 8-of-16 shooting in Saturday's win over the Wizards. Like I said, I cut Brewer for him a week ago, and am excited about running him out there for the upcoming 4-game week.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Kelenna Azubuike - G/F Warriors
Azubuike has been on fire for the Warriors and has likely already been snatched up in your league. Then again, the Warriors play just two games this week, so it's also possible that if games played matter, he was left on the wire in yours. He was averaging a whopping 22 points, 5.0 boards, 1.0 block and 1.5 threes on 67% shooting going into Saturday's game. He didn't disappoint in that one, either, finishing with 17 points, two steals and two threes on 6-of-10 shooting in another loss. He's a little shaky given the upcoming 2-game week and the pending return of
Stephen Jackson, but is definitely worth a flier in Don Nelson's system.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues with cautious optimism.
Tim Thomas and Ruben Patterson - F Clippers
The Clippers have played just one game, but Thomas and Patterson were both instrumental in their surprising win over the Warriors.
Thomas 5-of-9 shooting, three treys, 20 points, five rebounds
Patterson 4-of-6 shooting, 11 points, six rebounds, three blocks
These guys will likely see more minutes in the first half than rookie
Al Thornton, and might be the way to go if you're a Thornton owner. But be careful here
Many folks have Thornton pegged for ROY, but it may be tough to accomplish with Thomas and Patterson around.
Recommendation: Should be owned in most leagues.
Martell Webster - SF Blazers
Webster was named the starting small forward for the Blazers before Game 1 but many owners were leery about
Travis Outlaw eventually stealing the job from him. While that's still a possibility, Webster appears to have a firm grasp on the job as of now. Through two games, he was at 17 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 threes on 52% shooting. He backed that up with a strong line on Saturday, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals, a block and two more threes in a loss to Houston. He hit just 5-of-13 shots in that one, but Webster should be a solid fantasy player, at least for the first couple months.
Recommendation: Should be owned in most leagues.
Others to consider:
Ike Diogu Looks good, but
Troy Murphy will be back at some point
Chuck Hayes Starting over
Luis Scola and racking up boards
Udonis Haslem Increase in minutes could result in averaging double-double
Reggie Evans Could lead league in boards, but can you handle 4.0 ppg and no other cats?
Brandon Bass Deep sleeper in Dallas, where they need big bodies
Ryan Gomes Starting for Minnesota, should get better every week
Mikki Moore Started over
Kenny Thomas for Kings on Saturday
Centers Brendan Haywood - C Wizards
Haywood started off the season with a pair of double-doubles, averaging 10 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in his first two games, and then went off for 10 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks as the Wizards fell to 0-3 with a loss to the Magic on Saturday.
Etan Thomas is out indefinitely and
Andray Blatche and
Darius Songaila aren't really challenging him for his job. It's important to remember that he's just 27 years old, and he could really be primed for a breakout season. Go get him.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Al Horford - F/C Hawks
The Hawks have played just one game thus far, which was a surprising win over the Mavericks for their first opening-night win since the 1998-99 season (Yeah!). Horford started at center in place of
Zaza Pachulia and had nine points, 10 rebounds and a block against one of the league's elite teams. He's going to have his growing pains, but if anyone is going to challenge
Kevin Durant for ROY, it's probably Horford. He's not an every-week starter at this point, but you'll be glad you own him this year, even if he spends some time on your bench. If he continues to play well, the Hawks continue to win and Zaza continues to sit, Horford could steal his job in the next 10 days.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Chris Kaman - C Clippers
Kaman went ballistic in his season-opener on Saturday, going off for 26 points, 18 boards, three assists, a steal and a block as the Clips beat the Warriors. His line would have been better but he spent part of the game getting three stitches in his grill after Azubuike threw down the dunk of the season on him. Of course, the Warriors have the unique ability to make guys like Kaman look like an All-Star, but someone is going to have to make up for the loss of
Elton Brand. Kaman worked hard in the offseason and should be an excellent first or second option at center for your fantasy team this year, after disappointing many of us a year ago. He was probably drafted in your league, but may have fallen through the cracks in smaller ones.
Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues.
Andrew Bynum - C Lakers
Bynum, who I like to refer to as the Golden Child, is off to a great start, even though he's not guaranteed a starting job. It's also important to remember that he got off to a quick start last season before fading. He's averaging 9.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks on 56% shooting through two games. He also had 14 points and 13 boards in Friday's surprising win over the Suns. If you need a center and he's available, go get him.
Recommendation: Should be owned in most leagues.
Others to consider:
Jeff Foster
Troy Murphy will return at some point
Theo Ratliff On last week's list Resurgence is official
Joel Przybilla Looks great starting for Blazers
Nick Collison Unreliable
Robert Swift means many starts in middle for Collison