Houston power forward Patrick Patterson may only be owned in 1% of fantasy leagues nationwide but his fantasy lines recently suggest otherwise.
Analysis: Patrick Patterson has averaged 15 points with 11 boards in his last two games as well as averaging 30 minutes per game over his last five contests. To put it simply, Patterson is evolving into a double-double big man since his minutes have essentially doubled with the injury to Luis Scola. He is shooting fifty-five percent from the floor on the year and is averaging over a block and a steal per game over his last seven games. He doesn’t get to the stripe enough to be a factor there and he only hurts you in assists and threes but from a power forward, who cares? Yes, Luis Scola will return soon, however, Patterson is playing so well the Rockets cannot afford not to play the hot hand. Houston stands two games back of Memphis in the loss column for the eight seed in the west and giving Patterson at least twenty minutes a game down the stretch seems to be in order.
Projection: Even with 22-24 minutes a game Patterson is good for 7 boards, a block, a steal and a great field goal percentage- exactly what a lot of fantasy squads in deeper leagues need.