Author: TJ Streett

Deep League Help- Landry Fields

Landry Fields scored 18 points with 5 steals and 5 rebounds Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons.

Analysis: Landry Fields now has three eighteen point games in his last six contests. The shooting guard is also impressing in other fantasy areas as well. Fields has at least one steal in each of his last eight games with a total of fifteen steals in that eight game span. Fields has also hit seven threes and has averaged 4.8 rebounds in his last five games. This guy is on fire right now and he is available in about eighty percent of fantasy leagues.

The most important factor in his production has been his floor time. Fields has played at least thirty minutes per game in nine of his last ten contests. If he can get twenty-five plus minutes per game for the rest of the year he will provide a boost to any fantasy squad. Fields also chips in with assists as well, he’s averaging 3.0 assists per game on the year. His biggest weakness is his free throw percentage of 64%, that’s awful for a fantasy shooting guard. Regardless, he remains a hot commodity right now and is worth a look.

Selling High- Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks is one hot shooting guard at the moment, but you cannot count on him in anything other than deep leagues.

Analysis: Jodie Meeks has hit fourteen threes in his last five games. That’s 2.8 threes per game and you can understand why he has his place in deeper leagues. However, Meeks doesn’t produce in any other fantasy category to make him viable. Meeks rarely gets to the free throw line nor does he shoot well from the field at 44% for the 2011-12 season. Meeks also gets over twenty-six minutes of floor time per game yet he doesn’t average 10 PPG or 1 SPG or even 1 APG.

On the positive side of the coin you really cannot argue with fourteen threes in five games. You also have to like that he has been rebounding rather well as of late. Meeks is averaging 5.2 rebounds per over his last five contests and if he can give you 3.5-4 rebounds per game he may have a small role on some fantasy squads. Meeks is one hot player right now and I cannot imagine his stock getting any higher than it is at the moment. It’s time to sell high on the shooting guard that is still available in seventy percent of fantasy leagues.

Buying Low- Jared Dudley

Jared Dudley recorded forty-two minutes of floor time Saturday against the Grizzlies and his stock appears to be on the rise.

Analysis: Jared Dudley has had a disappointing fantasy season thus far but if he continues to start for the Suns and play some big minutes, he is one sneaky good fantasy player. Dudley is hitting one three per game along with one steal per game. His points production of 10.2 per just doesn’t get it done at the shooting guard/small forward position. Dudley’s free throw percentage this year sits at 77% which is solid but his rebounding can be a real fantasy strength. Dudley is averaging 4.1 boards per game but he’s been in six games where he’s played less than twenty-five minutes, so there is some hope for him to really produce in the rebound category for a non big man this year. It really is a mixed bag with Dudley, he’s also been in seven games where he’s played at least thirty-five minutes this year.

At the moment Dudley is a great buy low option considering he is available in about eighty percent of fantasy leagues. If he continues to start and play big minutes he can really do some damage in the three ball, steal and rebound departments.

Mike Fisher Is Heating Up

After a disappointing start to the 2011-12 season, Mike Fisher has found his form this January.

Analysis: Mike Fisher has tallied thirteen points in twelve January contests this year. Compare that with just fifteen points in his twenty-nine games prior to his January hot streak and you can see why he is such a hot commodity in the fantasy world right now. Fisher is available in over half of fantasy leagues across the country and he is going fast.

Fisher is a reliable source of goals, assists, ice time and shots on goal for a lower tier center. However, his biggest strength recently has been his power play points. Fisher has six power play points this month which has turned him into a nice little five to six category fantasy performer. We all know he can score twenty plus goals each year but his plus/minus is finally starting to make the difference, especially this past month. In addition to Fisher, Nik Antropov is another center I would seriously consider picking up at the moment. He too is finding his groove over the past couple of weeks and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Derrick Rose To Return Monday?

Derrick Rose expects to return to action Monday night which leaves CJ Watson’s fantasy value up in the air.

Analysis: Derrick Rose’s return Monday night against the New Jersey Nets will most likely be a game time decision. CJ Watson has played extremely well in his place. Watson has averaged 16.5 PPG, 6 APG with 1.8 SPG in Rose’s absence. He certainly may be worth keeping around at the very least for a Monday night fantasy start. Watson’s minutes will be a major concern going forward but you have to love that he’s hit seven three pointers in his last three games.

No one really knows how Rose’s toe will hold up. Obviously, if he’s healthy… he’s a fantasy stud. However, if this injury does persist throughout the year, CJ Watson is not that bad of a replacement. Watson is still available in ninety percent of leagues but his value will take a hit when Rose returns to action. Watson may still have a place in deeper leagues or with owners concerned over Rose’s lingering toe issue. Chicago is one banged up basketball squad right now and it may not hurt to keep Watson around a little longer to see how things shake out.