Category: NBA

Stock Rising- JJ Redick

JJ Redick has been back in the Orlando starting line up recently and it is paying off from a fantasy perspective.

Analysis: JJ Redick has started in Orlando’s past two games and he’s played over twenty-six minutes per game over his last four contests. Redick has hit ten three pointers in his four game hot streak and he is a perfect eleven for eleven from the line during that stretch. We all know Redick hits threes and is a 95% free throw shooter this year but he does provide some coverage in other fantasy categories as well. Redick is averaging twelve points per game this year and the 2.3 assists per game is certainly serviceable for a fantasy shooting guard.

Redick is available in over half of fantasy leagues and his recent performances have been going under the radar. If he continues to get starting minutes he will get to the line enough where he just isn’t a deep league option. Redick is heading in the right direction, he’s 10-16 recently in three pointers and if he continues to take at least four threes per game his stock will continue to rise.

Vince Carter Has Value

Vince Carter is four games in to his return from a foot sprain and his stock is surprisingly on the rise.

Analysis: In Vince Carter’s four games back from injury he’s averaging 15.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 2.0 3PM per game. Carter has averaged twenty-nine minutes of floor time in that span, up seven minutes from his season average of twenty-two minutes per game. Vince has always hit the threes and shot very well from the stripe and this year is no different. If his minutes stay up, I cannot see a reason why owning him wouldn’t be an option for fantasy owners. The shooting guard/small forward is available in seventy percent of fantasy leagues.

Carter is giving you everything you need from a lower tier shooting guard/small forward- he’s knocking down threes, hitting free throws, grabbing enough boards and has five steals in his last three games. Throw in the three and four assist games he’s had recently and you have yourself a productive little fantasy player. There is a concern that he will slow down or injure himself again but you have to ride the hot hand for as long as you can in this case. Vince Carter actually has some fantasy value, who would have thought?

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.