Player News – Page 102 – FantasySP Blog

Deep League Help- Cameron Maybin

Cameron Maybin is having his first solid year in the majors and it is largely going unnoticed.

Analysis: Despite missing some time in late May through mid June, Cameron Maybin is outperforming his ADP. The toolsy youngster has twelve stolen bases, thirty-six runs scored and has five home runs. I’m not concerned with his power at all, it is developing and he plays in the black hole known as Petco. He’s a speed dominant outfielder who in time will develop into a 20/20 stud, although batting average will never be a strength. Speaking of the present he certainly is showing signs of improvement at the plate. His strikeout rate is down from his two previous stops in the bigs and his walk rate(9.2%) is at a career high. He’s still having trouble with change ups but it isn’t that concerning when guys like Alfonso Soriano and Drew Stubbs struggle with it as well and are extremely successful ballplayers.

Projection: In time he will become a very good fantasy outfielder but for the time being he remains a solid player in deeper leagues. Expect five bombs, at least ten steals and a .250 batting average in Maybin’s remaining games.

Havlat To San Jose- Fantasy Impact

The Martin Havlat for Dany Heatley trade is a solid move for both clubs but Havlat’s fantasy value gets a huge lift.

Analysis: The 2010-11 season was a return to form for Marty Havlat who had perhaps his most disappointing professional season in 2009 with Minnesota. Havlat scored 22 goals and tallied 40 assists in 78 games last year on a team without any offensive talent with the exception of Mikko Koivu. Fast forward to the 2011-12 season where Havlat finds himself on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau or in the worst case Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe. It is certainly a huge boost and will take tons of pressure off of the speedy winger. Health is always a concern for Havlat but if he can stay healthy he should be able to put up top forty forward numbers. Havlat could even pair up with twenty-two year old Logan Couture who put up 56 points as the Calder runner up. Either way you slice it, San Jose has the depth Havlat needs to produce with relative ease.

Projection: Havlat should put up seventy-five to eighty points with at least twenty-five goals in the coming season. Expect his minus ten rating this past season to be at least a plus ten in 2011-12.

Gaborik Helped With Richards Signing

The nine year $60 million deal with the New York Rangers slightly boosts Brad Richards’ fantasy value but the real winner is right winger Marian Gaborik.

Analysis: It feels like Brad Richards has been around forever but he is just thirty-one years old and still in his prime. Richards has been a point per game center for the past four years now and was on pace for his third ninety point season, however, a concussion derailed him. Pairing Richards up with Marian Gaborik on the first line and in the power play will certainly boost his assists total. Outside of a boost in assists Richards’ plus/minus may get a slight boost but expect more top notch fantasy play from Richards in the 2011-12 season. The real winner here is Marian Gaborik who will be playing with the best center of his career(sorry Pavol Demitra/Mikko Koivu). The 2010-11 season for Gaborik was most disappointing, netting just 22 goals in 62 games. When it comes to Gaborik, obviously it all comes down to health and if the winger stays healthy expect a return to his 40 goal form if not more.

Projection: Brad Richards remains a top ten fantasy forward and a top five center while Marian Gaborik projects as a top twenty-five forward due to health concerns but could just as easily put up top ten numbers.

Jagr Signs With Flyers

On the first day of free agency in the NHL Jaromir Jagr has signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. Jagr has played well the last three seasons in the KHL averaging .94 points per game in 155 games. The KHL is a slower paced league that plays in larger rinks and the scoring is lower. Generally, Alexander Radulov and Alexei Morozov have been considered the best players in the KHL over the past few seasons and Jagr finds himself in a tier just below those two.

Analysis: To put Jagr’s 2010-11 KHL season into perspective on where his offensive/fantasy game is, he scored 19 goals, 32 assists for 51 points in 49 games, good for eighth in the league. An aging Pavol Demitra made the switch from the NHL to the KHL this past year and amassed sixty-one points, tied for third best in the league. In Demitra’s last two NHL seasons he averaged .71 points per game.

Projection: On a strong Flyers squad even without Richards and Carter it is safe to assume Jagr will produce. If Jagr can stay healthy in the more physical NHL at his age and play in at least seventy-five games we should expect 20 goals, 45 assists and a solid plus/minus rating.

Draft Impact- Kemba Walker

Kemba Walker finds himself in a great situation as a rookie to step in from day one and produce, but just what should we expect?

Analysis: Many experts aren’t sold on Kemba taking his game to the highest level but he will score, just not efficiently. Walker shot just 42% from the field as a junior at UConn last year despite putting up 23.5 points per game. Charlotte is a solid home for Kemba since there aren’t any true scorers on the roster with the expection of the aging Corey Maggette. DJ Augustin isn’t the answer at the point and Kemba will benefit greatly with what will be most likely 26-28 minutes per night. Those minutes translate well for the other parts of Kemba’s game that are fantasy relevant- free throw shooting, steals, assists. As a rookie point guard Walker’s only true fantasy weakness will be his below average shooting percentage. Walker is certainly fantasy relevant in deeper leagues and he just may average more points per game than any other rookie.

Projection: Expect 15 PPG, 4 APG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG, a free throw percentage over eighty percent and just under one three pointer made per game. His ADP may prevent you from picking him up in a deeper league but he will be a serviceable depth point guard this year.