Player News – Page 129 – FantasySP Blog

Can Devin Harris Put Up All-Star Numbers On A Good Team?

Devin Harris had a great 2008-2009 campaign with the Nets which earned him a trip to the all-star game, but he hasn’t played at that level since.

Analysis: Devin has a chance to play for a winning team for the first time since he was shipped out of Dallas in the 2007-2008 season. I think he’ll make the most out of the opportunity and enjoy actually having a decent shot at winning on any given night. Devin now has some great teammates in Utah who will make it easier to pick up more assists. Harris’ first two games with Utah were nothing to write home about, but he produced reasonable enough stat lines. Since Devin left the structured environment of Dallas’s system his field goal percentage has gone down significantly. In his last year with Dallas he shot 48%, but in his next three years with New Jersey he never shot above 44%. With the Nets I believe, and the statistics prove my point, that Devin attempted to do too much. While still effective, he forced his shots more because his team relied heavily on him. Now that Devin is back on a good team with a well structured system and established roles he should become far more efficient. Devin Harris is only 28 and his decline shouldn’t start for another few seasons.

Projection: Devin will enjoy being competitive again, and will appreciate it more this time ’round after being stuck in New Jersey for 3 seasons. His field goal percentage should return closer to the 50% mark, and I believe he’s poised to make a gain in assists as well. Even before the switch Devin was averaging a career high 7.6 assists, and playing in Utah should only elevate this statistic more. It is a small sample size, but in two games with the Jazz, Devin is averaging a solid 8.5 assists.

Erik Bedard Makes First Major League Appearance In 18 Months

It only took the Mariners southpaw nine pitches to retire the Padres in order yesterday, after spending all of the 2010 season on the DL.

Analysis: Arriving in Seattle in February of 2008 as part of the Adam Jones deal, Bedard was expected to provide a stabilizing force toward the front of the M’s rotation. Coming off a 2007 campaign in which he averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings and finished fifth in Cy Young voting, hopes were high for the Canadian with the wicked curveball. While on the mound Erik did deliver as promised, putting up impressive numbers in both 2008 and 2009. However, the key phrase here is “while on the mound”, as Bedard was only able to make 15 starts in each season due to shoulder issues, the most serious being a torn labrum. Now Bedard is back, inking a non-guaranteed contract in December with the same team who traded a package of prospects for him over three years ago. Folks in Seattle are hoping that their investment finally pays off in 2011 and that the 31-year-old lefty can stay healthy for 28+ starts.

Projection: Most Fantasy owners are aware of Bedard coming into their drafts, but these same owners will be understandably gun shy when it comes to this type of risk. My stance on Bedard is a bit different as the potential upside, especially when it comes to strikeouts, is tremendous. Yesterday was only one inning in late February, but it’s more than we’ve been able to see from the former Orioles ace in what feels like an eternity. Nothing is guaranteed for Bedard right now, including a spot on the Mariners Opening Day roster. If I was forced to draft my team today, however, I would take a flyer on him in the later rounds. This is a veteran who has worked his way back from what is considered to be one of the most devastating injuries for a pitcher, and he will be pushed along carefully over the next four weeks. This is also a guy who could still have an exciting career ahead of him. My crystal ball may still have some snow covering it, but a closer look shows Bedard fitting in nicely behind King Felix and winning 12-14 games in 2011.

Brad Boyes To Buffalo Boosts Value

Sunday Brad Boyes was traded to the Buffalo Sabres from St. Louis in exchange for a second round pick. While his points production should remain steady his power play minutes are sure to increase on a mediocre Buffalo power play unit.

Analysis: Brad Boyes has 41 points in 62 games and is available in sixty percent of fantasy hockey leagues. Boyes moves to a team that has a real need for a top six forward. Right now he’s averaging just 17 minutes of ice time a game and with this trade expect 19 minutes of ice time with considerable power play minutes. Boyes is pretty consistent in every category- he takes over two shots a game, he scores more than enough points for a forward of his caliber, his plus/minus is solid but his lack of ice time in St. Louis really did hurt his fantasy production.

Projection: Boyes should still be putting up points in the .6-.8 points per game range but his power play points and ice time are the real winners here in the trade to Buffalo. This trade takes Boyes from a solid deeper league forward to a six category producing fantasy asset.

$46 Albert Pujols, $10 Neil Walker, 3 Legged Stool

Issue: One Freeze Roster slot remains. You must choose between $46 Pujols and $10 Neil Walker, but at the end of Auction Day you want to own both. Which one do you keep, then buy back the other?

Facts: Your league is in Stage 3 where everyone is experienced and they all know everything, so projected value is the same as the Auction market price. You suspect a 20% inflation rate on Auction Day from the Keeper rosters. In 24 seasons only 3 times has a player gone for the league high of $50: Albert twice and Hanley Ramirez once. Albert will earn $48 and Neil $15 in 2011. In this highly competitive league an extra $4 under the salary cap could make the difference in acquiring Alexi Casilla over Jack Wilson in the End Game.

Analysis:

(A) Keep Albert and buy back Walker.

$46 Albert’s Freeze Salary

$18 Neil’s price at Auction ($15 X 120%)

$64 Total Investment Cost

$63 Value ($48 + $15)

$1 Loss On Investment

(B) Keep Walker and buy back Pujols on Auction Day.

$10 Walker’s Freeze Salary

$50 Albert’s cost on Auction Day (League’s Psychological Auction Price Ceiling)

$60 Total Investment Cost

$63 Value

$3 Profit On Investment

3 Legged “Price/Cost” Stool: Freeze Day is in 2 weeks and the wind is blowing out at the Grapefruit League’s McKechnie Field in Bradenton. Neil Walker is getting more loft than usual and is looking like the 2011 version of Jayson Heyward, breaking auto windows in the distant parking lot. The news or noise makes Walker’s pre-inflation market price tick up to $18, so with 20% inflation he’ll cost $22 on Auction Day, wipe out your profit, and you’ll have to settle for a Jack Wilson Wanna-Be in the End Game. Now you should keep Walker. The 3 Prices or Costs are what he’ll earn, what he’ll cost (market), what he’ll cost with inflation.

Projections:

Name	AVG	R	RBI	HR	SB	AB
Pujols	0.318	110	114	39	10	571
Walker	0.278	73	83	16	7	560

Casilla	0.275	70	60	10	32	507
Wilson	0.252	21	29	2	3	296

Ryan Torain to be Washington Redskins’ Starter in 2011?

Washington Redskins star running back Clinton Portis is expected to be released, a move that could have the organization looking to Ryan Torain as the new full-time starter at the position, according to Rotoworld.com.

Analysis: Torain put up over 700 yards and an enticing 4.5 yards per carry average in just 10 games, which offers the potential to translate into future success. Torain isn’t the best receiver or play-maker, but he knows Mike Shanahan’s scheme and can pound the rock with the best of them.

Projection: He has the body and talent to do some damage in the NFL, although damage is the operative word. Durability concerns could force the ‘Skins to add another back to help Torain. If he is the full-time starter, however, he’d vie for 1,000 yards and around 10 scores.