Player News – Page 138 – FantasySP Blog

Last Call On Marcus Camby

Marcus Camby is expected to return shortly after the All Star break and he may be ready to go Wednesday against the Lakers.

Analysis: Camby is available in about thirty percent of fantasy leagues and now is the time to pick up the forgotten center. 11.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game is just what every fantasy owner needs out of a center and that’s what Camby was averaging this year. Yes, he is injury prone but with Camby you ride him until he can’t carry you any more. When healthy he’s one of the most value centers in fantasy, he’s averaging .9 steals per game this year and 1 steal per game for his career, how many centers can do that? Camby may not be ready to play thirty minutes a game right away but even at twenty to twenty-five minutes he’s a beast.

Projection: Give Camby some time to get into game shape and find his groove but he’s a rebounding machine regardless of age, minutes, team, etc. Expect 10-12 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal and a solid field goal percentage from Marcus Camby when he returns.

Have Some Faith In Ron Artest

Ron Artest is averaging just 8 PPG and 3 RPG this year but it’s not quite time to drop this frustrating multi-category stud.

Analysis: Artest is getting 28 minutes per game and is averaging 1.4 steals and 1 three pointer made per game this year, so it’s not all bad. Obviously, it’s disappointing that Artest is and will not perform where you drafted him but he’s not at the point of no return yet. If his minutes remain over twenty a game and as the Lakers continue fighting for the two seed in the west- Ron Ron will eventually turn it on. In all honesty, is Luke Walton going to be taking away minutes from Ron Artest? Of course not, so have some faith to go along with your diappointment.

Projection: Ron Ron is going to turn it on, but can you believe he’s only attempted just two three pointers in his last two games? He’ll turn it around and when he does expect 1.5-2 steals, 1-2 threes, 4-5 rebounds and about half of a block a game.

What Does Playing In Boston Mean For Adrian Gonzalez?

From a Fantasy perspective the contrasts between the NL West and the AL East, as well as those between spacious PETCO Park and the lefty-friendly Fens, make the Adrian Gonzalez move one of the most intriguing in recent years.

Analysis: The automatic assumption is that moving from a pitcher’s park to a place where talented lefties seem to pepper balls off of the Green Monster at will means a significant spike in Gonzalez’s slash line. After crunching the numbers and going over the evidence, I cannot argue with that premise. Most detractors to this theory pull out the “AL East argument” right away and, although A-Gone will be up against some pretty tough opponents in his new division, the NL West has sported some of the best arms in the game as of late. Keep in mind that Gonzalez has also spent the majority of his career in lineups that were nothing short of offensively anemic. Now surrounded by an impressive cast of characters and playing in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in all of baseball, Adrian is poised to take Beantown by storm.

Projection: All signs are positive for A-Gone in Boston. He may get off to a slow start in Spring Training, as he is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. However, everyone in Boston (including Gonzalez) has been exuding confidence that he’ll be ready for Opening Day. He may also be the center of attention for a few more weeks for contract-related issues, but a multi-year extension seems like a foregone conclusion at this point. All that aside, Adrian and the Red Sox seem like the perfect marriage for Fantasy owners. He may lose a few line drive home runs due to the height of The Monstah, but those can be made up by taking advantage of some of Fenway’s other cozy dimensions. Besides, those lasers off of the wall will just pad his doubles total even more. Take into consideration that 107 of his 168 career dingers have come on the road, and it becomes evident that a change of home venue instantly puts Gonzalez in perennial MVP contention. Look for 40+ home runs, 125+ RBI, and an OBP in the .415-.430 range this season. This is a player with the potential to produce like a top 5 pick, but may be obtainable somewhere within the 10th-15th pick range in some leagues.

Where Does Aroldis Chapman Fit On Your Team?

The flame throwing phenom enters Reds camp with a set position and a level of comfortability. Dusty Baker’s plan is to slot Chapman in a setup role behind closer Francisco Cordero, putting to rest any rumors of Aroldis entering the starting rotation or perhaps supplanting Cordero in 2011.

Analysis: The young Cuban defector set radar guns ablaze in his brief Major League stint in 2010, consistently cracking 100 MPH and peaking at a record-breaking 105 MPH in San Diego. This historical fastball, combined with an above average slider and decent changeup, gives Chapman an enviable arsenal and a potentially limitless future. The key word here for Fantasy owners is future, however, as the 6’4″ lefty’s current spot on the depth chart is the 8th inning and as a lefty specialist, a role he may even share with fellow southpaw Bill Bray.

Projection: While Fantasy owners drool over the prospect of Chapman starting games as he did at AAA, don’t expect it to happen this season. The Reds have no rush to transition their prized arm into the rotation, especially because of a balky back he first experienced last spring. They also have more of a need for him in the bullpen at this point, with the offseason departure of Arthur Rhodes leaving a significant hole. In addition, Baker has stated on more than one occasion that he’d like to limit Chapman to an inning per appearance. Unless Cordero hits the DL at some point this year, the most you can expect from Chapman are a respectable amount of holds and an above-average number of strikeouts for a setup man. Nevertheless, this is someone who will undoubtedly amass monster numbers one day, whether it be in the 9th inning or every fifth day.

Dirk Nowitzki Puts Up 35 Points In Win Over Suns

Dirk Nowitzki scored 35 points on 13-for-18 shooting in a 112-106 win over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, while also grabbing one rebound and dishing out four assists.

Analysis: Just another day at the office for Nowitzki, who topped 30 points in scoring for the 10th time in his last 16 games against the Suns. Nowitzki, a possible MVP candidate earlier in the year, woke from a bit of a slumber, as he had failed to top 20 points in scoring in four of his previous five games.

Projection: Nowitzki looks to be out of his slump and gets a few days to rest up. He’s still good for over 22 points and around seven boards per game.