Player News – Page 74 – FantasySP Blog

Stock Rising- Omar Infante

Omar Infante is off to a red hot start in the first week of the 2012 season.

Analysis: Omar Infante is just five games into his year but he already has 3 HR, 5 R and 4 RBI. He’s hitting in such an athletic and deep batting order that he can get away with flying under the radar a bit. His RBI opportunities with be plentiful even if he doesn’t move up in the order. As it stands now, Infante is available in over half of fantasy leagues and he is the trendy pick up on the wire at the moment.

Infante has hit over .290 in three of his last four years in the bigs. He only hit .276 last year but his BABIP was twelve points below his career average. Infante does not strikeout or walk much but that will have little impact on his RBI total and batting average which are his true strengths this year. Right now he makes a perfect sell high option in mixed leagues or a solid “keep for now” second baseman in NL only leagues. Considering he has only reached the double digit mark in homers just once in his career(2004), don’t go expecting twenty bombs.

Buying/Selling Luke Hochevar

Luke Hochevar pitched very well in his first start of the season against the Angels.

Analysis: Hochevar pitched 6.1 innings and allowed just two runs while striking out four batters for the win. He has never come close to becoming the ace he was projected to be but can he help your fantasy squad this year?

Only time will tell but he makes an interesting watch.

On the negative side of the debate, Hochevar has posted an ERA north of 4.6 each of the last four years. However, his xFIP hovered in the 4.0 range from 2010 to 2011. He is not much of a strikeout artist but he does not walk tons of batters either. On the positive side, Hochevar’s fastball velocity has been up the past two years and he did pitch 198 innings last year. Hochevar is the definition of a hit or miss lower tier starter this year but it will pay to keep an eye on him. Another one or two solid starts and you have to ride the hot hand and hope it turns into something more. His last three starts in 2011 were very good so hopefully he can carry that into this April. He’s available in just about every league so you have time to monitor his starts.

Under The Radar- Dexter Fowler

After an awful spring training hitting just .138, Dexter Fowler has flown under the fantasy radar.

Analysis: Spring training stats are pure garbage. If you take a look at what Dexter Fowler did in September last year- .287 BA, 3 HR, 3 SB with 9 RBI, he was improving. What I liked most about his play in the last two months of the 2011 season was the twenty-nine walks. For a guy with a career 11% BB rate you just have to love the improvement. Fowler is quite capable of a 10 HR/25 SB season this year and if he can stick at the number two spot in the batting order he just may put up those numbers. In Fowler’s first game of the year he already has a stolen base with a run but more importantly he drew a walk.

Dexter Fowler is owned in just 28% of ESPN leagues and that number should be rising over the course of April. He will be a solid run provider and stolen base threat if he gets his fair share of playing time. A .270 batting average would be ideal for the toolsy outfielder since his career mark sits at .262. His power like Cameron Maybin over the past two years is coming this year.

Last Call On JJ Hickson

Since his move to Portland, JJ Hickson has turned his disappointing season around.

Analysis: JJ Hickson is one of the NBA’s hottest power forward/centers and fantasy owners have been taking notice since late March. Hickson’s line in his last five games looks like this- 15.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG with a 59% field goal percentage. You really cannot ask for more from a guy who is still available in about half of all fantasy leagues. His minutes have been hovering in the thirty minute range over the past week as he continues to put up solid numbers.

Outside of Marcus Camby for blocks there really isn’t too much left on the wire in terms of big men. Hickson’s point production might take a hit a bit but he will rebound very well with the minutes he’s been getting. There isn’t much time left in the fantasy basketball season and taking a chance on Hickson just may pay off. Keep in mind that Amare is still out, DeJuan Blair is struggling and Derrick Favors isn’t blocking shots anymore. With the numbers he keeps putting up, it’s last call on JJ Hickson.

Stick With Turner

Evan Turner is being dropped from many leagues across the country while he still continues to produce.

Analysis: Just because Turner is not dropping twenty-five points every game does not justify dropping the shooting guard/small forward from your fantasy squad. Evan Turner is averaging 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.8 minutes of floor time in his last ten games. Any shooting guard getting thirty plus minutes of playing time with his talent needs to be owned. Yes, he’s only averaging ten points per game in that stretch but his field goal percentage is a respectable 44% and is at 50% in his last four games. The man still gets his fair share of assists(2.6 p/g) yet he is only owned in about thirty percent of fantasy leagues.

All Turner has to do is take more shots and then …boom …he’s back. In the Sixers last two games Jodie Meeks is 5 for his last 16, Young 6 for 16, Hawes 5 for 17 and Holiday is 6 for his last 19 shots. Evan Turner needs to start taking over, he’s got a hot hand while the rest of the Sixers do not. He’s still a solid option in all leagues but do not be surprised when he catches fire again.