Player News – Page 81 – FantasySP Blog

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.

Mike Fisher Is Heating Up

After a disappointing start to the 2011-12 season, Mike Fisher has found his form this January.

Analysis: Mike Fisher has tallied thirteen points in twelve January contests this year. Compare that with just fifteen points in his twenty-nine games prior to his January hot streak and you can see why he is such a hot commodity in the fantasy world right now. Fisher is available in over half of fantasy leagues across the country and he is going fast.

Fisher is a reliable source of goals, assists, ice time and shots on goal for a lower tier center. However, his biggest strength recently has been his power play points. Fisher has six power play points this month which has turned him into a nice little five to six category fantasy performer. We all know he can score twenty plus goals each year but his plus/minus is finally starting to make the difference, especially this past month. In addition to Fisher, Nik Antropov is another center I would seriously consider picking up at the moment. He too is finding his groove over the past couple of weeks and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Derrick Rose To Return Monday?

Derrick Rose expects to return to action Monday night which leaves CJ Watson’s fantasy value up in the air.

Analysis: Derrick Rose’s return Monday night against the New Jersey Nets will most likely be a game time decision. CJ Watson has played extremely well in his place. Watson has averaged 16.5 PPG, 6 APG with 1.8 SPG in Rose’s absence. He certainly may be worth keeping around at the very least for a Monday night fantasy start. Watson’s minutes will be a major concern going forward but you have to love that he’s hit seven three pointers in his last three games.

No one really knows how Rose’s toe will hold up. Obviously, if he’s healthy… he’s a fantasy stud. However, if this injury does persist throughout the year, CJ Watson is not that bad of a replacement. Watson is still available in ninety percent of leagues but his value will take a hit when Rose returns to action. Watson may still have a place in deeper leagues or with owners concerned over Rose’s lingering toe issue. Chicago is one banged up basketball squad right now and it may not hurt to keep Watson around a little longer to see how things shake out.

Stock Rising- Trevor Ariza

Trevor Ariza is two games in to his return from a groin injury and he is producing once again. If he can keep from aggravating his injury again, he will be a viable fantasy option in all leagues.

Analysis: Groin injuries can be very tricky and he may not be one-hundred percent but you have to like what you see from him so far. Ariza has topped forty minutes of play in both games since his return and he’s getting to the free throw line(ten times) more often. Ariza will always be a multi category shooting guard/small forward and this year is no different. Ariza has tallied five steals, ten assists and ten rebounds in his last two games and with Eric Gordon out, Ariza should be getting plenty of minutes if healthy.

Obviously, the groin injury coming back to bite Ariza is a major concern but he is available in over half of fantasy leagues. Eric Gordon still has no timetable for his return and that should mean Ariza will be shooting tons of threes like we saw him do from 2009-2011. If healthy he will steal tons of balls, hit threes and supply enough rebounds to negate his poor field goal percentages.

Filip Kuba Is A Must Own

Filip Kuba is averaging over twenty-five minutes of ice time in the month of January and while doing so is becoming one defenseman that you cannot pass on.

Analysis: Filip Kuba has climbed to thirty-eighth in the NHL among all players in average time on ice. Yet, Kuba’s biggest strength over the last few weeks has been his plus/minus. Kuba is plus ten in his last ten games and is plus sixteen for the year. He does have five assists this month but he is dominating those two fantasy categories(ATOI,+/-) at the moment. Kuba is available in over thirty percent of fantasy leagues and don’t expect him to last much longer.

Ottawa has been on fire recently and as the talented team continues to gel, expect Kuba to keep on producing. He will not be of any help in penalty minutes or shots on goal but he provides enough goals and power play points to make him a fantasy asset. Outside of Tyler Myers, Kuba is the hot defenseman on the wire right now. You can count on the ice time being fantastic and the plus/minus will be reliable as he continues on in January.