Player News – Page 84 – FantasySP Blog

Last Call On Paul George

Paul George was considered a sleeper in many fantasy basketball circles going into the 2011-12 season and he appears to be breaking out.

Analysis: Indiana shooting guard/small forward Paul George is off to a solid fantasy start in his first three games this year. George is hitting two three pointers per game and is averaging over five rebounds per as well. George is a perfect ten for ten from the stripe and is logging thirty-two minutes per game.

If you take a look at what George did in limited minutes as a rookie last year, it is impressive. George averaged one steal per game and nearly four rebounds per in just twenty minutes a game. George mainly came off of the bench last year but his minutes this year will play to his fantasy advantage. George’s long distance game seems to be a real strength this year and his young legs will be needed with the grueling schedule.

George is available in about half of fantasy leagues and he is going fast. As a shooting guard he’ll give you what you need and yet he still grabs enough boards to be a viable option at small forward.

Kevin Smith Is A Must Start

Although Detroit running back Kevin Smith is owned in just seventy percent of fantasy leagues, he is a must start in week seventeen.

Analysis: Smith is coming off of a solid two touchdown performance against the Chargers and has carried the rock fifteen times in each of his last two contests. The Lions get the Packers in week seventeen and expect Detroit to use their running game as the score should not get out of hand because Green Bay will rest their starters. Green Bay does allow 4.7 yards per carry this year which is the seventh worst in the NFL and with the second string in who knows what to expect? If Kevin Smith is available or is on your squad then he is a must start this week.

Evan Royster is another back that you may want to consider picking up to see if he’ll get another start in place of the injured Roy Helu in week seventeen. Royster put up 132 rushing yards on nineteen carries with a score last week against the Vikings. If Roy Helu cannot go this coming week against the Eagles, Royster should be on the end of fifteen plus carries.

Deep League Help- Titus Young

Titus Young recorded his third touchdown in his last five games Sunday afternoon in Oakland.

Analysis: Although Titus Young only amassed twenty-one receiving yards Sunday, there are still plenty of reasons to like the rookie. Young did record five receptions on a solid ten targets and he was targeted another seven times last week. As mentioned before, he’s scored three touchdowns in his last five games and he should continue to be a hit or miss option in deeper leagues.

The Lions have attempted the third most passes in the NFL and they will continue to sling the rock the remaining two weeks of the season against the Chargers and Packers. Considering Young is available in well over ninety percent of fantasy leagues you definitely have some time to figure out what your roster needs down the stretch before you have to pick him up. Greg Little is another deep league wide out that is widely available that you may want to consider. Little put up 131 yards and a score on nine targets Sunday. He may be a longshot but with games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh coming up, the Cleveland passing game will be relied upon heavily.

Eric Gordon’s Fantasy Value

As the new shooting guard for the Hornets, Eric Gordon should post even better numbers than last year.

Analysis: There really isn’t much missing from Eric Gordon’s fantasy game. The guy does absolutely everything you need from a shooting guard and then some. As the clear number one option in New Orleans we should see his field goal and free throw attempts go up by a few but his field goal percentage should not take a dip below the forty-four percent mark. He’ll continue to rack up the steals and threes while amassing four or so assists. He really is a top five fantasy shooting guard who just may be a top three due to the trade. Kevin Martin and Joe Johnson may be near his tier but Gordon is on the rise and has gotten better every year he has been in the league.

Another added benefit will be Gordon’s restricted free agent status by the end of the year. Gordon will be playing for a big contract and who doesn’t love contract years? The only downfall with Gordon is that he has missed significant time over the last two years but so has Kevin Martin. Gordon is a borderline top twenty pick and he should not disappoint.

Injury Impact- Greg Jennings

Greg Jennings is out two to three weeks with a sprained MCL. There are plenty of replacement options on the wire but who will produce the most going forward?

Analysis: Even though Tim Tebow is a wide out’s worst nightmare in terms of stats, Demaryius Thomas has put up big numbers as of late. Thomas has three touchdowns, two-hundred plus receiving yards and twenty targets in his last two games. Thomas is Tim Tebow’s go-to-guy and you have to love that he is available in about ninety percent of fantasy leagues. He is a great replacement for Jennings who will continue to be one heavily targeted wide out.

Another potential fantasy replacement for Greg Jennings is Donald Driver. Jennings’ targets have to go somewhere and since Jordy Nelson is not available, Donald Driver makes the most sense. James Jones has been held without a reception in two and his last four games while Donald Driver has two seventy plus yard games and two touchdowns in his last four contests. If a widely available fantasy wide out on Green Bay will produce in Jennings’ absence, it will be Donald Driver more so than Jones. Unlike Demaryius Thomas who has WR2 potential, Driver’s upside is just a WR3 but he’s still worth a look.