Blocks And Boards Help

The inconsistent Derrick Favors is on one of his hot streaks and now is the time to pick him up.

Analysis: There aren’t many players out there that can stuff a stat sheet like Derrick Favors and then disappear for weeks at a time. Regardless, Favors is at it again and it’s time to ride his hot streak. The twenty-one year old is averaging 9.75 RPG, 1.25 BPG and 1.5 SPG over his last four contests. He’s doing all this still averaging 22 minutes per game which is right in line with his minute totals this season. He has been relatively consistent with the blocks and steals this year but his rebounding numbers have been rather strong lately. Favors is available in 30-60% of fantasy leagues nationwide.

Marreese Speights is another fantasy big man to watch. He’s averaging 9.3 RPG, 1.3 BPG and 16.3 PPG over his last three games in increased minutes with the Cavs. Speights is available in 40-80% of fantasy leagues and HE IS THE STEAL right now on the wire considering his minutes are up a ton in Cleveland. He’s also a career 75% free throw shooter, not bad for a guy with center position eligibility.

Deep League Help- Tomas Kopecky

The Florida Panthers may be playing awful this season but Tomas Kopecky is quietly producing.

Analysis: Tomas Kopecky has nine games under his belt and the fantasy world is starting to take notice. The first thing that stands out is the 14 penalty minutes. Couple that with the six points he has this year and you have an intriguing fantasy forward. Kopecky is only a minus-3 this year on a team that has a negative 11 goal differential, so that isn’t too bad. Another surprise with Kopecky this year is his ice time. He’s averaging eighteen minutes of ice time per game which is a career high for the thirty-one year old.

Kopecky is shooting more than ever as well. He has amassed 24 shots in just nine games this year and has 8 shots in his last two games. He’s getting power play minutes/points, penalty minutes, ice time and he’s scoring. In fact, he’s the highest fantasy rated Florida Panther this year ahead of Tomas Fleischmann. At the moment Kopecky is available in over ninety percent of fantasy leagues. Keep an eye on him for a few more games and see if he continues to contribute in at least five fantasy categories.

The Case For Spencer Hawes

Spencer Hawes only recorded one rebound against the Kings in his last game but his fantasy value remains underrated.

Analysis: Despite a one rebound performance in 26 minutes against the Kings there is still a case to be made for Spencer Hawes. He’s averaging 6.6 RPG, 11.0 PPG, 1.8 BPG and is shooting 45% from the field over his last five games. Hawes is also averaging over thirty minutes per game in that span. He has power forward and center position eligibility and he is shooting a career high from the stripe this year(72%).

Take a look at the Sixers’ roster and tell me who is going to eat away at Spencer Hawes’ minutes down the road. Kwame Brown? That’s funny. The fact is that no one is going to stop him(a decent big man) from getting 25 minutes every night. His rebounds may hover in the 6-7 per game range but he blocks shots, scores ten points a game and is not a liability at the line. He’s available in half of fantasy leagues.

Up next for Hawes is Orlando Monday night.

Michael Beasley Is Available

Michael Beasley has two 25-plus point games over his last four games.

Analysis: Michael Beasley is one of the more frustrating fantasy players to own but he can be worth it when his desire is there and with the support of his coach. The former K-State product is averaging 17 PPG, 1.5 SPG, .75 3PM and 5.5 RPG in his last four games. His minutes are up as well as his shot totals and points production over the last week.

Overall it has been a down year for Beasley. His minutes, points and field goal percentage are the lowest of his five year career but he is playing very well as of late and offers tons of fantasy upside. Beasley won’t dominate any fantasy category but he does stuff a stat sheet when he is on his game. He’ll contribute a few threes, steals and blocks which is what you want from a fantasy forward but his points potential is his real value. A Michael Beasley getting 25-30 minutes of floor time per night is a Michael Beasley you want on your fantasy squad. At the moment he is available in about 40-60% of fantasy leagues.

Deep League Help- Joel Ward

The Washington Capitals have not been playing well but Joel Ward has been one of the few bright spots thus far this season.

Analysis: Joel Ward has 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games played this year. He is a plus-5 on a team with a minus 10 goal differential. He’s been posting up shop in front of the net for the most part is putting away the garbage. Ward was on a line with Mike Ribeiro Thursday night and scored a goal on a beautiful pass from him. Ribeiro is a playmaker and a permanent spot on his line would do Joel Ward some good. But… Adam Oates has been changing lines pretty much every game for the Caps this year as they struggle to find chemistry. Regardless, Ward is coming in to his own as a net-front power forward this year.

Ward isn’t a universal pick-up at this point, he still has a lot to work on from a fantasy perspective. He’s never been a big penalty minutes guy nor does he receive tons of ice time(14-15 min/g) but he is shooting more than ever and is getting some valuable secondary power play minutes. Ward is available in over ninety percent of leagues.