January 23rd Weekly Release Notes

I am back from my vacation and have already unleashed quite a few code pushes.  I am inching closer to the major feature release that could happen by the end of this month.  Hope you guys have been enjoying the site in my absence.  Now, the updates:

  • Major bug fix to the trade analyzer while I was on vacation.  Thanks to the emails that reported it.
  • Yet to be announced new feature has been designed & sliced into HTML and ready for implementation. (You should be excited)
  • NFL fantasy league updating disabled until August.
  • Various updates to the NBA rosters and statistical fixes for player stats.
  • Billing page bug fixes to increase speed.
  • Users now automatically emailed invoice when their bill is due.
  • Google Plus button added.

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.

Last Call On Kemba Walker

After some early season struggles, Kemba Walker is finally putting up some fantasy relevant numbers.

Analysis: Kemba Walker has averaged over thirty minutes per game over his last five contests and with those minutes have come some solid fantasy numbers. Walker has nine steals, five three pointers made and three blocks in that five game span. Throw in a few four plus assist games and over four rebounds per game in his last week of action and you have yourself a nice little fantasy point guard.

Unfortunately, Kemba is shooting under forty percent from the field thus far this year. His scoring and free throw percentage will be fine but as a point guard he will not be a big supplier of assists. At this point, you have to pick him up and ride the hot hand or sell him high. If his minutes remain strong there is no need to worry that he will not continue to hit the threes and steal plenty of balls. Kemba is still available in about twenty-five percent of all leagues but he is one hot commodity right now.