- Johnson: Don't Get Caught Up in The Raptor
Last week when we perusing alternatives for Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love, two injured bigs, I’ll admit we were starting to see signs of Amir Johnson (PF/C, Raptors) breakthrough into fantasy usability in Week 12 --but now there’s a full bum rush to add the guy. He has seen one of the biggest jumps in the 2012-13 fantasy basketball season, with an add rate at 61% clip in Week 13 in ESPN standard leagues. The real catalyst for Amir was a 22 point, 14 rebound game against the Bucks that also saw him chip in 4 dimes, 3 steals and 2 blocks for 43 standard points. In his last five games he’s averaged 17.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks a game while shooting a blistering 64% from the field and 75% from the charity stripe. His minutes averaged over the last five games span (35.8) indicate he is clearly taking run away from someone in the future. The Raptors have Andrea Bargnani, Ed Davis and Johnson now to help at the “4”; an enviable problem.
- Throw the Alley-Oop to Al-Farouq
Al-Farouq Aminu (SF, Hornets) is a “3” who has been dominating the boards since the New Year like a "4". He will also contribute steals and blocks, as a unique type of small forward that may pair well with a number of “4”’s who score but don’t rebound necessarily well. His field goal percentage is steadily climbing this season and stands at 47%. Since January 5th he’s averaged fantasy-relevant numbers: 7.9 points, 10.6 boards, 1.9 steals. His add rate is 15% this week. Time to take a look, at least.
- Still Dre Day?
Old habits die hard with Denver’s Andre Miller (PG, Nuggets). Throughout his tenure in the league the wily but three-point-range-lacking, Miller has made a career of helping fantasy squads in assists, steals, free throw % as well as great shooting percentages sans from downtown. He’s not getting thirty minutes anymore coming off the Nugget bench, but his add rate is up 15-20% in some leagues because of injuries to point guards like Chris Paul. He’s going to rebound better than most of your point guards, and in his last five has averaged 9.6 points, 6.4 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1 steal. His teammate, the ever-enigmatic Wilson Chandler is getting eased back into the swingman rotation for the Nuggets, who have great depth there, scored 13 and 14 with 6 boards in two games after a two month hiatus due to injury. Someone to monitor surely, as swingmen like Chandler (and like I say seemingly every post) are in great demand for fantasy basketball owners.
No need to split hairs over Tiago Splitter (PF/C, Spurs) He has been seeing more grind for the Spurs lately and isn’t a premier rebounder or anything but he is scoring and shooting well for a big man. After starting only 8 out of 119 games played in the last two season in 2012-13 he’s started 19 out of 41 for a veteran San Antonio Spurs squad that will continue to rest their older players.
Chris Paul’s backup Eric Bledsoe (PG, Clippers) has also seen his add rate jump due to Paul’s Day-to-Day status. He’s been added at a 20-25% rate in standard leagues this week. He’s shooting 47% from the field from the season and 36% from downtown. His value is tied toward CP3’s injury status in any case. He can help in steals, and had six of them in a game recently (against Celtics).
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