Each Week, Fantasy Basketball Writer Sergio Gonzalez gives Fantasy owners his top choices by position for players to pick up for the upcoming scoring period based upon matchups and other factors. He also gives Fantasy owners in deeper leagues his choices for top pick ups among players owned in under 20 percent of leagues as well as players to scoop up and stash away.
Top Guard Free Agent options for Week 3
1. Ronnie Brewer, Jazz (@NY, @BOS, @PHI, @CLE): Brewer scored at least 16 points in his first three games of the season before being held to 7 points against Dallas on Nov. 3. He will get 35-plus minutes per game in a four-tilt week that includes a matchup against a Knicks team that gives up a ton of points. He's a nice fill-in. Owned Percentage: 65 percent
2. Ramon Sessions, Timberwolves (@GS, POR, DAL, @MEM): You'll have to trust us on this one. Sessions has gotten off to a very poor start with his new team, but we think Week 3 will be the first week where he starts to live up to the potential he showed each of the last two years in Milwaukee. The T'Wolves will play against the Warriors and Grizzlies, two teams that play fast-paced games that lead to a lot of scoring and high-volume stats. Anybody looking for a stopgap No. 4 guard with some upside could look his way in Week 3. Owned Percentage: 68 percent
3. Thabo Sefolosha, Thunder (@SAC, @LAC, @SA, LAC): This one is a real sleeper for you as Sefolosha is owned in under 10 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. He's a scrapheap option that we recommend plugging in to your lineup this week if the other two options listed are not available. Sefolosha is starting and getting 30-plus minutes per game. He scored 12 points with 4 rebounds and an assist against the Lakers on Nov. 3 and should be able to put up similar stat lines against weak defensive teams in the Kings and Clippers this week. Owned Percentage: 9 percent
Avoid for Week 3: Ty Lawson, Charlie Bell, Anthony Parker, Jason Williams, Damien Wilkins
Top Forward Free Agent options for Week 3
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| Latest Gonzalez chat transcript (4/6) |
1. Kelenna Azubuike, Warriors (MIN, @IND, @NY, @MIL): The Warriors swingman has been coming off the bench for the Warriors, but he could get a chance to run with the starting lineup soon for however long that lasts, knowing Don Nelson and his whimsical ways. But starter or not, Azubuike has been productive already this season. He averaged 15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in the first week of the season and will be playing one of the more favorable schedules of the Fantasy season against horrible defensive teams in Minnesota, Indiana and a game against the Knicks that could easily have both teams scoring 110 plus points.Owned Percentage: 51 percent
2. Corey Brewer, Timberwolves (@GS, POR, DAL, @MEM): In leagues that allow for multiple eligibility, Brewer should qualify at guard and in those leagues we'd rank him ahead of his teammate Sessions for Week 3. But in leagues where he is eligible only at forward, he ranks as the second-best free agent option this week. He has gotten off to a great start and has even become a focal point in the offense in recent games, seeing 18 shots against the Suns on Nov. 1 and 21 shots against the Clippers on Nov. 2. We like his matchups in Week 3 against the Warriors and Grizzlies specifically and consider him an excellent one-week stopgap at whatever position you may need him. Owned Percentage: 53 percent
3. Travis Outlaw, Trail Blazers (@MEM, @MIN, @NO, @CHA): Outlaw is a waiver-wire favorite in Fantasy leagues, often times a go-to guy for one-week fill ins. Well, that's exactly the case for Week 3. The Blazers have a couple of favorable matchups against Memphis and Minnesota in a four-game week and Outlaw has already had a pair of big games against the Rockets and Hawks this season. He should manage a useful week as a No. 4 forward. Martell Webster is getting the starts, but Outlaw has the better possibility for bigger stat lines. Owned Percentage: 39 percent
Avoid for Week 3: Grant Hill, Ryan Anderson, DeJuan Blair, Shelden Williams
Top Center Free Agent options for Week 3:
1. Udonis Haslem, Heat (WAS, CLE, NJ): Fantasy owners will have to check their eligibility rules, but in leagues where Haslem is eligible at center, he is by far the most attractive option. As usual, it's slim pickings at center when it comes to the waiver wire and there aren't many players who can offer you up a double-double on any given night, regardless of the opponent. Haslem has averaged 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds through his first four games despite coming off the bench and is available in over 50 percent of CBSSports.com leagues. Owned Percentage: 52 percent
2. Erick Dampier, Mavericks (HOU, @SA, @MIN, @DET): In leagues where Haslem is not eligible or available, Dampier may be your best bet for a useful week for this upcoming scoring period. Don't expect any big games, but Dampier has four games, including a game against a Rockets team without much of an inside presence. He is averaging 9.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks -- including six blocks against Utah on Nov. 3. Owned Percentage: 21 percent
3. Nenad Krstic, Thunder (@SAC, @LAC, @SA, LAC): Dampier is our choice for a "safer" play, but Krstic offers the most upside outside of Haslem. Krstic had 20 points and 7 rebounds in the team's opener against Sacramento, a team he'll face again in Week 3, but he's tailed off significantly since then and has seen Etan Thomas take some of his playing time in recent games. The four-game week and favorable matchups against the Kings and Clippers make him worthy of one-week use as a No. 2 center in standard formats. Owned Percentage: 32 percent
Avoid for Week 3: Brandon Bass, Shelden Williams, Sean May, Joel Przybilla
Best scrapheap free agents for Week 3*:
1. Ben Wallace, F, Pistons: Wallace is available in 81 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, but that may change real soon. As of Tuesday, he was one more start away from regaining center eligibility in leagues that allow multiple positions after making the first four starts of the season at center for the Pistons. A return to Detroit has rejuvinated him as he averaged 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals through four games. He could actually be plugged in at center in Week 3 if he gets the fifth start this week as we expect. Owned Percentage: 19 percent
2. Chase Budinger, G, Rockets: The rookie scored 17 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists on Nov. 2 at Utah and is getting around 20 minutes off the bench for the Rockets. He had a strong preseason and the Rockets are looking to him as a perimeter threat. The Rockets should play in at least two high-scoring games in Week 3 against Memphis and at Sacramento and Budinger could be in the mix for those games. Owned Percentage: 7 percent
3. Etan Thomas, C, Thunder: Available in 98 percent of CBSSports.com leagues, he's slowly and quietly taking minutes away from Nenad Krstic. He had 9 rebounds on Nov. 1 against Portland and 11 rebounds to go with 9 points and 3 blocks on Nov. 3 against the Lakers. Need a last-ditch center in deep leagues? Thomas could be your guy. Matchups against the Kings and the Clippers this week play to his favor. Owned Percentage: 3 percent
4. Rudy Fernandez, G, Trail Blazers: Fernandez tends to be erratic due to his role off the bench, but he does have the ability to get hot like he did on October 29 against Denver when he scored 22 points. He's good for one or two threes and a steal per game per game with the ability to pop off for a big game somewhere in his four-game slate. His best bet would be against the Grizzlies or Timberwolves. Owned Percentage: 27 percent
* Owned in less than 20 percent of CBSSports.com leagues
Top long-term free agent pick ups:
1. Courtney Lee, G, Nets (Available in 31 percent of CBSSports.com leagues) : Lee is starting to get comfortable in the Nets offense and has the potential to become a go-to scorer before long. He's already getting 10-plus shots in the offense and is a great source for steals with low turnover numbers. If he's still available in your league, he should not be.
2. Marreese Speights, F, 76ers (Available in 36 percent of CBSSports.com leagues):Speights is a very promising forward with a lot talent and upside, but his role off the bench will lead to inconsistent results. Consider his first four games. He's had two big games, scoring 20-plus points with good peripheral stats and he's also had two games with under six points. Should something happen to Elton Brand, be it an injury or a trade, Speights could become a superstar in Fantasy.
3. Chris Douglas-Roberts, G, Nets (Available in 39 percent of CBSSports.com leagues): After a slow start, the second-year player out of Memphis has begun to live up to his preseason billing as a potential sleeper. He is attacking the basket more and looks confident doing so. He didn't have a single free throw in his first two games this season, but has 17 attempts in his last two games, both 20-plus performances. Much like Lee, the Nets are in need of a go-to option and Douglas-Roberts is a good bet to be that guy -- or at least one of them.
4. Will Bynum, G, Pistons (Available in 90 percent of CBSSports.com leagues): Bynum had an impressive preseason and has had a decent start to the regular season, but that has to do partly with the absence of Richard Hamilton as once Hamilton returns, his touches should diminish greatly. However, keep these performances in mind and stash him away as another injury to Hamilton or one to Rodney Stuckey could mean big things for Bynum down the road.
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