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 5
1. Beno Udrih, Kings (@MEM, NY, NJ, NO): Three of the four teams the Kings will face in Week 5 allow 104 points or more per game, which should lead to some very high-scoring games for Sacramento. Udrih has been scoring in double figures (around 15 points per game) since re-joining the starting lineup when Kevin Martin went down with his injury and has also chipped in around 4.5 assists per game. He can offer up help in three-point shooting and shoots at a solid 51.0 percent clip from the field. (Availability: 35 percent)
2. Toney Douglas, Knicks (@LAL, @SAC, @DEN, ORL):Pay close attention to what happens with the Allen Iverson situation here, as it would likely have a big impact on Douglas. But the rookie has been a very strong Fantasy option the first few weeks of the season and appears to be in the good graces of coach Mike D'Antoni, which is a very good thing. An upset stomach Wednesday at Indiana halted a streak of four straight games with 15-plus points and it was due to the fact he played just 12 minutes. Prior to that game, Douglas had been getting 14-19 shots in the Knicks' very potent offense. (Availability: 67 percent)
3. Terrence Williams, Nets (@DEN, @POR, @SAC, @LAL): This one is a bit tricky. The Nets have very favorable matchups in Week 5 and will play four games. Williams has stepped up significantly in the last couple of weeks with the Nets dealing with several injuries. The absence of Courtney Lee has specifically benefited Williams. Lee could be back for Week 5, which would threaten to cut into his production, but he has claimed a significant role with his play and should remain a viable start in Fantasy based on matchups. When he faces favorable ones, as he does this week, he's worth a start in standard formats. Williams has recorded double-doubles in points and rebounds in three of his last five games. (Availability: 50 percent)
Also consider: Marco Belinelli, Courtney Lee, Mike Conley, Jr.
Avoid: Mario Chalmers, Larry Hughes, Ronnie Brewer
Top Forward Free Agent options for Week 5
1. Al Thornton, Clippers (MIN, @IND, @DET, MEM): Thornton's slow start this season has caused his Fantasy stock to fall, but don't let his season averages (11.2 points and 4.2 rebounds) fool you. He's hot right now. Over his last five games, he has averaged 17.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Clippers play a favorable four-game slate and Thornton should continue his solid production -- at least until rookie Blake Griffin makes his official NBA debut some time in December. Make the most of it while you can. (Availability: 38 percent)
2. Kenyon Martin, Nuggets (NJ, @MIN, NY, MIN): K-Mart can't be trusted as a regular starter in Fantasy, but he makes for a good play when he is healthy and facing favorable matchups. Both factors are true heading into Week 5. He will twice face a Minnesota team that is allowing 103.4 points per game and he has always dominated the Knicks throughout his career -- not to mention how Fantasy-friendly an opponent they can be to just about anyone. This is a good week to plug K-Mart into lineups. (Availability: 40 percent)
3. Andres Nocioni, Kings (@MEM, NY, NJ, NO): Nocioni is dealing with a hip pointer, so it's something you will have to monitor over the weekend. He is averaging 13.8 points in five games since joining the starting lineup to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.6 three pointers per game. He does tend to kill your free-throw shooting percentage, so keep that in mind in category-based play if that is something you are trying to avoid. Otherwise, he should be solid due to favorable matchups. (Availability: 67 percent)
Also consider: Hakim Warrick, Ryan Anderson, Craig Smith
Avoid: Anderson Varejao, Chuck Hayes, Brandon Bass
Top Center Free Agent options for Week 5
1. Drew Gooden, Mavericks (GS, @HOU, @IND, @CLE): In the absence of Erick Dampier, Gooden is reminding both the Mavs and Fantasy owners that he can be more than just a minor role player. He has averaged 16.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and just 1.0 turnover in three games as a starter and while that type of production stands to take a hit once Dampier returns from his illness, he is likely to play a bigger role than the one he was playing prior to this. He had been getting just 14.8 minutes off the bench. Check your league's eligibility rules as he is only forward eligible in some formats. (Availability: 65 percent)
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| Latest Gonzalez chat transcript (4/6) |
2. Kendrick Perkins, Celtics (PHI, TOR, @MIA): The Celtics don't play four games in Week 5, but there aren't very many free-agent type centers who do. Perkins is quietly offering double-digit scoring, over seven boards per game and two blocks. Philadelphia and Toronto both allow over 100 points per game and while Perkins' chances for a huge week aren't big, he is likely to provide useful numbers. (Availability: 59 percent)
3. Channing Frye, Suns (MEM, @MIN, @TOR):Like Perkins, Frye plays just three games this week. However the Suns' center should put up better numbers than most of the four-start centers that are available off waivers this week and is probably your best bet behind Perkins and Gooden. He hasn't posted numbers on the road the way he has at home, but he began to shake that trend this past week with a double-double at New Orleans. He won't rebound well on a regular basis, but does offer consistent three-point shooting and won't kill your free-throw percentage like most centers. (Availability: 19 percent)
Also consider: Samuel Dalembert, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Matt Bonner
Avoid: Joel Przybilla, Oleksiy Pecherov, Josh Boone
Top scrapheap free agents for Week 5*
1. Steve Blake, Trail Blazers (CHI, NJ, MEM, @UTA): Despite the presence of Andre Miller, Blake has managed to put up some useful totals recently after getting off to a slow start. He had 11 assists against Atlanta on Nov. 16 and followed that up with 17 points Nov. 18 against Detroit. He may very rarely put everything together, but he can be viewed as a one-week stopgap measure in deeper leagues -- especially when facing a favorable four-game slate as he does in Week 5. (Availability: 81 percent)
2. Vladimir Radmanovic, Warriors (@DAL, @SA, LAL): Radmanovic was an afterthought in the trade that sent Stephen Jackson from Golden State to Charlotte, but he was inserted into the Golden State starting lineup in his first two games with his new team and is getting more chances to contribute than he did in Charlotte. He averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds with a three pointer in each game. (Availability: 94 percent)
3. Rodney Carney, 76ers (@WAS, @BOS, ATL): You will have to monitor a minor wrist injury here, but he is fully expected to play through it. He got big minutes for the first time this season on Nov. 18 against Charlotte. In that game, he managed 10 points with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and a block. He was also 2 of 4 from beyond the arc. He could continue to see big minutes off the bench with the Sixers banged up and is worth taking a flier on in deep leagues as a possible one-week, short-term option. (Availability: 99 percent)
*owned in less than 30 percent of leagues
Top long-term free agent pick ups
1. Allen Iverson, Free Agent : Iverson cleared waivers on Thursday after being released by the Grizzlies earlier in the week. The Knicks are said to be very interested and if that happens, watch out. A.I. would likely get a chance to start again and for one of the most free-flowing offenses in basketball. That would fit his offensive style perfectly and while he could shoot under 40 percent from the field due to the high volume of shots he would be taking, his scoring numbers and assists (he would likely start at point guard) would make him a very strong Fantasy option once again. If he's been discarded, go get him. (Availability: 21 percent)
2. Nate Robinson, Knicks : Sure, the presence of Iverson could stand to have a negative impact on Robinson and he hasn't gotten off to a quality start this season. But Fantasy owners seem to be forgetting how good little Nate can be when he's on a hot streak. He did average a 17-4-4 line just a year ago playing in this very same offense and had runs like he did last February where he averaged 24-5-5. When he gets hot again, you'll want to be the owner who has him in your league. (Availability: 32 percent)
3. Carl Landry, Rockets : Landry is proving to be a go-to scoring option off the Rockets bench. He isn't the most consistent player in the world, but he has scored 20 points four times already this season and 19 points in another game. And he is doing this with just around 25 minutes per game. The Rockets are looking to him to bring scoring off the bench and Fantasy owners should take advantage. (Availability: 37 percent)
Do you have a Fantasy hoops question for our staff? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyHoops@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Waiver Wire in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
