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 10 (Dec. 28-Jan. 3)
1. Beno Udrih, Kings (DEN, PHI, LAL, DAL): Udrih is a favorite go-to guy off the waiver wire for many Fantasy owners. He tends to be up and down, but when he is going well he is a very capable stopgap option. Lately he has been going well and he'll face a favorable four-game slate in Week 10. Udrih has scored 16 or more points in four of his last five games with a handful of assists and rebounds with good three-point shooting and shooting percentages across the board. He's a good steals man and doesn't hurt you in turnovers. He'll face a couple of teams that allow over 100 points per game in a four-game week, making him a solid plug-in play. (Availability: 48 percent)
2. C.J. Miles, Jazz (@MIN, @OKC, DEN): Usually, we'd list a player like Miles -- who is available in over 80 percent leagues -- as a scrapheap option below because this is the type of guy who is available even in deeper leagues. But this guy is somebody we recommend scooping up no matter where he is available. The Jazz have inserted him into the starting lineup for the first time this season and while he's been a starter in the past with mediocre results, here's why we think this time will be different: Last year as a starter, he was really just a place-filler in the first unit who played around 20 minutes per game and did not get many looks in the offense. But recently, his play has inspired confidence from coach Jerry Sloan and he's been getting around 30-35 minutes per game with at least 15 shots in his last two games. He's capable of scoring in the mid-teens with decent rebounding numbers for a guard and great three-point shooting. (Availability: 81 percent)
3. Earl Watson, Pacers (@CHI, MEM, MIN, @NY): Here is another scrapheap option who we are recommending to add in even standard-sized leagues. Watson has replaced T.J. Ford in the starting lineup and the veteran showed what he can do on Tuesday night against a tough opponent in the Celtics. He put up 18 points with 7 rebounds, 6 assists and a steal in 36 minutes. He also chipped in three shots from beyond the arc. It's not all going to be like this going forward for Watson, but he seems to have locked up the starting gig for at least a while longer and we like his matchups in Week 10 against Chicago, Memphis and Minnesota, three teams that are giving up 100 points with regularity. (Availability: 85 percent)
Also consider: Jose Juan Barea, J.J. Redick, Randy Foye
Avoid: Willie Green, Luke Ridnour, Will Bynum
Top Forward Free Agent options for Week 10 (Dec. 28-Jan. 3)
2. Omri Casspi, Kings (DEN, PHI, @LAL, DAL): This rookie has been getting a chance to contribute in Sacramento and has become a fan-favorite as well as winning over the favor of the coaching staff. That's not such an easy task, just ask Spencer Hawes. He has mid-teens scoring ability and even scored 20-plus in back-to-back games last week against the Wizards and Timberwolves. He will face opponents with similar defensive deficiencies in Week 10 in the Nuggets and Sixers in a four-game week. He offers good three-point shooting and scoring with minimal turnovers. (Availability: 58 percent)
2. Kenyon Martin, Nuggets (@SAC, @UTA, PHI): K-Mart is another one of those go-to guys off the waiver wire. As long as he is healthy, he turns in useful numbers in rebounds with the ability to score in double figures when facing favorable matchups. He'll get that this week against two weak defensive teams in Sacramento and Philadelphia. He's getting around 35 minutes per game with double-digit shot attempts. (Availability: 31 percent)
3. Chris Andersen, Nuggets (@SAC, @UTA, PHI):If we like K-Mart's matchups, then obviously we like Andersen's. The Birdman is averaging 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals over his last five games. He is a similar option to Martin this week with offensive upside. (Availability: 67 percent)
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Also consider: Yi Jianlian, Andres Nocioni, Tyler Hansbrough
Avoid: Shane Battier, Chuck Hayes, Jonas Jerebko
Top Center Free Agent options for Week 10 (Dec. 28-Jan. 3)
1. Roy Hibbert, Pacers (@CHI, MEM, MIN, @NY): Clearly, we like the Pacers in Week 10. We have addressed their matchups, but in Hibbert's case it's more than that. The big man, who was a force in the early part of the season when Troy Murphy was hurt, is re-emerging as a viable Fantasy option after about a month of down performances. He has gotten 29-plus minutes in three straight games for the first time since Murphy's return and turned in back-to-back strong performances against the Spurs and Bucks before being held to a poor performance against a tough Celtics team Tuesday night. Against the Spurs and Bucks, Hibbert saw 15 shots in each game and managed 20 and 16 points with 7 rebounds both times. Against the Celtics, he shot just 2 of 8 and never got going offensively. Even in that game, however, he managed 6 blocks and has totaled 13 in his last three. Don't get scared off by the poor game against the Celtics; Hibbert should have a much easier time against his opponents in Week 10. (Availability: 30 percent)
2. Erick Dampier, Mavericks (@HOU, @SAC, @LAL): The veteran big man has had his moments this season and he's on another solid run. He is averaging 10.6 rebounds, 8.6 points and 1.2 blocks over his last five games and he'll face very favorable matchups in Houston and Sacramento this week. He turned in 14 rebounds and 9 points with 3 blocks against the Rockets just last week and the Kings remain one of the worst defensive teams in the league. He may even chip in a double-digit scoring performance or two this week to go with the boards and blocks. (Availability: 45 percent)
3. Tyson Chandler, Bobcats (MIL, @TOR,@MIA, @CLE):Chandler suffered a sprained foot in Tuesday's game that will need to be monitored over the remainder of the week, otherwise he would be higher on this list.He had posted double-doubles in two of his previous three games and is turning things around after a dismal start. He has 10 or more rebounds in five games this month and is chipping in around 10 points per game. He'll always be useful in blocks and if he's available for all four games in Week 10, we like him as a one-week fill in. (Availability: 52 percent)
Also consider: Shaquille O'Neal, Joel Przybilla, Rasheed Wallace
Avoid: Spencer Hawes, Ben Wallace, Brad Miller
Top scrapheap free agents for Week 10 (Dec. 28-Jan. 3)*
1. Jose Juan Barea, Mavericks (@HOU, @SAC, @LAL): The Mavs are giving J.J. around 30 minutes per game and a considerable workload in the offense. He is averaging 16.4 points over his last five games and can help you in three-point shooting. (Availability: 76 percent)
2. J.J. Redick, Magic (MIL, @MIN, @CHI): Redick has been on fire over the past couple of weeks, especially from beyond the arc. He will face a couple of teams that have had problems defending against the three in Minnesota and Chicago and could turn in a decent week. He is 10 of 16 from beyond the arc in his last five games. (Availability: 91 percent)
3. Nick Young, Wizards (@MEM, OKC, SA): The Wizards are plugging Randy Foye into the starting lineup, but it has been Nick Young who has been chipping in the decent numbers at shooting guard in the last couple of games. Young had 20 points and 5 rebounds against Phoenix on Saturday and followed that up with 13 points against the Sixers Tuesday. He could be useful in a pinch in deeper leagues as long as he continues to see 20-plus minutes. (Availability: 90 percent)
*owned in less than 30 percent of leagues
Top long-term free agent pick ups
1. Leandro Barbosa, Suns : Barbosa expects to return on Christmas Day and could be ready to plug into lineups soon after. He hasn't been particularly productive this season, but he was playing through injury and if he's healthy now, he could easily return to the 15-3-3 range he's been around the last three seasons with Phoenix. He's a good three-point shooter and is a strong addition in category-based play. (Availability: 59 percent)
2. Tyrus Thomas, Bulls : Thomas has been a very frustrating player to own in Fantasy leagues throughout his young career, but part of the reason is because he has shown an ability to produce solid statistical totals and just has not been able to be consistent. Don't forget the strong run he had last February when he averaged 15.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.5 steals. That ability is still in there somewhere. (Availability: 40 percent)
3. Yi Jianlian, Nets : Yi is expected back in the Nets lineup Wednesday night and could be a highly added player over the weekend if he gets off to a strong start. Beat the rush. He's no superstar, but the Nets are in desperate need of scoring and Yi could average around 10-13 points with good rebounding numbers. He was averaging 7.6 rebounds over his first four games prior to getting hurt. (Availability: 56 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. You can now also follow Sergio on Twitter (@CBSGonzalez)
