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Fantasy Basketball: Josh Smith and Other January 23 Studs

60 days ago by

Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors 7
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: January 23 Best Performers

January 23
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

From great scoring performances to solid showings on defense featuring plenty of steals and blocks, elite individual performances can help owners win categories in Week 13 matchups. On Tuesday, January 22, PG Kyrie Irving, SF Kevin Durant and PF Ersan Ilyasova made up the top three studs from yesterday. From Irving’s 40-point outburst against the Boston Celtics to Durant’s well-rounded attack featuring five made 3-pointers against the Los Angeles Clippers, these players certainly provided great fantasy performances for their owners in Week 12.

With 11 games on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, fantasy squads had plenty of opportunities to improve their statistics in different categories. Who else provided fantasy owners with great numbers on this day of NBA action?

Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Honorable Mentions:

10. PF Darrell Arthur – 20 points, nine rebounds

9. PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge – 27 points, six rebounds

8. C Tiago Splitter – 25 points (5-6 free throws), seven rebounds, two steals

7. PG/SG Ramon Sessions – 27 points (6-6 free throws), five assists, two steals

6. PG Stephen Curry – 31 points (6-6 free throws, three made 3-pointers), seven assists, four steals

* Player statistics are accurate as of Wednesday, January 23, 2013. Player ranks are determined according to ESPN’s Daily Leaders list. FGM-A = Field Goals Made-Attempted, FTM-A = Free Throws Made-Attempted, 3PM-A = 3-Pointers Made-Attempted, GP = Games Played, PTS = Points, REB = Rebounds, AST = Assists, STL = Steals, BLK = Blocks, TO = Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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5. PG Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Parker
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 36 minutes, 10-18 FGM-A, 4-7 FTM-A, 0-1 3PM-A, 24 PTS, 4 REB, 13 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

Parker scored at least 20 points in his fourth straight game in a win over the New Orleans Hornets. Playing at an incredibly high level as of late, he has been extremely-effective as a scorer and passer.

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4. PG/SG Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

Wade
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 40 minutes, 13-19 FGM-A, 9-15 FTM-A, 0-1 3PM-A, 35 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO

In an overtime game against the Toronto Raptors, Wade took advantage of his extra playing time by scoring a season-best 35 points in the win. His overall numbers have been great as his health improves.

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3. SF/PF LeBron James, Miami Heat

James
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 45 minutes, 12-23 FGM-A, 6-7 FTM-A, 1-5 3PM-A, 31 PTS, 10 REB, 11 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO

In a closely-contest game, James recorded his 34th career triple-double against the Raptors. Scoring 31 points in this game, he also moved past Tom Chambers on the all-time scoring list.

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2. SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 39 minutes, 10-17 FGM-A, 11-12 FTM-A, 2-3 3PM-A, 33 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK, 6 TO

In a matchup between the two of the best teams in the West, Durant has a very efficient outing in a loss. Serving more as a facilitator and making plays in defense, his effort were not enough at the end of the game, for he missed crucial shots in the fourth quarter.

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1. SF/PF Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Smith
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 38 minutes, 15-24 FGM-A, 0-2 FTM-A, 0-2 3PM-A, 30 PTS, 13 REB, 8 AST, 0 STL, 3 BLK, 7 TO

After a poor outing in his last game, Smith went berserk against the Charlotte Bobcats by having his first 30-point game in about a month. Just shy of a triple-double, he made up for injuries in the frontcourt and looks to rebound as a great fantasy option after his suspension last week.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups, Deep League

60 days ago by

Al-Farouq Aminu New Orleans Hornets
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 13, Deep League

Waiver
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

In deeper fantasy basketball league formats, finding useful players on the waiver wire can be a tough task. With most popular free agent choices already owned, owners in deeper leagues often have to dig at even less popular names for players who can provide some sort of fantasy production.

In Week 12, lesser-owned players like SF Al-Farouq Aminu, PG Mario Chalmers and PG/SG Devin Harris found ways to produce for their respective NBA teams as well as for fantasy owners willing to start these players. Unless they are already the owners of these players, owners in deeper formats do not usually have the luxury of finding these players on the waiver wire in Week 13.

Whether these players have recently obtained a starting role, either short-term or long-term, or have become the likely beneficiary from a teammate’s injury, deep league waiver wire pickups can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing a week in the long run. Here’s a look at five players, one eligible at each position, who are owned in less than 10% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues who are worth adding for Week 13 and for future weeks.

* The following players are all owned in under 10% of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Monday, January 21, 2013. MPG: Minutes Per Game, FG%: Field Goal Percentage, FT%: Free Throw Percentage, 3PTM: 3-Pointers Made, PTS: Points, REB: Rebounds, AST: Assists, ST: Steals, BLK: Blocks, TO: Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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PG Will Bynum, Detroit Pistons

Bynum
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

PG Will Bynum (5% owned)

Promising performance from Week 12: January 17 – 30 minutes, 22 points (two made 3-pointers), two rebounds, four assists, one steal, three turnovers

A solid scoring option off the bench, Bynum had a big performance in Week 12 with Rodney Stuckey out and Brandon Knight struggling. Given the team’s struggles at the guard positions, he could build himself a nice niche on nights when he’s on his game.

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SG Richard Hamilton, Chicago Bulls

Hamilton
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

SG Richard Hamilton (9% owned)

Promising performance from Week 12: January 16 – 18 minutes, 15 points (1-1 free throws, two made 3-pointers), one rebound, five assists, one turnover

Even though he’s still making his way back from a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, Hamilton has been solid in January. Despite the limited minutes, he’s been a good scorer and an above-average passer this month.

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SG/SF Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

Butler
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

SG/SF Jimmy Butler (2% owned)

Promising performance from Week 12: January 19 – 48 minutes, 18 points (8-8 free throws), eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, one turnover

With Luol Deng out, Butler has made several starts for the Chicago Bulls. Playing heavy minutes, he has really showcased his potential. As a scorer, rebounder and defender, his value has certainly started to rise with increased opportunities.

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SF/PF Rashard Lewis, Miami Heat

Lewis
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Rashard Lewis (9% owned)

Promising performance from Week 12: January 14 – 27 minutes, 13 points (3-3 free throws, two made 3-pointers), four rebounds, one steal, one block, one turnover

Out of the rotation not too long ago, a Shane Battier injury has given Lewis a glimpse at playing time once again. A decent stream option in deeper leagues, his value is largely dependent on whether he receives playing time in a game.

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PF/C Boris Diaw, San Antonio Spurs

Diaw
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Boris Diaw (5% owned)

Promising performance from Week 12: January 16 – 29 minutes, 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal

Diaw gets minutes but puts up underwhelming numbers. That being said, he’s a good choice for rebounds and assists in the deepest of leagues.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
Check Out the Top 20 Trade Pieces in Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball: Ersan Ilyasova and Other January 19 Studs

64 days ago by

Brandon Jennings Milwaukee Bucks 4
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: January 19 Best Performers

January 19
Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

From great scoring performances to solid showings on defense featuring plenty of steals and blocks, elite individual performances can help owners win categories in Week 12 matchups. On Friday, January 17, SF/PF Kevin Durant, PG Jrue Holiday and SF/PF Thaddeus Young made up the top three studs from yesterday. From Durant’s career-high 52 points against the Dallas Mavericks to Holiday’s consistent high-scoring ways, these players certainly provided great fantasy performances for their owners in Week 12.

With eight games on Saturday, January 19, 2013, fantasy squads had plenty of opportunities to improve their statistics in different categories. Who else provided fantasy owners with great numbers on this day of NBA action?

Friday, January 18, 2013 Honorable Mentions:

10. PF/C LaMarcus Aldridge – 20 points (10-10 free throws), 14 rebounds, two steals

9. SF/PF Andrei Kirilenko – 21 points (5-8 free throws), 11 rebounds, three steals

8. PG Chris Paul – 22 points (8-9 free throws, two made 3-pointers), 11 assists

7. SG/SF Klay Thompson – 29 points (five made 3-pointers), three rebounds

6. PG Brandon Jennings – 30 points (12-15 free throws), eight assists, three steals

* Player statistics are accurate as of Saturday, January 19, 2013. Player ranks are determined according to ESPN’s Daily Leaders list. FGM-A = Field Goals Made-Attempted, FTM-A = Free Throws Made-Attempted, 3PM-A = 3-Pointers Made-Attempted, GP = Games Played, PTS = Points, REB = Rebounds, AST = Assists, STL = Steals, BLK = Blocks, TO = Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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5. PG Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Parker
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 33 minutes, 10-22 FGM-A, 3-5 FTM-A, 0-1 3PM-A, 23 PTS, 4 REB, 12 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

Already his third double-double of the month, Parker helped extend his team’s winning streak with a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Another great aspect of his big performance was his solo turnover, his least since January 5.

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4. PG Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Lillard
Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 42 minutes, 9-21 FGM-A, 5-6 FTM-A, 3-9 3PM-A, 26 PTS, 3 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO

While he put together a nice well-rounded performance and his first double-double since January 7, Lillard had another weak outing from the field. That being said, this double-digit assist game was his sixth of his young, promising career.

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3. PF/C Anthony Davis, New Orleans Hornets

Davis
Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 32 minutes, 9-12 FGM-A, 2-7 FTM-A, 0-0 3PM-A, 20 PTS, 12 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 4 BLK, 1 TO

Davis dominated the Golden State Warriors and really played well aside from his rough time at the free throw line. This line also gave him his back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his career.

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2. PG/SG Jarrett Jack, Golden State Warriors

Jack
Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 36 minutes, 7-13 FGM-A, 10-11 FTM-A, 1-3 3PM-A, 25 PTS, 2 REB, 12 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

As for the leader on the winning team of the Warriors game, Jack came off the bench with Stephen Curry returning, yet he still had a dominant showing against his former team. Whether off the bench or starting, he has been hot for fantasy purposes.

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1. PF Ersan Ilyasova, Milwaukee Bucks

Ilyasova
Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 26 minutes, 10-14 FGM-A, 4-4 FTM-A, 3-3 3PM-A, 27 PTS, 14 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO

After a stretch of four games with very little scoring or rebounding, Ilyasova churns out a big outing against the Portland Trail Blazers. Consistency aside, this game showed owners that he could put up similar numbers to last season.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
Check Out the Top 20 Trade Pieces in Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball 2012: Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups

64 days ago by

Bradley Beal Washington Wizards 2
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 13

Waiver
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Success in fantasy basketball leagues is often dictated by finding useful players on the waiver wire. With many of the most popular free agent choices already owned, owners sometimes have to look to other players who can provide some sort of fantasy production.

In Week 12, lesser-owned players like PG Darren Collison, SG Bradley Beal, PF/C Elton Brand and PG Jose Calderon and all had great weeks for their respective NBA teams as well as for fantasy owners playing these players. Chances are these players are already owned in most leagues, thus owners have to look at other players on the waiver wire in Week 13.

Whether these players have recently obtained a starting role, either short-term or long-term, or have become the likely beneficiary from a teammate’s injury, valuable waiver wire pickups can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing on a weekly basis. Here’s a look at five players, one eligible at each position, who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues who are worth adding for Week 13 and for future weeks.

* The following players are all owned in under 50% of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Friday, January 18, 2013. MPG: Minutes Per Game, FG%: Field Goal Percentage, FT%: Free Throw Percentage, 3PTM: 3-Pointers Made, PTS: Points, REB: Rebounds, AST: Assists, ST: Steals, BLK: Blocks, TO: Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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SF Al-Farouq Aminu, New Orleans Hornets

Aminu
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

SF Al-Farouq Aminu (24% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 26:23 MPG, .463 FG%, .762 FT%, 0.1 3PTM, 7.6 PTS, 7.1 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.3 ST, 0.5 BLK, 1.8 TO

Great performance from Week 12: January 16 – 27 minutes, 18 points (12-13 free throws), nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, two turnovers

Aminu has put up monster rebounding numbers as of late, for he had a streak earlier in the month of five consecutive games with double-digit rebounding. After struggling through December, he looks like a renewed player in January as both a rebounder and in the defensive categories.

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PF/C Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors

Johnson
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Amir Johnson (45% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 25:11 MPG, .547 FG%, .700 FT%, 0.1 3PTM, 9.0 PTS, 6.3 REB, 1.5 AST, 1.1 ST, 1.0 BLK, 1.2 TO

Great performance from Week 12: January 15 – 26 minutes, 15 points (3-6 free throws), six rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, two turnovers

Johnson has started to play really well as of late and has always been a great contributor in all categories. Given Aaron Gray’s recent injury, he has seen some time as a starter and should continue making waves in the fantasy world as a solid scorer, very good rebounder and balanced defender.

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PG/SG Devin Harris, Atlanta Hawks

Harris
Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

PG/SG Devin Harris (21% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 23:36 MPG, .448 FG%, .660 FT%, 1.2 3PTM, 8.5 PTS, 1.9 REB, 2.6 AST, 1.1 ST, 0.2 BLK, 1.4 TO

Great performance from Week 12: January 16 – 35 minutes, 18 points (4-5 free throws, two made 3-pointers), four rebounds, five assists, four steals, three turnovers

A recent starter, Harris showed glimpses of greatness in back-to-back games against the Brooklyn Nets. Averaging 17.5 points and four assists in each game, he fantasy stock is quickly rising with Lou Williams injuring his knee and being declared out for the rest of the season.

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PG Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat

Chalmers
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

PG Mario Chalmers (43% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 25:53 MPG, .414 FG%, .706 FT%, 1.4 3PTM, 7.8 PTS, 2.3 REB, 3.4 AST, 1.6 ST, 0.2 BLK, 1.6 TO

Great performance from Week 12: January 16 – 27 minutes, 15 points (1-2 free throws, four made 3-pointers), one rebound, one assist, three steals, one turnover

Given his recent 10 3-pointer game against the Sacramento Kings, Chalmers can certainly have great shooting days in bunches. While he is not a consistent scorer or passer as a point guard, he provides value in various categories in every game, especially with his high number of steals.

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PF/C Tyler Zeller, Cleveland Cavaliers

Zeller
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

PF/C Tyler Zeller (13% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 27:06 MPG, .416 FG%, .747 FT%, 0.0 3PTM, 8.2 PTS, 5.8 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.6 ST, 0.9 BLK, 1.4 TO

Great performance from Week 12: January 14 – 34 minutes, 13 points (7-8 free throws), six rebounds, one steal, four blocks

Zeller has seen plenty of minutes at center with Anderson Varejao out. While he hasn’t played the best with this opportunity, he has slowly improved his numbers and could be a nice back-end addition if he can provide more reliable production.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
Check Out the Top 20 Trade Pieces in Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball: Kevin Durant and Other January 18 Studs

64 days ago by

Rajon Rondo Boston Celtics 4
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: January 18 Best Performers

January 18
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

From great scoring performances to solid showings on defense featuring plenty of steals and blocks, elite individual performances can help owners win categories in Week 12 matchups. On Thursday, January 17, SF/PF LeBron James, PG/SG Dwyane Wade and PF/C Larry Sanders made up the top three studs from yesterday. From James’ 39-point outburst against the Los Angeles Lakers to Wade’s balanced performance in the same game, these players certainly provided great fantasy performances for their owners in Week 12.

With nine games on Friday, January 18, 2013, fantasy squads had plenty of opportunities to improve their statistics in different categories. Who else provided fantasy owners with great numbers on this day of NBA action?

Friday, January 18, 2013 Honorable Mentions:

10. PG Kemba Walker – 25 points (7-9 free throws, two made 3-pointers), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals

9. SG/SF Vince Carter – 29 points (5-7 free throws, four made 3-pointers), two steals

8. PG/SG Russell Westbrook – 31 points (7-9 free throws), six rebounds, six assists

7. PF David West – 20 points (4-6 free throws), 11 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks

6. PG Rajon Rondo – 30 points (6-9 free throws), seven assists, two steals

* Player statistics are accurate as of Friday, January 18, 2013. Player ranks are determined according to ESPN’s Daily Leaders list. FGM-A = Field Goals Made-Attempted, FTM-A = Free Throws Made-Attempted, 3PM-A = 3-Pointers Made-Attempted, GP = Games Played, PTS = Points, REB = Rebounds, AST = Assists, STL = Steals, BLK = Blocks, TO = Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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5. PG Ty Lawson, Denver Nuggets

Lawson
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 36 minutes, 11-16 FGM-A, 3-4 FTM-A, 4-5 3PM-A, 29 PTS, 1 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO

Lawson may have broken out of his early-season woes with a big outing on Friday night. Despite the big effort in which he went 11 for 16 from the field, his team still lost against the lowly Washington Wizards.

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4. SG/SF Paul George, Indiana Pacers

George
Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 43 minutes, 11-19 FGM-A, 2-2 FTM-A, 7-10 3PM-A, 31 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 5 STL, 1 BLK, 5 TO

George put up another huge performance for the Indiana Pacers with seven made 3-pointers and a team-high 31 points. While he didn’t record a double-double like he did in the last three games, he put together a well-rounded performance that is obviously huge for fantasy owners.

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3. SF/PF Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers

Young
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 45 minutes, 13-19 FGM-A, 1-2 FTM-A, 0-0 3PM-A, 27 PTS, 14 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO

In an overtime win that required him to play 45 minutes, Young put up his 10th double-double of the year with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Scoring more as of late without damaging his shooting percentage, he’s really stepping his game up as a versatile and valuable fantasy option.

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2. PG Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers

Holiday
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 46 minutes, 13-23 FGM-A, 6-8 FTM-A, 1-4 3PM-A, 33 PTS, 5 REB, 14 AST, 3 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO

While Young went to work in the post, Holiday managed and ran the Philadelphia 76ers to the win. Scoring 33 points and handing out 14 assists, this is already the second 30-point performance in the past week for the breakout point guard.

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1. SF Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Durant
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 50 minutes, 13-31 FGM-A, 21-21 FTM-A, 5-9 3PM-A, 52 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO

Durant set a career-high with 52 points on Friday against the Dallas Mavericks, a feat that cannot be ignored given his scoring prowess. To get there, he made all 21 of his free throws and attempted 31 shots on his monumental night.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
Check Out the Top 20 Trade Pieces in Fantasy Basketball

20 Fantasy Basketball Players to Pick Up Before All-Star Weekend

65 days ago by

LeBron James Miami Heat 9
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Fantasy Basketball: Post All-Star Weekend Pickup Targets

All-Star
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA All-Star Weekend is quickly approaching as evidenced by the recent announcement of this year’s All-Star starters. In the West, the starters will be Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard. In the East, Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett will start.

The All-Star Weekend is often viewed as the halfway point of the season. By this point, teams get a clearer picture of whether they’re contenders or pretenders for the playoffs. This weekend is also a great time to assess the status of fantasy basketball rosters.

While owners will not find All-Star quality players on the waiver wire, there are always valuable players available. From guards who are great scorers providing assists and steals to forwards and centers who have a great field goal percentage, collect rebounds and block shots. Whether there are players who are valuable in one or two categories to great all-around contributors, now is a great time to look for players to pick up.

When thinking about players to pick up, it is very important to pick out the right players to add. At this time of the year, owners sometimes make irrational decisions and drop players that later play well in the second-half of the season. Whether they’re players who have recently struggled or injured stars with great long-term future value, there are many options and ways to improve a team. Consider these 20 fantasy basketball trade options as players to pick up before All-Star Weekend.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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20. SF/PF Earl Clark, Los Angees Lakers

Clark
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Clark has recently seized his opportunity to play in place of Pau Gasol after doing little on the bench. Now an important part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation, he could be a nice fantasy performer in the second half of the season.

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19. SF/PF Lamar Odom, Los Angeles Clippers

Odom
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Struggling to find his place in the first part of the season, Odom is starting to find his niche on a deep Los Angeles Clippers roster. Given his abilities, he could be worth the risk in the coming months.

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18. PG/SG Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons

Stuckey
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Despite his skill level, Stuckey has had a disappointing year. A well-rounded contributor when on the top of his game, he will continue to have opportunities to produce in Detroit.

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17. PG/SG Austin Rivers, New Orleans Hornets

Rivers
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

While Eric Gordon’s return cuts into some of his playing time, Rivers has actually started to play better in his rookie season. If Gordon were to suffer any setbacks, he would certainly reap in the rewards.

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16. PF Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics

Sullinger
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Sullinger has shown spurts of solid production. Seeing about 25 minutes a game recently, this amount of playing time can help him remain a productive fantasy option for the rest of the season.

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15. PF Kris Humphries, Brooklyn Nets

Humphries
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Supplanted by Andray Blatche in the starting lineup, Humphries is still a key bench player and a great rebounder. Just on rebounds alone, he can be a good fantasy provider. If he can bump up his scoring off the bench, he could certainly provide great value to owners after the All-Star Weekend.

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14. SG Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

Beal
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Fully taking advantage of Jordan Crawford’s injury, Beal has played well in his first games alongside John Wall. With little going well for the Washington Wizards, his role in a dynamic backcourt with Wall could really boost his production.

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13. SG/SF Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets

Brewer
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Brewer has really developed a nice role with the Denver Nuggets. Shooting the ball better than he’s had than most of his career, he’s a versatile player who could hold value past the All-Star break.

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12. SG/SF Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Leonard
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

More suitable for deeper leagues as a well-round option, Leonard makes the most of his minutes. Despite not seeing a great deal of minutes on any given day, he’s particularly valuable as a selective shooter with good defensive numbers.

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11. SG/SF Landry Fields, Toronto Raptors

Fields
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Fields has yet to fully acclimate to his new team. After half a season in Toronto, now may be the time for him to break out and put up some of the numbers he achieved with the New York Knicks. He’s an excellent rebounder for a guard.

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10. PG/SG Luke Ridnour, Minnesota Timberwolves

Ridnour
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the most battered teams of the season. With various injuries all over the roster, Ridnour has been one of the few constants on the team. The injuries provide a reliable fantasy opportunity for him.

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9. SG Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers

Waiters
Eric P. Mull-USA TODAY Sports

As with many rookies, it takes time for them to get acclimated to the pros. Waiters appears to be reaching that point. Similar to Beal in Washington, Waiters has a similar situation alongside Kyrie Irving, another great, young point guard.

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8. PF/C Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers

Varejao
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Also in Cleveland is an injured big man who was playing great prior to his significant injury. Varejao has been dropped by many owners and will certainly be a huge contributor for owners when he does return.

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7. PF/C Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Raptors

Bargnani
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Another injured center-eligible player is Bargnani. Expected to make his return right before the All-Star Weekend, adding him now will give owners a nice upgrade regardless of who he replaces on a fantasy roster.

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6. PF/C Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors

Johnson
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Bargnani’s replacement, Johnson has displayed few weaknesses in his game this season. A solid scorer, plus rebounder and very good defender, he could be a good second-half option if he continues to receive playing time.

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5. C Andew Bynum, Philadelphia 76ers

Bynum
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest injury story of the season, Bynum has shown favorable progress recently. If he’s able to make a return this year, adding this once-dominant star could pay off big dividends for owners.

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4. PG/SG Avery Bradley, Boston Celtics

Bradley
Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

From surgeries during the offseason to setbacks in his return, there has been little to judge Bradley on this season. That being said, he is there starting shooting guard when healthy and has good potential relatively available in most fantasy leagues.

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3. SG/SF Wilson Chandler, Denver Nuggets

Chandler
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Another wing player dealing with injuries this season, Chandler provides a nice spark for the Nuggets in his recent return. Coming back from a hip injury, he will see more minutes in the second half of the season and gain more fantasy value.

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2. PG/SG Iman Shumpert, New York Knicks

Shumpert
Paul Cunningham-USA TODAY Sports

Continuing the trend of injured players on this list, Shumpert has only recently made his debut. In good physical condition, his rookie season production is a promising sign for this solid defender.

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1. SF/PF Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves

Williams
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

With Kevin Love out for most of the rest of the regular season, Williams has more than just opportunity in Minnesota. As the No. 2 pick of last year’s draft, he has so much promise from a fantasy standpoint and could see a big rise in production after the All-Star Weekend.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
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Fantasy Basketball: Carlos Boozer and Other January 16 Studs

67 days ago by

Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder 6
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: January 16 Best Performers

January 16
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

From great scoring performances to solid showings on defense featuring plenty of steals and blocks, elite individual performances can help owners win categories in Week 12 matchups. On Tuesday, January 15, C Dwight Howard, PG Jrue Holiday and SG Kobe Bryant made up the top three studs from yesterday. From Howard’s return to prominence with 31 points and 16 rebounds against the Milwaukee Bucks to Holiday’s big output in a big loss to the surging New Orleans Hornets, these players certainly provided great fantasy performances for their owners in Week 12.

With 10 games on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, fantasy squads had plenty of opportunities to improve their statistics in different categories. Who else provided fantasy owners with great numbers on this day of NBA action?

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 Honorable Mentions:

10. PF/C Tim Duncan – 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, five blocks

9. SG/SF Tyreke Evans – 21 points (4-7 free throws), eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals

8. PF/C DeMarcus Cousins – 21 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three steals

7. PG Kyle Lowry – 26 points (8-11 free throws, two made 3-pointers), five rebounds, seven assists, two steals

6. PG Russell Westbrook – 32 points (8-9 free throws), four assists

* Player statistics are accurate as of Wednesday, January 16, 2013. Player ranks are determined according to ESPN’s Daily Leaders list. FGM-A = Field Goals Made-Attempted, FTM-A = Free Throws Made-Attempted, 3PM-A = 3-Pointers Made-Attempted, GP = Games Played, PTS = Points, REB = Rebounds, AST = Assists, STL = Steals, BLK = Blocks, TO = Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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5. SG Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

Beal
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 41 minutes, 9-14 FGM-A, 2-2 FTM-A, 6-7 3PM-A, 26 PTS, 3 REB, 6 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO

Beal had his best night of the season with a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers in the game. With the return of John Wall, he has really started to flourish in the backcourt to be more than just a shooter.

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4. PG Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

Irving
Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 39 minutes, 13-24 FGM-A, 4-4 FTM-A, 1-4 3PM-A, 31 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 4 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

Irving bounced back from a poor performance in his last game with a very strong outing in a win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Being valuable on defense with four steals, he has been an especially good solid scorer and stealer over the past two weeks.

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3. SF/PF LeBron James, Miami Heat

James
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 31 minutes, 11-20 FGM-A, 2-3 FTM-A, 1-5 3PM-A, 25 PTS, 7 REB, 10 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

In a blowout of the Golden State Warriors, James reached two momentous career milestones. By recording a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists, he became the youngest player to score 20,000 points in a career and also reached the 5,000-assist mark.

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2. PG Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks

Teague
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 37 minutes, 12-18 FGM-A, 1-2 FTM-A, 3-5 3PM-A, 28 PTS, 4 REB, 11 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

Another player with a career-high performance on this day, Teague’s 28 points helped him stand out over Devin Harris, who he’s been splitting playing time with at times. This game helped break a cold streak for the point guard, as he was averaging just 9.8 points a game in January prior to this contest.

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1. PF/C Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls

Boozer
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Statistics: 41 minutes, 16-24 FGM-A, 4-4 FTM-A, 0-1 3PM-A, 36 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

Boozer was no match for the Toronto Raptors, as he scored a season-high 36 points and recorded his 21st double-double of the season. He has been one of the most productive fantasy players of January, as he’s now had nine double-doubles in the last 10 games.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
Check Out the Top 20 Trade Pieces in Fantasy Basketball

Fantasy Basketball 2012: Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups, Deep League

67 days ago by

Derrick Williams Minnesota Timberwolves
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 12, Deep League

Waiver
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In deeper fantasy basketball league formats, finding useful players on the waiver wire can be a tough task. With most popular free agent choices already owned, owners in deeper leagues often have to dig at even less popular names for players who can provide some sort of fantasy production.

In Week 11, lesser-owned players like SF/PF Derrick Williams, C Tiago Splitter and PF Jared Sullinger found ways to produce for their respective NBA teams as well as for fantasy owners willing to start these players. Unless they are already the owners of these players, owners in deeper formats do not usually have the luxury of finding these players on the waiver wire in Week 12.

Whether these players have recently obtained a starting role, either short-term or long-term, or have become the likely beneficiary from a teammate’s injury, deep league waiver wire pickups can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing a week in the long run. Here’s a look at five players, one eligible at each position, who are owned in less than 10% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues who are worth adding for Week 12 and for future weeks.

* The following players are all owned in under 10% of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Sunday, January 13, 2013. MPG: Minutes Per Game, FG%: Field Goal Percentage, FT%: Free Throw Percentage, 3PTM: 3-Pointers Made, PTS: Points, REB: Rebounds, AST: Assists, ST: Steals, BLK: Blocks, TO: Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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PF John Henson, Milwaukee Bucks

Henson
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

PF John Henson (7% owned)

Promising performance from Week 11: January 13 – 22 minutes, 19 points (3-4 free throws), six rebounds, two blocks, two turnovers

Henson has really started to shine for the Milwaukee Bucks. Starting to earn morn minutes for the Bucks, he has been a better scorer, rebounder and shot blocker over the past few weeks. His fantasy stock is definitely rising and is worth consideration in deeper leagues.

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C Ian Mahinmi, Indiana Pacers

Mahinmi
Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

C Ian Mahinmi (1% owned)

Promising performance from Week 11: January 12 – 26 minutes, five points (1-1 free throws), eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, three blocks

Starting center Roy Hibbert hasn’t been the same this season, which has provided an opportunity for Mahinmi. While he hasn’t been the most consistent fantasy option either, he has been a solid bench option who can add some nice rebounding and defensive numbers.

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PG/SG Darius Morris, Los Angeles Lakers

Morris
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

PG/SG Darius Morris (0% owned)

Promising performance from Week 11: January 13 – 20 minutes, 14 points (2-4 free throws, two made 3-pointers), one assist, one steal, one turnover

Given the team’s injuries and struggles, Morris has developed into a nice contributor on a team filled with All-Stars. Whether it’s as the team’s point guard or as a good defender, he has seen good minutes in his second season and is certainly in a good position for use in deeper leagues.

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SF/PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Milwuakee Bucks

Mbah a Moute
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (3% owned)

Promising performance from Week 11: January 11 – 22 minutes, six points (2-2 free throws), six rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, two turnovers

Starting for the Bucks due to his defense, Mbah a Moute sees limited minutes considering he’s a starter. That being said, he has been shooting better and has been a good rebounder at the small forward position.

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SG Roger Mason, New Orleans Hornets

Mason
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

SG Roger Mason (1% owned)

Promising performance from Week 11: January 9 – 16 minutes, 17 points (2-2 free throws, three made 3-pointers), five rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block

Known for going on hot stretches, Mason is one of the major scorers off the New Orleans Hornets bench. A good 3-point shooter averaging nearly 20 minutes a game, he’s an overlooked scoring guard with Eric Gordon back in the fold.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
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Fantasy Basketball 2012: Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups

70 days ago by

Nikola Pekovic Minnesota Timberwolves 2
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Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Week 12

Waiver
Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Success in fantasy basketball leagues is often dictated by finding useful players on the waiver wire. With many of the most popular free agent choices already owned, owners sometimes have to look to other players who can provide some sort of fantasy production.

In Week 11, lesser-owned players like PF/C Larry Sanders, C Nikola Pekovic, SG J.J. Redick and SG/SF Gordon Hayward and all had great weeks for their respective NBA teams as well as for fantasy owners playing these players. Chances are these players are already owned in most leagues, thus owners have to look at other players on the waiver wire in Week 12.

Whether these players have recently obtained a starting role, either short-term or long-term, or have become the likely beneficiary from a teammate’s injury, valuable waiver wire pickups can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing on a weekly basis. Here’s a look at five players, one eligible at each position, who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo! Sports fantasy basketball leagues who are worth adding for Week 12 and for future weeks.

* The following players are all owned in under 50% of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues. The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Saturday, January 12, 2013. MPG: Minutes Per Game, FG%: Field Goal Percentage, FT%: Free Throw Percentage, 3PTM: 3-Pointers Made, PTS: Points, REB: Rebounds, AST: Assists, ST: Steals, BLK: Blocks, TO: Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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SF/PF Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves

Williams
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

SF/PF Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves (22% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 18:08 MPG, .432 FG%, .743 FT%, 0.8 3PTM, 9.0 PTS, 4.3 REB, 0.4 AST, 0.4 ST, 0.5 BLK, 1.0 TO

Great performance from Week 11: January 9 against the Oklahoma City Thunder – 28 minutes, 14 points, 11 rebounds, one steal, one turnover

With Kevin Love out for the next few months, Williams should be the biggest benefactor in his absence. Having little fantasy value earlier in the season, he is currently playing some of his best basketball of the season and should be a more consistent contributor in the coming weeks.

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C Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs

Splitter
Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

C Tiago Splitter, San Antonio Spurs (20% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 21:41 MPG, .581 FG%, .748 FT%, 0.0 3PTM, 9.6 PTS, 5.2 REB, 1.4 AST, 0.7 ST, 0.8 BLK, 1.1 TO

Great performance from Week 11: January 9 against the Los Angeles Lakers – 35 minutes, 14 points (4-4 free throws), 14 rebounds, one block, one turnover

Starting for the Spurs at center over the past month, Splitter has really grown into a good fantasy option. Rebounding better since joining the starting lineup, his minutes have seen a big increase and he has been valuable for his good shooting percentages and lack of turnovers.

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PG/SG Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets

Miller
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

PG/SG Andre Miller, Denver Nuggets (48% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 25:37 MPG, .469 FG%, .866 FT%, 0.2 3PTM, 9.2 PTS, 2.8 REB, 5.8 AST, 0.8 ST, 0.1 BLK, 2.3 TO

Great performance from Week 11: January 9 against the Orlando Magic – 29 minutes, 18 points (2-4 free throws), four rebounds, four assists, one turnover

Despite backing up Ty Lawson, Miller continues to put up useful numbers every night. Now that he is starting to take more shot attempts and earn more assists, he is playing at a high level that is good for any team.

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PF Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics

Sullinger
Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

PF Jared Sullinger, Boston Celtics (16% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 19:18 MPG, .500 FG%, .780 FT%, 0.0 3PTM, 6.1 PTS, 5.9 REB, 0.8 AST, 0.4 ST, 0.5 BLK, 0.6 TO

Great performance from Week 11: January 9 against the Phoenix Suns – 34 minutes, 12 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block

Sullinger has started to gain a larger role in the Celtics rotation. This rookie has started to emerge as a good source of points and rebounds and is someone to watch to see whether he maintains this production down the line.

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SG/SF Alan Anderson, Toronto Raptors

Anderson
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

SG/SF Alan Anderson, Toronto Raptors (14% owned)

Statistics (per game averages): 24:15 MPG, .379 FG%, .891 FT%, 2.0 3PTM, 12.1 PTS, 2.1 REB, 1.7 AST, 1.1 ST, 0.2 BLK, 1.2 TO

Great performance from Week 11: January 11 against the Charlotte Bobcats – 26 minutes, 16 points (four made 3-pointers), three rebounds, two assists, one steal, one turnover

A cheap source of scoring and 3-pointers, Anderson had a stretch at the end of December where he scored in double-digits for seven straight games. In a major role off the bench for the Raptors, he is in a nice spot where he averages about 12 points, two assists and a steal per game.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
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Fantasy Basketball: Blake Griffin and Other January 12 Studs

70 days ago by

Nikola Vucevic Orlando Magic 4
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Fantasy Basketball 2013: January 12 Best Performers

January 12
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

From great scoring performances to solid showings on defense featuring plenty of steals and blocks, elite individual performances can help owners win categories in Week 11 matchups. On Friday, January 11, SF Kevin Durant, PG Damian Lillard and SF/PF Carmelo Anthony made up the top three studs from yesterday. From Durant’s 42-point outpour against the Los Angeles Lakers to Lillard’s career-best showing in his homecoming to Oakland against the Golden State Warriors, these players certainly provided great fantasy performances for their owners in Week 11.

With eight games on Saturday, January 12, 2013, fantasy squads had plenty of opportunities to improve their statistics in different categories. Who else provided fantasy owners with great numbers on this day of NBA action?

Saturday, January 12, 2013 Honorable Mentions:

10. PF David West – 14 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists

9. PF/C Nikola Vucevic – 18 points (4-6 free throws), 15 rebounds

8. PF/C Al Jefferson – 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals

7. SF/PF LeBron James – 20 points (6-7 free throws), five rebounds, seven assists, five steals, two blocks

6. SG/SF James Harden – 29 points (7-8 free throws, two made 3-pointers), nine rebounds, six assists, two steals

* The players’ percentage owned numbers for Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball leagues and player statistics are accurate as of Saturday, January 12, 2013. Player ranks are determined according to ESPN’s Daily Leaders list. FGM-A = Field Goals Made-Attempted, FTM-A = Free Throws Made-Attempted, 3PM-A = 3-Pointers Made-Attempted, GP = Games Played, PTS = Points, REB = Rebounds, AST = Assists, STL = Steals, BLK = Blocks, TO = Turnovers.

Austin Chang is a featured columnist and fantasy sports expert at Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @_austinchang.

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5. PG Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings

Thomas
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

5. PG Isaiah Thomas (vs. Miami Heat, 54% owned)

Statistics: 33 minutes, 13-22 FGM-A, 2-3 FTM-A, 6-8 3PM-A, 34 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO

Aaron Brooks sat this game out, so Thomas broke out and had one of the best games of the career. In this blowout loss to the Heat, he made six 3-pointers and had five assists with his 34 points.

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4. PG Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia 76ers

Holiday
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

4. PG Jrue Holiday (vs. Houston Rockets, 94% owned)

Statistics: 39 minutes, 11-22 FGM-A, 7-7 FTM-A, 1-3 3PM-A, 30 PTS, 3 REB, 9 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO

After a poor performance on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors, Holiday bounced back with his highest scoring performance since late November. With this 30-point showing, he continues his offensive excellence, as he’s scored in double digits in his last 21 games played.

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3. SG/SF Arron Afflalo, Orlando Magic

Afflalo
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

3. SG/SF Arron Afflalo (at Los Angeles Clippers, 87% owned)

Statistics: 40 minutes, 10-19 FGM-A, 7-8 FTM-A, 3-3 3PM-A, 30 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO

Afflalo dominated the Clippers and led the Orlando Magic to a surprising victory over one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Easily having the best season of his career, he’s certainly boosted his numbers during this recent stretch of games where he’s averaged more than 20 points per game.

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2. PG Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat

Chalmers
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

2. PG Mario Chalmers (at Sacramento Kings, 41% owned)

Statistics: 30 minutes, 12-16 FGM-A, 0-0 FTM-A, 10-13 3PM-A, 34 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO

Another player with a career-high performance on this day, Chalmers’ 34 points was fueled by his 10 made 3-pointers against the Kings. Tying a franchise record, his 3-pointers helped make him the first Heat player not names LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh to lead the team in scoring in a game all three played in.

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1. PF/C Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers

Griffin
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

1. PF/C Blake Griffin (vs. Magic, 100% owned)

Statistics: 35 minutes, 15-22 FGM-A, 0-0 FTM-A, 0-1 3PM-A, 30 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO

While the 30 points against a young Magic frontcourt sounds very doable, Griffin also tied a season high with seven assists. Shooting 15 for 22 from the field, he was very efficient and cannot be the player blamed for the Clippers’ surprising three-point loss.

Need Fantasy Baseball help? Here Are Some Sleepers for the 2013 Season
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