NBA Week 13 Fantasy Watch and Waiver Pick Ups

Week 13 Fantasy Watch

Blake Griffin and CP3 owners can expect a huge week.

Wow, a few short weeks ago I was talking about the Minnesota Timberwolves setting the league standard in terms of fantasy points for and against. My how that has changed. Even before their star player, Kevin Love, went down with injury we started to see signs of a T’Wolves team that was getting figured out. Now, Love got hurt and the T’Wolves are falling apart at the seams, losing 6/8 and averaging 104 PPG against.

Even casual hoops fans see the near-nightly disaster going on in Sacramento. Adding to the situation around the Kings, it seems like they might be in for a re-location. To go along with the Timberwolves and Kings, add in the Bobcats (duh) and the slightly improved Nets (still 8+ blocks per game against) as teams to beat up on with your fantasy pick ups/starts.

Clippers players are a must start this week, they play 5 times. Dare I mention the name Matt Barnes yet again? Yeah, go ahead and do it if you are one of the %10 where he’s available in your league. He’s one of my favorite fantasy options off of the bench, and has stayed pretty consistent throughout the season, unlike most thought. If you can’t get Barnes, don’t worry, Lamar Odom will be there. NBA teams that have the combination of 4 games with a favorable slate are the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, and Hawks. Mavs and Nuggets play only twice, most fantasy options there are sits in weekly formats.

NBA Week 13 Fantasy Player Watch

Gerald Wallace seems like he’s trying to play hurt.

Gerald Wallace SF/PF Brooklyn Nets (%62 owned)

Never a fantasy stud because of low FG%, Wallace is still a viable option for points given the right match ups. For a long time this season, he was %100 owned. Now, he’s crept down towards the %60 mark because of injury problems. There are not very many players on the waiver wire who will get as many minutes as Wallace, keep an eye on his on going injury situation.

Jarret Jack PG/SG Golden State Warriors (%84 owned)

Jack may be tough to pick up on the waiver wire, but if you have him on your team, START HIM. Stephen Curry is battling injury, and even if Curry plays, the Warriors have a good match up week.

NBA Week 13 Fantasy Sleepers

Chris Johnson should stay past his 10-day contract on the injury depleted Timberwolves.

Chris Johnson C Minnesota Timberwolves (%0 owned) 

I hate to jump on the bandwagon of a two-year journeyman after just one game, but the near seven-footer Johnson dropped 15 points on 4-4 shooting and 7-8 FT in his debut. Signed as short term help to an injury depleted T’Wolves squad, Johnson should see minutes this week and more into the near future, at least until some of his teammates return.

Tiago Splitter PF/C San Antonio Spurs (%33 owned) 

Splitter’s fantasy value lies this week in a stellar schedule. He plays four times, and both the Mavs and Suns rank in the top ten in blocks against. His ownership has increased from %8 last week to %33 now, so I’d hurry up.

Mike Dunleavy SG/SF Milwaukee Bucks (%18 owned) 

Dunleavy doesn’t start, but his 27 minutes/game suggest starting minutes. The real key to picking up Dunleavy is good match ups. In games where his opponents are suscepitable to the three-ball, he is a great pick up.

Tony Allen SG Memphis Grizzles (%23 owned)

Allen is an easy breakdown of what we do like and what we do not like as fantasy owners. His %41.5 shooting is horrible this season compared to his career average around %48. He is taking shots from too far away, shooting way closer to the rim during his career. Hold the phone though. Regression lovers’ ears should perk up on this guy. He is starting to improve his shooting percentage, and theory says he should regress somewhat towards career averages as the season continues on. Meaning, he is going to get better. Allen also adds a plethora of steals, and boards exceptionally well for a guard, which fantasy owners love.

John Salmons SF/SG Sacramento Kings (%10) 

Salmons’ ownership took a hit last week from %17 -> %10 upon the return of Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thorton. Those owners who dropped are kicking themselves, Salmons’ minutes have barely dropped, and Wednesday against the Wizards he played 40 minutes with 21 points.

Randy Foye PG/SG Utah Jazz (%7 owned) 

Although Foye will never be the player we thought he would coming out of the 2006 draft, he is a good waiver option in the guard spot. Counterpart Mo Williams is out with injury, and Foye is shooting a nice %47 so if he doesn’t help you, he definitely won’t hurt you. I really like the 2.4 three-pointers per game he is averaging so far this month.

Beno Udrih PG/SG Milwaukee Bucks (%1 owned) 

If you have read this far into the sleepers, you may have found yourself a treat. Hear me out. At the least, Udrih is a bench player who went from ‘finding it’ to ‘found it’. He has scored in double figures over 5 times this month, after accomplishing that task 5 times all season before January. At the most, you are getting a player who has ‘found it’ and could be in for a major bump in minutes if trade rumors play out true with his backcourt mates.

Fantasy Week 13 Waiver Trends:

Amir Johnson is taking leadership of the Raptors’ frontcourt.

Ups:

1. Amir Johnson +%52 to %74.5
2. Ed Davis +%35.8 to %57 owned
3. Jarret Jack +%23 to %84 owned

Downs:

1. Alexey Shved -%44.5 to %21.6 owned
2. Gerald Wallace -%18.4 to %61.7 owned
3. Patrick Patterson -%17.6 to %12.1 owned

NBA Week 13 Fantasy comments on Twitter:

@rammer05

@ninjasblog