Fantasy Related But Great Info........
Big Ticket Stubbed
With just two and a half weeks of action left, the injuries seem to be slowing down, but the surprise DNPs are going to leave their mark on fantasy leagues this week. Here's a look at some of the injuries we know about, but you can expect some guys not mentioned anywhere in today's column to miss a game or two in the upcoming week. Each player's remaining weekly schedule is included after their name. And if you're looking for guys to replace any of the ones below you don't feel good about playing, check out
Waiver Wired if you missed it.
Kevin Garnett 2-3-2
KG is doubtful for Wednesday with a knee injury, but it does sound like there's a decent chance he could play on Friday. He wasn't usable this week in weekly leagues due to the two games anyway, and I'm not sure I'd feel good about starting him next week with three, either. If you want to cut Garnett, or if you did already, it shouldn't hurt your team.
John Salmons 2-3-2
With that poor remaining schedule and the fact his groin injury severely limited him on Sunday, Salmons looks like a pretty risky play the rest of the way. Take a look at your options and make the best decision for your team.
Rasheed Wallace 4-3-2
I have no idea if Sheed is really going to play on Tuesday or not, but he can only be listed as day-to-day for so long, right? I bet he plays Tuesday and could play in all four games for the Pistons this week, but I'm glad I don't have to make a lineup decision on him in my leagues. If I did I would do whatever I could to leave him benched.
Allen Iverson 4-3-2
Iverson finally returned to action on Sunday and had eight points in 21 minutes. I don't know that his return means he should automatically be thrown into your lineup, but if you're in a deeper league and need a four-game guard for the week, go for it.
Corey Maggette 4-3-2
Maggette is questionable for Monday with a head injury and hasn't played in the last two games. In addition, he played 22 or less minutes in three of his four games before being shut down. He could play four games and put up some decent numbers this week, but I recommend benching him until you see him play in a game.
Troy Murphy 3-3-2
Murphy hasn't been shut down yet with his knee injury and coach Jim O'Brien is actually saying he's optimistic that Murphy will play again this season. However, I would be surprised to see him play this week, and am not counting on seeing him in uniform again this year. I don't think you can start him this week, but hanging onto him in hopes that he might go at some point in the near future is fine. Your call.
Baron Davis 3-3-2
Davis is dealing with an ulcer and a calf injury, but says he's not shutting it down for the season and wants to finish up strong. The Clips play on Wednesday and Davis says he will go in that one, but I don't trust this situation at all. Start him if you want to, but don't be surprised if he struggles or misses a game or two.
Mike Taylor is a very interesting pick up right now, and could even continue to start over Davis, but this situations leads me to believe that both players should be avoided right now.
Marcus Camby 3-3-2
Camby's ankle injury didn't look good at all and I will be shocked if he plays another game this year. Feel free to cut bait.
Timberwolves 3-3-2
Randy Foye has now come off the bench in two straight games and then missed Sunday with a hip injury. The injury has been lingering for some time and I am wondering if a shutdown is coming since the Wolves have nothing left to play for. Given the state of affairs over the past three games, just keep Foye reserved unless we get more information this afternoon.
Craig Smith was a surprise DNP on Sunday with his calf injury and is probably too risky to roll out there this week.
Ryan Gomes finally bounced back from an extended slump, but with the way things are going in Minnesota (various lineups, rotations),
Kevin Love is really the only member of the team that I fully trust from a fantasy angle.
Hornets 4-4-2
The Hornets are likely to be without
Tyson Chandler and
Peja Stojakovic for the week, if not the rest of the season. Chandler's ankle is just not right and Peja's back is still not healthy. Neither player even has a solid return date in mind and I'm thinking it's time to move on in both cases.
Hilton Armstrong and
Julian Wright are both intriguing replacements, but unless you're in a very deep league, you can find something better on your wire.
James Posey served his suspension and the MRI on his elbow came back negative, meaning he could play on Wednesday. But he's slumping so badly that I see no reason to run him out there this week, healthy or not.
Sammy D 4-4-2
Samuel Dalembert left Sunday's game in the first quarter after suffering a leg injury. He has either been off or on this season, and lately it's been the "off" variety of Sammy D. Even if he was healthy coming into the week he'd be a tough start, so this news makes him extremely risky. However, the leg injury is probably a situation where no news is good news, so you can roll the dice on him for four games if you don't have better options and we don't get any more details on the injury this afternoon. But if you can start a guy like
Anthony Randolph over him instead, do it.
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Leandro Barbosa 3-3-2
Barbosa plans on playing Wednesday against the Rockets after missing most of his last seven games with a hyperextended left knee. He should be rusty upon his return and will probably do a better job at hurting the production of
Grant Hill than he will in offering much value of his own.
Tim Duncan 3-4-2
I think Duncan should be a safe play this week, although his minutes have been very weird under Gregg Popovich lately. If the Spurs get up big on OKC or Indy, he could get benched in a hurry, but should play a full game against the Cavs later in the week. However, none of these games are back-to-backs, so he should go in all three of them (in theory). But next week's four-game schedule could become a two- or three-game week with two sets of back-to-backs. Given Duncan's low minutes recently, he may not be startable again in weekly leagues this season.
Wizards 3-2-2
Gilbert Arenas played well on Saturday but then sat out on Sunday against the Pacers. Here are the remaining games that he
should play in.
Thursday vs. Cleveland
Saturday vs. Miami
Wednesday 4/8 @ Cleveland
Monday 4/13 vs. Toronto
Wednesday 4/15 @ Boston
That means he's likely to miss Wednesday @ Memphis and Friday @ Toronto. But if Arenas playing well in those five games will help your team, go ahead and roll with him.
Caron Butler looked fantastic on Sunday after struggling in Saturday's return and missing nine of his previous 13 games with a hamstring injury. Given the fact that he played in back-to-back games over the weekend, he
should be a safe play this week. Then again, he's still probably not at 100 percent and the Wizards have very little to play for against the Grizzlies and Bucks this week. They will, however, try to play spoiler against the Cavaliers in Thursday's nationally televised game. If you have owned Butler all year, you surely are aware of the risks that come with using him at this time of the season, so start him at your own risk.
Monday Morning Injury Breakdown
Marvin Williams – back – Could be done for regular season.
Acie Law – back – Has anyone even noticed he's gone?
Kevin Garnett – knee – Doubtful Weds., aiming for Friday.
Rajon Rondo – ankles – Playing through it, sounds promising.
Leon Powe – knee – Not likely to return before playoffs.
Tony Allen – thumb – Nearing return, but not much value.
Brian Scalabrine – concussion – No real value when healthy.
John Salmons - groin - Missed fourth and OT on Sunday.
Luol Deng – leg – Keeps talking comeback, but don't count on it.
Ben Wallace – leg –Nearing return, but still limited and in pain.
Josh Howard – ankle – Closer to playing, but not sure when.
Jerry Stackhouse – foot – Returned, but then shut down again.
Devean George – knee – Had season-ending surgery.
Rasheed Wallace – calf – Has been day-to-day forever. Maybe Tuesday?
Allen Iverson – back – Played Sunday, but not all that trustworthy.
Stephen Jackson – toe – Season-ending surgery.
Andris Biedrins – ankle – Doubtful for Monday, iffy for whole week.
Marco Belinelli – ankle – Too risky to play when healthy.
Corey Maggette – head – Questionable Monday, very risky start.
Brandan Wright – shoulder – Out Monday, possible surgery.
Tracy McGrady – knee – It's official. Season over.
Carl Landry – leg – Could return soon, but not much value.
Troy Murphy – knee – 50-50 to play again this season.
Marquis Daniels – wrist – Season likely over due to injury.
Mike Dunleavy – knee – Had surgery, out for the year.
Danny Granger – foot/knee – No word of problems, hope for best.
Baron Davis – ulcer – Says he's coming back strong, but who knows when.
Marcus Camby – ankle – My guess is he's done for the year.
Ricky Davis – knee – Could be done for the year.
Andrew Bynum – knee – Anyone's guess on return, I say maybe final two games..
Andrew Bogut – back – Season very much in doubt.
Michael Redd – knee – Had surgery and is done for the season.
Randy Foye – hip – Two games off bench, then a DNP. Uh oh.
Craig Smith – calf – Missed Sunday, day-to-day. Too risky to start.
Al Jefferson – knee – Season over.
Bobby Simmons – back – Day-to-day means more minutes for
Ryan Anderson.
Jarvis Hayes - baby – Should be back four all four this week.
Sean Williams – personal – Just trying to keep his career going.
Eduardo Najera – sports hernia surgery – Out for season.
Peja Stojakovic – back – Iffy for week, as usual. Bench him.
Tyson Chandler – ankle – Will linger all year, can be cut if necessary.
James Posey – elbow – Injury, slump a concern now that suspension is over.
Quentin Richardson – ankle – Not worth the risk.
Danilo Gallinari – back – Season all but done.
Chris Duhon – ankle – Playing much better after a couple games off.
Eddy Curry – knee – Could play again, but no fantasy value.
Desmond Mason – knee – Garbage minutes here and there.
Jameer Nelson – shoulder – Not likely to play again this season.
Samuel Dalembert – leg – Left early Sunday with injury. Bench if you can.
Elton Brand – shoulder – Season over.
Leandro Barbosa – leg – Hopes to play Wednesday. Start at own risk.
Amare Stoudemire – eye surgery – Done through playoffs. Hello, Barnes.
Martell Webster – foot – Says he'll play again this season.
Manu Ginobili – ankle – Playing and effective, but minutes are scary.
Tim Duncan – knees – Likely to play in all three games this week.
Fabricio Oberto – heart – Season and career in question, undergoing tests
Kris Humphries – leg – Broken leg, out indefinitely.
Marcus Banks – toe – Season-ending surgery.
Caron Butler – hip – Has played in two straight, but still a little risky.
Gilbert Arenas – knee – Looked good Saturday, sat Sunday.
Juan Dixon – Achilles – Sat on Sunday, but has no value anyway.
Mike James – finger – Done for the season with broken finger.
Darius Songaila – neck – Could miss a couple more.
DeShawn Stevenson – back – Season-ending surgery.
Etan Thomas – knee – Trying to avoid surgery. Forget him.
Brendan Haywood – wrist – Could play again, but not soon.
</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Garnett doubtful for Wed, but could play Fri </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Kevin Garnett - F - BOS - Mar. 30 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Coach Doc Rivers told the Boston Herald that Kevin Garnett is doubtful for Wednesday's game against the Bobcats, but could play Friday against the Hawks.
