Tim Duncan

I know I am risking my reputation here as a friend right now, because I am sure that two out of three people who read this will say Kobe Bryant deserves to be in this spot. But I assure you, Kobe should not. Just to clear it up, I love Kobe Bryant, and think he is the best player in the NBA right now, and to tell the truth I have a dislike towards Tim Duncan because of the fact that I am a Nets fan and we do not take a liking to the Spurs what so ever. But Do me a favor, take Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan, take away their jersey, take away their names, take away even their endorsements, and just look at the achievements, stats, consistency, and respect in basketball. Do this and you should be able to see Duncan as a consistent power machine.

Now for you fans saying “what about Shaq?” I say simply in return, what about him? Shaq will most likely go down as one of the best centers to ever play and most likely as the most dominate, but in a way, voyage from team to team was an advantage to some of his achievements. Unlike Kobe and Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal has been able to be traded from team to team playing with some of the best talents in the NBA. He has played with Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudimire, and now Lebron James, which compared to Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan who has been on the same team their whole career. For that reason I think it somewhat leaves him out of this duo competition between Duncan and Bryant because both players have had to play on the same team year to year, watch new players come in, teach young players to become who they are when they were the only talent they had besides them, and still play like stars even when their team had their struggling times.

Tim Duncan is the man on my list, and not by a landslide or anything like, because Kobe is dangerously right behind him. Though Kobe has the scoring titles, and he has the spectacular moves still that you always see on Sports Center, Tim Duncan is the is all basketball learning over the past 50 years put into one body. His fundamental dominate the league, to his post move hook shot, to his very basic backboard jump shot, that to an extent is as deadly as any other players best move. He has never had a season shooting under 50% from the field and is a two time MVP with Three championship rings in the decade. I don’t think there is a better player to learn off of right here, he can with ease go down as one of or the best power forwards to ever play the game, and today still dominates the game showing the simplest basketball tactics and skills can control a team, or even a league.

As always, rankings are meant to reflect players’ values for the remainder of the season and not value thus far.

(All positions are based on Yahoo! eligibility.)

Should be Owned in All Leagues

Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, Sacramento Kings): Even with Kevin Martin’s return in about a month or so, it’s time to give Evans his due. He’s been a Top 20 player over the past couple of weeks, averaging 23.0 points, 5.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals while shooting .518 from the floor.

The return of Kevin Evans’ hot streak has pulled him nearly even with Brandon Jennings for the rookie lead in points per game and assists per game. But Evans has been far more efficient, shooting .471 from the floor and .779 from the this season.

And the Kings are playing well under Evans’ leadership, making it less likely the team will change it’s current strategy when Martin returns.

Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee Bucks): Jennings has hit a significant shooting slump, making just 38 percent of shots in the past month. Consequently, his scoring has dipped to “only” 17.9 points per game during that span.

But Jennings is still contributing heavily in other areas, averaging two 3-pointers, 6.3 assists, and one steal during the same stretch.

Not sure if anything can be gleaned from the fact that Jennings played only 29 minutes in Michael Redd’s first game back from injury on Wednesday. Luke Ridnour’s been red-hot for Milwaukee, but it won’t last. Jennings will remain a focal points of the Bucks’ offense moving forward.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): Curry’s value continues to build as he is now among the league leaders in steals at 1.9 per game, including 3.2 in the last five games.

While Curry still isn’t scoring much, he’s also adding 1.1 3-pointers and 4.6 assists and shooting .822 from the line. His performance has been extremely steady thusfar and - unless there is an injury to Monta Ellis – should remain at the current levels for the rest of the season.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn’s percentages over the past week (.403/.700 in five games) have hurt his recent value, but that includes a season-best 28-point effort on Monday. He bookended that performance with 17 points in two games, so the inconsistency is still there.

Flynn must be owned but isn’t necessarily a “must start” kind of player until he evens out his productivity.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): There appears to be some uncertainty now about when Griffin will return from a preseason knee injury. He has yet to be scheduled for a CT scan, which is apparently the next step in his recovery.

It’s troubling news considering Griffin was expected to be returning this month. Still, he needs to be stashed away until some kind of official news is announced.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): Harden has been very shaky since a late-November spike in value. He’s averaging just 10.1 points and, 2.7 assists and 0.4 3-pointers and shooting 34 percent in his last seven games.

Harden has been very shaky since a late-November spike in value. He’s averaging just 10.1 points and, 2.7 assists and 0.4 3-pointers and shooting 34 percent in his last seven games.

But Harden continues to get 25 minutes per game off the bench for the Thunder. He’s going to be a borderline player all season as he’ll mix hot and cold streaks that will probably drive most owners crazy.

Worth Consideration:

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson should be a hit pickup in all leagues as Chauncey Billups will be sidelined with a groin injury for an undetermined amount of time.

Lawson is averaging 14.1 points, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 3-pointers per 36 minutes and can produce at those levels if given enough playing time. He will step into a major role until Billups returns, which could be a few days or a few weeks.

Jrue Holiday (PG, Philadelphia 76ers): Holiday is in the same situation as Lawson. He’s going to get additional minute while Allen Iverson is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Holiday has been playing well in the absence of Louis Williams, averaging 10.3 points, 1.3 3-pointers, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals in the past two weeks. Williams’ return would cripple Holiday’s value unless Iverson remains injured.

Either way, Holiday will remain in the 76ers starting lineup for the time being and is a great pickup for the next week or so and potentially beyond.

Omri Casspi (SF/PF, Sacramento Kings): Casspi is shooting 51 percent from the floor and nailing 1.7 3-pointers in his past seven games and yet he’s ranked just 140th on Basketball Monster. Despite getting more than 25 minutes per game during that span, he has averaged less than five rebounds while providing little in the way of defensive stats.

Casspi made his first career start instead over Spencer Hawes on Wednesday and scored 22 points with five rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. But based on his per minute numbers, it’s unlikely he’ll continue that kind of broad contribution.

Furthermore, Casspi is likely to lose the ability to do what he does best once Martin returns. If you need 3-pointers, Casspi would be a solid option for the short term, but his long-term prospects are still unclear.

Jonas Jerebko (SF/PF, Detroit Pistons): The Pistons are still dealing with injuries to Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton, which means Jerebko is still valuable. He’s averaging 11.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and nearly one steal per game with solid percentages (.516/.800) in his past eight games.

Jerebko doesn’t provide gaudy numbers but solid production. He’ll continue to get minutes once Hamilton and Prince return, but how many remains to be seen.

Best Left for Deep Leagues

Taj Gibson (SF/PG, Chicago Bulls): Gibson has two double-doubles in his last three games and narrowly missed another. Over the past two weeks, he’s averaged 11 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. That’s the good news.

The bad news is Tyrus Thomas has started practicing again and should be back shortly. Gibson’s developing but his minutes should be reduced once Thomas returns.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Still rebounding at an astounding pace, still not getting consistent minutes. An injury to San Antonio’s frotncourt would make him a must have player.

Chase Budinger (SF/PF, Houston Rockets): Now that Tracy MCgrady is back, Budinger’s moderate value has diminished. It will remain that way unless a trade open a spot for him.

Terrence Williams (SG/SF/PF, New Jersey Nets): The Nets are awful and can only benefit from giving Williams as many minutes as possible. Still, he’s wildly erratic, scoring 6/18/1/17 in his past four games.

Williams’ percentages are still terrible (.365/.680), which hampers his value more than his inconsistent minutes.

On the Radar

Tyler Hansbrough (SF/PF, Indiana Pacers): Hansbrough has gotten 20 minutes or more six consecutive games, averaging 12 points, 5.8 rebounds and more than a steal per game. He may be a solid contributer until Danny Granger returns, especially since the Pacers plan on scaling back Mike Dunleavy’s minutes.

Hasheem Thabeet (C, Memphis Grizzlies): It’s difficult to provide value when getting 13 minutes per game. But Thabeet has blocked two shots per game in his last seven. He’s worth keeping an eye on while the Grizzlies try to look for answers to their porous defense.

Jeff Teague (PG/SG, Atlanta Hawks): Teague has gotten some increased playing time of late as the Hawks have gotten into the habit of blowing out opponents. He’s put himself on the map with six assists and 1.8 steals in his last four games but isn’t likely to get 20 minutes per game for the rest of the season.

Marcus Thornton (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): Despite showing long-range potential, Thornton is getting reduced minues as the Hornets continue to try and find a way to turn things around.

As always, rankings are meant to reflect players’ values for the remainder of the season and not value thus far.

(All positions are based on Yahoo! eligibility.)

Should be Owned in All Leagues

Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee Bucks): Jennings is no longer head and shoulders above the rest of the rookie class, shooting just 35 percent from the floor and scoring “only” 17.1 points per game in his last nine. But he’s still leading all rookies in scoring (21.1), 3-pointers (2.2) and assists (5.8) with no hint of a decrease in minutes or opportunities. He is a sure bet to retain value for the rest of the season.

The potential long-awaited return of Michael Redd should actually help relieve some of the offensive burden and make Jennings a more efficient player.

Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, Sacramento Kings): The most valuable fantasy rookie for the past month, Evans has produced Top 40 value in his past eight games, averaging 21.9 points, 5.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 steals in his last eight games.

The return of Kevin Martin from a wrist injury should take some shots away from Evans, but owners shouldn’t be worried. He’s a star in the making.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): The case can be made that Curry is just as valuable as Jennings and Evans, even though he scores much less. He leads all rookies with 1.7 steals per game, shoots 80 percent from the line, makes a little more than one 3-pointer per game and adds 4.9 assists.

Curry is contributing in the conventional point guard categories and playing nearly 40 minutes per game on one of the league’s most productive fantasy teams. His value is rock solid.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn has had plenty of ups-and-downs already this season. Expect them to continue. Still, the Timberwolves are dedicated to their point guard of the future and he’s averaged 14.9 points, 1.4 3-pointers, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals in his last eight games.

If you can deal with the bumps in the road – and every rookie has them – Flynn will remain a very productive fantasy point guard.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): He is still about a month away but should be one of the five best rookies once he returns from a knee injury. Blake Griffin has a ton of potential and it’s just a matter of “when” not “if”.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): Harden has solidified his place as the offensive sparkplug off the bench for the Thunder. His minutes are steadily increasing and he averaged 12.2 points, 1.0 3-pointer, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals in his past five games.

Harden will have some great games and other times he will be invisible. Check the point totals from his last nine games: 24, 25, 10, 10, 15, 5, 9, 6, 26. Much like Flynn, it will be a bumpy ride that should be worthwhile in the end.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson remains productive in the 20 minutes or so per game he’s been getting over the past month. That indicates that he is certainly NBA-ready. He’s averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 assists, 1.2 3-pointers and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes.

But the opportunities still aren’t there yet. If you can stash him as a handicap to Chauncey Billups and J.R. Smith, he’s worth holding onto. Bigger minutes could turn into big production.

Omri Casspi (SF/PF, Sacramento Kings): It’s been established that Casspi can shoot. He’s averaging 1.6 3-pointers in his last seven games and 1.2 this season and making more than 50 percent of his shots overall. But he has yet to establish any other skill. Still, a good FG% and lots of 3-pointers provide value in plenty of leagues.

But he’ll have to adjust once Martin returns to eat up about 20 shot attempts per game.

DeMar DeRozan (SG/SF/PF, Toronto Raptors): DeRozan has started to show flashes of promise, scoring in double figures in four consecutive games last week, including a season-high 21-point effort. Despite his athleticism, he’s still not providing any defensive stats and his rebounding is marginal.

DeRozan is worth keeping an eye on, especially if the struggling Raptors decide to shake things up.

Best Left for Deep Leagues

Marcus Thornton (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): Thornton is still getting more than 20 minutes per game since the return of Chris Paul and he’s averaging 2.6 3-pointers per 36 minutes. He’s their second sharpshooter behind Peja Stojakovic, who is always a step away from an injury.

Thornton doesn’t provide much else besides 3-pointers and some steals and his percentages are poor (.443/.688) but he can provide an offensive lift for teams in deep leagues that need 3-pointers.

Taj Gibson (SF/PG, Chicago Bulls): For all the flashes of talent Gibson has shown, he’s still only producing 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in 26 minutes per game in his last seven. Even though he’s blocking about one shot per game, those aren’t valuable fantasy numbers. Tyrus Thomas may still be two weeks away, but Gibson is further from that from being relevant in standard leagues.

Chase Budinger (SF/PF, Houston Rockets): Budinger’s playing time remains steady but he’s a one-trick pony. When his shot is on, he’ll reign 3-pointers in bunches. When he’s off his game, Chase doesn’t provide much else for owners on the stat sheet.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Same old story. Monster production in very limited minutes. On a bad team, he would be getting 30 minutes per game and averaging 15 points and 12 boards. But he can only do so much in 14.4 minutes per contest.

Darren Collison (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): Collison has not played more than 15 minutes in three games since Chris Paul returned from injury. Unless you’re willing to bet Paul gets hurt again, Collison will not be fantasy relevant again this season.

Terrence Williams (SG/SF/PF, New Jersey Nets): As if his poor play weren’t bad enough, now Williams is in the Nets’ doghouse for negative Tweets regarding the team’s poor start. The Nets are so bad he may eventually get more minutes again, but he’s been so inefficient (.340 FG%/.658 FT%) that he’d probably do more harm to your fantasy team than good.

On the Radar

Tyler Hansbrough (SF/PF, Indiana Pacers): Posted a double-double in the Pacers first game without Danny Granger, although he got additional minutes when Roy Hibbert got hurt. Hansbrough could be in line for a larger role as Indiana tries to sort itself out.

Worth Consideration:

Jonas Jerebko (SF/PF, Detroit Pistons): It remains to be seen how Jerebko will perform once Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are healthy. But the Pistons claim he will continue to get minutes. Jerebko has averaged 12.8 points, 1.0 3-pointer and 7.6 rebounds with great percentages (.525/.800) in his last eight games.

Already people are talking that he may have been the steal of the NBA Draft. Perhaps he can be the rookie steal off the waiver wire as well.

This is an in-depth look at the schedule for each week, identifying teams with extra games and favorable match-ups to help you take advantage.

Two Games: LA Clippers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards,
Three Games: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, LA Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Four Games: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

Favorable Schedules

Atlanta Hawks(CHI, @TOR, NJ)—The Hawks have a very good schedule this week, including a game against a Toronto team that, I believe, has yet to play defense. The Bulls and Nets aren’t much stronger, and all three teams rank in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency. Not only are the usual suspects good plays (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford), but Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby, and Jamal Crawford are viable options depending on what your team needs. Assists in particular are hard to come by this year, so Bibby especially deserves a look.

Denver Nuggets(@PHI, @CHA, @DET, PHO)—Not only do the Nuggets get four games this week, but three of them are against teams particularly bad at preventing opponents from scoring. The Suns, Pistons, and 76ers all have defensive efficiency ratings over 105.5. Charlotte is a strong defensive squad, but a whole host of Nuggets make good fantasy plays this week. Chauncey Billups and Ty Lawson are great sources for assists, Lawson in particular if you’re looking to scrounge some off the waiver wire this week. JR Smith should hit a few extra threes, and the extra blocks from Chris Andersen will prove to be very valuable in H-2-H leagues as well.

New Jersey Nets (@CHI, GS, @IND, @ATL)—While the Nets contribute to the Hawks’ favorable schedule, they’ve got a pretty nice slate of games themselves. The Bulls aren’t particularly strong on the defensive end, and the Warriors and Pacers are downright awful. Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Brook Lopez, and CD-R are useful in most formats anyway, and you can add Terrence Williams and Rafer Alston to this week as well. Williams could a bit contribute in all categories, while Alston will be a nice source of steals and assists.

Unfavorable Schedules

Los Angeles Clippers (ORL, SAS)—The Clippers play only two games this week; one against the best defensive team in the league (Boston), and one against the 12th best (San Antonio). Outside of Baron Davis and Chris Kaman, I’d sit any Clipper this week. But hey, Blake Griffin is coming back fairly soon. So Clipper fans have that going for them…which is nice.

Milwaukee Bucks (@BOS, TOR, POR)—Rookie stud Brandon Jennings has cooled off in recent games, and this week he faces a tough slate. Sandwiched around the Raptors (see: Atlanta), the Bucks face the Celtics and Portland, two of the top six defensive teams in the league. Outside of Jennings and backup PG Luke Ridnour, everyone else is a risky play. Other than Ersan Ilyasova and Andrew Bogut, there’s no one else on the roster I’d consider this week.

New York Knicks(POR, @NOR)—The Knicks have an awful fantasy slate this week as well, playing only two games. The New Orleans matchup is a good one, but Portland is just the opposite, though their defense figures to struggle some adjusting to the loss of Greg Oden for the season. Other than David Lee and Al Harrington, there’s nothing to like this week. If you have daily changes, Danilo Gallinari and Larry Hughes could have some use against the Hornets.

As always, rankings are meant to reflect players’ values for the remainder for the rest of the season and not value thus far.

(All positions are based on Yahoo! eligibility.)

Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee Bucks): Jennings remains atop the rookie leaders but he’s hanging by a thread. His slump has deepened as he averaged just 15.5 points and shooting 32 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the line in four games over the past week.

The good news he also nailed 2.8 3-pointers with one steal per game. He still leads all rookies in scoring (21.5 points), assists (5.8) and 3-pointers (2.4) and his playing time and opportunities are rock solid.

Michael Redd’s return was brief and he’s back to nursing his bum knee. Redd’s return might actually take some of the pressure off Jennings offensively, but it’ll have to wait. It appears Jennings has hit a slight wall while trying to carry the team on a nightly basis.

Still, Jennings will remain the focal point of the offense for the remainder of the season.

Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, Sacramento Kings): Evans has arguably been the best fantasy rookie for the past month as Jennings has begun to slide. He averaged 20.3 points and 4.3 assists with solid percentages (.470/.880) in the past week.

For the season, Evans has nearly caught up to Jennings in scoring (19.3) and assists (4.9) while exceeding him in steals (1.3) and posting better percentages (.448/.800).

But the elephant in the room is the return of Kevin Martin from a broken wrist. If Evans can continue to play at this level after Martin’s return (unlikely) and Jennings fails to rebound (also unlikely) he may finish the season as the season’s best fantasy rookie.

It would be nice if he made some more 3-pointers, though.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): Curry has been tremendously valuable since Stephen Jackson was shipped out of Golden State, even though he’s barely averaging double figures in scoring. Then again, how much can he possibly score while Monta Ellis keeps pouring in 30 points per game?

In addition to his modest point total, Curry averaged 1.3 3-pointers, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks over the past four games. His percentages have shifted gears – as predicted in the last rookie report – as he shot just 36 percent from the floor while making all of his free throws over the past week.

Curry’s has turned into a somewhat prototypical point guard on a team that will continue to put up big offensive numbers for the rest of the season.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn snapped out of his funk in the past week, averaging 15.3 points, 1.0 3-pointer, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steal in three games.

As mentioned all season, if you’re playing in a nine-category league, Flynn’s turnovers can hurt you. But he’ll still contribute plenty to a young Timberwolves team that has few other backcourt options.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): There was some disconcerting news this week when the Clippers announced Griffin will not play until after January 1. But the status of the remainder of the rookie of the class means 40 games of 15 points and eight rebounds is the best remaining bet.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): Harden’s yo-yo season continued as he followed a great week with a mediocre one. He averaged just 9.7 points, 1.3 3-pointers and 1.0 steal and managed only three total assists in three games.

But Harden still got more than 24 minutes per game. He’s going to be the main guard off the bench for the Thunder from here on out and is worth owning if you’re willing to deal with the ups-and-downs.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson’s minutes and contributions are starting to slip, though he still averaged 3.8 assists and shot 61 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the line in four games this week.

Still, he’s hurtling fast towards being unownable and only an injury to one of the Nuggets guards would make him a must-have player in 12-team leagues

Taj Gibson (SF/PG, Chicago Bulls): Gibson didn’t have a great week, averaging just 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. But the rumors swirling about Tyrus Thomas getting traded mean there is a chance Gibson could continue to get major minutes for the remainder of the season.

Darren Collison (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): If you snatched Collison up as soon as Chris Paul got hurt, he’s been great. He played just twice this week and totaled 31 points with 2 3-pointers, 11 assists and three steals.

But Paul has returned to practice and Collison’s expiration date is approaching quickly.

Jonas Jerebko (SF/PF, Detroit Pistons): Any rookie getting nearly 35 minutes per game is going to start getting some attention. Jerebko averaged 13.0 points, 1.3 3-pointers, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in four games and shot nearly 54 percent from the floor.

Even more importantly, the Pistons have already said he’ll continue to get minutes once Tayshaun Prince returns.

Chase Budinger (SF/PF, Houston Rockets): Budinger has propelled himself into added value after averaging 11.5 points, 1.8 3-pointers and 1.0 steal in four games this week. He also shot .471 overall and .875 from the line.

Budinger has become Houston’s long-range specialist and as evidence begins to mount that Tracy McGrady will be dealt, he should remain in that role.

Terrence Williams (SG/SF/PF, New Jersey Nets): As the Nets sink deeper into the worst start in NBA history, Williams has been losing minutes, playing just 19.7 per game in the past week.

Time will tell if the new Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe plans to use Williams more or less than his predecessor.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Blair needs to be mentioned since he’s had double-doubles in his last two games.

I’ve maintained all season that he may have value as the season due to his stellar rebounding, but he still averaged just 16 minutes per game this week. And while he’s maximized his output in those minutes, he can’t be recommended unless he’s consistently getting 20-plus minutes per game.

Toney Douglas (PG/SG, New York Knicks): Mike D’Antoni will start playing Nate Robinson again and Douglas will go back to fantasy basketball obscurity. Still, you have to keep your eye on any player on a D’Antoni roster.

Omri Casspi (SF/PF, Sacramento Kings): Omitted from last week’s Rookie Report, Casspi had his second solid week in a row. He averaged 13.3 points and 1.3 3-pointers in three games and is getting nearly 30 minutes per contest.

Casspi doesn’t rebound enough and adds almost no blocks or steals, which limits his value. But he can make threes and is shooting better than 50 percent overall, which is a rare combination.

As always, rankings are meant to reflect players’ values for the remainder of the season and not value thusfar.

(All positions based on Yahoo! eligibility.)

Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee Bucks): Although previously unthinkable, Jennings is in a small slump. Since the last Rookie Report, he’s only been the fifth-best rookie in eight-category leagues, according to Basketball Monster.

Much of this “decline” has come from Jennings’ sagging percentages. He’s shooting 39 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the line in his last four games, which dropped him behind some other rookies who have been far more efficient.

But there is a reason he’s still at the top of the list.

Despite his shooting woes, Jennings still averaged 20.3 points, 1.3 3-pointers, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals during that stretch. For the season, he still leads all rookies in scoring (24.2 points per game), 3-pointers (2.3) and assists (5.7).

Michael Redd returned from a knee injury this week, but it might actually help Jennings to have another scorer in the backcourt. It will take the pressure off him to take every shot and may lead to more assists.

One thing is clear: the Bucks are sticking with Jennings for the remainder of the season and he will remain the engine of his team’s offense. That’s something none of the rookies on this list can say.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): While Monta Ellis certainly makes the Warriors offense go, Curry has become a major component to a team that is woefully shorthanded.

Curry averaged 38 minutes in his last three games as Golden State needed every healthy body it could get. He produced 13.7 points, 1.7 3-pointers, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 block per game.

While spending most of the season’s first few weeks with a great FG% and shaky FT%, Curry shot just 38 percent from the line but made 89 percent of his free throws in that span. We’re still finding out what kind of shooter he is, but a.410 FG% and an .850 FT% are likely to be where he winds up.

Unless the Warriors pull off a trade, Curry will be the team’s point guard from here on out. He’s going to provide plenty of 3-pointers, steals and assists, which is exactly what you want from a fantasy point guard.

The biggest concern is Curry hitting the wall due to the heavy minutes he has already played. But the return of C.J. Watson this week and the impending season debut of Andris Biedrins should lighten the burden.

Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, Sacramento Kings): Evans has been – by far – the most productive fantasy rookie over the past week.

In fact, he’s been one of the 10 best fantasy players overall, averaging 25.3 points, 1.0 3-pointer, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 53 percent from the floor and 85 percent from the line in three games.

Even more impressive: he missed one game with a sprained finger and was a game-time decision on Wednesday due to a bum ankle. All he did was nearly pull a triple-double on the Knicks with 19 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.

It was the Knicks but that’s still very impressive.

The reason Evans doesn’t land higher on the Rookie Report are three-fold.

First: his dominant week came on a shooting percentage he can’t possible maintain. He was shooting less than 41 percent from the floor entering the game and that’s more or less where he’ll end up at season’s end.

Second: he’s played 40 minutes per game in that stretch, which has allowed him to boost his numbers. He can’t maintain those minutes for the rest of the season.

Third: Kevin Martin will return in about a month and should take plenty of those scoring opportunities away from Evans.

Still, Evans has established himself. He is and will remain a firm part of the Kings rotation and looks like a star in the making.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): Harden jumped three spots in this week’s Rookie Report. He contributed in multiple categories against excellent opponents and has seen his minutes begin to rise as he begins to learn his role on the team.

After scoring a season-high 24 points right before last week’s Rookie Report was posted, Harden added 25 points with four 3-pointers and four steals against the Wizards.

Harden followed his scoring binge with a pair of uneven road games against two tough defensive teams in the Lakers and Jazz. He scored 20 points in the two games with one 3-pointer, seven assists and three steals.

More importantly, after playing more than 20 minutes just twice in his first 12 games, Harden has played 20 minutes or more in each of his last four. The team is starting to rely on him as a presence off the bench, which will only provide more opportunities to remain a fantasy asset.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): Griffin continues to slowly rise on this list despite not playing a game this season. That’s because which each passing week he gets closer to a mid-December return from a fractured kneecap. And you’d probably rather have 50 games of Griffin than 65 of the remaining rookies on this list.

He’ll probably jump ahead of Harden next week.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn has shown himself to be a little erratic. He followed a four-game stretch where he scored only 39 points combined by dropping 37 in his last two.

The Timberwolves continue to show faith in Flynn as he’s still averaging nearly 30 minutes per game. His assists (3.3 per game) and 3-pointers (0.6) are little low for a fantasy point guard but he’s shown enough promise to believe he can improve those numbers.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson’s value has plummeted but he’s still getting consistent minutes for the Nuggets. He continues to take high-percentage shots (.527 FG%) and chip in some assists, steals and 3-pointers.

It wouldn’t be unwise to stash Lawson on your bench. His per minute numbers indicate if an injury led to more playing time, he would be a fantastic fantasy point guard.

Marcus Thornton (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): Thornton is the first on the Rookie Report this season that is a complete surprise. He was a mid-second round pick and not even expected to make an impact this season. Funny how a small thing like an injury to Chris Paul can change things.

Thornton averaged 18.2 points per game from November 13-22 and had 45 points in two games before managing just four points and struggling with foul trouble against the Bucks on Wednesday.

With 14 3-pointers in his last eight games, Thornton has emerged as long-range threat that can score in bunches. His .466 FG% is better than most 3-point threats and he’s been averaging better than a steal per game for the past few weeks.

Thornton won’t contribute across the board and it’s too early to tell how Paul’s eventual return will effect his playing time but he remains a solid play for the next few weeks, at least.

Darren Collison (PG/SG, New Orleans Hornets): Collison has actually been better than Thornton since Paul’s injury and he’ll likely be better until Paul returns.

But Collison is essentially a poor man’s Chris Paul: a small, quick point guard who can penetrate and pass. Once Paul returns, there won’t be much need for Collison, who will probably see about 15 minutes per game.

Thornton, on the other hand, with his 3-point ability, can continue to play along side Paul for the remainder of the season. Plus the high probability of an injury to Peja Stojakovic would make Thornton the team’s number one long-range threat.

Collison has averaged 16.5 points, 1.0 3-pointer, 7.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals in the past week. He should maintain that type of production until Paul returns.

One more problem: no one knows when Paul is coming back. Could be next week, could be January. That kind of uncertainty makes Collison a calculated risk, though one who could pay off big time.

Omri Casspi (SF/PF, Sacramento Kings): After a solid start to the season, Casspi seemed to lose his role with the Kings only to post three straight double-digit scoring games in the past week.

Casspi – the league’s first Israeli player – has made at least one 3-pointer in four straight games and is shooting better than 50 percent from the floor this season.

His performances will be uneven until Martin returns and his role will be uncertain afterwards. But he remains intriguing option, especially for small-ball head-to-head teams looking for a power forward that can shoot.

Terrence Williams (SG/SF/PG, New Jersey Nets): Williams’ minutes have begun to drop as the Nets get healthier, but he still leads all rookies in rebounds (5.8 per game) and double-doubles (4).

Williams has also shown some improvement in his offensive efficiency but is still shooting 36 percent from the floor and 66 percent from the line. With those percentages, he’ll need to produce Ben Wallace-type rebounding to be a fantasy force.

Missed the cut:

Taj Gibson (SF/PG, Chicago Bulls): Gibson averaged 9.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 2.0 blocks in just two games this week. But his percentages are awful and Tyrus Thomas could be back in two weeks to provide the Bulls with rebounds, steals, blocks and awful percentages.

Chase Budinger (SF/PF, Houston Rockets): Keeping himself marginally relevant by burying 1.3 3-pointers per game. But that’s all he does.

Eric Maynor (PG/SG, Utah Jazz): Deron Williams is back and Maynor is back to playing less than 20 minutes per game. Still, he showed he can play if given the chance.

DeMar DeRozan (SG/SF/PF, Toronto Raptors): Does a little of everything but none of it especially well.

Tyler Hansborough (SF/PF, Indiana Pacers): Averaging 6.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and nearly a steal and a block per game in his last four. But with Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster back, his role will be limited.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Only here since he’s been on every Rookie Report thusfar. Still, he’s getting only around 10 minutes per game now. He may still provide some rebounds later this season, but he’s no guarantee to be a fantasy asset at any point.

For the remainder on the season, the rankings will focus in-depth on the rookies who should be owned in standard leagues with some brief notes on those who are on the fringe and why.

As always, rankings are meant to reflect players’ values for the remainder for the rest of the season and not value thusfar.

(All positions are based on Yahoo! eligibility.)

Brandon Jennings (PG, Milwaukee Bucks): Jennings’ reign atop the rookie class doesn’t appear like it will end any time soon. He leads all rookies with 24.8 points, 2.7 3-pointers and 5.8 assists per game.

Jennings is shooting 48 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the line. He’s collecting 1.1 steals per game and his 4.7 rebounds per game trail only forwards Terrence Williams and DeJuan Blair among rookies.

And just in case you thought he was slowing down, he’s averaging 32.8 points, 4.0 3-pointers, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in his last four games.

Even though Michael Redd is expected to return for the Bucks this weekend, it shouldn’t hamper the value of Jennings, who has become the team’s sparkplug. Plus, Andruw Bogut will miss the next month with a leg injury, freeing up any shots Redd may have taken away from Jennings.

Expect Jennings and Redd to work well together and be devastating backcourt combination from the 3-point line.

Tyreke Evans (PG/SG, Sacramento Kings): Evans has taken over as the primary offensive weapon for the Kings, averaging 21.7 points and 4.8 assists in his last six games. He’s added nearly 1.7 steals and one 3-pointer per game during that stretch.

Evans led all rookies by playing 37.8 minutes per game over the past two weeks and he’s been making the most of it, averaging 17.2 shots – second only to Jennings among rookies – and a rookie-leading 7.3 free throw attempts.

While Evans has the awful FG% (.407) expected of most rookie guards, his .758 FT% is misleading as he’s made 84 percent of his free throws in the last six games.

Evans has been nearly as valuable as Jennings over the past two weeks. He will have to adjust once Kevin Martin returns in six weeks, but has already established himself as a key member of the team and that should not change.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): Curry has been a yo-yo on these rankings, much like his playing time under Don Nelson.

But after Stephen Jackson was traded to Charlotte in exchange for Raja Bell, who will likely undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Curry’s value seems stable. Furthermore, a rumored trade of Monta Ellis would make Curry the team’s number one guard (depending, of course, on who the Warriors got in return).

While only averaging 9.3 points in 11 games, Curry has handed out 4.9 assists to go with 1.4 steals and nearly one 3-pointer. He’s shooting 49 percent from the floor, though his 67 percent free-throw percentage could use a boost.

In two games since Jackson was traded, Curry has scored 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting with three 3-pointers, 14 assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn has been in a bit of a slump of late, but he’s still getting close to 30 minutes per game and there is no reason that should change.

Despite scoring just 30 points in his last three games, Flynn is still third among rookies in scoring (13.8) and averaging 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals. His primary flaw is that he has more turnovers (43) than assists (38) – not a good sign for a rookie point guard.

The inability to control the ball may lead to Flynn losing time to veteran guard Ramon Sessions. But he’ll still get plenty of burn and contribute more than most rookie who have to battle for time on deeper teams.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): Even though he has yet to play a game, the thought of Griffin routinely putting up double-doubled once he returns next month is enough to land him above the rest of the rookie class.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Give credit to Lawson. Even with the return of J.R. Earl Smith III he has remained a valuable part of the Nuggets. While his minute have decreased – playing less than 23 minutes in four straight games – he’s keeping himself valuable.

In four games since Smith’s return from suspension, Lawson has handed out 17 assists and registered five steals. He’s not scoring much but appears to be a regular part of the Nuggets rotation.

Lawson’s already getting more minutes than veteran Anthony Carter and is just a Chauncey Billups or Smith injury away from a more significant role.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): It’s no secret that the Thunder have high hopes for Harden as a weapon off the bench this season. And while he failed to score double-digits in his first 11 games, he erupted for 24 points, six 3-pointers, three assists and a steal on Wednesday.
When it comes to rookies in fantasy basketball, opportunity is 90 percent of the equation. I’d rather have a rookie I know will get minutes than one who will play 30 minutes one week and not see the court the next.

With Harden, he’ll get plenty of chances and he’s averaging 1.7 3-pointers, 2.8 assists and nearly one steal per game despite less than 20 minutes. As the team gains faith in him, he’ll emerge into a solid fantasy point guard along the lines of Mario Chalmers.

(NOTE: I stupidly noted last week that Harden may gain value with the departure of Allen Iverson. I got my Grizzlies and Thunder confused. For shame.)

Darren Collison (PG, SG, New Orleans Hornets): As terrible as Chris Paul’s ankle injury was for fantasy owners, it’s meant a significant boost for Collison, who went for irrelevance to immediate value.

Collison has scored in double figures in five straight games and collected 19 assists and seven steals during that span. For the next three weeks or so he has an opportunity to prove he can remain a significant part of the Hornets once Paul returns.

Terrence Williams (SG/SF/PG, New Jersey Nets): It’s hard to ignore any rookie getting around 30 minutes per game, even though Williams has been inefficient this season.

Although he’s averaging double figures in scoring and more than six rebounds per game, Williams is hooting just 35 percent from the floor and 64 percent from the line. Even though he’s chipping in nearly one steal and one 3-pointer per game, he has little value unless his percentages vastly improve.

Taj Gibson (SF/PG, Chicago Bulls): Much like the player he replaced – Tyrus Thomas – Gibson is showing a penchant for wild inconsistency.

After two stellar games last week, he played less than 20 minutes in a pair of games this week and had just six points and eight rebounds. It gets worse: Thomas should be back soon and Gibson hasn’t shown that he can be consistent enough to remain in the starting lineup.

Missed the cut:

Eric Maynor (PG/SG, Utah Jazz): Briefly a hot pickup, Deron Williams returned to the Jazz lineup on Thursday and Maynor went scoreless in 16 minutes. It’s hard to believe a veteran coach like Jerry Sloan would favor Maynor over a defensive stalwart like Ronnie Brewer.

Still, should Williams or Brewer miss any games, it appears Maynor will be the beneficiary of major minutes.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Despite dwindling minutes, there is still a lot to like about Blair’s outstanding rebound rate. He may see increased minutes later in the season if the Spurs rest their older veterans, but until then he’s just wasting roster space.

Chase Budinger (SF/PF, Houston Rockets): Inconsistent minutes and the eventual return of Tracy McGrady hurt the long-term value of Budinger, who is a one-dimensional player as he only contributes in 3-pointers anyway.

Tony Douglas (PG/SG, New York Knicks): Nate Robinson has returned from injury and Allen Iverson is reportedly going to sign with the Knicks. Such is the end of any hopes for Douglas to retain fantasy value this season.

FantasyBasketballReport.com’s Carl Dispoto brings you another editon of NBA Rookie Report.

Keep in mind these rankings reflect value for the remainder of the season and not a ranking of performance thus far.

Brandon Jennings (PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks): Jennings has a stranglehold on the position of most valuable fantasy basketball rookie. Through six games, he’s averaging 20.7 points, 1.7 3-pointers, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 86 percent from the line.

Jennings is 26th on Basketball Monster’s player rater – a far cry above any other rookie. He’s already an invaluable part of the Bucks and will remain one of their biggest weapons even after Michael Redd returns from a sore knee.

Tyreke Evans (SG, Sacramento Kings): Evans rocketed from seventh to second among rookies after Kevin Martin’s fractured wrist required surgery that will keep the King’s leading scorer sidelined for eight weeks.

Evans has already given a glimpse of what he can do with the added opportunities, averaging 25 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.0 3-pointers and 1.3 steals in his last three games.
For the season, Evans is averaging more minutes than any other rookie, with his 32.6 narrowly edging Jennings’ 32.5.

For the next couple of months, Evans will be neck-and-neck with Jennings for fantasy value among rookies. While the return of Martin will impact Evans’ role, he’s gaining valuable experience that should help maintain his fantasy relevance throughout the season.

The one negative aspect that may hold Evans back from eclipsing Jennings is an awful .385 FG%. Even during the past week, he has made just 40 percent of his shots, though he’s making 86 percent of his free throws this season. Despite the lack of efficiency, Evans is providing Top 25 roto value over the past two weeks.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn has scored in double figures in each of Minnesota’s nine games, averaging 15 points, 0.8 3-pointers, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.9 minutes per game with solid percentages.

The Timberwolves announced this week that Flynn and Ramon Sessions will not spend much time together. The franchise wants Flynn to focus on being a point guard, which can only help his assist numbers.

It’s hard to expect Flynn’s shooting percentage to remain at the current level. He’ll probably finish the season around 42 percent or so, a drop which can be offset by picking up production in other areas.
The biggest positive for Flynn is that he’ll get every opportunity to succeed with a franchise trying to prove it didn’t completely botch the draft.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): Curry has seen his playing time dissipate in the past five games after playing more than 35 minutes in his first two. He’s been especially ineffective for the past four games and has lost his starting job to Anthony Morrow.
Such is life as a rookie in the fickle rotation of Don Nelson.

Still, there is quite a bit to like about Curry, who is averaging 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals. But his highly-touted scoring ability has yet to develop as he’s shooting just 38 percent from the floor over the past two weeks.

Curry’s remaining value lies in his team. The Warriors play a lot of high-scoring contests and are desperately trying to trade Stephen Jackson, which would free 30 minutes per game of playing time, some of which may fall Curry’s way. Nelson has currently soured on Curry, which isn’t great for his immediate prospects. But it’s a long season and the Warriors – off to a 2-5 start – may be turning to the team’s youth sooner rather than later.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): Griffin is still MIA and weeks away from stepping on the court, but the remaining rookies still can’t match the value he’ll bring once he returns.

Griffin’s preseason projections of 16.7 points and 8.6 rebounds mean he’ll still provide plenty of punch in the season’s final four months.

The remaining rookies – even those that are playing well – have a few too many obstacles in their way to match the value of a player who should consistently flirt with double-doubles.

Taj Gibson (SF/PF, Chicago Bulls): Few expected Taj Gibson to contribute to the Bulls this season, and yet he’s already in the starting lineup and producing. Tyrus Thomas inability to properly lift weights is part of the reason, of course.

But Gibson has taken Thomas’ place in the starting lineup and his last two games have been superb – 28 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and three blocks and shooting well over 60 percent from the floor. It would have been difficult to expect more from Thomas himself.

Whispers were that Gibson was ready to supplant the slow-starting Thomas in the starting lineup even before the injury. But Thomas is likely to return in a month and reclaim his spot.

But Gibson is doing a great job of making his case for earning an increased role for the rest of the season. He appears to a high-energy, athletic forward that can rebound and collect steals and blocks … just like Thomas.

Chase Budinger (SG, Houston Rockets): Budinger made his presence after returning with an ankle injury, averaging 11.7 points, 1.7 3-pointers and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 48 percent overall in his last three games.

The Rockets seemed to be an entire team of players who do some little things well. Budinger is one of those guys and one of the little things he does well is shoot 3-pointers.

The only roadblock to Budinger retaining value has Houston’s 3-point bomber is the confusing return of Tracy McGrady. No one knows when McGrady is going to return from whatever injury it is he’s trying to come back from. Really, who can keep track?

But at this stage in his career, McGrady may be more of a facilitator and Budinger may benefit from his return. It’s best left as an open question until the Rockets are at full health.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Blair remains a rebound machine, grabbing more than seven per game despite playing less than 20 minutes a night. He also averages seven points per game on 60 percent shooting in those limited minutes.

Clearly, the only thing separating him from fantasy stardom is more burn. And Tim Duncan. But even with Duncan sidelined this week, Blair did not get major minutes.

The Spurs are going to bring him along slowly because they are used to their season extending well into May and June. But Blair will get his chances as the season moves along and Duncan needs rest and the points and rebounds will come. Unfortunately, Blair seems incapable of blocking shots with any regularity, so he’s not a true frontcourt powerhouse.

Omri Casspi (SF, Sacramento Kings): Much like Evans, Casspi is getting a chance to prove himself with the awful Kings in the wake of Martin’s injury. He’s averaging 25 minutes per game in his last three and while his numbers aren’t outstanding, he’s made 1.7 3-pointers with 1.3 steals and .563 FG%.

Casspi clearly can’t maintain shooting that efficiently but he’s shown some offensive ability and may develop into a scoring threat with a little more seasoning.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson’s value has dwindled dramatically following the return of J.R. “Earl” Smith from suspension.

While still getting around 20 minutes per game, Lawson’s role seems undefined and he has just 20 points in his last three games. His start has been erratic and he’s now stuck in a situation where only an injury can really boost his prospects.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): It would seem Harden’s value would depend primarily on the ongoing Allen Iverson saga. If Iverson’s gone for good, Harden would get more playing time.

But Harden’s shown potential for assists (3.5 per game), 3-pointers (0.9) and steals (0.8) despite limited minutes. He may see an immediate spike in value if Russell Westbrook takes some time recovering from a sprained ankle.

Terrence Williams (SF/PF, New Jersey Nets): Playing for the most wounded team in the NBA, Williams is getting nearly 30 minutes per game. And while he’s getting valuable playing time, he’s not exactly making his case for Rookie of the Year.

Williams is averaging 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his last four games. But he’s made just 36 percent of his shots this season and is launching far too many jumpers.

Without seizing the chance while so many Nets regulars are hurt, it’s a good best he’ll find himself with reduced minutes once (if) the team regains full health.

Toney Douglas (PG/SG, New York Knicks): Douglas has been among the top three or four rookies over the past week, averaging 15.8 points and 2.3 3-pointers on 59 percent shooting in his last four games. In his last two games, including a start on Wednesday, he has scored 44 points combined.

While Douglas has made a brief impact, he will eventually struggle, as all rookies do. He can’t keep shooting at a 60 percent clip and he’s unlikely to eclipse Nate Robinson, who will return from an ankle injury shortly and is one of the Knicks’ better players. Douglas just isn’t ready for that time of consistent production yet.

SG -Corey Brewer- Minnesota Timberwolves: Though the early knock on him was his horrendous shooting percentage, his other contributions made sure he stayed on the court. Now that his shooting percentage has moved into respectability (don’t expect it to go much higher), the rest of his game becomes fantasy relevant. He’s grabbing a couple of steals, and putting up 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists as well. And he’s really not shooting enough to hurt your FG% badly if he regresses there. If the Timberwolves start to experiment with a Flynn-Sessions backcourt though, don’t hesitate to let Brewer go and start looking elsewhere.

PF -Brandon Bass- Orlando Magic: With Power Foward Ryan Anderson out for the next week or so, Brandon Bass looks like a prime pickup. He’s shooting over 50%, and has proven he can rebound and block shots. It may only be a stopgap, but he’ll give you good numbers for the next week or two.

PG -Beno Udrih- Sacramento Kings: With SG Kevin Martin out for 6-8 weeks with a broken wrist, it looks like the Kings will need someone to stop up the scoring. The prime candidates are Tyreke Evans, and Mr. Udrih. Granted it was against the Warriors, but Udrih was aggressive with the ball in the Kings previous games and looked to some added responsibility. It looks like the natural setup is playing Evans and Udrih side-by-side, which bodes well for both of them. They may not be the most efficient numbers, but Udrih should be a solid pickup over the next couple of months.

SG -Larry Hughes- New York Nicks: One of the things I like about fantasy basketball is that it mirrors the real game closely (cough, football, cough) in that good fantasy players are almost always good real players, and vice versa. This, though, is not one of those occasions. Despite all evidence that it’s a poor strategy, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni continues to give Larry Hughes major minutes (in D’Antoni’s defense, there aren’t a lot of other options). And Hughes, never one to be shy…isn’t. He usually puts up numbers when given playing time, and it appears he’ll be seeing the court a lot this season. As long as he’s getting minutes, he’ll contribute across the board and is a major plus if you’re looking for steals.

PG -Will Bynum- Detroit Pistons: Will Bynum continues to impress when given time, and is perhaps the anti-Larry Hughes, in that despite all evidence he should be played more, he simply hasn’t gotten on the court enough. Now, though, it appears the Pistons are recognizing his contributions and are gradually increasing his role. He’s currently averaging 11 ppg, 3rpg, 4apg with almost a steal as well. I don’t see these numbers going down in the near future, as the trend league-wide is toward smaller guards.

C -Roy Hibbert- Indiana Pacers: Hibbert is averaging a double-double (11 and 10) with three blocks, yet he’s owned in just 31.5 percent of ESPN.com leagues. There’s no excuse for this people—blocks are hard to come by, he’s even pitching in an assist and good percentages. He’s a borderline #1 center at this rate.

SG -Quentin Richardson- Miami Heat: Q has always been a bit mercurial, to say the least, but he seems to have found his niche playing in between fellow scorers Dwayne Wade and Michael Beasley. With the pressure off, Richardson is thriving again. In his last 3 games he’s averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds, along with 3.3 3PG. The big difference has been a jump in playing time with Daequan Cook sidelined by a shoulder injury. As long as the minutes are there, the stats should be too.

C -Channing Frye- Phoenix Suns: Another good center owned in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues. He’s tailor made for the Suns system—a big man that can shoot along side Amare Stoudemire. He’s been good for 14-5 with 2.8 3PM, and steal and a half per contest. I shouldn’t have to advocate picking up a center that contributes in 4 categories, but here we are.

Brandon Jennings (PG/SG, Milwaukee Bucks): It’s a pretty clear-cut case for Jennings, who is leading all rookies minutes per game (34.7), points per game (22.0) and 3-pointers per game (2.3). He’s also averaging 5.3 assists and 1.7 steals.

Jennings has already emerged as a primary weapon for the Bucks and figures to remain to the team’s focal point while Michael Redd deals with a balky left knee.

Expect Jennings’ .480 FG% to plummet and he commits more than three turnovers per game, but he will be a fantasy asset for the remainder of the season.

Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Golden State Warriors): Curry nearly gets as many minutes as Jennings at 34.3 per game and while he doesn’t score as much, he is filling the stat sheet on a Warriors team that is a fantasy gold mine.

Although he is averaging only 11 points per game, Curry is leading all rookies in assist per game (6.7) and steals per game (2.3) while shooting .556 from the floor. Speed is Curry’s biggest asset and he gets to the basket as well as any rookie in the league, making most of his shots high-percentage layups.

However, Curry has hit 3-of-6 3-pointers in three games, so he’s not exactly one-dimensional.

Curry’s overall game is more balanced than Jennings’ and he could be the most valuable rookie going forward. If Golden State has a roster shakeup that includes trading away Stephen Jackson, Curry may get more chances to score and become an even bigger weapon.

Jonny Flynn (PG/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves): Flynn has played at least 20 minutes in four of Minnesota’s five games and has shown some consistency, scoring in double figures in each contest. He’s averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 91 percent from the line.

Those are pretty solid numbers and the Timberwolves are awful. Flynn is a significant part of their future and he should get plenty of opportunities to succeed.

The only roadblock on the Minnesota roster would be Ramon Sessions, who has not been getting significant minutes. Still, the T-Wolves spent more than $16 million on Sessions in the offseason and there may be pressure to find him more playing time.

Since Sessions and Flynn can’t really co-exist on the court as both are non-jump shooting guards, any increased time for Sessions would come at the rookie’s expense.

DeJuan Blair (SF/PF, San Antonio Spurs): Four games into the season, Blair has already proven he is one of the league’s most prolific rebounders. In slightly less than 21 minutes per game, he is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. Ponder that for a second.

If Blair was getting starter’s minutes – 34 per game – he’d be grabbing 15 rebounds a night. He’s still a newbie learning the NBA game on a veteran team so he won’t get those minutes any time soon.

Unfortunately, Blair has blocked just one shot in four games, which limits his value as a dominant frontcourt fantasy presence. His value his limited to rebounds and his .700-plus FG%, which only a helps a little at only six shot attempts per game.

Ty Lawson (PG/SG, Denver Nuggets): Lawson was tremendous in his NBA debut, which was followed by three subpar games. He bounced back with 23 points on 9-of-10 shooting in 28 minutes on Wednesday. Such is the erratic life of an NBA rookie.

Lawson’s .580 FG% is skewed by Wednesday’s performance – he’s below .500 in his other four games – and his minutes have been anything but consistent. To make matters worse, J.R. Smith will return from suspension on Tuesday, which will impact Lawson’s opportunities.

Although he has shown an ability to score and is averaging 1.2 steals with an .889 FT%, Lawson’s role remains undefined on a Nuggets’ team that hasn’t played with its full roster.

Blake Griffin (SF/PF, Los Angeles Clippers): Although he has yet to play a game and is probably six weeks away from returning, Griffin is still more valuable than the remaining rookies on this list.

Once Griffin returns from a fractured kneecap, he will immediately become a major part of the Clippers’ rotation. Based on my preseason projections of 16.7 points and 8.6 rebounds, he’ll still provide plenty of punch in the season’s final four months.

The remaining rookies should likely be reserved for deep leagues or looked at cautiously in standard leagues to uncertain roles or some significant shortcomings.

Tyreke Evans (SG, Sacramento Kings): Evans is getting 31 minutes per game and his workload may increase now than Kevin Martin has a hairline fracture in his left wrist. Martin may or not be out quite a while, depending on what route of recovery he decides to take.

Evans has performed nicely thusfar, averaging 11.3 points 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals. But there are a few red flags that are killing his value. He’s made just 22-of-63 shots from floor, including 1-of-10 3-pointers, and has missed half of his free throws.

Even with increased minutes, it appears Evans’ offensive skills may not be NBA-ready just yet. A point guard who averages 14 points and four assists with no 3-point range and terrible percentages is hardly worth owning.

Evans did have one game where he made 7-of-13 shots and 7-of-8 free throws. But his other four games have been poor and possibly a better indication of what to expect in the short term.

Terrence Williams (SF/PF, New Jersey Nets): The Nets have been hammered by injuries, with Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, Jarvis Hayes and Chris Douglas-Roberts all sidelined. That leaves more opportunities for Williams, who is already getting more than 26 minutes per game.

Although his percentages are subpar, Williams is averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. The Nets giving him plenty of minutes in the short term and he could solidify his position by the time Hayes returns in a few weeks.

Chase Budinger (SG, Houston Rockets): Budinger seems to fit in well on a Rockets team that is more than the sum of its parts. He is averaging 16 minutes per game but coming off his best effort with 17 points in 22 minutes at Utah on Monday.

The immediate downside is that Budinger is currently nursing an ankle injury. But he’s averaging 9.3 points and 1.5 3-pointers while shooting 50 percent overall in limited minutes. If his role continues to increase, he’ll a valuable contributor for those looking for 3-pointers off the waiver wire.

Taj Gibson (SF/PF, Chicago Bulls): Gibson’s a curious case as he got limited playing time in the season’s first three games before being named a starter last week. He had his best game of his short career on Thursday with 11 points and seven rebounds with one steal and one block.

I’m not yet buying the idea that Gibson has surpassed Tyrus Thomas in the Bulls rotation. But the fact that he’s already a starter and played 34 minutes last night is reason to pay attention.

Gibson won’t be a stud with major minutes, but 12 points and seven rebounds per game would be nice. He has yet to prove that he can score efficiently, which would help his value tremendously.

Omri Casspi (SF, Sacramento Kings): If Martin chooses surgery as an option, part of the offensive burden could fall on Casspi, who is the NBA’s first player from Israel and improving rapidly.

Casspi has played 19 minutes or more in three of the Kings first five games and has performed well, making 16-of-26 shots, including 4-of-8 3-pointers, with three steals and three blocks. He won’t provide anything other than mild help in points and 3-pointers but is worth keeping an eye on as he works his way into Sacramento’s frontcourt rotation.

James Harden (PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder): Harden is averaging just 16.3 minutes per game and the return of Allen Iverson won’t help matters much. But he’s producing one 3-pointer and 3.3 assists in those limited minutes.

Any increase in playing time could see Harden putting up 1.5 3-pointers and five assists per game, which would put him in the Steve Blake/Luke Ridnour family of fantasy value.

DeMar DeRozan (SG/SF, Toronto Raptors): DeRozan is one of just eight rookies getting more than 20 minutes per game and while he hasn’t had any standout games, he’s done a little of everything.

Looking at his per minute numbers, he’s averaging 11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, 0.9 steals and 0.9 3-pointers per 36 minutes while shooting 50 percent from the floor. If his role on the Raptors increases, he could evolve into a multi-category asset.