Fantasy basketball playoffs are getting started. If you are still looking for a little extra edge from the waiver wire to get you to the next level, we can’t promise miracles, but there a few unknowns who have been getting a chance recently with trades or injuries to others having changed the shape of things. Here are a few helpers likely to be available at each position if you are in need:
PG: Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia. Only 30% owned in Yahoo!, he recently became a starter and averaged 5.6 assists per game and 2 steals per game last week to go along with 14 points per game.
SG: Marcus Thornton, New Orleans. 63% owned. One of the players thrust into action after Chris Paul’s injury affected substitutions at both PG and SG, he averaged 19.8 PPG last week, mostly coming off the bench.
SF: James Johnson, Chicago. Overshadowed by Taj Gibson all year, this rookie has been getting time with Joakim Noah and Gibson both suffering from foot ailments. Available in virtually all leagues, he has scored 13.3 PPG and collected 1.3 blocks per game in his last three games.
PF: Anthony Tolliver, Golden State. 10.7 PPg and 8.7 RPG for Tolliver last week, and just 18% owned.
C: Jason Maxiell, Detroit. Averaged 13 PPG, 10.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG last week, getting playing time with Ben Wallace injured.
Next week: Best of the Season awards.
Fantasy Baseball
There may not be time to go through every position as deeply as I’d like, as baseball drafts kicked in over the last few days. So, this time around, I’ll knock out a few choice picks at SS and 3B – the guys not named Hanley Ramirez or Evan Longoria, and who won’t be gone after the few rounds – but may be worth your time.
SS
Alexei Ramirez, White Sox: We were all expecting a great season last year and, instead, he started slow and took forever to recover. Maybe a bit more power and measurably more stolen bases this year in a more aggressive base-running scheme.
Stephen Drew, Arizona: Another slow starter last year who is already a good bet for triples (12 last year) and who could rediscover the power that helped him to 21 homers in 2008.
Alcides Escobar, Milwaukee: Highly-touted prospect has a good chance to hit early in the lineup, stay above .300 and collect plenty of stolen bases.
3B
Aramis Ramirez, Cubs: His health pushed him down the draft list this year, but he hits better than anyone else with runners in scoring position. Something of a mid-round steal.
Chone Figgins, Seattle: He’s streaky, but when he’s on he piles up hits, walks, stolen bases and runs.
Adrian Beltre, Boston: Homers took a dive last year, but in Fenway I think he’ll get a power stroke back and could also be good for 15 or so stolen bases.
Next week: We make a visit to the mound.
The Fantasy Basketball Expert Wire
* Bleacher Report takes its own look at some waiver wire sleepers, endorsing our love for Jrue Holiday.
* SLAM Online says forget about your NCAA brackets and stayed focused on the pros.
The Fantasy Baseball Expert Wire
* ESPN’s Eric Karabell notes that starting pitcher Ben Sheets is not helping his draft status much in spring training, as he has been hammered thus far. Sheets is definitely dropping into very late-round sleeper territory, but his new stadium in Oakland is huge, and assuming he makes the team, I think he’ll have a decent year.
* SI.com ranks the top 15 outfielders. Jacoby Ellsbury continues to be listed awfully high (No. 6 this time) for a guy who may not go into double digits in home runs. Many multitool outfielders, like Jayson Werth and Justin Upton, deserve to be ahead of him.
* OPEN Sports has the low-down on some players whose value is rising. Jon Rauch anyone?
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Dan O’Shea’s Fantasy Fix appears in this space every Wednesday. He welcomes your comments. You can also read his about his split sports fan personality at SwingsBothWays, which isn’t about what it sounds like it’s about.
Posted on March 17, 2010