FANTASY FURNACE

This week we offer one starter and a host of bench players for your consideration. It’s never too early to restock part of your roster especially if your team has been besieged by injuries or has players who are not playing up to snuff. Take a look at your team and see if any of these could help strengthen some of those stats…

Shannon Brown-SG-Suns- Throw-out his first eleven games when he came off the bench, and feast your eyes on what he’s done over the last ten games as a starter. Nine have been in double-digits and in six of those he has poured in 15 points or more per game. The former first rounder will also help to fill up your stat sheet in threes and steals. His free throw percentage stands at a healthy 84.3%. We can’t understand how a player averaging 17.2 points per game over his last five games is only owned in a little over 20% of leagues. Brown is a Must Add in all formats!

#26 Shannon Brown is our Must Add this week scoring over 17 points in his last five games. Photo: zimbio.com

Matt Barnes-SF-Clippers- Here’s a role player on the hottest team in the NBA at the moment, who can get you a plethora of stats in almost all categories including points, threes, steals, rebounds, and blocks. No, he won’t play 30 minutes a night but consider that over the past two weeks, the ten-year veteran has averaged 13.6 points, 4.6 boards, 1.4 three-pointers, 1.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals. Those are pretty healthy numbers don’t you think? He’s another player owned in only 20% of leagues and is a ‘steal’ in 12+ leagues!

Alan Anderson-SG/SF-Raptors- The Raptors have won four in a row and this undrafted four-year bench player has been lighting it up, averaging an unbelievable 19.3 points per game over his last three. He has only played in a handful of games so we’re suggesting you take a flier out on him until we see a larger sample. Meantime, he could prove valuable to those managers who need threes and someone who can get to the free throw line. That in itself is a strange combination. Anderson is available in 90% of leagues and is worth watching.

#6 Alan Anderson averaging 19.3 points per game over his last three is someone to watch over the next several games. Photo: raptors.com

Kosta Koufos-PF/C-Nuggets- We’ll preface this selection by saying that if you are in deeper leagues in search of rebounds and blocks specifically, then you might give Koufos a try. A couple of nights ago against the Spurs, he pulled down 14 boards and 4 blocks. He’s been getting the starting nod although he continues to share time with JaVale McGee so his time is limited to about 24 minutes a game. Over his last seven games he’s averaged 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks; 9.3 and 3.0 over his last three.

Gerald Henderson-SG/SF-Bobcats- Henderson, who we touted once before, deserves a second look by those who still have been hesitant on picking up the former Duke star. He got his first start vs Orlando this week and poured in 16 points, 4 boards, and 4 assists while shooting 6-6 from the free throw line. He’s scored seven times in double-digits over the past nine and the only caveat to Henderson’s game is his lack of consistent minutes. (He had missed almost all of November with a foot injury). For that reason and until he does play more regularly, we suggest using him in deeper formats for now. He’s owned in just under 40% of leagues.