A long-term injury can make a lot of fantasy owners forget about many a valuable player. While some guys, let’s say Danny Granger, end up never returning to game shape, other injuries, let’s say Mo Williams‘ thumb, are a lot easier to come back from. Before he went down for two months with torn ligaments in his thumb, Williams was universally owned. Today he’s available in 40% of Yahoo! leagues. The seasoned fantasy daytrader has already stopped reading this article and is furiously claiming him off waivers. If you’re still with me, let’s take a look at some other moves you should be making this week.
Buy:
Mo Williams: Strong Buy. Williams finally returned to the Jazz lineup after missing more than two months with a thumb injury. While he showed rust in his return, shooting just 3-12 for eight points, six assists, three rebounds, and a steal, he was averaging 13 PPG, 6.6 APG, one SPG, and 1.4 3PPG before his injury and is worth owning in nearly every league.
Andrea Bargnani: Strong Buy. Bargnani played so poorly after returning from his calf injury I was ready to write him off for the season but the Raptors have given him another shot in the lineup and he’s running with it. In his last three games, the seven-footer is averaging 15.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, one BPG, and 2.3 3PPG. More impressively, he’s doing it on 38% shooting so imagine what he can do if he gets up around 45%.
Andrew Bogut: Solid Buy. I was pretty surprised Bogut only had to miss six games with a bulging disk in his back and now that he’s back in the lineup he’s worth another look. He didn’t shoot much in his first two games but played 30 minutes in both and put up 16 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in the two contests. He should get his shot back to the double digits and combined with his defensive production he could be a great guy to have heading toward the fantasy playoffs.
Enes Kanter: Solid Buy. Although he’s still coming off the bench, Kanter has exploded of late and suddenly finds himself as a must-own. After tallying minutes in the teens most of the season, he is averaging 32 MPG in his last three games while putting up 19.3 PPG, 13 RPG and one BPG while shooting 69%. It’s hard to tell how long he’ll be able to keep this up but the Jazz will find him minutes if he can keep shooting like that.
Jason Kidd: Solid Buy. Kidd looked tired as the season moved along but his recent move to the bench seems to have sparked something in the 39-year-old guard. In his last four games, Kidd is averaging 31 MPG, nine PPG, 4.5 APG, six RPG, 2.5 SPG, and 2.3 3PPG. He can contribute in a lot of different categories and is a worthwhile pickup as long as he keeps playing 30 MPG.
Marco Belinelli: Short-term Buy. With the Bulls short-handed once again, Belinelli is getting the chance to start and carry the offense. In his last two games, Belinelli is averaging 43 MPG, 20.5 PPG, six APG, and 3.5 3PPG. He’s had a stretch like this earlier in the season and he’s only good for a week or two while the rest of the Bulls backcourt heals up.
Sell:
Byron Mullens: Mullens has been limited as he plays through a knee injury and at this point one has to wonder why the Bobcats don’t just give him some time off. He played just 13 minutes Wednesday after playing just three minutes Monday against the Blazers and had already seen his production drop before that so I wouldn’t start him under any circumstances until he shows he’s back to 100%.
Jordan Crawford: I am not sure Crawford really did get traded to Boston since I haven’t actually seen him on the court. Since moving to the Celts, Crawford is averaging a mere 13 MPG while putting up five PPG, three RPG, and one APG. At this point he isn’t worth owning anywhere and won’t be this season with the Celtics’ influx of mediocre guards.
Danny Granger: Granger, who missed the first four months of the season, is back on the sideline for at least another week after his knee flared up. He has averaged just 15 MPG while shooting a miserable 28% from the floor in the five games he has made it to this season. With this new setback, I can’t envision Granger playing enough minutes once he returns to be worth a starting spot on any fantasy team.
Darren Collison: Collison has seen his production drop like a brick in the last couple weeks and the Mavs have moved him out of the lineup in favor of Mike James. In his last four games, Collison is averaging just 23 MPG, 7.3 PPG, three APG, one SPG, and one 3PPG and isn’t worth starting anywhere until he shows any amount of production.
