The Fantasy Dudes are back, and we start with our pre-season rankings for the 2012-13 NFL Fantasy Football season:

Quarterback

Running Back (PPR)

Wide Receiver (PPR)

Tight End

Kickers

Defense/Special Teams

As always, we'd appreciate your thoughts, so hit us up in the comments section, or send us through an email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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So we have some movement in the NBA trade market as the deadline nears. The Warriors and Bucks pulled the trigger on a 5 player trade. The Warriors sent Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown to the Bucks in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson. So who were the winners and losers of this trade from a fantasy basketball perspective? The Fantasy Dudes have broken it down for you:



Winners:
Stephen Jackson: Was well and truely riding the bench at the Bucks, so this should give him a timely boost. Don't expect his stats to be the same as when he was at the Warriors last, but Captain Jack should be added in deeper leagues and could provide a nice boost for the fantasy playoff run.

Monta Ellis: Will take a few games to find his niche, but expect Monta to continue his current production. He didn't seem to have an issue with Curry, why would that change with Jennings?

Stephen Curry: When healthy, he'll see a lot more shots and will be expected to fill the void of Ellis.

Klay Thompson: Speaking to filling the void, it will likely be Klay that steps up into the starting role, as such, increases his fantasy value significantly. Worth owning in all fantasy leagues, especially with Curry out. Did you know he took 19 shots against the kings to lead the team in shots taken?

Nate Robinson: At least in the short-term, Nate will be worth a waiver wire stream in deeper leagues. 17 pts, 2 stls, 2 three's against Kings.

Dorrell Wright: Will the real Dorrell please stand up, please stand up, please stand up. What a major disappointment, but this might be exactly what he needs. Returned stats of 14 pts, 10 rebs, and 4 three's in first game post Ellis.

Andris Biedrins: Well it wasn't like he was doing anything, so not that he's back starting, that is a win right?



Losers:
Drew Gooden: Has been tearing it up recently, but the addition of Udoh will likely cut down his current production.

Ekpe Udoh: Just went fantasy owners thought they found a piece to their fantasy championship puzzle, its taken away. Udoh will still get minutes, but it won't be as strong as what he had seen recently as starter for the Warriors.

Brandon Jennings: We all know that Monta likes to have the ball in his hands and likes to shoot. He will now need to share the ball. Points likely to come down, but assists should improve.

Carlos Delfino: Sorry, but Monta coming to the party meant someone had to miss out. Welcome to the bench.


No change:
Andrew Bogut: Not relevant for this fantasy season. Expect same numbers next season.

David Lee: Will continue to remain the same old workhorse he is. Perhaps will see an slight bump up in points courtesy of there being more shots available.

Stay tuned to The Fantasy Dudes for updates, detailed analysis and fantasy fun as the NBA season winds down.

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POINT GUARD

SHOOTING GUARD

SMALL FORWARD

POWER FORWARD

CENTER

We would appreciate any comments, thoughts or educated disagreements you have with them. Hit us up in the comments section, or send us an email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stay tuned to The Fantasy Dudes for updates, detailed analysis and fantasy fun as the NBA season progresses. 

Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed with the latest in Fantasy NBA and NFL.

Snubs are quite common in real life all-star teams... often one's fantasy stats don't convert into instant all-star selection, whilst some non-performing stars still make it in. To get in the spirit of the NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando, we felt the need to reward those players who have been performing for their fantasy teams with our very own Fantasy All-Star teams for the East and the West. We would appreciate your thoughts:



Starters
Deron Williams
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Josh Smith
Dwight Howard

Reserves
Derrick Rose
Ryan Anderson
Chris Bosh
Andre Iguodala
Greg Monroe
Paul Pierce
Brandon Jennings




Starters
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Kevin Durant
Kevin Love
Marc Gasol

Reserves
Kyle Lowry
Russell Westbrook
Al Jefferson
LaMarcus Aldridge
Blake Griffin
Pau Gasol
Steve Nash

We would appreciate any comments, thoughts or educated disagreements you have with the selections. Hit us up in the comments section, or send us an email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Stay tuned to The Fantasy Dudes for updates, detailed analysis and fantasy fun as the NBA season progresses. 

Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed with the latest in Fantasy NBA and NFL.

The NBA All-Star break is upon us, which for fantasy owners it means a short week (no games on the weekend from a fantasy perspective), hence it will be critical to use all of your available add/drops. Here are a few options to consider (based on ownership of less than 50%):


Markieff Morris, Phoenix Suns: Has provided a real lift off the bench for the Suns latelt to the tune of 10.3 points, 14. Rebouns, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals over his past 8 games.

Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks: Quitely been achiving for the Hawks with an average of 8.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals and a block over his past 7 games.


Corey Brewer, Denver Nuggets: Injuries have helped Corey get back on the fantasy map. Past 4 games he has averaged 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.5 threes.

Gustavo Ayon, New Orleans Hornets: Another who has benefited from injuries. Over his past 6 games, Gustavo gas averaged 8.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a block.


Courtney Lee, Houston Rockets: With Kevin Martin going MIA in games lately, Courtney has seen his minutes elevate, and thus so has his production. Over his past 7 games he has responded with 11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.9 threes.

Mike Dunleavy, Milwaukee Bucks: Has seen his minutes increase as a result of injuries and he hasn't disappointed off the bench with an average of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 threes over his past 7 games.

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The waiver wire... an extremely important tool that must be used by all fantasy teams no matter your level of experience. While there are a number of options available at the start of the season, as the season progresses, it becomes harder to find those diamonds in the rough.

Unless you are in a very shallow league, or you have some inexperienced fantasy owners, it is virtually impossible to find players off the wire that are matrix-like, that this, they fill-up the box score. Instead, you are better off working out 1-2 categories you want to be better off in, and then target accordingly. Perhaps you be looking to add someone on the last day to help you win a matchup.

In this article, we have identied five players you should target within each category (we have removed the %'s and turnovers from the analysis):

Figures below based on season averages and less than 50% ownership.


Threes:
Richard Jefferson (2.0 pg), Jodie Meeks (1.9 pg), Kyle Korver (1.8 pg), Matt Bonner (1.8 pg), Mickael Pietrus (1.8 pg)


Points:
Gerald Henderson (15 pg – back within a week), Corey Maggette (13.2 pg), Tayshaun Prince (12.5 pg), Leandro Barbosa (11.8 pg), Brandon Bass (11.6 pg)



Rebounds:
Udonis Haslem (8.2 pg), Amir Johnson (6.7 pg), Brendan Haywood (6.7 pg), Marreese Speights (6.6 pg), Zaza Pachulia (6.3 pg)



Assists:
Ramon Sessions (5.6 pg), Earl Watson (4.7 pg), Goran Dragic (3.6 pg), Luke Ridnour (3.6 pg), Derek Fisher (3.6 pg)



Steals:
Iman Shumpert (2.0 pg), James Johnson (1.3 pg), Alonzo Gee (1.3 pg), Chandler Parsons (1.2 pg), Corey Brewer (1.2 pg)



Blocks:
Ekpe Udoh (1.7 pg), Tyrus Thomas (1.7 pg), Jermaine O'Neal (1.5 pg), Bismack Biyombo (1.5 pg), Chris Anderson (1.3 pg)

Need help with your fantasy team? Hit us up on twitter, facebook or via email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

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One game to go of the season... i doubt many would have had this matchup. New England Patriots Vs New York Giants for all the marbles. Here is how each of our football analysts have picked the game:

Michael: Giants (7 out of 10 so far in these playoffs) - Momentum is on their side, and their defense will be too strong. G-men!

Andre: Patriots (7 out of 10 so far in these playoffs) - Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have not forgotten what happened last time they met in the Superbowl. Payback will be sweet.

The Patriots head into the game as favorites, but the Giants have been impressive taking care of the Falcons, Packers and 49ers along their path to the Superbowl. Coached my two of the best in the game, this sure will be a fantastic game.

For those of you who want a refresher on the last time these two teams met in the big game, here are a few highlights from the final quarter (oh, and if you haven't seen the "Matthew's Day Off" (aka Ferris Bueller), be sure to check it out): 

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Can you believe we are already past the quarter way mark of the NBA season. To mark the occasion, I decided to run through my ALL NBA teams from a fantasy point of view.

Note, I have taken into account games played... if players have missed time (such as Wade and Paul), it has hurt fantasy teams due to missing their stats (despite the averages looking good per game).


All Fantasy NBA First Team
G: Derrick Rose – 23.3 pts, 7.8 assts, 0.9 stls, 0.8 blks, 1.4 threes
G: Kobe Bryant – 30 pts, 6.1 rebs, 5.4 assts, 1.2 stls
F: LeBron James – 29.1 pts, 8.3 rebs, 7 assts, 1.8 stls
F: Kevin Durant – 26.8 pts, 7.9 rebs, 3.2 assts, 1.1 stls, 1.3 blks
C: Kevin Love – 25.5 pts, 13.5 rebs, 2 threes, 1.1 stls


All Fantasy NBA Second Team
G: Russell Westbrook – 21.3 pts, 5.7 assts, 4.7 rebs, 2.2 stls,
G: Kyle Lowry – 14.6 pts, 8 assts, 6.4 rebs, 2 stls, 1.6 threes
F: Paul Millsap – 17.1 pts, 9.4 rebs, 1.6 stls, 0.8 blks
F: LaMarcus Aldridge – 22.6 pts, 8.8 rebs, 1.1 stls, 0.8 blks
C: Dwight Howard – 20 pts, 15.3 rebs, 2 blks, 1.3 stls


All Fantasy NBA Third Team
G: Brandon Jennings – 20.1 pts, 5.5 assts, 2.2 threes, 1.6 stls
G: Joe Johnson – 19.1 pts, 3.9 rebs, 3.7 assts, 2 threes
F: Danilo Gallinari – 17.4 pts, 5.3 rebs, 1.4 stls, 1.3 threes
F: Chris Bosh – 20.9 pts, 7.8 rebs, 1 stl, 0.9 blks
C: Marc Gasol – 14.9 pts, 10.5 rebs, 2.3 bks, 1.1 stls

MVP: LeBron James
ROY: Ricky Rubio (slightly ahead of Irving)
Most Improved: Kyle Lowry/Ryan Anderson
DPOY: Marc Gasol/Javale McGee
6th Man: James Harden

Yes, there will be a number of players left out of the above... remember, this is just for the performance over the 1st quarter of the season, and is based on fantasy stats. Let me know who you think should and shouldn't be there! I certainly welcome your feedback.

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Has your fantasy team hit with injuries? Players underperforming? Getting bored with your team? Look no further because here is a list of players you should be targeting off your waiver wires:


Vince Carter, SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks have been hit with injuries, and Vince himself has only just returned... but returned in style indeed. How does 18 pts, 2.7 three's, 1.3 stls and excellent shooting over the past 3 games sound to you? Ride the hot hand. Owned in just 45% of standard leagues.

Drew Gooden, PF/C, Milwaukee Bucks: In case you haven't heard, Andrew Bogut is out for quite a white. The Bucks will likely get in some recruits, but Drew should see plenty of minutes in the meantime. Has averaged 18.3 pts and 7.5 rebs over past 4 games. Owned in 59% of standard leagues.

Chase Budinger, SF, Houston Rockets: For those owners that drafted him, they will likely be disappointed, and rightly so given he has a few DNPCD. However there has been movement off the bench over the past 3 games to the tune of 17.7 pts, 2.3 three's, 4.7 rebs and strong shooting percentages. Owned in 37% of standard leagues.


Landry Fields, SG/SF, New York Knicks: One of the forgotten men in the Knicks starting lineup as Shumpert has taken away some of the limelight. Landry has actually performed well lately, including a breakout 18 pt, 5 stl, 4 three game against the Pistons. He should continue to do well even when Baron returns. Owned in 45% of standard leagues.

Marcus Camby, C, Portland Trailblazers: How old is this guy? Health has always been an issue, but might as well run with him while he is still going. He won't help with much besides rebounds and blocks, however he is a strong asset. Averaged 13.7 rebs and 2 blks over his past 3 games. Owned in 58% of standard leagues.

James Johnson, SF/PF, Toronto Raptors: A key beneficiary from the Bargnani injury, Johnson has returned 1.5 stls, 2 blks, and 4.7 rebs for fantasy owners over the past 4 games. Owned in 42% of standard leagues.


Marvin Williams, SF, Atlanta Hawks: Yes, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith have stepped up since Horford went down, but so has Marvin. Over past 4 games he has averaged 13.5 pts, 3 threes, 5.7 rebs and 1 stl a game. Owned in 34% of standard leagues.

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Buy:

JaVale McGee, C, Wizards: The leader of the Block Party has been on a swat tear of late, averaging 3.4 blocks over his last 7 games, and 3.2 for the season. With career high in rebounds (9.3) and a fantastic FG% (0.523), McGee is hugely undervalued as a fantasy player, and can win the blocks category for you practically on his own.



Mike Conley, PG, Grizzlies: With 7.3 assists per game, Conley ranks a respectable 10th in the assists category amongst players, but it's the steals he racks up (a whopping 2.5 per game) where he adds most value.

Kyrie Irving, PG, Cavaliers: Irving has been very good of late, averaging 20 points on 0.578 FG, 4.6 assists per game. With over a 3 per game added to all this, Irving is having a quietly good season, and figures to get better as the season progresses.

Sell:

Stephen Jackson, SG/SF, Bucks: The only thing I hate worse than S-Jax's attitude is his FG% (0.367) and TO's (3.2). Jackson's scoring, his once most valuable asset, is down significantly from a couple of years ago, and his across the boards stats are nothing special. His name still carries trade weight, so get what you can for him now.

 

Dirk Nowitzki, PG/C, Mavericks: People - this is not the same Dirk as yesteryear. Scoring (6 points), rebounds (1.2) and FG% (0.67) all down from last season, and I don't think he can get back to that previous level. If you can get 95 cents on the dollar for him, why not? You'd be surprised what other owners are willing to give up for the big German.