Now that the draft dust has settled andtwo fantasy basketball weeks have passed, you probably have a decent idea of preliminary projections for your fantasy team, where it’s headed, and where it should be going.
Here are some guys who you may want to look at to provide your team with those hustle stats that you may have overlooked during your draft. I added their percentage of ownership on Yahoo, pertinent category averages-to-date, and some comments.
Larry Hughes, G/F New York Knicks (65 % Owned)
Current Averages: 7 Games, 36:08 Mins, 48.7 FG%, 81.5 FT%, 1.0 3PPG, 14.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 2.0 TO
He’s not a bad addition if you need extra assists and steals. Watch out for Nate Robinson’s return though.
Chuck Hayes, SF/PF/C Houston Rockets (23% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 26:52 Mins, 60.5 FG%, 00.0 FT%, 0.0 3PPG, 6.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 1.3 TO
While Aaron Brooks, Trevor Ariza, and Luis Scola are doing most of the scoring; Chuck has been doing a decent job at doing the “dirty work”. Not that Trevor isn’t picking everyone’s pocket as well… but he isn’t in your FA pool. Hayes’ triple-eligibility is a bonus.
Mareese Speights, F/C Philadephia 76ers (41% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 24:15 Mins, 61.5 FG%, 80.0 FT%, 0.0 3PPG, 15.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.3 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 1.0 TO
His good performances have been the bane of Elton Brand, well that and Elton Brand himself. Speights is a good source of FG% boosting, rebounds, and the occasional block.

Ben Wallace, F/C Detroit Pistons (27% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 29:07 Mins, 56.3 FG%, 50.0 FT%, 0.0 3PPG, 3.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 0.8 TO
While this isn’t the vintage Big Ben we once knew and loved, it’s very hard to ignore nine and a half boards that go with one and a half steals and blocks per game. He’s more than just a token throwback presence of the old Pistons. Not surprisingly so, they’ve anchored their defense around him.
Anderson Varejao, F/C Cleveland Cavaliers (59% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 31:45 Mins, 48.1 FG%, 68.4 FT%, 0.0 3PPG, 7.9 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 1.0 AGP, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 0.8 TO
We’ve seen him moved to the bench to give way to the more athletic, but less experienced J.J. Hickson. Nonetheless, Varejao is a decent source of boards and steals for your fantasy team.
Erick Dampier, C Dallas Mavericks (49% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 27:45 Mins, 66.7 FG%, 60.0 FT%, 0.0 3PPG, 8.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.3 2PG, 2.3 BPG, 0.8 TO
Sigh. I don’t know why he’s on this list at all or for how long he’ll stay on it, but Damps has got your team covered if you need some of those extra big man numbers. 10 boards and 2.3 blocks a game may just do the trick.

Corey Brewer, G/F Minnesota Timberwolves (31% Owned)
Current Averages: 9 Games, 32:40 Mins, 36.6 FG%, 62.5 FT%, 0.4 3PPG, 11.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.6 TO
He’s been solid as the Wolves’ starting SG so far. What he lacks in terms of offense he makes up through his 2.1 steals a night. He’ll give you a block every now and then, plus he’s learning to help Jonny Flynn distribute the ball in the offense. He’s a role player’s role player on that team and I think his minutes should remain solid throughout the season.

Thabo Sefolosha, G/F Oklahoma City Thunder (9% Owned)
Current Averages: 8 Games, 31:22 Mins, 45.2 FG%, 62.5 FT%, 1.0 3PPG, 6.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 1.3 TO
Thabo Sefolosha is making a believer of some of the NBA’s best when it comes to his defense. Kobe Bryant said recently that Sefolosha is closing in on the list of the league’s best defenders. – Nov.9 Yahoo Sports
If Kobe Bryant respects his D then, perhaps its time we showed him some fantasy respect as well. Five rebounds and one and a half steals keep him in the starting lineup along with his intagible harassment of opposing star players. One trey per game is a sweet bonus too. Think of Thabo as a Bruce Bowen who you can actually use in fantasy basketball.