This article is part of our Category Strategy series.
CATEGORY STRATEGY
Each week, this article highlights players who are widely available in standard leagues who can help in specific roto categories. While each player highlighted can help in a specific category, there's no guarantee for production in other areas.
POINTS
Perry Jones, SF, Thunder
It was only four years ago that Jones was considered a surefire lottery pick out of Baylor. At 6-foot-11, he's a very impressive specimen at the small forward position; somewhat reminiscent of the guy he's replacing in the Thunder's lineup. He has taken 18 and 17 shot attempts in his last two games and has played over 40 minutes in both of those contests, so if that usage pattern continues, he will be a top-50 fantasy player over the next 6-8 weeks. Obviously, he will probably settle into something closer to a 28-32 minute-per-game role as the sample size expands, but that still makes him a target in the majority of formats. After scoring 55 points and hitting six three-pointers in his last two games, Jones needs to be taken seriously.
REBOUNDS
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Hornets
Kidd-Gilchrist finally resembles the type of player Charlotte thought they were getting when they took him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft. Not only has he improved as a shooter, but he has 20 rebounds in the first two games of the season. He won't continue to average 10 rebounds per game, but people need to start buying into him as a legit
CATEGORY STRATEGY
Each week, this article highlights players who are widely available in standard leagues who can help in specific roto categories. While each player highlighted can help in a specific category, there's no guarantee for production in other areas.
POINTS
Perry Jones, SF, Thunder
It was only four years ago that Jones was considered a surefire lottery pick out of Baylor. At 6-foot-11, he's a very impressive specimen at the small forward position; somewhat reminiscent of the guy he's replacing in the Thunder's lineup. He has taken 18 and 17 shot attempts in his last two games and has played over 40 minutes in both of those contests, so if that usage pattern continues, he will be a top-50 fantasy player over the next 6-8 weeks. Obviously, he will probably settle into something closer to a 28-32 minute-per-game role as the sample size expands, but that still makes him a target in the majority of formats. After scoring 55 points and hitting six three-pointers in his last two games, Jones needs to be taken seriously.
REBOUNDS
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Hornets
Kidd-Gilchrist finally resembles the type of player Charlotte thought they were getting when they took him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft. Not only has he improved as a shooter, but he has 20 rebounds in the first two games of the season. He won't continue to average 10 rebounds per game, but people need to start buying into him as a legit option in fantasy leagues. MKG is currently only owned in 43 percent of Yahoo! leagues, which is ridiculous.
ASSISTS
Tony Wroten, PG, 76ers
Wroten was a frequent name in the 2013-14 Category Strategy column, primarily because Michael Carter-Williams can't stay healthy. It would be tragic, but I fear MCW will just be one of those guys who never puts together full seasons, but flashes brilliance when he's healthy (pure reckless speculation). Enter Wroten, who, through three games, is averaging 7.7 assists. He won't maintain that level of production, especially once MCW is finally healthy, but in a 12-team roto league, Wroten's season total in this department will resemble that of a low-end starting point guard.
STEALS
Tony Allen, SG, Grizzlies
We might as well get this one out of the way early. Allen will probably pop up in this spot throughout the season because his offensive skills make him a difficult player to put up with. But if steals are a category you want to excel in, Allen can help you with that, especially if you can supplement offense with above-average scorers elsewhere on your roster.
BLOCKS
Brandan Wright, PF, Mavericks
It has been established over the years that Rick Carlisle won't give Wright much more than 20 minutes per game, but that's all he needs to contribute in blocks and field-goal percentage. He doesn't have much value in points leagues, but in category leagues, Wright can help in several categories without hurting you anywhere. John Henson is another similar option here, but his minutes might be even less stable.
THREE-POINTERS
Chris Copeland, SF, Pacers
David West's absence has helped empower Copeland, but the Pacers are still very thin in the frontcourt, and Copeland shouldn't have much trouble seeing enough minutes to be relevant, even with West back in the fold. He has attempted 25 three-pointers through three games, which is definitely something fantasy owners should be excited about. Copeland is shooting 41.8 percent from downtown over his two-plus seasons, and that success rate certainly justifies the frequency with which he's hoisting from deep in the early going.
