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
Gerald Henderson, SG, Hornets
Henderson has always been a player who could score around 15 points per night as a starter. He does so little to contribute in the other categories, however, that even when he goes for 31 points in a game, as he did Thursday against the Raptors, fantasy owners are often wary about picking him up off the waiver wire. Lance Stephenson's pelvic injury has opened up steady minutes for Henderson, and the fact that the Hornets have gone 8-5 without Stephenson and 6-19 when he plays is surely not lost on management. There are plenty of rumors that the Hornets already want to trade Stephenson, who was signed this offseason, but finding a taker for him seems like a tall order, so Henderson's owners should not bank on that. However, for now, he should get enough minutes in the short term to offer value in most category leagues.
REBOUNDS
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
For many of the same reasons Henderson needs to be considered for points, Kidd-Gilchrist needs to be considered for rebounds. He is the Hornets' best defender, and that allows him to log a lot of court time. While he's on the court, Kidd-Gilchrist has been swarming the glass, averaging 10.4 points over
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
Gerald Henderson, SG, Hornets
Henderson has always been a player who could score around 15 points per night as a starter. He does so little to contribute in the other categories, however, that even when he goes for 31 points in a game, as he did Thursday against the Raptors, fantasy owners are often wary about picking him up off the waiver wire. Lance Stephenson's pelvic injury has opened up steady minutes for Henderson, and the fact that the Hornets have gone 8-5 without Stephenson and 6-19 when he plays is surely not lost on management. There are plenty of rumors that the Hornets already want to trade Stephenson, who was signed this offseason, but finding a taker for him seems like a tall order, so Henderson's owners should not bank on that. However, for now, he should get enough minutes in the short term to offer value in most category leagues.
REBOUNDS
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
For many of the same reasons Henderson needs to be considered for points, Kidd-Gilchrist needs to be considered for rebounds. He is the Hornets' best defender, and that allows him to log a lot of court time. While he's on the court, Kidd-Gilchrist has been swarming the glass, averaging 10.4 points over his last five games, which is ridiculous for a non-post player. In addition, while everyone knows MKG has not been the best jump-shooter in his three years in the pros, but his field-goal percentage is actually a strength because he knows his limitations. He is far more valuable than his current ownership suggests, and should be a top waiver wire option this week.
ASSISTS
Evan Turner, PG, Celtics
Turner will never be mistaken for an efficient player or a pass-first point guard, but for the time being, he is a starting point guard and should be treated as such. He has shifted his style to average 5.8 assists and just 6.0 points over his last four games, which is not ideal overall, but certainly worth taking note of if you are looking for assists. The Celtics could eventually opt to try to develop Marcus Smart as the starting point guard, but for now, Turner is the better option for fantasy.
STEALS
Shane Larkin, PG, Knicks
This is not a bet on talent, it is a bet on minutes. The Knicks are throwing stuff overboard like the ship is sinking, and Larkin has been a primary beneficiary in the backcourt. He is only averaging 6.8 points and 4.0 assists in 28 minutes over his last five games, but his 2.6 steals per game over that stretch keeps him relevant in category leagues. With Jose Calderon and Pablo Prigioni representing the only other point guard options in New York, Larkin has as good a chance as anyone to distinguish himself as the lead man, and even if he doesn't surpass Calderon on the depth chart, he should notch enough steals to be useful in deeper leagues.
BLOCKS
Hassan Whiteside, C, Heat
Let me preface this by saying I do not expect Whiteside to hold fantasy value for the rest of the month, let alone the rest of the season. However, it is impossible to argue with his recent production. The seven-footer has 16 blocks over his last five games, and even if that production were to get cut in half over his next five games, that would still be pretty useful in deeper formats. John Henson and Rudy Gobert remain the top options here, but they are owned in most competitive leagues.
THREE-POINTERS
Matt Barnes, SF, Clippers
It doesn't matter that Barnes should not be starting for a team that fancies itself a contender. The fact is, he IS starting, and seeing almost 28 minutes per game on the season, which allows him to compile useful counting stats, particularly three-pointers. The veteran wing is hitting 1.6 three-pointers on the season and 2.6 over his last five games. As long as the Clippers don't trade for an upgrade, the low end of his production in this category will still be over a trey per game, so he is someone worth rostering in most category leagues.
