You’ve been patient! Now that we have a few weeks of stats in the books, we can finally rely on trends that we see when determining whether or not to pick up a player. Don’t just go through this particular list of players. Go back through my last two target lists and see if any of these players are available in your leagues. Look at the depth charts, rotations are still being finalized and there’s a lot of playing time to go around.

OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGES: Yahoo! Sports

Spencer Dinwiddie PG BKN-36% Ownership: Dinwiddie’s shot selection has never been anything to write home about, but over his last few games and getting a bit of a longer leash with Jeremy Lin out for the season, he’s show maturity, restraint in regards to taking awful shots from bad angles and he’s been driving and finding holes in the lane more to get to the basket. He’s seen playing time in the 30’s in 2 of his last 4 games which shows that the Nets are committing to him a bit more. Dinwiddie has scored 22 points in 2 of his last 4 games and can absolutely be relied on for assists and steals. He’s stolen the ball five times over his last two games and is averaging 5.4 assists per game this season. The Nets lack depth and have had to move D’Angelo Russell to the starting PG spot and Caris LeVert and Allen Crabbe have had to help at SG and SF. With the defensive commitment he’s given in recent games, expect him to get more playing time over his next few games. 

Alex Len PF/C PHX-37% Ownership: With the Suns in limbo until Eric Bledsoe is traded, we have to go with what we know and that’s Alex Len has fresher legs than Tyson Chandler. Len’s minutes are trustworthy enough and he’s grabbed nine rebounds per game this season. Len will provide limited steals and blocks help, but he’s never afraid to take contact in the post. He’ll create on the low block and spin right into contact and not give up on a play once the shot goes up. Chandler could be traded (along with Bledsoe) and that could open up even more time for Len down the road. Len’s grabbed at least 13 boards in 2 of his last 4 games and the Suns need all of the help they can get on the glass. Even when he’s played under 20 minutes, Len still grabs enough boards to make a fantasy impact showing he can be a volume producer for boards. 

T.J. McConnell PG PHI-27% Ownership: We’re going to play a game called “Pick Your Philly Guard”. Markelle Fultz is out indefinitely and McConnell and Jerryd Bayless have been benefitting. McConnell has been hot over his last few games scoring in double figures in his last three games, while providing rebounding and steals help. He’s stolen the ball at least once in his last five games; McConnell is dishing five assists per game and has dished over five in three of his last four games. McConnell has looked a bit feistier on the court especially when coming off of screens on the perimeter. He’s quick and agile and gets a true rotation commitment of over 20 minutes per game. He’s hit or miss from beyond the arc. He’s been streaking over his last few games so get on the train before the fire burns out. 

Jerryd Bayless G PHI-14% Ownership: While McConnell is more of a floor runner and speedster, Bayless positions himself at different spots on the floor on offense. Bayless provides a bit more consistency when it comes to scoring overall. Bayless is treated as a bailout option often when Ben Simmons is running the offense. As the off guard at times, Bayless utilizes his long-range shooting. He’s great at planting his feet at a spot and hitting even when the shot is contested. Bayless has provided two to three rebounds per game and will provide some assist and steals help. Bayless plays over 30 minutes per game and his playing time is secure and he’s a starter. In this situation, McConnell has a bit more of a ceiling and is on a hot streak, but Bayless has more security and with Simmons constantly driving because he can’t shoot well, Bayless has it a bit easier when it comes to scoring and is a better outside shooter than McConnell. Take your pick! 

Evan Turner SG/SF-32% Ownership: Turner’s stats are all over the place, but he does produce and will give one of your categories a strong boost per game. Which category will that be? The World may never know! While Turner can be a frustrating player to watch, he’s been attacking the lane a bit more and will have more room to create with the ball with Al-Farouq Aminu out for a bit. If you need rebounds, assists and steals, Turner is your guy. He plays over 20 minutes and it’s hard to rely on him for double-digit scoring, but he’s grabbed at least five rebounds over his last four games and he has at least three dimes over his last two games. When Turner isn’t hanging out at the arc and is calling for the ball right inside the key, that’s the Turner that will score more and the Blazers will need to force defenses to collapse and when Damian Lillard is doubled and C.J. McCollum has to stay at the elbow, it will be up to Turner to cut. Turner recently has a four-steal game and that could give him even more playing time over the next few games. A couple of games ago, he blocked three shots. The defensive potential is there.

Courtney Lee SG/SF NY-24% Ownership: Lee is known more for his strong perimeter defense over his shooting, but he’s hit double figures in four of his last five games. Lee averages 3.7 rebounds per game and will always help with steals. He’s recorded at least one steal in every game he’s played in and frequently see’s playing time in the 30’s. The Knicks lack mid-court defense and Lee is their primary weapon on the perimeter and his playing time and status as a starter is firmly in tact. Lee does have driving ability, but is mainly used on offense as a pick and pop player at the perimeter. He shoots a good amount of three-pointers. When the lane is left open Lee will dish a few assists to cutters inside. 

Cody Zeller PF/C CHA-12% Ownership: Zeller is more of a player to watch rather than immediately add, but he will see playing time backing up Dwight Howard and has already shown volume scoring and rebounding potential. Zeller has been hurt and we haven’t seen the best from him, but we can’t doubt his moves in the post because he frequently finds a way to get to the basket. If you absolutely need rebounds, go pick up Zeller as he’s grabbed at least six in his last three games. Zeller also helps out boxing out on defense so other Hornets can grab boards. That intangible should earn him more playing time. Zeller has also been blocking shots in his last three games and because of how scrappy he is, he’ll get steals off of loose balls in the lane. The playing time commitment is there despite his past health issues and should start recording more minutes as the season continues. 

Emmanuel Mudiay PG DEN-13% Ownership: From a scoring standpoint, Mudiay has EXPLODED over his last four games. He’s not a good shooter, but has scored 15 or more points in each of his last 4 games. Mudiay has been hitting treys, something we haven’t seen consistently from him in the past. Mudiay is starting to see more minutes and has played in the late 20’s in 2 of his last 4 games. The Nuggets are starting to commit to him. Mudiay will provide some assist help. He’s dished at least five in two of his last three games and he’s surprisingly grabbing three to four rebounds a game. Mudiay has been taking advantage of garbage time situations, but with the uptick in minutes, and the scoring consistency we’ve seen from him, we have to ride the wave. Mudiay has great speed but always lacked control and if his shooting stays consistent, he can become the Nuggets change of pace player off the bench. 

Ed Davis PF/C POR-15% Ownership: Davis is one of few players I’d recommend watching who may not even play 20 minutes per game. Al-Farouq Aminu is going to miss time and the Blazers need help in the lane and Davis is the big body that gives the Blazers second-chance scoring opportunities from right under the basket. Davis is grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game and has blocked shots in 3 of his last 4 games. He’s a defensive specialist who can be relied on for boards, blocks and steals. If he’s having an easy time on the offensive glass, he’ll score in double figures but that don’t expect double-doubles every night. Aminu being out should give Davis more playing time and is absolutely a volume pick up and should be treated as a defensive specialist for a fantasy team. He’s a hard guy to box out in the lane and keeps plays alive for the Blazers.

WILD CARD PICK UP: Thabo Sefolosha SG/SF UT-2% Ownership: Sefolosha is a situational player and right now Joe Johnson is hurt and Sefolosha is already seeing more playing time. He’s a long-range shooter who has scored in double figures in his last two games. With Johnson out, Sefolosha should see 20 minutes per game and his defensive impact will determine how long he stays on the court. Offensively, unless the lane is open in which he will drive, he’s used as a bailout option from the perimeter when opposing defenses collapse in the paint. Sefolosha is a good perimeter defender who works his way through screens very nicely and will cause chaos for the opposition and force them to go inside. Sefolosha has recorded four steals in his last two games and has blocked a shot in two of his three games. Sefolosha has grabbed 5.1 rebounds per game showing his ability to impact all standard fantasy basketball categories. The only way Sefolosha doesn’t see 20 minutes per game is if he reverts back to taking awful shots, or if Rodney Hood and Joe Ingles are 75 percent of their perimeter jumpers.