Dime’s Fantasy Category Specialists: Assists
Now that we’ve covered late-rounders who will help fill in your teams’ scoring and rebounding weaknesses, let’s move on to assists. Again, these are players who will likely be available in the later rounds of most fantasy drafts but could offer good value in this specific statistical category and are not listed in any specific order. Read on, respond and let us know if you’d remove or add someone to this list.
1. Brandon Jennings (PG – Bucks): He’s a rookie who is still raw in many ways, but Jennings has already shown that he knows how to dish the ball with proficiency. During the preseason he is seventh overall in assists, averaging 6.3 per game. While he’ll have to fight for significant minutes in the Bucks’ backcourt as he tries to pry the starting gig from Luke Ridnour, expect Jennings to offer sporadic value during the course of the season.
2. T.J. Ford (PG – Pacers): Ford has proven himself to be a productive player when given sufficient minutes and with the starting spot in Indiana locked up, he should find himself with decent floor time this season. He’s probably seen as a bit fragile, especially since his scary fall a few years back, but don’t let that dampen your evaluation of Ford too much. If he and the key Pacers’ scorers can remain healthy and if he can maintain 30+ minutes with Earl Watson in pursuit of his minutes, Ford will be a valuable asset for your fantasy team’s assists.
3. Chris Duhon (PG – Knicks): He sputtered out at the end of last season, but Duhon had flashes of big-time production and ended 2008-09 with 7.2 assists per outing. In a fantasy-friendly offensive system, courtesy of coach Mike D’Antoni, Duhon should have loads of opportunities to rack up assists. The Knicks haven’t made many roster changes and should play more cohesively on the floor, which bodes well for the team’s starting point guard. He’ll have to fend off a feisty Nate Robinson, but a late-round pick spent on Duhon should make for big returns in the assists department.
4. Kirk Hinrich (PG/SG – Bulls): With Ben Gordon out of the picture, Spock should find himself with more minutes, even if he isn’t starting. He battled his way back from a thumb injury last season and though Hinrich’s backing up Derrick Rose and John Salmons, he should take full advantage of the opportunities he gets. The Bulls have a dynamic roster that has some extra offensive firepower to pass to this season with the return of Luol Deng and the arrival of the highly flammable Jannero Pargo, not to mention some young players who have shown promise during the preseason. Hinrich will be available in the last few rounds of most drafts and will chip in his share of dimes for your fantasy squad.
5. D.J. Augustin (PG/SG – Bobcats): The door of opportunity seems to be opening wider and wider for the second-year guard in Charlotte. With the recent news that starting shooting guard Raja Bell might need surgery on his injured wrist that would put him out for at least a major portion of the regular season, Augustin seems more primed than ever to take a big step forward in his productivity this season. The faster pace that the team is said to be planning along with the possibility of a starting job thanks to Bell’s injury both make for a lip-smacking situation for Augustin. He’s going very late in drafts right now, but don’t overlook him.
Others to consider: Jarrett Jack, Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn, Steve Blake, Rafer Alston, Mario Chalmers, Stephen Curry, Marquis Daniels
What do you think?
Throughout the season, be sure to leave your questions, comments, concerns, trade offers, roster problems and more in the comments below.
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October 21st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
KenAdams says:
Ronnie Price or Eric Maynor. They should be able to get some assists will Deron Williams is sitting.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Ric Hardwood says:
Ramon Sessions… assuming he gets the starting gig in Minny over Flynn…
October 21st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
uguysoncrack says:
yo doc
should i trade calderon for VC and Millsap?
12 team H2h 9 cat…
my team:
cp3
calderon
rondo
j rich
antawn jameison
anthony randolph
zach randolph
luol deng
iverson
oden
frye
mcdyess
looks like im giving up the threes and blocks, and im a bit behind on FT anyways. somewhat hurting on rebounds too.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:47 pm
ProphetGK says:
hell yea man, Calderon ain’t gonna produce as much as Vinsanity and Millsap!
October 21st, 2009 at 5:47 pm
len-e says:
Tyreke will be huge.
I drafted Jonny Flynn but so far he’s far too inconsistent in the assists category.
Jennings will be valuable to a team as well, consider that he’s probably picked pretty early in most drafts though as people catch up on his production.
Duhon let owners down during last years playoffs.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Bizz says:
@3, it’s not a bad deal for you, VC should be a steady 4-5 dimes in Orlando, and Millsap is a “buy now reward later” if Boozer gets traded. I’m kinda iffy on Calderon being any better than last year, especially with Turkoglu there to get assists. Toronto didn’t have a swingman like that last year, so Jose was always in charge of the ball, and this preseason it looks like he’s not going to be putting up monster dimes. I’d say do it.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Citizen B says:
There’s a guy out in Phoenix that looks like a goat. Every heard of him?
October 21st, 2009 at 5:54 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@uguysoncrack: I’d take that trade – I like it a lot for your team. CP3 + Rondo should cover what you lose in Calderon and VC, J-Rich and Jamison (when he returns to the court) should help you be competitive with threes.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Lucas says:
Tyreke Passes??? Since When? hahahah jk,
I love Tyreke’s game and every time he passes it to the black hole (Kevin Martin) it’ll be an assist!
October 21st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
uguysoncrack says:
thanks guys, i was iffy about VC since i don’t need his 3s but looks like everyone agrees
October 21st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Youssoupha says:
Hey doc !
I’m in a really deep league. Who should I keep, Ty Lawson or JR Holiday? I’m thinking about dropping one of these two to grab Marquis Daniels… Good move? (yeah I know, deep leagues are definitly bizarre… lol)
October 21st, 2009 at 8:43 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@Youssoupha: I’d keep Lawson and drop Holiday. I think Daniels is a deep sleeper this year (I have him in a 16-team league) so good thinking.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Pet Society Help says:
Luke Ridnour
October 21st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Youssoupha says:
Thanks a lot Doc
October 21st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
JCARR says:
Doc I traded tmac and millsap for al Jefferson, good trade? I had al last year but I hope he doesn’t get injured though! I also have a roster spot should I choose azabuike or brandon rush?
October 21st, 2009 at 9:38 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@JCARR: You are a thief – you got the better side of that deal, no doubt at all. Very nice work. Azubuike, when his injury situation is cleared up, will be more reliable, especially if S-Jack is traded away. However, Rush is definitely the sexier player whose potential is appealing. It depends on how much uncertainty you’re willing to deal with. Rush will give you more threes, Azubuike will give you better all-around stats.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
JCARR says:
LOL I know. al is bound to be a monster! And I def did some late night praying so that deal wouldn’t get vetoed. I picked up azabuike the only thing that worries me don nelson.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
JCARR says:
Doc I have one more for you, in my other fantasy team I have too many point guards (cp3, russel westbrook, moped ellis, lou Williams, and harden) I want to deal one of this guys along with ginobli for a big like al jefferson or alridge.
I have proposed a deal thtat would give me al, hibbert and eric gordon for al harrington, ginobli, harden and Mike miller – your thoughts?if it gets denied I would be willing to deal a more experienced pg I just don’t know who to choose!
October 21st, 2009 at 10:03 pm
JCARR says:
Never mind trade was rejected.. So who should I deal?
October 21st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@JCARR: I don’t think Harden’s a point guard, but I’d think of trading away Ellis and someone else in a two-for-two if your deal gets rejected. Gordon’s undervalued but it’s good to see that you’re targeting him. You’ll probably have to replace Harden and Miller with another better player.
October 21st, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Da_Griff says:
Ken Adams, you’re funny.
Even if their assists per 48 minutes are what, 8 or 9, that means they’ll average, what, 1 assist per game in the 5 minutes of court time they’ll get behind Deron?
October 21st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
JCARR says:
Doc who do you think will have the best fantasy season- dirk, alridge, or Duncan?
October 21st, 2009 at 10:56 pm
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@JCARR: Dirk.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 am
vince says:
Another player who WILL get minutes and dimes coming off the bench, since Stuckey just isnt a good pg: Will Bynum. I think he can crack 12 pts and over 4 ast.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
yoda says:
t.j. ford as assist specialist? i think ray charles would have more assist then ford
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:47 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@yoda: As someone who’s going in the rounds 9-10 in most drafts, 5+ assists per game from Ford is pretty good value.
October 25th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
yiny says:
how many assists and threes do you think stephen curry will average?
I’m debating whether or not i wanna pick him up because i’m lacking a bit in those 2 categories
October 26th, 2009 at 12:56 am
The Fantasy Doctor says:
@yiny: Well, he’s starting the season as the starting PG, which is good, but I don’t expect that to be a consistent gig for him with Nellie running the show. I think 5-6 assists per night is a safe assumption.