First of all, that four week prognosis may be a bit optimistic. High ankle sprains usually take longer to heal, so don’t be surprised to see Smith out for about six weeks. Then again, Smith is young so he may be able to heal faster.

When he returns, you should keep a close eye on him. So much of his game is dependent on his unbelievable athleticism that if he doesn’t return at 100%, you could see his numbers dip substantially. However, at some point this season, you can expect Smith to get back to 100%.

With Smith sidelined, it appears as if the Hawks will elevate Zaza Pachulia into the starting lineup. Pachulia is a candidate to pickup off of a fantasy basketball waiver wire because he has a history of producing when given sufficient minutes. Playing next to Al Horford up front, don’t be surprised to see Pachulia rack up double-doubles while Smith is sidelined.

Last season, Josh Childress would have stepped up and taken some of Smith’s minutes. But with Childress now playing in Greece, those extra minutes will likely be taken by Maurice Evans and Solomon Jones. Evans is a small forward who can put up decent stats if given time, although he’s not too much of an exciting fantasy basketball prospect.

Jones, on the other hand is interesting. He’s a third-year player who is very much unknown, however in his last two games he’s averaging 9.5 rebounds per game. A power forward, Jones could see 20 to 25 minutes per game with Smith out if he continues to provide rebounding and a bit of scoring. If you want to find the sleeper that may emerge due to the Smith injury, look no further than Solomon Jones.

Until Smith is able to return, you can get your high flying fix by watching this Josh Smith mixtape video:

Post from: Expert Fantasy

Walter Herrmann, Detroit Pistons
Although few fantasy basketball owners expected much out of Walter Herrmann this season, he’s been amazing in the first two games for the Detroit Pistons. In 19.5 minutes per game, Herrmann is averaging 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. If he can carve out an even bigger role, Herrmann could become fantasy relevant once again like he was a few years ago on the Charlotte Bobcats.

Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks
While it seems like Zaza Pachulia has been around forever, this bigman from the Republic of Georgia is only 24-years-old. Since he’s been relegated to a bench role behind Al Horford, he’s been all but forgotten in the fantasy basketball community. That said, he’s playing very well so far this season and if he can move up into the starting lineup, Pachulia has already proven he could average around 12 points and eight rebounds per game.

Roger Mason, Jr., San Antonio Spurs
When with the Washington Wizards in recent years, Roger Mason, Jr. was a one-dimensional scorer. So far this year with the Spurs, he’s looking like a legit NBA player who could have a bright future. He’s on fire shooting the ball very well and is doing a better job in terms of racking up assists and rebounds. It’s actually quite likely that Mason could supplant Michael Finley in the starting lineup for San Antonio.

Ronnie Brewer, Utah Jazz
Ronnie Brewer is hardly a secret. But so far this season, he’s been playing outstanding basketball. If he’s on your league’s fantasy basketball waiver wire, it’d be a good idea to pick him up. His per minute stats are off the charts and he’s a player who could blossom into an almost All-Star level player if given enough minutes.

Post from: Expert Fantasy