Here are a couple things to consider heading into next season:

1. Point guard is the most valuable position

2. Finding cheap rebounds and blocks is easy

3. Don’t be afraid to draft rookies

First Round

1. Chris Paul (Hornets)- During the regular season CP3 led the NBA in steals and assists. He also averaged a career high 22.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. He shot 50% from the field and 87% from the foul line. Paul can carry your team in assists and steals which are very important fantasy categories.

2. Lebron James (Cavs)-  Entering his sixth season LBJ had a typical year averaging 28.4 points (second in the NBA), pulling down 7.6 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. However, his fg% (49) , ft% (78) and three-pointers made (132) were career highs.

3. Dwayne Wade (Heat)- Wade posted a league high 30.2 points last season. After missing 60 games the past two seasons he missed just three last season. He posted career highs in steals (2.2) and blocks (1.3) per game. DWade became the …

With the season around the corner, here are some guys who would have helped you win 37 dollars in your 4 team 12×12.

Ivan Rodriguez (C) 1999- .332     116R   35hr    113rbi   25sb.

This is was pretty easy. a 35-25 catcher who bats .332. Did I mention he’s a catcher? And an MVP, too.

Ty Cobb (OF) 1911-   .420     147 r  8 hr  127 rbi     87sb.

No better way to offset Adam Dunn’s poor batting average than with Ty Cobb in your next fantasy draft. He must have been smoking something to bat .420 (Ha ha, I am so funny…). He also  had 24 triples, for those of you in triples leagues.

Jimmy Foxx (1B) 1932-    .364    151 r 58 hr   169 rbi 3sb.

It’s safe to say that not many guys are gonna put up 150-50-150 in your upcoming draft.

And, officially, my pick for the GREATEST FANTASY BASEBALL SEASON OF ALL TIME.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth (OF) NNY 1921:       .378    177 r   59hr    171 rbi    17 sb
All hail the king.

Since it’s way too easy to just throw out basement picks and hoping for a long shot, let’s talk about 2 guys who should be considered 1st or 2nd rd talent but are going outside the top 2 rd’s.

1-Chase Utley, 2b. (PHI): Utley has been THE premier 2B in baseball for the last 4 years. A couple of injuries set him back in the 2nd half of last year, but he is back in top form to start the 2009 season. Utley is 30 years old and in his prime. Anybody who gets utley outside the top 15 should be licking their chops. A 2b with 100-30-100  .300 power is self explanatory.

2. Carl Crawford, LF (Tam): Carl Crawford was another victim of the injury bug last year, and a bad hamstring is the achilles heel of the base stealer. From 2003-2007, Crawf put up a .300 batting average and stole over 50 bags per season. He only played 109 games last year. Crawford says he feels “Great” and is ready to terrorize the basepaths. If …

Teams with five games: Utah

Teams with four games: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Sacramento

Guards

Brandon Rush (Pacers)- Rush has scored in double-figures in five straight games and has started the past four. He has scored 29 points in each of his last two games while making five three-pointers. As a starter he also has averaged seven rebounds and shot 51% from the field. G Marquis Daniels could miss the rest of the season with an injured wrist.

Anthony Morrow (Warriors)- Morrow has scored 23.5 points and made seven three pointers his past two games. He is shooting a league best 49.6% from behind the arc and has made at least one three pointer in 14 his last 17 games. G Stephen Jackson is expected to miss the team’s final nine games with an injured toe.

Honorable mention: Gilbert Arenas (Wizards)…Not playing back to back games or away games

Forwards

Rodney Carney (Timberwolves)- Carney has scored in …

For those of you excited to waste the next 6 months of your life endlessly calculating strikeout to walk ratios, lets chit chat about some nice sleepers and late picks. 1 per position. Standard formats.  Ok lets do this.

C- Chris Iannetta (COL): This guy is gonna turn 26 in 2 weeks, and he’s only had 600 major league at-bats. But the kid can hit, and he plays in Colorado, which is always helpful. He finally got serious time last year, playing 104 games and registering 333 at-bats. He rewarded the Rockies with 18 hr and an .895 OPS. Word is that his defense has improved, and he is definitely THE GUY behind the plate  in colorado. Project those numbers over 130 games and 450 at bats, and you could be talking about  70-25-80 .265, which would put him with the elites.

1B- Carlos Delgado (NYM): Ok, I know what you’re thinking. There is NO WAY he repeats his numbers from last year. And I completely agree with you. But he’ll hit 30 homers and drive in …

Teams with four games: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, L.A. Lakers, Miami, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Utah, Washington

Guards

Kyle Lowry (Rockets)- Lowry played a season high 28 minutes for the Rockets yesterday against the Grizzles. He scored eight points and had nine assists. In five games this month he is shooting 53% from the field and 91% from the foul line.

Bobby Jackson (Kings)- Over his past four games Jackson is averaging 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 33 minutes. He has started each game and knocked down six three-pointers in this span as well.

Honorable mention: Marco Belinelli (Warriors)

Forwards
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Bucks)- Moute scored a career high 21 points vs. the Bulls last Friday. In five games this month he is averaging 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The rookie has been in the starting lineup since February 7th.
Renaldo Balkman (Nuggets)- Balkman has averaged nine points, 12 rebounds and shot 53.5% from the field over his …

Teams with four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Utah

Guards

Beno Udrih(Kings)- Udrih has scored 18 points in three straight games while averaging 5.6 assists and a  steal per game in that span. He is shooting 47% from the field and and 84% from the foul line this season.  The former first round pick is playing a season high 33 minutes this month.

Kyle Waver (Thunder)- Weaver has started 10 straight games and scored a season high 19 points against the Warriors last Saturday. Over his past three games he is averaging four rebounds, three assists and a three. He has played at least 30 minutes in seven of his past nine games.

Honorable mention: Courtney Lee (Magic)

Forwards

Luke Walton (Lakers)- Walton tied a season high with 14 points against the Hornets last Friday. Over his past three games he is averaging 5.6 rebounds, five assists and 1.3 threes. He has been in the …

With the winter season coming to an end and pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training, baseball fans can now begin to smell the green grass of America’s greatest pastime.
And with that said, it is only appropriate to analyze the free agency moves of this past off-season. Moves that may push teams into the playoffs, to a World Series title, or completely back fire overall.
So without further adu, here is my top 20 free agent signings of the past off-season in no particular order:
Milton Bradley, Chicago Cubs – Coming off the best year of his career, the often injured and troubled OF signed with the Chicago Cubs in what was an interesting move to say the least. The always intense Bradley will either be a perfect marriage for the equally excitable Lou Piniella or one who finds himself in the dog house the entire season. The 30-year old OF if healthy will provide the Cubs with a great deal of flexibility as he could play all three OF positions. …

Guards

Anthony Johnson (Magic)- G Jameer Nelsonis expected to be out for the remaining of the regular season with a torn right labrum in his shoulder. Johnson scored a season high 25 points last Wednesday vs. the Clippers. Yesterday against the Nets he pulled down eight rebounds and had four assists.

Antonio Daniels (Hornets)- G Chris Paul has missed his last three games with a strained right groin. In his absence Daniels is averaging 10 points, 6.5 assists and a steal over his last two games.

Honorable mention: Jose Juan Barea (Mavs)

Forwards

Hakim Warrick(Grizzles)- Warrick started his first game of the season last Saturday and scored 16 points, pulled down eight rebounds and a steal in 38 minutes. G/F Rudy Gay missed the game against the Raptors with a left hip flexor.

Klye Korver(Jazz)- Korver has averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals over his past three games. He has played at least 30 minutes in his past four games and has knocked down nine three-pointers in that span.

Honorable mention: Joey …

Teams with four games: Boston, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Toronto, Utah, Washington

Guards

Flip Murray (Hawks)- Murray has averaged 19.3 and 1.6 steals over the past six games. He is shooting 51% from the field this month while playing big minutes as a key bench player.

Aaron Brooks (Rockets)- Brooks tied a season high with 22 points and nine assists against the Warriors last Saturday. He played 42 mintues with G/F Tracy McGrady out with a sprainked ankle. Brooks has a steal in three straight games and three three-pointers in that span.

Honorable mention: Javaris Crittenton (Wizards)

Forwards

Steve Novak (Clippers)- Novak has made 15 three-pointers over his past four games. He has scored in double digits nine times this month. F Zach Randolph is expected back this week but Novak is still an excellent source for threes.

Joey Graham (Raptors)- Graham recorded his first double-double of the season vs. the Magic yesterday. He scored 14 points and grabbed …

Guards

Ramon Sessions (Bucks)- G Michael Redd is out for the remainder of the season with torn ligaments in his knee. Head Coach Scott Skiles said he plans on playing Sessions more minutes. G Charlie Bell has missed the last three games with a lingering ankle injury. Against the Kings last Saturday Sessions scored 14 points, pulled down five rebounds and three assists.

Anthony Morrow (Warriors)- Morrow has started the past two games and has averaged 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and has knocked down six three-pointers. G Jamal Crawford has missed the past two games with a bruised right hamsting.

Honorable mention: Eddie House (Celtics)

Forwards

Kyle Korver (Jazz)- Korver is averaging 9 points in 22 minutes this month. He is hitting a three a game and shooting 80% from the foul line in 12 games. He tied season with 15 points against the Cavs last Saturday.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (Bucks)- Moute has averaged 8 points, 8 rebounds and shot 53% from the field in his past three games. In his last …

Teams with four games: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Golden State, Houston, Indiana, L.A. Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New York, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, Utah, Washington

Guards

Sasha Pavlovic (Cavs)- G Delonte West is sidelined six weeks with a broken right wrist. Pavlovic has been inserted into the starting unit. He has hit six three-pointers and is averaging 15.5 points over his past two games.

Lou Williams (76ers)- Williams has scored in double-figures in 17 of his past 18 games. This month he is averaging 14.6 points, 4.5 assists and 1.5 threes in 10 games. He scored 25 points and pulled down a season high six rebounds against the Mavs yesterday.

Honorable mention: Dahntay Jones (Nuggets)

Forwards

Craig Smith (Twolves)- Smith has averaged 19 points and 7.5 rebounds over his past two games. In eight games this month he is shooting 61% and has started the past 20 games.

Danilo Gallinari (Knicks)- Gallinari returned to the lineup last Saturday against the 76ers. The rookie set career highs in points (9), rebounds (4), steals (2),  assists (2) against …