In the eastern conference, the playoffs are moving along with two interesting matchups that could prove to be a lot more competitive than most may think. This post will focus on players from  The Miami Heat vs. the Indiana Pacers. Both teams have players to improve any fantasy roster. These two teams are trying to pursue a path to the NBA finals and both series have players that can rise to the top to carry their teams. MVP LeBron James and the big three are expected to win the championship; anything else would be considered a failure. Will expectations be too much for the Heat to handle? The Pacers are playing great and are a young team with plenty to prove. These story lines will prove to be an exiting and hard-fought road the eastern conference finals. Make sure to keep your fantasy basketball roster up to date in order to dominate any fantasy league.

Players to Watch For

Miami Heat

LeBron James- There was little doubt that James would win the MVP for the regular season. It was one of the most impressive regular seasons in NBA history. James proved that his game is multifaceted, during the regular season James had over 1,600 points, 492 rebounds and averaged 6.2 assists per game. James hasn’t missed a beat during the post season. During the post season he is averaging 27.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

Dwayne Wade- With LeBron James having an MVP season Wade might have gotten lost in the shuffle to some but the playoffs is where Wade reminds everyone that the Heat is his team. Wade played three games against the Pacers during the regular season and in those three games he is averaging 22.7 points, 5.3 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Wade also found his three point shot verse the Pacers, shooting 44% from the three. In the playoffs Wade is 7^th in Points, Rebounds and Assists average against all guards in the NBA.

Mike Miller- Miller is taking the most of his opportunities this post season. Miller has found his playing time to be shortened due to the arrival of Shane Battier but Miller has been better during the playoffs. What Miller will bring to the table is his 3-point ability. Through five games Miller is shooting 39% from three and averaging 11.2 points. Miller may be a dark horse during the series and Miller has the ability to shift momentum with clutch 3-point shooting.

Indiana Pacers

Hibbert is poised to have a impact against the Heat

Darren Collison- Collison may not be the first person you think of when the Pacers are mentioned but Collison will be a force during this series. Collison has had success against the Heat during the regular season. Collison’s is shooting 51%; averaging 1.8 steals and improved his scoring average to 13 from his normal 10. Collison also has another advantage to exploit. When Mario Chalmers is on the court Collison’s points, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage all improve. Collison is a player to look out for and expect explosive play from him during the series and especially when he is Chalmers is guarding him.

Roy Hibbert- Hibbert is developing into a true center in the NBA and is flourishing in the playoffs. He is using his 7 foot 2 frame to his advantage and is averaging a double-double in the playoffs with 11 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. Hibbert leads the playoffs with 3.8 blocks per game and had back-to-back three block games against Orlando. Hibbert will make it difficult for the Heat who like to get most of their points in the paint with his size and length. His length will be key in getting rebounds, he is averaging 10.8 a game, which is more than Joel Anthony and Chris Bosh’s rebounding totals COMBINED.

Danny Granger- In order for the Pacers to even stay competitive during the series, it’s going to fall on Granger’s shoulders. In the playoffs you need your best players playing their best basketball and Granger is stepping up. He is improving his play in two key categories, points and rebounds. In the playoffs Granger is averaging 21.4 points and 7 rebounds. This is important because Granger will have to score against the Heat and any rebounds he can get will help the Pacers slow the game down and take away any extra possessions from the Heat. The last meeting between the Heat and Pacers, the Pacers won by 15. Granger was 3-for-5 from the three-point line with 25 points. Granger will have to stay hot for the Pacers to have a shot at an upset.

Jeter continuing his hot start against the Royals

It has been a little over a month of baseball and there has been some major developments with players and teams all over the MLB. If you haven’t already adjusted your fantasy baseball roster, now is the time to do it. There are players that are producing some impressive numbers early in the season and its time to get your lineup ready for upcoming fantasy sports games.

AL Batting

Derek Jeter- In all of 2011 Jeter had six home runs. So far in 2012 he has five. Jeter is on fire and is in 3rd in the majors in batting average with a .397. Jeter is 4^th in the AL in Runs (20), 9^th in AL in Slugging (.605) and 4^th in AL in OPS (1.044) Bottom line Jeter is going to get on base and is batting .474 in May. His upcoming series with the Rays shouldn’t hamper his stats and is a must start.

Josh Hamilton- On Tuesday Josh Hamilton joined a select few MLB players to hit four home runs in a single game. Hamilton is hitting anything he sees with power and the numbers back it up. Hamilton is leading the American League in three major categories, Batting Average (.406), Home Runs (14) and RBI’s (36). If there is an early favorite for the Triple Crown there is no doubt that its Josh Hamilton.

Edwin Encarnacion- Designated Hitter Edwin Encarnacion has gotten off to a great start this season. If you’re looking for a player who is going to give you power and RBI’s Encarnacion is a great choice. He is currently 2^nd in AL home runs (10) and 2^nd in RBI’s (26). Tomorrow Edwin faces off against Jason Marquis of the Minnesota Twins. Encarnacion is 8 for 16 (.500), 2 home runs and 5 RBI’s

AL Pitching

Yu Darvish- Darvish is showing why the Rangers spent the big bucks to sign the prodigy from Japan. Darvish is putting together an impressive rookie season and is 4-1 in six games with a 2.54 ERA. Darvish’s numbers are more impressive when you break down his starts against some potent offenses. Against the New York Yankees Darvish pitched eight shut out inning and recorded 10 strikeouts. The Detroit Tigers had little success, Darvish only allowed 1 earned run and 2 hits.

Smyly pitching against the Yankees in the Bronx

Drew Smyly- Smyly is another rookie from the Detroit Tigers to keep an eye on. Smyly has an ERA of 1.61 over five starts. In his five starts he has only given up 3 home runs but has 29 strikeouts. Don’t let Smyly’s record (1-0) scare you. He is bound to rack up more wins if he continues to dominate the way he has been early in the season. Against the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers COMBINED he has gone 6 innings each game, given up 7 hits and 2 earned runs.

NL Batting

Matt Kemp- Hands down the best hitter in the NL so far, 1^st in home runs (12), 1^st in batting average (.404) and 2^nd in RBI’s (27). Kemp is doing well in Los Angeles with a .479 average at Dodger Stadium. Kemp will be home against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. He will be facing Jamie Moyer and he is 3 for 7 (.429) with 1 Home Run and 3 RBI’s. Kemp is a five-tool player and will be a solid start year round in fantasy baseball.

LaHair conecting with a home run at Wrigly Field

Bryan LaHair- LaHair is a second year player that is having a great start to the season for the Chicago Cubs. Currently he is 2^nd in batting average in the NL (.384) behind Matt Kemp.  He is also in 5^th place in the NL in home runs with 8. LaHair looks to be a solid 1^st baseman that will be consistent with batting average and multiple hit games. LaHair is responsible for seven of the 11 homeruns on the Cubs season. LaHair has reached base in 20 strait games.

Jose Altuve- Altuve is a 2^nd baseman from the Houston Astros, he may be a fantasy baseball sleeper but he is certainly making strides to become a force in the MLB. Altuve has the 5^th best batting average in the NL and is racking up a lot of hits. Altuve has 36 hits in 25 games. Altuve is in some good company because the only other player to have 36 hits in 25 games was Craig Biggio. Altuve has had multiple hit games this year as well as a 4-for-5 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Altuve will also give you stolen bases as well and currently has five on the season.

NL Pitching

Ryan Dempster-  Dempster is leading starting pitchers with the lowest ERA of a ridiculous 1.02. While this number is bound to go up, Dempster is averaging a little over a strikeout per inning pitched. This year Dempster has had 35 innings pitched and 36 strikeouts. The Chicago Cubs have not given Dempster the run support he has needed to secure wins but if your looking for a pitcher who will go deep into games, give you strikeouts and a low ERA, Depster is your guy. Dempser has given up four earned runs in his last five games and the most earned runs he has given up in a single game is two.

Joe Saunders- Saunders is an underrated pitcher out of Arizona that could be a steal in your fantasy league. Saunders currently has a 2.50 ERA due in part to a terrible outing on Monday. Before Monday, Saunders was posting some gaudy numbers. After his game at Washington, Saunders had a 1.24 ERA, 24 Strikeouts in five starts and a complete game shut out of the Miami Marlins where he allowed only three hits.

Can World #3 Lee Westwood get it done at The Players Championship this week?

Ever since Rickie Fowler turned pro, the golf world has been fixiated on one question; “When will he win?”.  Fans disregarded the fact that he’s only 23, and became more impatient for a victory with each tournament that passed.  Although the pressure to win a PGA Tour event so quickly was a bit unfair, Fowler gave his fans what they craved with an exciting playoff win over Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship.  The Orange One  flagged a wedge on the first playoff hole and rolled in the remaining 5-footer for the win.  Now that the first win is out of the way, only time will tell how great Fowler will be.  My guess, he’ll be a major champion soon. Rickie will now ride the momentum from Quail Hollow  to the Tour’s prestiguios Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  Joining him will be his two playoff counterparts, McIlroy and Points, as well as Woods, Donald, Mickelson, and Westwood among others.  With one of the best fields of the year, it’s time to take a look at which players you should target for your fantasy golf games this week.

Steve Stricker – The world’s 6th ranked golfer, Stricker has every tool you need to master Pete Dye’s Stadium Course.  He ranks 27th on Tour in driving accuracy (66%), which is crucial on a course where positioning off the tee can make or break your week.  He’s also 7th on Tour in GIR, as well as 13th in scrambling.  With 15 trips to The Players under his belt, including a T12th finish last year, Stricker has both the experience and the game to make a run at his first victory at Sawgrass.

Brian Gay – With three top-20′s this year, including a T4th two weeks ago in Texas, Gay is my fantasy golf pickas a sleeper this week.  You don’t need to be a bomber off the tee to play Sawgrass, but you must hit fairways and you have to roll the rock.  Gay hits an above average 62.3% of fairways in regulation, and is 3rd on Tour in total putting.  If he does miss an occasional GIR, no worries, Gay is 2nd on Tour in scrambling.  Although some may view him as a long shot in a field of golfing giants, he’s far from it.  Gay has the game to win, and don’t be surprised if he makes a charge come Sunday afternoon.

Lee Westwood – Nobody played better on the weekend last week in North Carolina that Westy, firing a 68-66 to move all the way up to a T5th finish.  Another veteran of The Players Championship, Lee took T4th  here in 2010 and has finished in the top-10 two other times as well.  The man is 1st on Tour in GIR, 4th in ball striking, 2nd in scoring average, and 1st in top-10 finishes.  If Westwood’s putter gets hot, he will win.  If he can make a few putts, the rest of the game is there for this Englishman to hoist the trophy this weekend.

Bud Cauley – Picking a Players Championship rookie is usually not a wise decision…unless of course that first timer is Jacksonville, FL native Bud Cauley.  The PGA Tour rookie  grew up playing the Stadium course, and just may know the grounds better than anyone else in the field.  Cauley has 5 top-25′s this year, as well as two top-10′s in this his first season on Tour.  He’s 25th on Tour in scoring average (70.35) and 6th in birdies made.  Expect the home town kid to ride a wave of fan support to his third top-10 finish of the year.

Cullen’s Call – With all due respect to Luke and Rory, I think Lee Westwood is the best player in the field.  The guy is ready to start winning majors, and a win here at The Players will get the ball rolling for him to do exactly that.

Follow me on twitter @crcarstens, and feel free to send in any fantasy golf questions you may have.

Can Rory McIlroy win again in North Carolina?

Finally!  The monkey is off the back for Jason Dufner as he captured his first career PGA Tour win last week in a playoff over Ernie Els at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.  It took two extra holes, but Dufner finally got the win that has eluded him these last two years.  Although Els came up short, his runner-up finish did move him up to 40th in the world golf rankings, moving him closer to locking up a spot in this years U.S. Open.  As the Tour leaves the bayou, we head East to the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship, where Lucas Glover will look to defend his 2011 title.  A favorite destination among Tour players, the WFC annually draws one of the deeper fields in golf.  The gathering of marquee names such as Woods, McIlroy, and Westwood is the main reason this has become the second biggest non-major event on the schedule behind The Players Championship.  There’s many big names who should contend this week, but don’t overlook some dark horses who just may steal the show.  It’s time to take a look at who to target in your fantasy golf games this week.

Webb Simpson – My pick to win last week, I’m feeling good about Simpson again here.  I just can’t overlook a guy who leads the PGA Tour in birdie average (4.39).  He’s been solid all year and is coming off a T16 finish last week in New Orleans.  The guy was born in Raleigh, went to Wake Forest, and lives in Charlotte…can you say ‘crowd favorite’?  In a tournament featuring the who’s who of golf, don’t be surprised if Simpson steals the spotlight this weekend.

Bill Haas – Another Wake Forest product, Haas already has two top-5 finishes this year, including a victory earlier this year in California at the Northern Trust Open.  He ranks 12th on Tour in par-4 scoring, 25th in final round average (70.13), and proved at The Tour Championship last season that he can get up and down from ANYWHERE.  Call it a fluke if you want, but that up and down he made to win the FedEx Cup last year showed me that this guy has the clutch gene, a threat to win each and every week.  One of the most consistent players on Tour, look for Haas to be in the hunt come Sunday.

Bobby Gates – Fantasy Golf sleeper alert!  Gates’ 6th place finish here in 2011 was his second best finish of the year.  Coming off his second top-25 of the year last week, Gates is looking to gain momentum, and a return trip to Quail Hollow should help him do just that.  A bomber off the tee, Gates leads the Tour in eagles made, and you can never  go wrong with a guy who makes a lot of those.  On a side note, his Texas A&M golf team just won the Big XII Championship last week, giving Gates another reason to smile.  Feel good, play good right?  You bet.

Rory McIlroy – Let’s see, which stat should you go with to back Rory as a solid pick this week.  Hmm, how about the fact that he’s won here before (2010)? What about that course record he holds here (62)?  Ok, well how about his three top-3 finishes in only 4 starts in the U.S. this year?  While tempting, I’m not going with any of those options.  Instead, I’ll go with a more basic fact; he’s the best golfer in the world…period.  When Rory is on, nobody can beat him, and it’s very rare that he’s not on.  Every time he tees it up he’s a virtual lock for a top-5 finish.  Expect nothing different here this week.

Cullen’s Call – No question here, I’m going with Rors to win it this week.  The guy leads the Tour in scoring average (69.58), and it’s his birthday this Friday as well!  Expect McIlroy to blow out the candles on another victory at Quail Hollow.

Follow me on Twitter, @crcarstens.  Feel free to tweet me any fantasy golf questions you may have.

Stephen Curry has struggled to stay healthy this season.

Going into every fantasy basketball draft, owners are looking to find those breakout players that will have a great chance of outperforming their draft position. It is every fantasy owners dream to land one or two of those players on that draft night that you look forward to for so long. It is also very important to think about which players might not live up to their draft status and could turn out to be huge busts. If you can avoid these players it can do a lot for the chances of your fantasy team as you can’t win a draft in the first few rounds, but you can certainly lose it. With the NBA season ending this past Thursday, here is a look at 8 of the biggest disappointments in fantasy basketball leagues this year.

1. Stephen Curry- Golden State (Average Pick in Yahoo Leagues 13.7)
Curry is easily the most disappointing fantasy player this season. Curry was a first round pick in some leagues and went on to play in just 26 games. To make matters worse, he was not very effective in limited action as he was never able to get over a nagging ankle injury. He averaged just 14.7ppg, 5.3apg, and 3.4rpg, not the kind of numbers fantasy owners are looking for with one of their top selections.

2. Eric Gordon- New Orleans (27.4)
After Gordon was traded to the Hornets in December, he was expected to continue his emergence as one of the top young scorers in the league. In the 2010-2011 season, he averaged 22.3ppg and scored 30+ points 8 times. This season with the Hornets he has played in just 9 games, most of them coming late in the season after the damage was already done, as most owners either cut him or had given up on him by then. Gordon averaged slightly over 20ppg while dealing with knee and back injuries.

3. Al Horford- Atlanta (19.5)
Coming off of two consecutive All-Star appearances, the 5th year pro out of Florida is considered one of the top centers in the game. A season ago he averaged 15.3ppg and 9.3rpg to go along with 56% from the field and 80% from the charity stripe. But this past season Horford played in just 11 games before tearing his left pectoral muscle. Despite the huge disappointment, he is expected to make a return shortly and could be a good player to roster in playoff long basketball games.

4. Brook Lopez- New Jersey (59.7)
Prior to this past season, Lopez didn’t miss a single game in his first three years in the league. He was a fantasy stud just a year ago, averaging 20.4ppg, 6.0rpg, 1.5bpg and shot 49% from the field. This season Lopez has had a very difficult time staying healthy and played in just 5 games, very disappointing for a player drafted around the 5th-6th round of most leagues.

5. Andrew Bogut- Milwaukee/Golden State (58.6)
Bogut was another played drafted around the 5th-6th round in most leagues and just like the first four players on this list he has been a huge disappointment this season due to injury. The former number one overall pick was a huge injury concern coming into the season as he has not played a full season since his rookie year. Despite the injury risk, the talent is unquestioned. But this season he has played in just 12 games and has averages of 11.3ppg, 8.3rpg, and 2.0bpg. Bogut fractured his left ankle back in January and hasn’t played a game since.

6. Dorell Wright- Golden State (30.4)
Coming off of a great 2010-2011 campaign, Wright was bound to be a high fantasy pick in 2011-12. He averaged 16.4ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.5spg, and 2.4 three pointers a game just a year ago. Last season was the first of his career in which he averaged double figures and it looks as though it might have been a fluke season for Wright. All of his stats have taken a major hit this past year. One in particular that has dropped the most is his scoring, as he is putting up 6 less points per game.

7. Lamar Odom- Dallas (67.0)
After coming off of a great season in which Odom was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, he was dealt to Dallas for a first round draft pick and a trade exception. He has been absolutely awful this year for the Mavericks, averaging 6.6ppg and 4.2rpg in just 50 games. On April 9th, it was announced that Odom parted ways with the Mavericks and was listed as inactive for the remaining 9 games of the season.

8. Andray Blatche- Washington (68.0)
A year ago when I had Blatche on my fantasy roster he was a bit of a pleasant surprise for my team. Lucky for me, I chose to stay away from him this season where he has been a major disappointment. Blatche has played in only 26 games this year and has averaged just 8.5ppg and 5.8rpg. For a guy who averaged 16.8ppg and 8.2rpg and didn’t miss nearly as many games a season ago, his fantasy owners were obviously not pleased.

Conclusion: Every year there are those few players who fail to live up to expectations. It is almost impossible to predict exactly who will let your team down but it is essential to do your homework before draft day. Try to find those players who have had a long injury history or may not be playing the type of minutes they did the year before. It could turn out to be the difference during your fantasy basketball season.

Click to enter the $100 Freeroll now!

With the regular season coming to an end this week, fantasy fanatics typically struggle with the harsh reality that the daily updating of rosters is nearly done with for the season. But wait … it doesn’t have to be such a sad time.

Fantazzle has a unique blend of games to fill your appetite for fantasy basketball during the postseason. Salary cap games are up and running as all of the 16 playoff teams have already qualified, with only seeding yet to be determined. The choice is yours as to what type of game you’d like to try out: either a playoff game that lasts the entire postseason, or a round b

y round game. In the fantasy basketball games that last throughout June, you must mix top performers with winning teams. An upset could skyrocket a players value, making this a

one of a kind format of game. If you’ve got a sleeper team that you like, target their top performers, and watch your team succeed as your players are still in action while others are sitting at home.

76ers: Lou Williams – Philly is +53 over last 8 games with Lou on the floor, meaning he is likely to see more playing time come postseason play. He has put up career high numbers in 3 point percentage, points per game, and PER. The advanced statistic won’t bag you any fantasy titles directly, but it supports the argument that Lou will see extended minutes in this postseason. The Bulls are tough defensively, and without a true go to scorer, look for Williams to be a bargain in fantasy basketball playoff games, and a key factor to the 76ers making this a series. I’m not calling the upset, and therefore wouldn’t roster him in playoff long fantasy basketball games, but for round 1, he is a solid play.

Knicks: Tyson Chandler – The Heat will gear up to stop Amar’e Stoudemire in the paint and Melo on the perimeter, leaving the door open for other options. Steve Novak is a one trick pony (hasn’t attempted a single two pointer in nearly 2 weeks) and will be chased off the arc. The more time the ball spends in the paint, the more I like Chandler’s chances. There is one way to beat the Heat, and for New York, that way is to feature that underrated difference maker on the interior.

Magic: Glen Davis – The Magic beat the Pacers in 3 of 4 meeting this year, but that was with Dwight Howard patrolling the paint. Big Baby has filled the void in a big way, and I’m not sure Roy Hibbert can move fluently enough to keep up with the shockingly nimble Davis. With Orlando’s ability to shoot the long ball, it’s hard to imagine Hibbert getting any help. Averaging a double double with solid percentages isn’t unreasonable to project from Davis.

Hawks: Zaza Pachulia – Not the sexiest name out there, but he has had his moments this year, and has performed well above expectations against the Celtics this season. In two games against Boston, Pachulia has averaged 39 minutes, 14.5 points, and 10 rebounds. The Hawks have plenty of athletes, but they lack an interior game besides Zaza. Look for Atlanta to try to get high percentage looks, as they lack consistent outside threats.

Jazz: Derrick Favors – The Jazz have an elite post game, and it is their third option that has been surprisingly effective of late.  Even with Paul Milsap and Al Jefferson clogging the paint, Favors has managed double digit rebound totals in 12 of his last 22 games. The Spurs have an aging Tim Duncan and a talented, but not overly athletic, DeJuan Blair that will attempt to guard the tremendous trio from Utah. Gun to my head, this is my upset pick, with Favors being a big reason why. If you’re low on cash in a salary cap fantasy basketball game, Favors is your man for the first round.

Mavericks: Vince Carter – Long gone are the high flying dunks, but Vinsanity has matured into a solid produced who is peaking at just the right time. Carter figures to have room to work against the Thunder. With VC coming off of the bench, I like how he matches up with his projected defenders. Thabo Sefolosha is an elite defender, but aside from him, there are weak spots on the perimeter. I expect Carter’s aggression to get him plenty of free throws, where shoots 80%. Oklahoma City isn’t an elite defensive team, and while they figure to win this series, look for the defending champs to put up a fight in a higher scoring than expected series.

Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari – If the commissioner didn’t receive a thank you note from Gallinari I’d be surprised, as he won’t have to deal with Metta World Peace for this series. He is the top player on Denver, and his game won’t really be changed due to the big front line of the Lakers. He has offered more assists and steals than at any other point in his career, nice additions to a player who is capable of scoring 20 ppg.

Grizzles: Zach Randolph – I’m going back to the well, as Z-Bo carried the Grizzles over the Spurs. This one is a gut call, as he is still ramping up his minutes per game as he returns from injury. Blake Griffin will likely guard him, and while Griffin is twice the athlete of Randolph, I don’t think he can body up with Randolph in the post. He’s got good touch from 15 feet and in, and with shot blocking sensation DeAndre Jordan guarding the rim, it is reasonable to expect a big series from Z-Bo if he can get his mid range jumper on track.

Can Bubba ride the momentum of his win in Augusta to a defense of his 2011 title down in New Orleans?

Last week, Ben Curtis won the Valero Texas Open by two shots over Matt Every and John Huh, capturing his first PGA Tour win since 2006.  Curtis opened with rounds of 67-67, which gave him just the cushion he needed to hold off a weekend surge by Huh.  Now the tour heads down to the “Big Easy” for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans where 2012 Masters champion Bubba Watson will see if he can defend his 2011 title.  The TPC of Louisiana has been the home for the event since 2005 and is always a favorite destination of Tour players.  Let’s take a look at who could get the job done this week, and which players you need to roster for your fantasy golf games.

Bubba Watson – The defending champion has had quite the year since he won in New Orleans last season.  Coming off his best year on Tour, Watson rode last season’s momentum all the way to a memorable Sunday finish in Augusta, and his first major championship .  A titan off the tee, Watson makes any course he plays look like a pitch-and-putt.  He’s got unmatched shot making skills, making him a threat to birdie every hole on the course.  Defending a title is hard, but if anyone can do it, Bubba can.

David Toms – If anybody deserves to win in Louisiana, it’s Toms.  The LSU product will challenge Watson as the fan favorite this week, and will look to ride that support all the way to a final round pairing on Sunday afternoon.  Last year, Toms finished in a tie for 18th after a disappointing 73 on Sunday.  The Shreveport, LA resident is the 3rd most accurate driver on tour, hitting 73% of fairways in regulation, and is always a threat on the greens.  Toms has had an up and down year so far, so there’s a chance he could be overlooked this week, making him a real fantasy golf sleeper.  Look for Toms to make some noise, literally, as the crowds should carry him to another strong finish in his home state.

Nick Watney – The 2007 champion, Watney certainly feels at home down in New Orleans.  he hits nearly 70% of GIR, makes a ton of birdies and eagles, and definately has the course knowledge to walk away with the trophy.  I like a guy who has a proven track record of coming through in the clutch, and Watney’s four Tour victories prove exactly that.  Watney could become the first two-time winner of the Zurich Classic, not to mention he’ll celebrate his 31st birthday this week.  I’d say a victory would make the perfect present.

Webb Simpson – Perhaps nobody on Tour had a bigger season last year than Simpson.  To go along with his two wins, Simpson also had three runner-up finishes, including a playoff loss to Watson right here in New Orleans.  The 2011 runner-up has three top tens so far this year and is looking to get revenge at an event he was so close to winning last season.  Simpson ranks 5th in birdie average and 25th in total birdies on Tour this year.  If he can keep that up this week, he’ll have enough firepower to give Watson and Watney a run at the title that could have been his 12 months ago.

Cullen’s Call – I think Watson is the best player in the field, but I’m going with the guy he beat in a playoff last year, Webb Simpson.  The sting of coming so close to winning only to lose on the last hole should be enough motivation for Simpson to get the job done this week.

Goran Dragic has stepped up big for the Houston Rockets this season

There is much more to being a successful fantasy owner than drafting well and setting your lineup each week. It is imperative that you keep up with the latest injury news and breakout players around the league. Without a few good waiver wire additions, it can be very difficult to stay competitive in your fantasy basketball league. Whether younger players are stepping into more prominent roles or an injury forces a bench player into more action, there are usually plenty of options on the waiver wire that could improve your fantasy team throughout the season. Staying active on the waiver wire is vital to the success of any fantasy team, regardless of the sport. A shortened 66-game season makes it that much more important in any fantasy basketball league this year.

1. Goran Dragic (HOU)- On March 8, Houston Rockets starting point guard Kyle Lowry was diagnosed with a bacterial infection when he had an MRI for a groin injury. Ever since then, Dragic has taken over the starting point guard job and has taken full advantage. In 23 starts he has averaged 18.2 points, 8.4 assists, 1.9 steals, and knocks down nearly two three pointers a game. The four year pro has also been a very efficient scorer, shooting 49.5% from the field and knocking down 86% from the charity stripe. The Rockets have run into a good problem as they now have Lowry back which gives them two exceptional players that can play the point.

2. Jeremy Lin (NYK)- Almost everyone knows the story surrounding Jeremy Lin. He did not receive any athletic scholarships out of high school, was undrafted out of college, but was able to work his way into the starting lineup this season with the New York Knicks. He first exploded onto the scene on February 4th, when he scored 25 pts and dished out 7 assists. The Harvard product went on to lead a 7-game winning streak and would earn the nickname Linsanity. He averaged 18.2ppg, 7.7apg, 3.7rbp, and 2.0spg before being declared out for the season with a torn meniscus.

3. Ersan Ilyasova (MIL)- Despite the inconsistency of Ilyasova at times, he has been a tremendous asset to any team who was able to snag him off the waiver wire in their fantasy league. He is a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki, as he has good size, a great shooting stroke, and above average ball-handling skills for a player his size. The 6’10” power forward from Turkey has given fantasy teams a huge lift in points, rebounds, and threes. March was his most productive month of the season, as he averaged 16.7ppg and 8.8 rpg. Ilyasova also gives fantasy owners an 85% free throw shooter who has hit 47 threes on the season.

4. Klay Thompson (GSW)- The Warriors have been a very interesting team this season. Stephen Curry, who was the projected starting point guard coming into the season, has missed over half of the games this year due to an ankle injury. Monta Ellis, Golden State’s starting shooting guard coming into the season, was traded to the Bucks. This series of events might be just what Thompson needed in order to showcase his talents. He has averaged 11.8ppg this season, but 18.1 in the month of April. He is also a good source of 3pm, steals, and shoots decent percentages, surprising for a player who is primarily a jump shooter.

5. Nikola Pekovic (MIN)- Pekovic went from being buried deep on the Minnesota bench to eventually become the team’s starting center. Playing alongside All-Star power forward Kevin Love, he flourished. In 31 games as the starting center, Pekovic has averaged 15ppg and 8.2 rpg. He has also been great from the free throw line, shooting a respectable 76%, and from the field at 56%. Although Pekovic has struggled a bit to stay healthy, he has been productive enough to help any fantasy team and is the top center on my list.

6. Gerald Green (NJN)- Green signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on February 27th. He impressed enough that the Nets went on to sign him for the rest of the season. Not only has he given the Nets a huge lift off the bench, but he has given fantasy owners a great source of points, steals, and threes. He has averaged 13ppg on the season, but has really turned it on as of late as Green averaged over 17ppg in the month of April. On April 8th he went off for a season high 32 points on 11/18 shooting, including 5/7 from beyond the arc.

7. Drew Gooden (MIL)- Ever since Andrew Bogut fractured his left ankle on January 25th against the Houston Rockets, Gooden has stepped into the starting center position and produced. He has cooled off a bit in April but he averaged 17.4ppg and 7.7rpg in February and 15.9ppg, 7.1rpg and 3.8 apg in March. Gooden went for a triple double on March 14th against Cleveland notching 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists. According to Yahoo, Gooden was only drafted in 4% of leagues. Any fantasy owner that was willing to take a chance on him on the waiver wire has been rewarded with admirable numbers.

8. Kevin Seraphin (WAS)- Seraphin has been fantastic filling in for the injured Nene as of late. He recently posted 21pts, 13reb, and 5blks in an April 16th win over the Chicago Bulls. But it has been much more than just one game. The former first round pick has averaged 16.2ppg, 7.7rpg, and 2.1 bpg in the month of April. Look for Seraphin to be a common name mentioned when people talk about fantasy basketball sleepers heading into next season.

9. Isaiah Thomas (SAC)- Many thought Jimmer Fredette would be the Sacramento rookie to make significant contributions this season, but Thomas has made a greater impact for both the Kings as well as any fantasy team. The second round pick out of Washington has averaged 15.1ppg and 5.2apg ever since being inserted into the starting lineup. Thomas can also help your fantasy team in other areas, as he has knocked down 76 threes and recorded 50 steals this season.

10. Samuel Dalembert (HOU)- Dalembert has been very inconsistent throughout the season and has been tough to rely on in your fantasy lineup. He has averaged 8.6ppg, 7.9rpg, and 2bpg when he has started this year. Unless you are in a very deep league, those numbers do not look all that impressive. But Dalembert has had his moments. During a two week stretch in January he averaged 13ppg, 11.5rpg, and 2.6bpg. He also had a similar stretch in early March.

Conclusion: Good fantasy owners not only draft well, but also manage their team effectively by making the necessary trades and pickups throughout the season as weaknesses become more apparent across your roster. If you were fortunate enough to add one or more of the players above I am sure your fantasy team has been relatively successful this season and would not be surprised if you are in your league’s fantasy basketball finals this week if you play in a head-to-head league.

So close to winning his first green jacket earlier this month, will Kuchar get it done this week in San Antonio?

Last week, Carl Pettersson won by five shots over Zach Johnson for his 5th PGA Tour victory of his career. Pettersson shot 66 on Saturday to become the 54 hole leader, and held on to that spot all the way through Sunday evening.  It was the Big Swede’s first victory since the RBC Canadian Open in 2010. Leading after 36 holes, Colt Knost was in contention for his first Tour win until a final round 74 left him with a third place finish. With the victory, Pettersson moved up to 4th in the FedEx Cup rankings and 35th in the world.  Now the Tour heads down to the Alamo City for the Valero Texas Open, where Brendan Steele will defend his 2011 title.  TPC San Antonio proved to be one of the toughest courses on the schedule with its 73.67 scoring average last season, not to mention it saw the highest single score recorded all year when Kevin Na took a 16 on the 9th hole on Friday.  The course is hard and the wind can blow, so let’s take a look at who the fantasy golf players to target are down in The Lone Star State.

Fredrick Jacobson – Jacobson has had great success at this tournament with a T5th finish last year, and a 2nd place finish in 2010.  He seemingly feels at home on tougher courses, as shown by his top-20 finishes this year at Riviera, PGA National, and Augusta.  He ranks 14th on Tour in proximity to the hole from 175-200, a crucial distance since several holes could play longer than usual this week due to the high winds.  Perhaps Pettersson won’t be the only Swede making noise on Tour this month.

Matt Kuchar – I thought this guy was going to be the Masters champion until that costly bogey on 16 during the final round.  Kuchar was rolling again in Hilton Head, but a 77 on Sunday derailed his hopes of a 5th consecutive top-ten finish.  Perhaps the most solid player on Tour right now, Kuchar is coming off a career year last year and the momentum hasn’t fallen off.  He hits nearly 70% of both his greens and fairways in regulation, tough to ever post a high score with those kind of numbers.  It’s no wonder this guy collects a top 10 seemingly every week.

Cameron Tringale – The former Georgia Tech standout tied Jacobson for 5th last year,  and is coming off his first top-10 finish of the year with his 8th place finish in Houston.  Tringale ranks 15th in ball striking and 10th in total driving this year, impressive stats for a guy in only his second year on Tour.  To complement his solid driving, Tringale is also hitting 68% of GIR this season.  Though he is only 24, his game is already on its way to superstar status.

Harris English – Shot a final round 71 last week to finish in a tie at 8th place with Tringale, the best finish of his young career.  Although his first full season on Tour, English is playing like anything but a rookie.  Having already collected 5 top-20 finishes this season, English has earned the reputation of being a bomber off the tee, ranking 8th in driving distance this year (302 yds).  He also ranks 6th in total birdies and 9th in par-four scoring.  A young guy who can crush it off the tee and knows how to get the ball in the hole, seems like a guy you need to have in all your fantasy golf games.

Cullen’s Call – Tough to say here, as I really like all of these guys to finish well.  I’m going with Kuchar though.  I was impressed with his poise at Augusta, and it seems like whenever he plays he is a threat to win.  He’s the best player in the field this week so look for him to get things done and get the win in San Antonio.