NBA Fantasy Basketball Tips: Week 12

As Week 12 approaches, there are many decisions that a fantasy owner has to make. Who is safe to start, who to bench, who is going to heat up, and who should you pick up. Below is a list of fantasy tips that you should take into consideration before starting your line-up for the upcoming fantasy period.

Who is heating up coming into Week 12?

Russell Westbrook (PG, OKC)

Westbrook is playing some serious basketball recently, putting up big numbers in the scoring, rebounding, and assists categories. He has averaged 16.2 PPG, 7.2 APG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.0 SPG in his last five games and is definitely a must start with four games this week.

Paul Millsap (PF, UTA)

Millsap has gotten three double-doubles in his last four games averaging a ridiculous 17.75 PPG, 13.0 RPG, 3.25 APG, and 1.0 BPG. With Boozer guaranteed to miss a month after his surgery, Millsap is another must start that should continue to improve his outstanding numbers with four games this week.

Mehmet Okur (C, UTA)

Okur is averaging 20.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.0 SPG during his last five games and has clearly stepped up his production. Okur will be a nice start this week with four games and should continue to give your fantasy team around 20 points per game a night.

Who should be benched for Week 12?

Zach Randolph (PF, LAC)

Randolph does not look like he will be ready to play during Week 12. He should be benched in all active fantasy leagues and benched for at least one more week. When healthy, Randolph has emerged into a top 15 fantasy guy and has put up huge numbers thus far this season.

Ron Artest (SF, HOU)

Artest has now missed four of his last five games with an ankle injury. He has only two games in the upcoming period and is a very risky start this week. Ron has been known to play games on a last minute kind of notice, so he should be started with caution. If you have another healthy forward alternative, it is safe to start them in replace of Artest.

Who is safe to start this week?

Brandon Roy (SG, POR)

Roy missed four games with a hamstring injury and was back in action on Saturday night. With four games during the week, it is safe to start Roy on your fantasy team. He has potential to put up big fantasy numbers and will contribute immensely to your fantasy team.

Rodney Stuckey (PG, DET)

After being forced to leave Friday night’s game because of a sore back, Stuckey was back into the lineup on Saturday and dropped 19 points. Rodney has become one of the best fantasy point-guards in the NBA and continues to improve his great fantasy play. It is safe to activate Stuckey back into your fantasy line-up if you have not already.

Jose Calderon (PG, TOR)

After missing four games because of a hamstring injury, Calderon was back in the starting line-up on Sunday. With four games in the upcoming period, Calderon is safe to start this week and should pick up his fantasy production as the week goes on.

Who should be picked up this week off the waiver wire?

Linas Kleiza (SF, DEN)

With Carmelo out for at least a month, Kleiza’s fantasy value is bound to increase. When given starters minutes Kleiza has been known to pick up his production. If Linas is still available in your fantasy league he should be picked up immediately and started before someone else picks him up.

Andrea Bargnani (C, TOR)

Bargnani has scored at least 18 points during his last six games and has clearly picked up the pace due to the absence of Jermaine O’Neal. His fantasy value has risen in that past week and is worth picking up and starting for Week 12.