Fantasy Tips: Second-Half Surprises

With that kind of hair, who wouldn't want Kaman on their fantasy team!

For most fantasy owners, this weekend is the perfect time to get away from checking daily fantasy line-ups, searching through the add or drop transactions, reading up on the most recent updates on player news, and instead enjoy what the NBA All-Star festivities has to offer.

But for owners that have OFD or as I like to call it—Obsessive Fantasy Disorder—this weekend is your golden opportunity to research on who will emerge as a second half surprise and help bring your team to the fantasy playoffs.

There are a select few NBA players that have been injured for the most part of the first half of the NBA '08-09 season. These players are either not owned in the majority of fantasy leagues or have been put on owners' benches until proven healthy enough to be activated into the starting lineup.

Below is a list of these players and suggestions on what you can do—either add them onto your fantasy team or trade for them before they start to put up major fantasy numbers.

Chris Kaman (C, LAC)—Last season Kaman averaged 12.7 RPG (third in the NBA) and 2.77 BPG (third in the NBA). He emerged as a fantasy stud and started in every fantasy owners line-up.

This year, Kaman has been injured since the fifth week of the fantasy season and has now missed 11 weeks of playing time. He is owned in 68 percent of all CBS Sports leagues and 73 percent of all Yahoo! Fantasy NBA leagues.

Suggestion: If Kaman is on the waiver wire in your fantasy league, he should be picked up IMMEDIATELY. Kaman has the talent to put up double-doubles night in and night out with over two blocks as well.

He can become a huge fantasy player in the second half of the NBA fantasy season and could really turn your team around and help you become a contender for the playoffs.

If Kaman is owned by another fantasy owner in your league, now is the time to trade for him before he returns to the court. You can probably trade a player with less value to acquire Kaman onto your fantasy team. (Do not forget, I have warned you).

Mike Dunleavy (SF, IND)—After missing the first 10 weeks of fantasy action, Dunleavy has returned to the starting line up for the Indiana Pacers. Last season Dunleavy put up career-highs in PPG (19.09), APG (3.51), SPG (1.05), 3PTM (165), 3P percentage (42.4), FT percentage (83.4), and FG percentage (47.6).

He is now owned in 86 percent of all CBS Sports leagues and 79 percent of all Yahoo! Fantasy NBA leagues.

Suggestion: Dunleavy has potential to average the same type of numbers that he put up last season. Although he is off to a slow start since returning from injury, he should be traded for before the start of Week 17. Dunleavy will find his groove within the next few weeks and can become a huge fantasy player for the second-half of the fantasy season.

Lamar Odom (PF, LAL)—Odom is now in the starting line-up for the Los Angeles Lakers and is producing serious fantasy numbers. He has put up three double-doubles in his last three games and is becoming a big contributor for the Lakers. With Bynum out until March, Odom's fantasy value will continue to sky-rocket.

Suggestion: It will be tough to trade for Odom if not already owned on your fantasy team. He will be a fantasy beast for the second half of the NBA season and should be traded for before he begins to average a double-double with a couple of assists, steals, and blocks every game.

Marreese Speights (PF, PHI)—Speights is a pretty powerful power-forward standing 6'10" and weighing nearly 250 lbs. With Elton Brand now injured for the rest of the season, rookie Speights will get the rare opportunity to play more minutes and put up huge fantasy numbers.

Speights has played only one 30+ minute game this season and dropped 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three blocks while doing so.

Suggestion: Most fantasy owners should know that when a starter for a team goes down for the season, usually another player picks up the slack in their absence.

Speights is the player that will benefit greatly for Brand's absence and should be picked up immediately if still available in your fantasy league as he is only owned in 45 percent of all CBS sports leagues and 13 percent of all Yahoo! Fantasy NBA leagues.

Spencer Hawes (C, SAC)—Hawes was certainly a fantasy surprise during the first two weeks of the NBA fantasy season. Sacramento Kings starting center Brad Miller was down with an injury and Hawes showed the world what he was capable of producing.

With the trade deadline slowly coming to an end, rumors have circulated about Brad Miller being dealt. If so, Hawes's fantasy production will rise to an exceptional level.

Suggestion: Hawes is owned in 72 percent of all CBS Sports leagues and 53 percent of all Yahoo! Fantasy NBA leagues. If Miller is dealt away, Hawes will average around 30 MPG with 13 PPG, close to eight or nine RPG with at least one or two 3PTM, and around 1.5 BPG. Hawes should be picked up or traded for before his numbers increase tremendously.

Mario Chalmers (PG, MIA)—Chalmers has surprised Miami this season with his excellent talent and ability to play the point. He is enjoying a very nice rookie season averaging 10.06 PPG, 4.81 APG, 2.62 RPG, 1.92 SPG, and 75 3PTM. With Jermaine O'Neal on the roster, Chalmers point guard skills will definitely improve.

Suggestion: Although Chalmers' points per game average will not rise due to the presence of newly acquired Jermaine O'Neal, his assists per game, steals per game, and 3PTM will certainly rise.

Chalmers is owned in 78 percent of all CBS Sports leagues and 59 percent of all Yahoo! Fantasy NBA leagues and deserves to be picked up or traded for before the All-Star weekend ends.

So here are your second-half surprises for the NBA fantasy 08-09 season. Do you think somebody should have been put up on this list? Do you not agree that one of these players should be on the list? Comment back with your opinion and we can discuss it!