NBA Value Meter: Start Your Heat

LeBron, Wade and Bosh are must-starts every week, but role players like Udonis Haslem (pictured) and Joel Anthony have some value as the Heat are the only team to play four games this week.

Updated on October 24, 2010 7:06PM EST

By:

Eric Johnson

Updated on October 24, 2010 7:06PM EST

NBA Weekly Player Rankings

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NBA VALUE METER - WEEK 1

This is our weekly cheat sheet based on our player's projected output and number of games. It assumes an eight-category roto style league with the following categories: points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-pointers made, free-throw percentage and field-goal percentage.

These are my rankings. They do not necessarily correspond with the RotoWire cheat sheet or our projections for the season. I use both as a rough guide, but I primarily factor in number of games played for the week, current player trends and pertinent information about the team (injuries, time share situations, etc). The Value Meter takes into account games played Monday through Saturday. We will try to update the meter with any breaking news that happens on Sunday, but in most cases, any injuries, lineup changes, etc. that happen on Sunday won't be accounted for on the Value Meter until the following week.

Five Games:	NONE
Four Games:	MIA
Three Games:	ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIL, MIN, NJ, NO, NYK, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, SAC, UTA
Two Games:	CHI, ORL, SAS, TOR, WAS
One Game:	NONE

Point Guards
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Chris Paul	[PG]	NO	3
2	Deron Williams	[PG]	UTA	3
3	Rajon Rondo	[PG]	BOS	3
4	Stephen Curry*	[PG,SG]	GSW	3	Day-to-day (ankle).
5	Steve Nash	[PG]	PHO	3
6	Russell Westbrook	[PG,SG]	OKC	3
7	Jason Kidd	[PG]	DAL	3
8	Chauncey Billups	[PG]	DEN	3

NBA VALUE METER - WEEK 1

Five Games:	NONE
Four Games:	MIA
Three Games:	ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, HOU, IND, LAC, LAL, MEM, MIL, MIN, NJ, NO, NYK, OKC, PHI, PHO, POR, SAC, UTA
Two Games:	CHI, ORL, SAS, TOR, WAS
One Game:	NONE

Point Guards
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Chris Paul	[PG]	NO	3
2	Deron Williams	[PG]	UTA	3
3	Rajon Rondo	[PG]	BOS	3
4	Stephen Curry*	[PG,SG]	GSW	3	Day-to-day (ankle).
5	Steve Nash	[PG]	PHO	3
6	Russell Westbrook	[PG,SG]	OKC	3
7	Jason Kidd	[PG]	DAL	3
8	Chauncey Billups	[PG]	DEN	3
9	Darren Collison	[PG]	IND	3
10	Aaron Brooks	[PG,SG]	HOU	3
11	Devin Harris	[PG,SG]	NJ	3
12	Brandon Jennings	[PG]	MIL	3
13	Maurice Williams	[PG,SG]	CLE	3	Should see increase in points and assists with LeBron in Miami.
14	Baron Davis	[PG]	LAC	3
15	Jrue Holiday	[PG]	PHI	3
16	Raymond Felton	[PG,SG]	NYK	3
17	Rodney Stuckey	[PG,SG]	DET	3
18	Andre Miller	[PG]	POR	3
19	Derrick Rose	[PG]	CHI	2
20	Tyreke Evans	[PG,SG]	SAC	3	Will miss first game of the year (suspension).
21	John Wall	[PG]	WAS	2
22	Mike Conley, Jr.	[PG,SG]	MEM	3
23	Beno Udrih	[PG,SG]	SAC	3
24	D.J. Augustin	[PG]	CHA	3	Looks to have starting job locked and should see plenty of minutes with Livingston dealing with knee issues.
25	Tony Parker	[PG]	SAS	2
26	Jameer Nelson	[PG,SG]	ORL	2
27	Luke Ridnour	[PG]	MIN	3	Starter in Minnesota and could be solid short-term play with Flynn (hip) out.
28	Louis Williams	[PG,SG]	PHI	3	Should be instant offense off of the Sixers bench.
29	Carlos Arroyo	[PG]	MIA	4
30	Mike Bibby	[PG]	ATL	3	Being pushed for minutes by Teague - could be in time-share situation.
31	Jarrett Jack	[PG,SG]	TOR	2
32	Mario Chalmers	[PG]	MIA	4	Day-to-day (ankle).
33	George Hill	[PG,SG]	SAS	2
34	Jose Calderon	[PG]	TOR	2
35	Kirk Hinrich	[PG,SG]	WAS	2	Could start at SF in Wizards 3-guard offense.

Shooting Guards
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Dwyane Wade*	[SG]	MIA	4	Day-to-day (hamstring) - expected to be ready for season opener.
2	Brandon Roy	[SG]	POR	3
3	Monta Ellis	[PG,SG]	GSW	3
4	Kobe Bryant	[SG]	LAL	3	Limit expectations this week - could play reduced minutes due to off-season knee surgery.
5	Joe Johnson	[SG]	ATL	3
6	Kevin Martin	[SG]	HOU	3
7	Jason Richardson	[SG,SF]	PHO	3
8	Eric Gordon	[SG]	LAC	3
9	O.J. Mayo	[SG]	MEM	3
10	Jamal Crawford	[PG,SG]	ATL	3
11	Ray Allen	[SG]	BOS	3
12	John Salmons*	[SG,SF]	MIL	3	Day-to-day (knee) - missed all of the pre-season.
13	Jason Terry	[PG,SG]	DAL	3
14	Aaron Afflalo	[SG]	DEN	3	Solid pre-season (20.4 ppg.) but could be in a time-share with J.R. Smith.
15	Richard Hamilton	[SG]	DET	3
16	Ben Gordon	[SG]	DET	3
17	Manu Ginobili	[SG]	SAS	2	Bump in value with move to starting lineup.
18	Vince Carter	[SG]	ORL	2
19	Gilbert Arenas*	[PG,SG]	WAS	2	Day-to-day (hamstring)
20	Anthony Morrow	[SG,SF]	NJ	3	Starting at SG but tim-eshare likely with Terrence Williams
21	Anthony Parker	[SG]	CLE	3
22	Marco Belinelli	[PG,SG]	NO	3	Looks to have won starting job but could eventually split minutes with Marcus Thornton.
23	James Harden	[SG]	OKC	3
24	Ramon Sessions	[PG,SG]	CLE	3	Won't start, but should see solid minutes backing up Williams at the point and Parker at shooting guard..
25	Eddie House	[PG,SG]	MIA	4	Should see bump in minutes with Miller (thumb) out.
26	J.R. Smith *	[SG]	DEN	3	Day-to-day (quad).
27	Mike Dunleavy	[SG]	IND	3
28	Rudy Fernandez	[PG,SG]	POR	3
29	Raja Bell	[SG]	UTA	3
30	Evan Turner	[SG,SF]	PHI	3
31	Toney Douglas	[PG,SG]	NYK	3	Opening day starter at shooting guard?
32	Marcus Thornton	[SG]	NO	3	Value goes down with Belinelli starting at shooting guard.
33	Francisco Garcia	[SG,SF]	SAC	3	Will start the opener for Evans (suspension) but then move back to reserve role.
34	Leandro Barbosa	[PG,SG]	TOR	2
35	DeMar DeRozan	[SG,SF]	TOR	2

Small Forwards
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	LeBron James	[SF]	MIA	4
2	Kevin Durant	[SG,SF]	OKC	3
3	Danny Granger *	[SF]	IND	3	Day-to-day (ankle). Should be ready for opener.
4	Carmelo Anthony	[SF]	DEN	3
5	Gerald Wallace	[SF,PF]	CHA	3
6	Andre Iguodala*	[SG,SF]	PHI	3	Day-to-day (wrist). Should be ready for opener.
7	Rudy Gay	[SG,SF]	MEM	3
8	Stephen Jackson	[SG,SF]	CHA	3
9	Danilo Gallinari	[SF]	NYK	3	Struggled in pre-season but should be solid #2 scoring option behind Stoudemire.
10	Paul Pierce	[SG,SF]	BOS	3
11	Caron Butler	[SF]	DAL	3
12	Trevor Ariza	[SF]	NO	3
13	Hedo Turkoglu	[SF,PF]	PHO	3
14	Michael Beasley	[SF,PF]	MIN	3
15	Andrei Kirilenko	[SG,SF]	UTA	3
16	Terrence Williams	[SF]	NJ	3	Won't start but should see solid minutes at shooting guard and small forward.
17	Nicolas Batum	[SF]	POR	3	No longer has to fight Martell Websterfor minutes.
18	Jamario Moon	[SF]	CLE	3
19	Shawn Marion	[SF,PF]	DAL	3
20	Tayshaun Prince	[SF]	DET	3
21	Travis Outlaw	[SF,PF]	LAC	3
22	Marvin Williams	[SF]	ATL	3
23	Ron Artest	[SF]	LAL	3
24	Thaddeus Young	[SF,PF]	PHI	3
25	Wilson Chandler	[SF,PF]	NYK	3
26	Rashard Lewis	[SF]	ORL	2
27	Luol Deng	[SG,SF]	CHI	2
28	James Jones	[SF]	MIA	4	Could see bump in value with Miller (thumb) out.
29	Carlos Delfino	[SG,SF]	MIL	3	Starter for now, but Maggette should eventually take over.
30	Grant Hill	[SG,SF]	PHO	3
31	Corey Maggette*	[SF]	MIL	3	Day-to-day (ankle). Played 14 minutes in pre-season finale.
32	Dorell Wright	[SG,SF]	GSW	3	Looks to be in time-share with Reggie Williams.
33	Jared Dudley	[SF,PF]	PHO	3
34	Reggie Williams	[SF]	GSW	3
35	Linus Kleiza	[SF,PF]	TOR	2

Power Forwards
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Chris Bosh	[PF,C]	MIA	4
2	Dirk Nowitzki	[PF]	DAL	3
3	Pau Gasol	[PF,C]	LAL	3
4	Josh Smith	[SF,PF]	ATL	3
5	David Lee	[PF]	GSW	3	Rebounds should be there, but points could take a hit as third option behind Curry and Ellis.
6	Zach Randolph	[PF]	MEM	3
7	Kevin Love	[PF,C]	MIN	3	Should be a double-double machine this year and now has 3-point range.
8	David West	[PF]	NO	3
9	LaMarcus Aldridge	[PF,C]	POR	3
10	Jeff Green	[SF,PF]	OKC	3
11	Luis Scola	[SF,PF]	HOU	3
12	Blake Griffin	[PF]	LAC	3
13	Lamar Odom	[PF]	LAL	3	Bump in value for as long as Bynum (knee) is out.
14	Paul Millsap	[SF,PF]	UTA	3
15	Antawn Jamison	[PF]	CLE	3
16	Kevin Garnett	[PF]	BOS	3
17	Carl Landry	[SF,PF]	SAC	3
18	Elton Brand	[PF]	PHI	3
19	Tim Duncan	[PF,C]	SAS	2
20	Al Harrington *	[SF,PF]	DEN	3	Day-to-day (torn plantar fascia) Might not start, but should see plenty of minutes at PF with Martin (knee) out.
21	J.J. Hickson	[PF,C]	CLE	3
22	Udonis Haslem	[PF]	MIA	4
23	Tyrus Thomas	[SF,PF]	CHA	3	Might never completely reach fantasy potential as long as Diaw is around.
24	Anthony Randolph	[SF,PF]	NYK	3
25	Andray Blatche	[PF,C]	WAS	2
26	Austin Daye	[SF,PF]	DET	3	Great pre-season and opening day starter at PF.
27	Drew Gooden	[PF,C]	MIL	3
28	Boris Diaw	[SF,PF]	CHA	3
29	Charlie Villanueva	[PF]	DET	3
30	Derrick Favors	[PF]	NJ	3	Should see bump in value with Murphy (neck) out.
31	Hakim Warrick	[PF]	PHO	3
32	Taj Gibson*	[PF]	CHI	2	Decent short-term play for rebounds and blocks while Boozer (hand) is out.
33	Josh McRoberts	[PF,C]	IND	3
34	Greg Monroe	[PF,C]	DET	3
35	Tyler Hansbrough	[PF]	IND	3

Centers
Rank	Player	Eligible	Team	Games	Comment
1	Amare Stoudemire	[C]	NYK	3
2	Brook Lopez	[C]	NJ	3
3	Al Jefferson	[PF,C]	UTA	3
4	Al Horford	[PF,C]	ATL	3
5	Nene	[PF,C]	DEN	3
6	Marc Gasol	[C]	MEM	3
7	Andrew Bogut	[C]	MIL	3
8	Chris Kaman	[C]	LAC	3
9	Marcus Camby	[C]	POR	3
10	Dwight Howard	[C]	ORL	2
11	Roy Hibbert	[C]	IND	3
12	Emeka Okafor	[PF,C]	NO	3
13	DeMarcus Cousins	[C]	SAC	3	Should be in line for big minutes with Dalembert (groin) out four to six weeks.
14	Andris Biedrins	[C]	GSW	3
15	Andrea Bargnani	[PF,C]	TOR	2
16	Joakim Noah	[C]	CHI	2
17	Anderson Varejeo	[PF,C]	CLE	3
18	Robin Lopez	[C]	PHO	3
19	Channing Frye	[PF,C]	PHO	3
20	Serge Ibaka	[PF,C]	OKC	3	Could see increased minutes while Collison (knee) is out.
21	Nazr Mohammed	[C]	CHA	3
22	Darko Milicic	[PF,C]	MIN	3
23	Joel Anthony	[C]	MIA	4
24	Shaquille O'Neal	[C]	BOS	3
25	Jason Thompson	[PF,C]	SAC	3
26	Brendan Haywood	[C]	DAL	3
27	Tyson Chandler	[C]	DAL	3
28	Spencer Hawes	[C]	PHI	3	Missed most of pre-season (back) but should be ready for opener.
29	Zydrunas Ilgauskas	[C]	MIA	4
30	Brad Miller	[C]	HOU	3
31	JaVale McGee	[PF,C]	WAS	2
32	DeJuan Blair	[PF,C]	SAS	2	Should be solid source for rebounds as starting C, but minutes could decrease when Splitter (calf) returns to the lineup.
33	Timofey Mozgov	[C]	NYK	3	Looks to be starter at center for Knicks.
34	Jermaine O'Neal	[PF,C]	BOS	3
35	Yao Ming*	[C]	HOU	3	Will be on minutes restriction (24 mpg.) and will probably only play in two games this week since Rockets have a back-to-back.