By Raymond Ayala

The Oakland Raiders have hit rock bottom. If people thought the Detroit Lions organization was bad, enter your 2003 AFC Championship winning Raiders. That was the last time the Raiders even sniffed anything resembling the teams motto of “Generation of Excellence.” That generation of excellence has gone to the gutter, and the loyal fans of the Raiders are struggling with what to do with what already seems like another damned season. The fantasy impact, is plain and simple, don’t have any Raiders on your team.

Jamarcus Russell has been a bust thus far, but I would not give up on him just yet. For 2009, yes he is a dead duck, but in the future I still feel Russell could be a star. It is very rare a quarterback of his size and mobility is available in an NFL Draft. He has the tools, he has the arm, but like the tin man… “If he only had a brain!” After a recent game in Houston, Russell could hardly speak to reporters. Listening to him speak, was like listening to a high school student give a speech in front of a large audience. The guy needs to take some time to learn the playbook, as well as get some help from the Raiders to become a smarter football player. Russell has the tools to be a star quarterback in this league, but the Raiders need to put less emphasis on his physical tools, until he can improve on his mental tools.

Darren McFadden goes down, and so does the Raiders running game. While Michael Bush and Justin Fargas have had their big games, neither should even be thought of as deserving a starting spot in any fantasy league. McFadden has shown yardage increases every game before the injury, but with the terrible offensive line he has, it will be hard for him to have a good game. If you have him, drop him and pick up a backup on a playoff contender over a guy who starts for the Raiders.

Darius Heyward-Bey has been a disappointment. This guy may have speed, but his hands and routes are nowhere near field ready. Heyward-Bey should be returning kicks at this point, and should not even be seeing the playing field other than that. The Raiders will continue to force him out there, but a big game is nowhere in this guys 2009 season. If your in a keeper, hang on to him, but if you are going season to season release him now before it is too late.

The Raiders Organization has a chance to finish the season with just as many felonies on their head coach, as team wins. Head Coach Tom Cable would have been fired from any organization after punching out an assistant, but Al Davis runs the team so he probably just got a contract extension for the deed. The Raiders were once a proud organization that won championship after championship. Now they are the laughing stock of the league, and Al Davis is sitting on his hands doing nothing about it. Until Al Davis appoints someone else in charge, you can kiss any fantasy players from the Raiders goodbye.

by Chris Burrows

ESPN columnist John Hollinger developed the Player Efficiency Rating (PER) for easy comparisons across years, positions, and players–leaguewide. The ridiculous looking formula takes into account field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks and penalizes players for missed shots, turnovers and personal fouls. It also accounts for pace of play meaning that teams that have fewer possessions in their games don’t compromise their players’ PERs.

However, one of the major criticisms of Hollinger’s holy-grail formula is that it’s largely a measure of offensive productivity. It offers a productivity-per-minute look at player stats with little attention given to defensive ability. This makes it perfect for the fantasy owner.

As a testament to the power of the PER, the career PER leaders include (in descending order): Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Lebron James, David Robinson and Wilt Chamberlain with Dwayne Wade, Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Karl Malone and every other top name in the top 30.

Hollinger’s formula sets the average value at 15.00. As a reference Michael Jordan had a career PER of 27.91 and Lebron James led all 08-09 players with a PER of 31.76. Beginning fantasy-ers can see how this number can be useful in sifting out the static and breaking it down to a total player-to-player comparison of a single number.

Here are the rest of the top PER’s from the 2008-09 season.

LeBron James, Cavs, 31.76
Dwyane Wade, Heat, 30.46
Chris Paul, Hornets, 30.04
Dwight Howard, Magic, 25.44
Tim Duncan, Spurs, 24.51
Kobe Bryant, Lakers, 24.46
Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers, 24.34
Tony Parker, Spurs, 23.47
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs, 23.20
Al Jefferson, Timberwolves, 23.16

So keep your PER table nearby and, if it comes down to it, a player’s PER is a reliable deciding factor in ranking players as it offers the most intensive per-minute look at any given player’s productivity on the court.

By Zack Cimini

No one yet knows what the Minnesota Timberwolves were thinking by drafting Rubio and Flynn back to back. It’s created a stir around the league and by NBA fans as one of the dumbest use of two high draft picks ever. Whatever the case may be, Jonny Flynn answered the questions perfectly and took his game as the leader of the Timberwolves summer league team. He averaged over 15 points and nearly 8 assists a game. His floor leadership was very impressive and the Timberwolves are assured of at least one solid point guard selection.

It’s looking as if Ricky Rubio will find a way to get to the league. He is intent on leaving his Spanish club regardless of a buyout. This mix in the backcourt of two young players is going to be something very different. Rumors are already swirling that Flynn may be traded when everything is finalized with Rubio.

One thing Flynn will have to work on that hurt him at times at Syracuse is his erratic fast pace style. In college you can get away with it but not in the NBA. He did have a high amount of turnovers in the summer league, but cut them down a bit after the first two summer league games.

Expect Flynn to be one of the top rookies this year, and to have fantasy value for assists and steals.

By Chris Burrows

The Shaq show (or is it Shaq-fu, Shaq-attaq, or Shaq-man?) is packing his bags and heading north to nestle in alongside LeBron James and the Cavs who fell just short of a championship in their 2009 playoff run. Cav-a-shaq may well be what Cleveland needs to put them over the top and bring the Championship to the Cavs (afterall Shaq has 4 rings already) but is Shaq still a viable fantasy starter?

In recent years Shaq’s stock has fallen with fantasy owners as his age and bulk have increased but he was still owned by 98.9% of owners last season according to ESPN.com. With the June deal that sent Shaq to notably cooler climes in return for center Ben Wallace and guard Sasha Pavlovic, the 17 year, 325 lb. veteran may no longer be worth it to owners.

Last season Shaq put up respectable numbers in Phoenix: 17.8 points per game, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks over a healthy span of 75 games which should be more than enough to relegate current Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to the bench. Shaq also managed to lead the league in effective field goal percentage demonstrating that his skills aren’t yet eroding with age. But Shaq has clearly already hit his peak—he hasn’t had a season with a ppg average over 25 since 2002-3 afterwhich his rebound, block and steal averages have also trailed off.

Of course, post-peak Shaq numbers are still better than the league average if unable to communicate his true worth on the court as the bulkiest center under the hoop in basketball. Shaq is an invaluable part of Cleveland’s run to a ring that is centered around LeBron James—who’ll be doing most of the point-making and theatrics. This has obvious implications on O’Neal’s fantasy potential—he’ll be counted on for blocks and assists now and not making baskets especially if the Cavs can come up with a power forward to fill another void in their roster. Shaq even told reporters at the press conference, “”[LeBron James]’s the captain. This is the time in my career where I can fit in. I’m now in the security business. My job is to protect the King, and that’s what I’m here to do.”

Shaq has never played for a cold-weather team (which has prompted the new nickname: the Big Freeze) which may impact his game if only psychologically. He’s played in LA, Orlando, Miami and Phoenix—the bitter Ohio cold may be a shock to Shaq.

Cav-a-shaq will be central to the progression of the Cavs. If the team can secure a performing power forward to complement James and O’Neal they have a very real chance for a crown. Shaq’s new role as the self-described protector of the king makes him a less viable though still possible starter for fantasy owners in the years to come.

by Chris Burrows

1. Blake Griffin, LA Clippers
The Clippers made the obvious choice snatching Griffin and putting themselves in a position of contention for next season. Griffin has already shown his dominance as a power forward in Oklahoma leading the NCAA in rebounds and shaming opponents with his touted 22.7 ppg. He would make a healthy and productive addition to any fantasy roster provided that the Clippers can put some sort of defense together—many of their losses last season were by very generous margins. The Clippers will be the only thing holding Griffin back.

2. Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis
He’s not going to be a fantasy impact player but the 7-3 center out of UConn will play an important shot-blocking role in Memphis. If he develops an offensive game, Thabeet may be valuable down the road.

3. James Harden, Oklahoma City
James Harden is what Oklahoma City needs; he’ll fill a hole in their wing as a strong passer and shooter. The 6-5 guard out of Arizona State could be a strong supplemental fantasy player with plenty of assists and rebounds in his future.

4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento
No one really understands this selection. Why Sacramento passed on Rubio in favor Evans whose bulk they can use but lack of passing and full-court shooting may prove a detriment is a mystery. Evans probably won’t have much of a fantasy impact next season.

5. Ricky Rubio, Minnesota
Spain’s point guard prodigy, Ricky Rubio will have a major impact where ever he ends up (it looks like the Wolves are going to trade him). His finesse passing and playmaking ability will be highly sought-after in the league but it’s hard to say yet whether Rubio will be a productive fantasy point producer since his role is mainly in the center of the court and not at either end.

6. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota
The 6-1 point guard from Syracuse demonstrated an ability to get to the rim in the NCAA last season and led everybody with 6.7 assists per game. His shooting skills aren’t tops but he’ll be a key for the Wolves’ offensive game. Fantasy potential isn’t huge with Flynn but he’d be a sturdy bench-player.

7. Stephen Curry, Golden State
Everyone knows Stephen Curry can score points—he led the NCAA in points, ppg, pos/g and 3-pointers/game. His lack of bulk, however, will affect him in the NBA and may hurt the Warriors on the other end of the court. He’s a gamble that got picked up later than expected in the draft but a fantasy gamble I’d be willing to take.

8. Jordan Hill, New York
This power forward out of Arizona is not an offensive standout. At 6-10 Hill stands out in the offensive rebound and reb/g categories and it’s pretty clear where his skills will fit in for the Knicks who need to shore up their defenses. Fantasy-wise Hill wouldn’t be a top choice at this point for the PF position but may be down the road.

9. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto
Don’t look for 6-6 SG DeRozan to take to the courts this season but he may be a future star for a Toronto team that is known for nurturing top prospects. DeRozan isn’t a leading scorer or ball-handler but with time could be.

10. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee
19 year old Jennings is hard to clock with numbers that come from the European league. But he’s fast and could be a fantasy-worthy prospect in a few years of depth-shooting development.