Week 2 Fantasy Basketball Planner

Our weekly Fantasy Basketball Planner is the essential guide to setting your lineup for the upcoming scoring period. Every week, we provide you with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players, injuries and rotation changes.

Atlanta Hawks
Schedule: @CLE, DET, @MIN, PHO
Good Plays: Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Jamal Crawford
Bad Plays: Jeff Teague
Tough Call: Mike Bibby, Marvin Williams
Injury Report: Maurice Evans (back/day-to-day)
Notes: Teague looks to be way behind schedule after missing most of the preseason with an injury. We like him long term, but he's not worth activating in any league yet. This will open things up for Bibby in the short-term. We love the matchups for Bibby all week and view him as a decent low-end play.

Boston Celtics
Schedule: @DET, MIL, CHI, @OKC
Good Plays: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen
Bad Plays: Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Nate Robinson, Delonte West, Glen Davis
Tough Call: None
Injury Report: Kendrick Perkins (knee/February)
Notes: Hopefully you aren't in a situation this early in the season that you are considering one of the O'Neal's at center. If you are in a pinch, though, Shaq has looked the more active and healthier of the two. They will continue to split playing time.

Charlotte Bobcats
Schedule: @NJ, @DET, ORL
Good Plays: Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson
Bad Plays: D.J. Augustin, Shaun Livingston
Tough Call: Tyrus Thomas, Boris Diaw
Injury Report: Kwame Brown (ankle/day-to-day)
Notes: We think Augustin could become a steady contributor down the line, but the early returns have not been positive. We don't like his matchups against more experienced point guards in Devin Harris, Rodney Stuckey and Jameer Nelson this week. ... Tyrus Thomas looks like a prominent part of the team's low-post offense and is being used with the team going small and playing without a true center. The Bobcats can do that against the Nets and Pistons, but not Orlando. Consider Thomas a decent play in average-based leagues, but we suggest avoiding him in cumulative leagues. ... Boris Diaw should be saved for deeper category leagues. He remains helpful across the board without excelling in any category.

Chicago Bulls
Schedule: POR, NY, @BOS
Good Plays: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson
Bad Plays: Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver
Tough Call: None
Injury Report: Carlos Boozer (hand/December)
Notes: With Boozer out, Gibson gets a chance to play a very active role. Make the most of it while it lasts, but consider selling high on him before Boozer returns. ... This won't be a huge week for the Bulls in terms of scoring, considering tough defensive matchups against the Trail Blazers and Celtics. They could make up for some of that against the Knicks, though.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Schedule: ATL, @PHI, @WAS
Good Plays: J.J. Hickson
Bad Plays: Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker, Daniel Gibson
Tough Call: Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Anderson Varejao, Ramon Sessions
Injury Report: Mo Williams (groin, conditioning/day-to-day)
Notes: Hickson seems more than comfortable as the team's primary offensive focal point early in the season, but Jamison looks like he needs some time to adjust to a bench role. We do not recommend cutting ties with Jamison in any league, but reserving him is advised until he can prove productive off the bench. ... Williams was held back by coach Byron Scott due to some conditioning issues after taking a personal leave and also because he felt Williams had some catching up to do with the team's playbook and overall scheme. Unless Williams is back in a prominent role by the weekend, we recommend keeping him reserved until he and Scott are on the same page. Sessions and Gibson are playing well in his stead but remain low-end plays because Williams could cut into their production at any time. ... Varejao is dealing with a personal matter due to the fact his father will undergo heart surgery on Friday. He is expected to be back in time for Week 2 and remains a viable No. 2 center for deeper leagues.

Dallas Mavericks
Schedule: @DEN, DEN
Good Plays: Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd
Bad Plays: Tyson Chandler, Brendan Haywood, Roddy Beaubois
Tough Call: Jason Terry, Shawn Marion
Injury Report: Roddy Beaubois (foot/out indefinitely)
Notes: The Mavericks will stick with Chandler as their starting center in a surprise move, greatly diminishing Haywood's Fantasy appeal. Chandler remains a No. 3 center in most leagues, but he is a good source for boards and blocks in category play. ... The Mavericks are one of just two teams to play only two games in Week 2, so you will have to weigh your options in cumulative formats. However, two games against a poor defensive team in Denver could bode well for fringe Mavs this week if you are in an average-based league.

Denver Nuggets
Schedule: DAL, LAC, @DAL
Good Plays: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Nene, Al Harrington
Bad Plays: J.R. Smith, Ty Lawson
Tough Call: Arron Afflalo
Injury Report: Chris Andersen (knee/December), Kenyon Martin (knee/January)
Notes: Afflalo carried over the momentum from a strong preseason with a strong start to the regular season and appears to be favored over Smith at the moment. Afflalo is one of the most-added players in CBSSports.com leagues and is somebody you can consider plugging in as a No. 4 guard option in deeper leagues as long as he continues to see 30-plus minutes per game. He is an excellent source for 3-point help as well. Smith shouldn't be discarded yet, but he should be reserved. ... Do nor read too much into Anthony announcing that he will not be signing an extension with the Nuggets. That should shock nobody. As long as he is with Denver, he will continue to put up numbers.

Detroit Pistons
Schedule: MEM, UTA, @DET
Good Plays: Rodney Stuckey
Bad Plays: Will Bynum, Austin Daye, Charlie Villanueva, Tracy McGrady, Greg Monroe
Tough Call: Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace
Injury Report: Jonas Jerebko (Achilles'/February)
Notes: Gordon does not look like he will be returning to his 20-ppg scoring ways any time soon. He is looking at a limited bench role -- seeing around 25 minutes per night -- and we feel there are many stronger plays out there. ... Ben Wallace remains a potential category-based league option, but it is too early to be chasing boards and blocks in Rotisserie leauges.

Golden State Warriors
Schedule: MEM, UTA, @DET
Good Plays: Stephen Curry, David Lee, Monta Ellis
Bad Plays: Reggie Williams
Tough Call: Andris Biedrins, Dorrell Wright
Injury Report: Stephen Curry (ankle/day-to-day)
Notes: Curry has had a tough time with his ankle in the early going, twisting it again in the opener against Houston. He will play on, however, and remains a must-start as long as he does not suffer any setbacks. ... The Warriors look to be as run-and-gun on offense as ever with new coach Keith Smart, but he looks committed to his starting five seeing heavy playing time. ... Wright is looking at significant playing time ahead of him for really the first time in his career. If Golden State is as aggressive offensively as they have shown early on, that could turn Wright into a reliable Fantasy asset. He is worth a start in deeper formats. ... Biedrins looks healthy and capable of a return to his 10-and-10 production.

Houston Rockets
Schedule: NO, @SA, MIN
Good Plays: Aaron Brooks, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola
Bad Plays: Chuck Hayes, Courtney Lee, Brad Miller, Shane Battier, Chase Buddinger, Kyle Lowry
Tough Call: Yao Ming
Injury Report: Kyle Lowry (back/day to day)
Notes: No back-to-back games for Yao, which means he will play just two games in Week 2, likely against the Hornets and Spurs. Avoid him in cumulative leagues. ... Hayes is seeing a boost whenever Yao sits, but it is not enough to consider activating him yet. ... Scola will not be affected by the return of Yao as much as initially feared. He remains a strong play in all leagues.

Indiana Pacers
Schedule: @PHI, MIL
Good Plays: Danny Granger
Bad Plays: Mike Dunleavy, Josh McRoberts, Tyler Hansbrough, T.J. Ford, Brandon Rush, Dahntay Jones
Tough Call: Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Weigh your options in cumulative leagues due to the two-game slate, but Granger, Hibbert and even Collison should do enough to consider keeping active if you can't find suitable alternatives. ... McRoberts is worth adding where available, but should be reserved in cumulative leagues this week due to the reduced schedule. ... Keep an eye on Dunleavy in deeper leagues. He is showing signs of a potential resurgence early and is seeing plenty of minutes to contribute.

L.A. Clippers
Schedule: SA, OKC, @DEN, @UTA
Good Plays: Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon
Bad Plays: Rasual Butler, Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes, Al-Farouq Aminu
Tough Call: None
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: The Clippers have started off the season with a very tight rotation with only Rasual Butler and Randy Foye seeing significant minutes off the bench. DeAndre Jordan could begin to see more playing time, but not enough to matter in Fantasy. ... We like what Butler can offer as a 3-point shooter, but matchups against good defensive teams in the Spurs and Thunder as well as a decent defensive team in Utah should limit his chances to contribute this week.

L.A. Lakers
Schedule: MEM, @SAC, TOR, POR
Good Plays: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom
Bad Plays: Derek Fisher, Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Shannon Brown
Tough Call: Ron Artest
Injury Report: Andrew Bynum (knee/late November)
Notes: This should be a high-scoring week for the Lakers. They will play three very poor defensive teams to begin the week and should be in triple digits all week. If Artest will ever see an offensive boost, it will be during weeks like this, especially while Bynum remains sidelined. Give him a shot this week, especially in category leagues where his peripheral numbers remains strong.

Memphis Grizzlies
Schedule: @LAL, @GS, @PHO, @SAC
Good Plays: Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Mike Conley
Bad Plays: Hasheem Thabeet, Xavier Henry
Tough Call: Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Darrell Arthur
Injury Report: Marc Gasol (ankle/day-to-day), Zach Randolph (back/day-to-day), Greivis Vasquez (ankle/day-to-day)
Notes: Fantasy owners will have to monitor the status of Gasol and Randolph on a daily basis, though it sounds like Gasol may be a game-time decision on Tuesday for the team's game against the Lakers. You will have to take a leap of faith, but his potential matchups this week make both players worth the gamble. The Warriors, Suns and Kings rank among the worst defensive teams in the NBA. ... In the absence of Gasol and Randolph, Arthur could shine. However, we recommend him more as a daily-league option with the status of the two injured players making Arthur's status for the upcoming week tentative.

Miami Heat
Schedule: MIN, @NO, NJ
Good Plays: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh
Bad Plays: Carlos Arroyo, Mario Chalmers, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Joel Anthony, Jerry Stackhouse,
Tough Call: Udonis Haslem, James Jones
Injury Report: Mike Miller (thumb, ankle/January)
Notes: James Jones has emerged as a prominent threat from beyond the arc for the Heat, filling the role the team originally planned for Mike Miller. He has some appeal in category leagues for help in that area, but will be too erratic to trust in most standard leagues. ... Arroyo has been highly unproductive despite starting at the point.

Milwaukee Bucks
Schedule: POR, @BOS, @IND, NO
Good Plays: Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut
Bad Plays: Ersan Ilyasova, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Tough Call: John Salmons, Drew Gooden, Corey Maggette, Carlos Delfino
Injury Report: Michael Redd (knee/February)
Notes: Salmons looks a bit off and may not be fully recovered from a knee issue he was dealing with coming into the season. It is not time to panic by any means, but he is a candidate to be reserved if he does not get going over the weekend. ... The Bucks have a logjam at the small forward spot with Delfino and Maggette, but both players have been able to co-exist nicely in the early going. That may or may not last, though, so consider each just low-end starters in Fantasy. ... Gooden appears to be a very big part of the team's front court plans in the early going and could average a double-double in Week 2 if he continues to see 30-plus minutes per game and around 10-13 shots per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves
Schedule: @MIA, @ORL, ATL, @HOU
Good Plays: Kevin Love, Michael Beasley
Bad Plays: Anthony Tolliver
Tough Call: Corey Brewer, Luke Ridnour, Darko Milicic
Injury Report: Jonny Flynn (hip/mid-November), Martell Webster (back/late November)
Notes: Love and coach Kurt Rambis do not appear to be on the same page after he was limited to just 24 minutes in the opener and was benched for much of the second half. Rambis is the new Don Nelson when it comes to erratic player rotations, but Love is going to put up numbers regardless of the scenario. Even in just 24 minutes in Wednesday's opener, he dropped a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. Continue to start him even through these speed bumps. ... Love's loss has been Tolliver's gain early on, but this situation will likely be very inconsistent. We recommend adding Tolliver, but he should only be active in the deepest of leagues for Week 2 considering tough front court matchups against the likes of Dwight Howard, Al Horford and Yao Ming. ... With Flynn out another week, Ridnour is one player whose playing time is not likely to fluctuate. Fantasy owners looking for a low-end play at guard can do worse.

New Jersey Nets
Schedule: CHA, @ORL, @MIA
Good Plays: Brook Lopez, Devin Harris
Bad Plays: Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, Kris Humphries
Tough Call: Troy Murphy, Terrence Williams, Anthony Morrow, Derrick Favors
Injury Report: Troy Murphy, (back, groin/day-to-day)
Notes: The Nets are going to be tested offensively with three games against top defensive teams. We expect low scoring outputs with little trickle-down effect to players like Williams, Morrow and Favors. Despite a decent first week for the trio, avoid activating them in Week 2. There will be better weeks ahead. ... Murphy could miss the beginning of Week 2 and is likely too risky to start barring a significant improvement over the weekend. He should be back in your lineups for Week 3, but you should plan on healthy alternatives for Week 2.

New Orleans Hornets
Schedule: @HOU, MIA, @MIL
Good Plays: Chris Paul, David West, Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor
Bad Plays: Marcus Thornton, Peja Stojakovic
Tough Call: Marco Belinelli
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: Belinelli emerged in the preseason as a possible sleeper candidate and has been able to translate that success over into the regular season. He has taken a firm grip over the shooting guard role alongside Paul and has pushed Thornton out of the picture completely. An excellent 3-point shooter, he is worthy of an addition in any format and is a decent low-end starter for Week 2 considering how poorly the Rockets and Bucks defend the perimeter.

New York Knicks
Schedule: ORL, @CHI, WAS, PHI
Good Plays: Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari
Bad Plays: Toney Douglas, Timofey Mozgov, Ronny Turiaf
Tough Call: Wilson Chandler, Landry Fields
Injury Report: Ronny Turiaf (back/day-to-day), Anthony Randolph (ankle/mid-November), Kelenna Azubuike (knee/out indefinitely)
Notes: Mozgov, who hurt his hip the day before the start of the regular season, does not appear to be 100 percent yet and it may take him a while to get used to the NBA game. There is upside here, so stash him where possible, but he should not be active in any format. ... Chandler took well to coming off the bench behind rookie Landry Fields and is going to be featured for double-digit shot attempts whether he is a starter or not. He will also continue to see 30-plus minutes per game. Fantasy owners who may have benched him last week after finding out he was not going to start should get him back in there with favorable matchups against the Wizards and Sixers ahead. ... As for Fields, he has some potential, but is merely a low-end flier for now. We recommend stashing him as a reserve in deeper leagues in the hopes of significant playing time in D'Antoni's system can lead to numbers down the road. He has upside as a 3-point shooter for category leagues.

Oklahoma City Thunder
Schedule: @LAC, @POR, BOS
Good Plays: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green
Bad Plays: Nenad Krstic, Cole Aldrich, Thabo Sefolosha
Tough Call: James Harden, Serge Ibaka
Injury Report: Nick Collison (knee/mid-November)
Notes: The Thunder have not gotten much out of their shooting guard spot in the early going. Harden has the upside, but should not be activated until he can get something going and certainly not in a three-game week with two games against tough defensive teams like the Trail Blazers and Celtics. ... With Collison banged up and Krstic not producing much, Ibaka looks like a solid sleeper option for deep leagues as a player who can get you just under 10 points and 10 boards with a block per game.

Orlando Magic
Schedule: @NY, MIN, NJ, @CHA
Good Plays: Dwight Howard
Bad Plays: Brandon Bass, Chris Duhon, J.J. Redick, Quentin Richardson
Tough Call: Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, Jameer Nelson
Injury Report: No significant injuries
Notes: We love the matchups Orlando will face against three poor defensive teams to begin the week before wrapping things up with a Bobcats team that can hold the Magic below 100 points. Overall, this should be a productive week for the likes of Carter, Lewis and Nelson. ... Despite an attempt to play Lewis at his more comfortable small forward spot, he has been playing power forward again. The results have been decent so far and he remains one of the better sources in the league for 3-point shooting. ... Richardson has the starting job at small forward, but he is not going to be asked to do much offensively. There is some potential for him to contribute decent numbers in boards and assists with some low-end scoring, but not on a very consistent basis. ... Howard still can't shoot free throws very well, but he does a great job of making up for it everywhere else and has even kept his turnover rate to a reasonable level.

Philadelphia 76ers
Schedule: @WAS, IND, CLE, @NY
Good Plays: Andre Iguodala
Bad Plays: Spencer Hawes, Marreese Speights, Andres Nocioni
Tough Call: Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Elton Brand, Evan Turner
Injury Report: No significant injuries.
Notes: On paper, the Sixers have one of the best matchup weeks in the league in terms of playing opponents who allow high-volume numbers. Of their four opponents, only the Cavaliers allowed fewer than 100 points per game last season and the Cavs figure to be a lot less stingy on defense this season. Start your fringe Sixers this week where possible as their overall numbers figure to see some inflation this week.

Phoenix Suns
Schedule: SA, MEM, @ATL
Good Plays: Steve Nash, Jason Richardson
Bad Plays: Grant Hill, Josh Childress, Goran Dragic, Jared Dudley
Tough Call: Hakim Warrick, Hedo Turkoglu, Channing Frye, Robin Lopez
Injury Report: No significant injuries
Notes: Warrick seems to be gaining a grasp of the power forward role left behind by Amar'e Stoudemire and has played with high energy and offensive aggression. He has loads of talent, but consistency has been an issue for him. Given consistent minutes in Phoenix, we could be looking at a potential breakout in the making. For now, treat him as a low-end starter and a stashee with upside on your bench. ... Turkoglu is not playing heavy minutes yet, but has proven to be a significant weapon from beyond the arc. Don't expect the Turkoglu from his Orlando days, but he could be much more productive this season than he was last year in Toronto. He is a good target in category leagues. ... The Suns will likely have to play big against big teams in the Spurs, Grizzlies and Hawks this upcoming week, likely meaning more minutes for Lopez over Frye. Neither center inspires much confidence just yet.

Portland Trail Blazers
Schedule: @CHI, @MIL, OKC, TOR, @LAL
Good Plays: Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller, Marcus Camby, Nicolas Batum
Bad Plays: None.
Tough Call: Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez
Injury Report: Joel Przybilla (knee/out indefinitely), Greg Oden (knee/December)
Notes: Five games. Count them. It will only happen one other time this season, so Fantasy owners should look to make the most of the heavy schedule where possible. Even low-end specialty players like Fernandez (3-pointers) and Matthews can be considered in deeper leagues, though we would stay away from those two due to their erratic playing time. ... Batum has been a revelation in the first week of the season, scoring and rebounding while displaying an excellent outside shot. He is a well-rounded contributor and a sleeper for a big week in cumulative leagues given the padded schedule.

Sacramento Kings
Schedule: TOR, LAL, MEM
Good Plays: Tyreke Evans, Carl Landry
Bad Plays: Samuel Dalembert, Omri Casspi, Donte Greene
Tough Call: DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Beno Udrih
Injury Report: Samuel Dalembert (hip/day-to-day)
Notes: Dalembert is expected to return over the weekend, but will likely have some catching up to do before he becomes useful enough to use in Fantasy. He has not played as much as a preseason game with his new team. ... Cousins may be affected by the return of Dalembert in Week 2, but we expect him to see enough playing time to remain a viable No. 2 center. ... Thompson seems to be looking at just 20-25 minutes per game in the early going and the return of Dalembert will not help matters. Despite having 15-and-10 upside, he is not currently in a situation to contribute consistently and should be avoided. ... Garcia showed some signs of a resurgence in Wednesday's opener, but that came with Evans serving a suspension. While Evans and Udrih are healthy, we expect Garcia to lose touches.

San Antonio Spurs
Schedule: @LAC, @PHO, HOU
Good Plays: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
Bad Plays: George Hill, Richard Jefferson Tiago Splitter
Tough Call: DeJuan Blair
Injury Report: Tiago Splitter (calf/day-to-day)
Notes: No back-to-back games for the Spurs, so Duncan should be a full go. ... Splitter is expected back for Monday's game against the Clippers, but did not play at all in the preseason and will likely be behind in conditioning. DeJuan Blair should remain uninhibited for now, but beware of tough matchups against the likes of stellar defensive big men like Chris Kaman, Robin Lopez and Yao Ming. He should be reserved outside of deeper leagues for now.

Toronto Raptors
Schedule: @SAC, @UTA, @LAL, @POR
Good Plays: Andrea Bargnani
Bad Plays: Jarrett Jack, Jose Calderon, Leandro Barbosa, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozan
Tough Call: Reggie Evans, Linas Kleiza
Injury Report: No significant injuries
Notes: Evans is being used as the primary power forward, putting Johnson's potential Fantasy appeal on hold for now. Evans has offensive upside, but can be highly productive on the boards. ... Kleiza could be looking at double-digit shot attempts on a regular basis and is a sleeper for cheap double-digit scoring. We don't recommend him as anything more than a potential stopgap just yet. ... Jack appears to have the reins at the point for now over Calderon. He is the better Fantasy option at the moment and is worthy of starting as a No. 4 guard in deeper standard leagues.

Utah Jazz
Schedule: TOR, @GS, LAC
Good Plays: Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap
Bad Plays: Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell, Earl Watson, Gordon Hayward
Tough Call: Andrei Kirilenko
Injury Report: Mehmet Okur (Achilles'/out indefinitely)
Notes: It might take Jefferson a little while to get used to the pick-and-roll style of play in Utah, but he appeared much more comfortable in the team's second game than in the first and looks to be settling in. He's a must-start. ... Okur is progressing slowly and seems unlikely to play in Week 2 having not been able to get back to practice. ... A slow start for Kirilenko suggests Fantasy owners should keep him out of lineups for now. He'll be of use (especially in category leagues) at some point.

Washington Wizards
Schedule: PHI, @NY, CLE
Good Plays: Andray Blatche
Bad Plays: Kirk Hinrich, JaVale McGee, Yi Jianlian, Al Thornton, Josh Howard
Tough Call: John Wall, Gilbert Arenas
Injury Report: Gilbert Arenas (groin/day-to-day), Josh Howard (knee/mid-November)
Notes: Arenas will be an injury risk for Week 2, though he is expected to play. However, given his apparent lack of motivation coming off last season's missteps, he is a player we recommend reserving until he can prove not only healthy but also productive alongside Wall -- a player he has admitted an intent to defer to this season. ... Wall has looked a bit anxious in his first NBA regular season action, but the talent is clear. He may struggle initially to score at the level we expect him to, but is already a great source for assists and a good play in most formats.

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