Rudy Gay, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Projected: 1 [LP: 1 | YTD: 9]
[24.5mpg, 8ppg, 4.8reb, 0.02ast, 0.85stl, 1.08blk, 0.46-3ptm, 34.1%fg, 66.7%ft, 1.46to]

First Pau Gasol gets hurt, then Eddie Jones. Now fellow rookie Kyle Lowry is out, which again can only increase Rudy’s playing time as he is starting at the SG position. Hot some nights, cold the next – the story of many rookies. But he possesses an all around game and enormous potential that cannot be overlooked. It’s hard to imagine him NOT outplaying Hakim Warrick any day now. A rise in his shooting percentages would vastly increase his value.

Brandon Roy, G, Portland Trailblazers
Projected: 2 [LP: 2 | YTD: 7]
[27.2mpg, 11.6ppg, 2.8reb, 3.4ast, 0.2stl, 0.4blk, 0-3ptm, 37.7%fg, 85.7%ft, 1.0 to]

Though Roy hasn’t played since the last rankings he stays put based on what I expect out of him once he returns. Only behind Rudy because he is hurt right now.

Jorge Garbajosa, FC, Toronto Raptors
Projected: 3 [LP: 6 | YTD: 2]
[25.2mpg, 7.3ppg, 5.5reb, 1.5ast, 1.31stl, 0.31blk, 0.54-3ptm, 42.1%fg, 63.2%ft, 1.08to]

Since being inserted into the starting lineup, Jorge has picked up all of his stats and been a consistent contributor game in and game out. Up 4pts and 3reb per game since the last edition!! So long as he is getting 20+ minutes a night he will contribute in every category enough to warrant time on your fantasy roster. Don’t knock him just because he is an Eric Bana lookalike.

Adam Morrison, F, Charlotte Bobcats
Projected: 4 [LP: 5 | YTD: 6]
[36.8mpg, 15.5ppg, 2.9reb, 1.9ast, 0.62stl, 0.23blk, 1.5-3ptm, 39.4%fg, 68%ft, 2.08to]

Ammo has been filling the basket on a regular basis and playing a lot of minutes for the worst scoring team in the NBA. However his PPG is a little misleading, especially when you look at his percentages. He also doesn’t contribute much in the other fantasy categories to warrant a higher ranking. The highest PPG doesn’t give you ROY in fantasy land like it does the NBA.

LaMarcus Aldridge, FC, Portland Trailblazers
Projected: 5 [LP: nr | YTD: 1]
[23.6mpg, 8.7ppg, 5reb, 0.6ast, 0.56stl, 0.78blk, 0-3ptm, 57.9%fg, 75%ft, 0.44 to]

Putting up solid and consistent numbers across the board from his first game to his last. Once Raef and Joel come back from injuries, his playing time could be cut. However he is better than both in the all around game, so they will have to prove they are worth more playing time than LA when they return to bump him.

Shelden Williams, F, Atlanta Hawks
Projected: 6 [LP: 9 | YTD: 8]
[23.5mpg, 6.6ppg, 7.1reb, 0.4ast, 0.45stl, 0.45blk, 0-3ptm, 50%fg, 84.2%ft, 1.91to]

His minutes are slowly climbing, and his production is following suit. His rebound-per-minute numbers are drool-worthy. But one has to wonder what his minutes will look like once Marvin comes back and Childress is fully healthy. Turnovers are still a concern.

Paul Millsap, F, Utah Jazz
Projected: 7 [LP: 11 | YTD: 4]
[16.9mpg, 7.1ppg, 4.9reb, 0.6ast, 0.57stl, 1blk, 0-3ptm, 53%fg, 74.4%ft, 1.0to]

There were questions about his playing time when AK47 returned from injury, however his minutes have been relatively consistent and his production has been up as well. Sure has exceeded all expectations as the 47th pick in the draft.

Andrea Bargnani, F, Toronto Raptors
Projected: 8 [LP: 12 | YTD: 13]
[14.1mpg, 6.4ppg, 2.2reb, 0.3ast, 0.23stl, 0.46blk, 0.46-3ptm, 39.5%fg, 77.3%ft, 0.62to]

Maybe Sam Mitchell was reading RealGM Toronto Raptors board to see that fans think Andrea deserved more playing time. Or maybe Bryan Colangelo made him nervous on the western roadtrip. Whatever it was, it worked. Bargnani went from playing under 10 minutes per contest to over 20 since the Denver game and has not disappointed. Being aggressive, smooth and out of foul trouble – this guy is a keeper. Improvement in FG% is needed.

Craig Smith, F, Minnesota Timberwolves
Projected: 9 [LP: nr | YTD: 5]
[18.9mpg, 8.8ppg, 5.7reb, 0.6ast, 0.83stl, 0.08blk, 0-3ptm, 53.2%fg, 70%ft, 1.0to]

Who? This guy wasn’t on anyone’s radar to begin the season, however he has been nothing but consistent as the Wolves’ best bench player this season. A rebound machine, he has even found the basket for his first double double recently. Picking up the slack that is Mike James perhaps? Or is that the next guy’s job?

Randy Foye, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
Projected: 10 [LP: 3 | YTD: 14]
[12.8mpg, 5.2ppg, 1.3reb, 1.2ast, 1.0stl, 0.08blk, 0.25-3ptm, 38.2%fg, 81%ft, 1.0to]

Mike James! Who? We think his mind might still be in the Bahamas. In the meantime, Foye has just come off of a great 4th quarter and looks to be due for some more playing time in the very near future. We keep saying it, but will it ever happen?

Jordan Farmar, G, LA Lakers
Projected: 11 [LP: 4 | YTD: 10]
[16.1mpg, 5.5ppg, 1.5reb, 2.2ast, 0.27stl, 0.18blk, 0.72-3ptm, 45.3%fg, 83.3%ft, 1.0to]

He continues to be steady in limited minutes. In my opinion he should be getting the minutes that Vujacic is getting, but Phil Jackson has never usually been kind to rookies. And with the Lakers winning and winning often, we don’t expect a jump in Farmar’s numbers yet.

Marcus Williams, G, New Jersey Nets
Projected: 12 [LP: 10 | YTD: 17]
[19.1mpg, 8.6ppg, 2.5reb, 2.7ast, 0.08stl, 0.08blk, 0.38-3ptm, 41.9%fg, 90.9%ft, 2.0to]

Another up and down rookie who shows a lot of promise one night, but follows it up with one full of turnovers. We are waiting for him to turn the corner. Kidd has also played more minutes than expected, cutting into Marcus’ value. With the Nets struggling, expect this trend to continue. If the Nets are in a comfortable playoff spot toward the end of the season however, Marcus will get more minutes as Kidd rests.

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OFF THE CHARTS

Rajon Rondo, G, Boston Celtics
[YTD: 20 | LP: 7]
[19.0mpg, 4.8ppg, 3.2reb, 2.8ast, 0.92stl, 0.08blk, 0-3ptm, 37.7%fg, 60%ft, 1.58to]

Doc hasn’t shown a lot of love for this rook, as his minutes have dropped, likely due to his poor percentages. A point guard who has yet to hit a 3 is also not very valuable. He has shown what he is capable of doing in preseason though, so we hope for the best.

Thabo Sefolosha, F, Chicago Bulls
[YTD: 16 | LP: 8]
[13.8mpg, 4.2ppg, 1.9reb, 0.9ast, 0.58stl, 0.25blk, 0.25-3ptm, 41.2%fg, 77.8%ft, 0.75to]

With the Bulls struggling, Skiles has limited the minutes of both rookies. He doesn’t have a history of rookie fanfare anyways, so the value isn’t there right now for Thabo.

_________________

Projected: Complete projection of the 2006-2007 NBA season
[YTD]: Current rookie ranking based on year-to-date stats
[LP]: The projection in the previous week's 'Dirty Dozen'

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Nick Obergan is a column writer for RotoFreak.com. He publishes 'The Dirty Dozen' bi-weekly. If you'd like to comment on the article, please chime in on the boards.