By Cash Heilman Sports.ws Analyst

Here are some players that may be sleepers this year, guys flying under the radar that may be primed for big seasons or sizable increases in their fantasy numbers.

1. Lamar Odom – He's an emerging star going to LA for a bit of showtime. Running as Kobe's right hand man, his versatility should help him put up big numbers. And if Kobe goes to jail for giving it to that girl in the exit hole, Odom becomes the main man.

2. Kenyon Martin – It's just a hunch, but an improving Martin is going to an improving Nuggets team with a superstar in Anthony. Their high powered offense with give Martin plenty of opportunities.

3. Richard Jefferson – Opportunity knocks for Jefferson. With Martin leaving town, he now may be the nets go-to scorer. He has to step up his game, but theirs no reason to think his numbers won't rise dramatically.

4. Juwan Howard – Is the third option, but should find plenty of room to operate with the attention that Yao and T-Mac will draw. He could be the x-factor on a team that can contend in the West.

5. Mehmet Okur – He's always been a solid PPM guy, now he's got more money and an opportunity for more minutes. He's a talented player, and his numbers should rise.

6. Brent Barry – San Antonio got just what it needed with the sharpshooter Barry. With Duncan in the paint, Barry could put up some very good numbers from the perimeter.

7. Devin Harris – When rookies are given a chance to play in Dallas' high powered offense, they usually are successful (Josh Howard and Marquise Daniels). Harris may have a chance to run the show in Big D and that could mean solid numbers from the talented guard.

8. Ron Mercer – Never a big PPM guy, Mercer may have a chance to let his game flourish in the Nets offense with Kidd finding him on the break. Mercer's a definite risk, but my hunch is he'll finally show some offensive game.

9. Emanuel Ginobili – A fan favorite, Ginobili has the game to be a star. He's improving and he's on the best team in basketball. Those are good things for a player on the rise.

10. Grant Hill – Yes, he's attempting a comeback, and if it works, he puts up fantasy numbers with the best of them.


Here are some players who may be sleeping this year…or dead. Either way, their game is plummeting and only the worst owners should touch these players.

1. Etan Thomas – Are you kidding me? How is this guy worth so much money? He's just not that good, yet he had teams fighting over him. Take him if you want, but he's destined to flop.

2. Antoine Walker – Feel that breeze? That's Walker's career flying out the window.

3. Karl Malone – He's old. He's too old. Look at him. He's old.

4. Gary Payton – He's old, disgruntled, and not very good anymore.

5. Nick Van Exel – Career is free falling.

6. Tayshaun Prince – Yes, he's a clutch player who's improving, but unless you like the games where he plays 44 minutes and gets 9 fantasy points, don't take him.

7. Dikembe Mutombo – I think he's dead. Well, maybe just very, very old.

8. Kirk Hinrich – Rookie year was a fluke. With Ben Gordon in town, Hinrich won't put up the same numbers.

9. Shareef Abdur-Rahim – Once on the fast track to becoming one of the best forwards in the league, now he's getting passed around faster than Kobe's DNA. He's merely average.

10. Grant Hill – Take him if you want to play catch up all season and pin your hopes on the 5% chance he might play late in the season.