With nearly two full months of NBA action in the books, some new studs are establishing themselves as some of the league’s elite, upper-echelon fantasy performers.  In addition, there are a few other players that have suddenly seen their value spike, and may be worth a waiver wire claim…

Stock Up:

Amar’e (And His Mates) – New York Knicks:
Amar’e Stoudemire: A legitimate MVP candidate, Amar’e has been a beast all season long for the Knicks – leading a resurgent Knicks squad back into playoff contention.  We could pick any number of different stats to show off STAT’s dominance, but I’ll just highlight his December averages (9 games): 31.7 PPG (55% FG percentage), 10.9 rpg, 2.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 2.2 blocks.  If you were able to land Amar’e in the second round of your draft, you know just how much of a monster Stoudemire has been since Day One in New York.
     
Raymond Felton: While Amar’e gets most of the hype, he isn’t the only Knickerbocker posting some jaw-dropping numbers this year. Over the last month of the NBA season (16 games), Felton is averaging 10.3 assists per game.  During that time frame, only Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash have averaged more assists.  Yes, Felton is averaging more dimes than CP3, Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook over the last 30 days… In addition, Raymond’s other numbers certainly aren’t too shabby.  During this current stretch, Felton is also averaging 20.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 threes.  Incredible.
 
Wilson Chandler: In the 13 games Chandler has started for the Knicks this season at PF Wilson is averaging a robust 19.4 PPG, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks – while shooting over 49% from the floor, 83% from the stripe and 40.7% from behind the arc.  Ill Will has been one of the biggest draft-day values of the 2010-2011 season thus far…

Kevin Love – Minnesota Timberwolves:  Fact: The last time Love played a basketball game and did NOT post a double-double was November 19th.  Yup, that’s 15 straight point/rebound double-doubles for the T-Wolves’ top gun.  Heading into Monday night’s action, over a 30-day stretch, Love’s averages were downright scary to the tune of: 24.6 PPG, 17.6 boards, and 1.9 threes while shooting nearly 50% from the field and 88% from the free-throw line.  Over this month, Love has been the number one ranked player in nine-category leagues (edging out both Dirk Nowitzki and Amar’e).

Blake Griffin – Los Angeles Clippers: Just slightly ahead of Love in the consecutive double-double race, BG has run off 16 straight DD’s…  Over that 16-game spurt, Griffin is averaging a Love-ly 24.2 points and 13.6 rebounds.  The only significant flaw in Blake’s overall fantasy game is his sub-60% free-throw shooting.

Most of us are well aware of the huge numbers the aforementioned stars have been posting of late (although it’s still fun to examine just how well they these high picks have been playing); however, there are also quite a few lesser-know talents that have seen their stock soar over the last few weeks.  These guys may still be floating around the waiver-wire; in which case they should be quickly scooped up.

Kirk Hinrich – Washington Wizards:  With Gilbert Arenas no longer residing in the nation’s capitol, Hinrich is in line for a huge increase in playing time and production.  On Saturday versus the HEAT, Captain Kirk played all but six seconds and authored a 13/12/6 line.  Then, on Monday night, Hinrich was at it again – he played only 30 minutes in the blowout victory, but posted another double-double, with 18 points, 11 dimes and 6 boards.   

Nick Young – Washington Wizards: Young is another member of the Wiz that is currently flying off waiver wires across the land.  Nick has scored at least 17 points in five straight games – over that stretch he is averaging 22.2 PPG.     
 
O.J. Mayo – Memphis Grizzlies:  Had I compiled this list a week ago, I would have surely included Mayo on the "stock down" side of the ledger.  After he was banished to the bench in late November, I got plenty of e-mails and tweets from antsy owners on the verge of dropping him.  I tried to preach patience, and it appears it may have paid off.  Over a four-game stretch earlier this month, O.J. had just 18 points combined in those four contests.  However, Mayo has turned it around a bit of late.  He has scored in double-figures in four of the Grizzlies last five games – highlighted by a 27-point (5 threes) explosion on Saturday night against the Spurs.  Mayo was starting that night due to the Rudy Gay suspension, but O.J. may have played his way out of the doghouse nonetheless.  Also, the Grizz will likely be looking to shop Mayo at the deadline, so they may attempt to showcase him some more in the coming months…

{AUTHOR_BOX}Mike Miller – Miami HEAT: Miller only played a few minutes in his season debut on Monday night, but the important news is that he played.  Snatch him off your waiver wire if he is still available – he’ll hit a ton of three-balls for you over the season’s second half. 

Marcin Gortat – Phoenix Suns: The Polish Hammer goes from backing up the NBA’s best center in Orlando, to a fantasy wonderland in Phoenix, with a far less imposing presence in the paint. It remains to be seen exactly how Suns coach Alvin Gentry will divvy up the minutes down low between Gortat, Robin Lopez and Channing Frye, but Marcin is worth taking a flier on at this point.

Vince Carter – Phoenix Suns: The other member of the Magic headed to the Valley of the Sun, expect VC’s scoring numbers to increase a bit, as he will have less competition for shots, and will be playing in a far more up-tempo offense alongside one of the game’s greatest point guards (Steve Nash).   (Update – Word out of Carter’s camp is that VC is considering knee surgery, which would sideline him for up to a month.  Stay tuned to HOOPSWORLD for an update)

DeMarcus Cousins – Sacramento Kings: DMC, like many rookies, was maddeningly inconsistent early on during his first month of NBA action, but seems to have found his groove this holiday season.  Cousins has notched double-figures in seven of the Kings last eight contests.

Keyon Dooling – Milwaukee Bucks: With Brandon Jennings sidelined 4-6 weeks as he recovers from surgery to repair a fracture in his left foot Dooling will start and handle the primary PG duties in Milwaukee.  If you are desperate for point guard help, feel free to grab Dooling.  

Stock Down

John Wall – Washington Wizards: It was originally believed that Wall’s knee injury was just tendinitis, but unfortunately that is not the case.  It is now being listed as a bone bruise under his right kneecap.  Wall tells the Washington Post: "I had a feeling it wasn’t just tendinitis. I was like, ‘If it’s tendinitis, I would’ve played through it.’ Tendinitis is very painful, but I played through it summer league, I play through it now. I couldn’t do no squats or I couldn’t really run or I couldn’t cut, so I knew it had to be something more than that."  Wall said he failed in his attempts to run on Saturday. He added that he is looking into soon working with a personal trainer to help him overcome his ailments. The pain in his knee might not allow him to play this week. "Not right now. Not the way it’s feeling," Wall said. "It’s not really a timetable. "It might be day by day and it might end up being a week or two. I really don’t know right now."

Lamar Odom – Los Angeles Lakers: For those of you that drafted Odom back in October, be quite thankful for the nearly two months of stud-ly stats he posted for you; however, it is now time to sell high, before his value starts to plummet.  With Bynum back and paired up with Gasol, the minutes upfront will become a bit more difficult to come by in L.A.  Last season, Odom averaged fewer than 10 points and 9 rebounds in about 28 minutes of action per game when both Bynum and Gasol were in the lineup.      

Brandon Jennings – Milwaukee Bucks:  As noted above, the speedy PG will be out for a month-plus due to a broken foot.  Obviously owners will still want to hold onto him if at all possible…

J.J. Hickson – Cleveland Cavaliers:  J.J. hasn’t played more than 26 minutes in over a month.  The preseason expectations were hefty, but it appears they will go unfilled.  Feel free to cut bait… 

Jason Richardson – Orlando Magic:  Playing on Phoenix, for the NBA’s highest scoring team (108.4 PPG), J-Rich was attempting 15.6 shots (and nearly 6 threes) a night.  Expect both his shot attempts and scoring to dip in Orlando.  No player on the Magic currently attempts more than 13 shots per game – Dwight Howard is the team leader at 13.3 attempter per contest.  J-Rich will still score plenty of points and knock down plenty of three’s; but just don’t expect him to match his PHX numbers…