Each Monday throughout the fantasy basketball season, we go around the league and identify highly available players (owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues) that can help improve your team in certain statistical categories.
Here are some players to target this week, with their ESPN ownership listed:
Points
Norris Cole, PG, New Orleans Pelicans (25.2)
Tyreke Evans (knee) is out through the All-Star break, and the Pelicans are the only team in the league that play three games this week so Cole is a good one to target. Over the past five games -- all without Evans in the lineup -- Cole has averaged 15.4 points to go along with 5.4 assists, one steal and one 3-pointer.
Archie Goodwin, PG/SG, Phoenix Suns (31.7)
Goodwin will lose his starting job once Brandon Knight returns, but that won't happen until after the All-Star break so he's a good one to have in your lineup for the two games the Suns play this week. Goodwin has scored at least 14 points in each of the last three games and averaged 7.3 assists during that span.
Rebounds
Aaron Gordon, PF, Orlando Magic (39.4)
Tobias Harris is rumored to be on the trade block, and the emergence of Gordon is a big reason why. The bouncy second-year forward has three double-doubles in his last five games, and he pulled down at least 13 rebounds in all three of those games. Gordon is a poor shooter, though, and doesn't make a huge impact in any of the other categories.
Cody Zeller, PF/C, Charlotte Hornets (12.4)
In his first three games back on the court following a shoulder injury, Zeller has averaged eight rebounds in 27.6 minutes per contest. Not bad for someone who is available in nearly 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
Assists
Joe Johnson, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets (50)
It may seem crazy to think of Johnson as more of a passer than scorer, but his role has changed a bit at this late stage in his career. Johnson has averaged 6.4 assists over the last 15 days and dished out eight or more dimes three times during that span.
Jeremy Lin, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets (39.1)
Not only is he a capable distributor (4.8 APG over the last 15 days), but he is also a scorer who has settled into a perfect role in his first season in Charlotte. His ceiling rises considerably whenever Nicolas Batum or Kemba Walker are out of the lineup.
Steals
Marcus Smart, PG/SG, Boston Celtics (44.8)
Smart has averaged two steals over the last 10 games, which is impressive but only slightly higher than his season average of 1.7 SPG. A poor shooter and inconsistent scorer, this is clearly his best attribute as a fantasy contributor.
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF/PF, Portland Trail Blazers (46.8)
Portland is relying more heavily on Aminu these days, and he is rewarding fantasy owners with big contributions not only in terms of steals but also points and rebounds. He has averaged 11.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and two steals over the last five contests.
Blocks
Taj Gibson, PF/C, Chicago Bulls (43.4)
Gibson continues to be overlooked despite playing 35.4 minutes over the last five games and providing major contributions as a rim protector (1.8 blocks per game in that span), rebounder (8.6 RPG) and scorer (10.2 PPG).
Willie Cauley-Stein, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (22.7)
Cauley-Stein has two or more blocks in five of the last 10 games, even while seeing his minutes decline a bit over the last two weeks, and remains available in three-quarters of ESPN leagues. What's great about the rookie out of Kentucky is he also provides rebounding and shoots better than 60 percent from the field.
3-Pointers
Danny Green, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs (39.5)
Green stands to benefit from more playing time while Manu Ginobili is sidelined for the next month, and even if the rest of his numbers are underwhelming this season you can't overlook his ability to hit the long ball. Green made 2.8 3s per game in four games last week, and is trending north.
Isaiah Canaan, PG, Philadelphia 76ers (6.5)
Canaan was on this list last week, and he's on it again at only a slightly higher ownership (up from 5.1 percent last week). Why? Because he continues to tickle the twine from long range, averaging three 3-pointers in three games last week against Brooklyn, Washington and Atlanta. If you need 3s, he can help you and is available in most leagues.