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          Fantasy mailbag: Paul George has 'sky high' potential

          Paul George is averaging 18.6 points per game thus far for the Pacers. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
          • Tom Carpenter, ESPN Staff WriterNov 5, 2015, 12:50 PM ET
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              Tom Carpenter is a fantasy basketball analyst.
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          We are just over a week into the 2015-16 fantasy hoops campaign -- it feels good doesn't it? Even if your teams are dead last, your studs are slumping and your sleepers are pulling a Rip Van Winkle, you can still pop on the tube each night and see players balling and flip through actual box scores on your phone.

          Of course, with game action and stat lines come questions about how to handle your fantasy rosters. Whether it's a potential trade or a waiver-wire claim you are mulling, the short- or long-term expectations for a specific player or anything else that is on your mind when it comes to fantasy hoops, I'll help you out each Thursday with my Twitter mailbag Q&A.

          If you have a question, tweet me @AtomicHarpua or with #FBAMailbag before Thursday morning each week, and I'll cull some of the best ones to answer here.

          Sky high for the long term this season. Consider that he still is getting acclimated to playing in a new offensive system and spending time at power forward -- as well as simply getting back into the groove after taking last season off -- yet he is averaging 18.6 PPG, 1.8 3-PPG, 4.6 APG, 8.4 RPG and 1.8 SPG. The career 42.6 FG% player is averaging 35.9 FG% after five games, so there clearly is room for improvement in his fantasy game once he gets settled in on all fronts. Lock him in as a top 10-to-15 player with top-five upside.

          Not at all, largely because CP3 is 30 years old and has played more than 70 games just once (82 games last season) in his past four seasons. To that point, he missed the end of Wednesday's loss to the Warriors after tweaking his right groin, so you may not be able to deal him until he proves he can get back on the floor. As far as the value of CP3 and Drummond in points leagues, you'll want to make sure your scoring system doesn't lean too heavily toward point guards over big men (e.g., assists/steals weighted far more heavily than boards/block), but generally speaking, points leagues favor volume players and Drummond is going to be right up there with the best of them in terms of volume and production this season. Plus, he has missed just one game over the past two seasons.

          I'll give you a couple.

          For the short term, there is nothing wrong with riding the Houston Rockets' Marcus Thornton (10.7 percent ownership) if you need scoring and 3s. He has proved throughout his career that when given volume minutes and shots he can make noise in both categories. With Terrence Jones sidelined due to a lacerated eyelid, Thornton has started the past three games and is averaging 17.0 PPG, 3.0 3-PPG, 2.0 APG and 4.0 RPG. His role and production will recede once Jones is back, but you can ride him for now. And considering Jones' propensity for getting hurt, Thornton should have more opportunities to make noise later in the season.

          A longer-term option is Utah Jazz guard Alec Burks (39.3 percent ownership), who entered last season as a breakout candidate last season before a shoulder injury ended his season after 27 games. Working as a reserve early this season, he has averaged 16.0 points and 4.5 rebounds over four games. He hasn't done much else (0.8 3-PPG, 0.8 APG), which is why he remains available in most leagues, but there is a good chance that his role and production in 3s and dimes will expand as the season progresses. He shot 38.2 percent from beyond the arc and averaged 3.0 APG last season. Look for him to take more 3s and possibly pick up some minutes at the point, where the Jazz still are trying to find someone to lead the way.

          See above for the waiver wire. As for a trade targets, I'm not sure how under the radar a player like Danny Green is, but he is on the short list of players to target right now. Early in the season you want to take advantage of impatient owners who are dealing with a struggling player who you believe in. It would be hard for any owner to not be somewhat impatient with a player like Green, who is averaging 6.4 PPG, 1.0 3-PPG, while shooting 29.3 FG% and 20.0 3-PPG. However, a savvy owner will recognize that this is just a short-term slump for a player whose career shooting averages are: 43.7 FG% and 41.7 3-FG%. His ability to drop 3s, and chip in steals and blocks (2.4 3-PPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 BPG last season) makes him an often underrated fantasy asset and one worth targeting on the cheap while he is slumping.

          It should cost a lot more than that to secure Lillard. If you have a sucker in your league willing to fall for that one, go get him now! As I always say, the key question you should ask yourself when making a trade is whether you are getting the best player in the deal. Barring specific needs or circumstances, nine times out of 10, if you will end up with the best player in a deal you should pull the trigger.

          As noted above, I'm intrigued by Burks this season. Smart also has potential, but we will have to scale back expectations for him in the short term while he deals with a sprained toe. Regardless, there is just too much upside in Holiday to drop him. In fact, I've recommended targeting him on the cheap. This is a player who has the potential to be in the top 40 during the second half of the season, if -- yes, it's a very big if -- he can stay healthy and have his minutes restriction lifted. He is the type of player who could push your roster over the top when it matters in March and April, so just be patient and keep your fingers crossed.

          I'm fine dumping Noah in 10-teamers, but it can get a bit more complicated in 12-team and two-center leagues. His ability to chip in assists helps keep his fantasy value afloat, but I'm more intrigued with young upside players at this stage of the year than an aging, injury-prone backup like Noah. Willie Cauley-Stein, Meyers Leonard, Mason Plumlee, Frank Kaminsky and even Myles Turner fit the profile and are available in many leagues. They are younger and have a more likely avenue to impact minutes than Noah.