Bewerbungen » Overton gave up all five runs in th

The Denver Nuggets?Nikola Jokic earned tons of hype this offseason as a potential breakout candidate. In a near-upset against the United States in the Olympics this past August, Jokic dazzled and dominated en route to 25 points on 11-for-15 shooting. That marquee performance helped push his stock to new heights.A lofty ranking and Jokics inclusion on sleeper lists throughout the industry propelled an average draft position of 49th overall in ESPN drafts this fall. The results so far this season, however, have been disappointing. Jokic is averaging just 23 minutes per game -- only a slight bump from his rookie rate of 21.7 minutes, and well shy of the exposure we expected and projected this season.Its still early, so we should hold firm to shares of Jokic. The talent is still very real, even if the opportunity to capitalize has yet to materialize. There is a breakout brewing in Denver, though.It just happens to be with another member of the Nuggets frontcourt. Center Jusuf Nurkic?ranks eighth in the NBA in rebounding chances per game with 18.4 (chances are defined as being within 3.5 feet of ?an available board). This rich rate is higher than the likes of Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and DeMarcus Cousins.Tied for sixth in blocks and in the top 15 in rebounds per game, Nurkic is thriving thanks to 28.4 minutes per game, a sizable leap from the 17.1 minutes he averaged last season for the Nuggets. Nurkic is still available in nearly a quarter of ESPN leagues as a free agent and can likely still be acquired at a relatively inexpensive price in trade talks. With a high floor developing based on steady minutes and rewarding rebounding opportunities, and playing for a team that ranks fifth in the league in pace (104.1 possessions per 48 minutes), Nurkic appears to be the breakout asset we envisioned Jokic would become.Since Nurkic is likely rostered in most competitive fantasy leagues by this point, Ill also endorse the Suns Tyson Chandler as another potential elite rebounding resource. Owned in just shy of 25 percent of ESPN leagues as of Friday afternoon, Chandler ranks third in the NBA in rebounds per game. Hes also third in the league with 22.2 rebounding chances per game. The Suns are even faster than the Nuggets, as they rank third in the league in pace (104.6), so we can expect this rich opportunity rate on the glass to continue for the under-the-radar veteran.Access the downloadable forecaster chart PDF hereMatchup ratings are based on a scale from 1 (poor matchup) to 10 (excellent matchup). These are calculated using a formula that evaluates the teams year-to-date and past 10 games statistics, their opponents numbers in those categories and their performance in home/road games depending on where the game is to be played. The column to the left lists the teams total number of games scheduled, as well as home games, and lists the overall rating from 1-10 for that teams weekly schedule.Ratings roundupNot that they need much help to produce prolific box scores, but the Warriors are in a great position for the coming week with three of their four games at home and with all of their opponents proving friendly in regards to pace and defensive rating. We have to like the Trail Blazers schedule, as well, as they play a series of up-tempo Western foes. The Pacers have struggled a bit with their new-look roster and scheme, although its inviting to consider two matchups with the 76ers on the week.As for tougher setups during the upcoming slate, shares of the Mavericks and Bucks are troubling in weekly formats given they play just two games apiece. If you have heavy shares of either team, it makes sense to supplement them with some of the teams with full weekend schedules, such as the Suns, Timberwolves and Nuggets.Driving SuccessI like to look at drives per game as an indicator of players with a rewarding and ball-dominant role. We see superstars like Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard ranked first and second in drives per game, for example. A quick look at the early-season drive rates has the name?Dion Waiters?jumping out at us. The Heat guard ranks tenth in the league in drives per game.With nearly 36 minutes per game and freedom to crash the lane in the wake of?Dwyane Wades departure, Waiters has become a helpful utility player for fantasy purposes so far this season. Even if efficiency escapes his game -- hes shooting only 36.5 percent from the field --13 field goals per game and 10.8 drives helps fuel his fantasy value.I ?also like the Mavericks J.J. Barea, ranked fifth in the league and just behind the Rockets James Harden, with 12 drives per game. As the leader of the Mavericks second unit and a key complementary scoring option, Barea is playing more than 30 minutes per game and can help in steals, assists and 3-pointers this season.Elite EfficiencyThe Warriors Kevin Durant has always proven to be productive on a per-touch basis. This season, Durant ranks fourth in the league with .533 points per touch. Its encouraging to see Minnesotas Andrew Wiggins become a per-touch peer of Durants, as hes leading the league with .568 points per touch. This efficiency has been achieved via the combination of his strong free throw rate -- Wiggins ranks 12th overall in total attempts from the stripe -- and some awesome post metrics. Wiggins is averaging a very big-man-like 1.57 points per touch in the post.Among other efficient starts to the season, the Sacramento Kings Rudy Gay ranks 11th with .431 points per touch. A recent roundtable of ESPN NBA Insiders praised Gays great start to the season. Tom Haberstroh noted that Gay has proven more active defensively (six blocks) than usual and getting to the line twice as often as he did last season.The Suns?TJ Warren?is also enjoying a proficient rate of .415 points per touch, good for 15th in the league. Warren is among the most surprising early breakout candidates and is still available in more than 30 percent of ESPN leagues. Averaging 36 minutes and given rare offensive freedom for the up-tempo Suns, Warren could actually sustain his current pace for around 20 points per game this season.Touch TrendsThe 76ers Sergio Rodriguez is third in the NBA in frontcourt touches per game, behind only the Celtics Isaiah Thomas and Thunders Westbrook. As long as Jerryd Bayless remains sidelined, Rodriguez is a fine resource for dimes and 3-pointers.George Hill has been stellar for the Jazz so far since coming over in a trade this past summer. This success is in part buoyed by Hill averaging 70.2 frontcourt touches per game, 14th in the league and ahead of the likes of ball-dominant assets like LeBron James and Rajon Rondo.Terrell Owens Super Bowl Jersey .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Patrick Willis Super Bowl Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/jaquiski-tartt-jersey-sales.html . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. C. J. Beathard Super Bowl Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. George Kittle Super Bowl Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ryon Healys long shot left the Kansas City Royals a longshot to return to postseason play.Stephen Vogt drove in five runs, Healy hit a mammoth three-run homer and the Oakland Athletics routed Kansas City 14-5 on Thursday night.Oakland put a huge dent in the Royals diminishing playoff chances, sweeping a four-game road series at Kansas City for the first time. The As outscored the Royals 43-12, the largest Oakland run differential in a four-game series in franchise history.Vogt had a two-run double in a five-run third, walked with the bases loaded in the fourth and hit a two-run homer in the sixth. The five RBI matched a career high.Healy, who had three hits, homered in third with Khris Davis and Yonder Alonso on base. The ball traveled an estimated 480 feet, landing above the left-field fountains.Has he ever hit a ball further?I really dont think so, Healy said. It was a changeup. I saw it well. I kept my hands back and tried to drive the ball to the outfield to score those runs.Marcus Semien, who knocked in four runs and hit a three-run shot in the eighth for his 25th home run, could not believe the distance on Healys drive.Ive never seen a ball hit up there, Semien said.Healy went 9 for 17 (.529) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in the series.Id like to say I hit one out there in BP in 1992 (when he played for the Royals), but I didnt, Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. I never saw it land -- 480 feet, thats impressive.Joey Wendle had his first career four-hit game and scored three runs as the As banged out 16 hits.Rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (2-7), who was 0-4 with a 9.39 ERA in his previous seven starts, was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. He held the Royals to three hits over seven scoreless innings to pick up the victory, striking out six with no walks.Everything was down in the zone. I was locating really well, Mengden said. I got a lot of quick, early outs, weak contact, which is what we try to do. I went in every inning and tried to establish strike one, which has been one of my biggest I guess flaws since Ive been up here.Royals starter Edinson Volquez (10-11) faced 22 batters and nine scored in 3 1/3 innings. He aallowed nine runs on seven hits and four walks.ddddddddddddn his past four starts, Volquez has allowed 20 earned runs on 32 hits and nine walks in 18 1/3 innings for a 9.82 ERA.I was inconsistent, Volquez said. Ive been getting hit with all my pitches. I think my changeup always gets me out of trouble, but Im still getting hit with that pitch, so thats a bad sign for me.Chris Young, the third Royals pitcher, yielded the home run to Vogt and has given up 28 in 85 innings.Christian Colon hit a three-run homer in a five-run ninth as Kansas City avoided being shut out for the second straight game.The Royals have lost eight of their past nine home games.Its been tough, Colon said. Were not used to this.VARGAS TO STARTRoyals left-hander Jason Vargas, who has not pitched in the majors since July 21, 2015, and needed reconstructive elbow surgery, will start Saturday against the White Sox. Vargas will be on a 45-pitch limit over three innings. Kansas City manager Ned Yost said the goal is for Vargas to pitch 10-15 innings before the season ends. Vargas was 5-2 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts before the injury last year.OVERTON RETURNSThe As recalled LHP Dillon Overton from Triple-A Nashville and he will be used out of the bullpen. Overton gave up all five runs in the ninth.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez will undergo another shoulder surgery Tuesday and wont pitch this season. Dr. James Andrews will perform arthroscopic surgery. Alvarez was a 2014 All-Star with the Marlins, but made only four starts last season before needing shoulder surgery on July 28.Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain, who has appeared in only one September game because of a sore left wrist, probably wont return this season. Hes not making great progress, Yost said. Hes getting a little bit better, but were starting to run out of time.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Kendall Graveman, who is 9-4 with a 3.64 ERA in his past 19 starts, will pitch the series opener Friday at Texas.Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who is 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA since the start of August, will start Friday against the White Sox. ' ' '