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Fantasy Basketball: MVPs and LVPs through two-thirds of your season

Believe it or not, the fantasy basketball regular season is two-thirds of the way done after this week. 14 weeks down and, in most formats, just six weeks to go until playoffs.

In many leagues, you'll already know where you stand. Some are lucky enough to still be fighting for a playoff spot (or unlucky enough to have failed to lock one up, depending on your general point of view in life). 

For those locked into a playoff spot or destined to finish in the cellar, however, there are a few key players that are likely at the heart of your success or failure.

The Most Valuable Players, so far

Isaiah Thomas - ADP 139, Rank 18, 20 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.0 BPG, 2.0 3FG, 44.4 FG%, 37.6 3FG%, 86.1 FT%
In most leagues, Thomas was a late-round flier, if he was selected at all. While he's been fantastic, he's still not getting his due respect - owners only start him 62 percent of the time. But they should be, because this is the real Thomas, a player who has always shown the ability to score and is finally getting consistent run since Greivis Vasquez was dealt to Toronto.

Trevor Ariza - ADP 139, Rank 31, 14.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 2.3 3FG, 44 FG%, 38.8 3FG%, 76 FT%
Ariza has always possessed two fantasy skills: 3-pointers and steals. This season, however, he's been able to do the former without hurting your percentages and accumulate the latter over more minutes. The 3-point stroke may not remain above-average all year but the playing time and five-category production certainly will.

Channing Frye - ADP N/A, Rank 38, 12.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 2.3 3FG, 45.5 FG%, 41.6 3FG%, 78.9 FT%
You'd be forgiven for having forgot about Frye entering drafts this year as he missed the entire 2012-13 season due to a scary heart issue. He's paid major dividends for players who jumped on the waiver wire quickly, however, contributing in every category. The Pau Gasol-to-Phoenix rumors are a bit scary for his playing time, but his per-minute production is safe, at least.

Reggie Jackson - ADP 136, Rank 83, 13.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 1.0 3FG, 44 FG%, 32.2 3FG%, 86.6 FT%
There are maybe a dozen players who should make this list ahead of Jackson, but his story provides a bit of a lesson for fantasy owners. Drafted as a short-term play with Russell Westbrook missing the first few weeks, Westbrook came back earlier than expected and Jackson was widely dropped. But Westbrook hit the shelf again, and Jackson's been a major player in his stead. It certainly makes dropping Jackson when Westbrook returns (reportedly later this month) a difficult decision.

The Least Valuable Players, so far (excluding major injuries)

Anthony Bennett - ADP 129, Rank 422, 2.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 0.2 3FG, 27.5 FG%, 17.6 3FG%, 58.8 FT%
No surprises here, as anyone who drafted Bennett anywhere is just as disappointed as the Cavaliers, who drafted him first overall. Owners should actually be thankful that Bennett hasn't gotten much playing time (11.2 minutes), because he'd be killer to the percentages in a larger role.

Steve Novak - ADP 135, Rank 319, 3.3 PPG, 1 RPG, 0.4 APG, 0.2 SPG, 0 BPG, 1.0 3FG, 35.4 FG%, 38.5 3FG%, 100 FT%
There's only one reason to have drafted Novak at all, and it's 3-pointers. And yes, Novak breaks the "excluding injuries" rule some because he missed time with a back issue, but he's also been a DNP-CD multiple times and is only averaging one triple an outing. He's been a total bust and appears to be low on the Toronto depth chart with the team now healthy.

Ersan Ilyasova - ADP 49, Rank 210, 10 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 0.7 3FG, 38.1 FG%, 29 3FG%, 81.5 FT%
Ilyasova may have missed 10 games but even if he'd played a full slate he'd rank high on this list. This just isn't the sweet-shooting power forward owners enjoyed the past two seasons and the Bucks paid handsomely in 2012. He's seven for his last 12 3-point attempts but that represents his only sustained stretch of effectiveness this year. The worst part is that he'll occasionally post a 20-point game to keep you from dropping him.

Dwight Howard - ADP 29, Rank 103, 18.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.7 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 0 3FG, 57.7 FG%, 40 3FG%, 53.3 FT%
It might be weird to see Howard here because the narrative suggests he's been good for the Rockets. He has, actually, and his numbers are very similar to his 2012-13 rates. The issue, however, is that he's no longer the league's most impressive shot-blocker, he racks up turnovers and is death to your free throw percentage because he shoots so many at a poor rate. The reality may actually be that the impressive stat line has fooled us for a long time - Howard ranked 107th and 86th in total value the past two seasons and only 28th, 37th and 27th during his three-year peak from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

[All ADP and Rank data courtesy Basketball Monster]

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