Fantasy BBall players to (try to) pick up

Are you like me? Are you, just a week into the NBA season, already feeling hopeless, wallowing in the lower half of your fantasy basketball league, with hobbled Chris Webber and injured Pau Gasol on your roster?

If you aren't, then no need to read this. But if you're struggling, if you want just a peep of motivation, here are 10 players - most of them underrated, at least for now - who you should try to steal from other teams in your league.

1. Zach Randolph, Portland - You better hurry on this one, because he is quickly being amped up as one of the most explosive scorers in the game. Especially considering he's on the Trailblazers, where, along with ROY candidate Brandon Roy, he's just about the only offensive option. Hurry, hurry.

2. Joe Johnson, Atlanta - Just like Randolph, he's on a crappy team (or at least they should be crappy soon - their winning record shouldn't last more than a few sunsets). And just like Randolph, he's just about the only legitimate scorer on the squad (see my bonus pick). Yeah, and he can flat out shoot as well as post up smaller guards. Pick him up.

3. Wally Szczerbiak, Boston - Sense a formula yet? Bad team, great scorer. Ok, if you're looking for rebounds and assists, don't look Wally's way. But if you need points, Wally is your man. He's averaging 26.8 ppg through four games, acting the Antoine Walker part alongside Paul Pierce. He won't keep the average that high, but I expect he'll average about as many points for the season as the number of games the Celtics win.

4. Shawn Marion, Phoenix - Dude simply does it all, especially with Amare playing like Sean Bradley. Nineteen points, 11 boards, two assists, two blocks, a steal a game. Plus, he hasn't even heated up from downtown yet (just 8-for-30). And he's got the best passer in the game dishing it to him.

5. Drew Gooden, Cleveland - Seems as if he's finally living up to the hype he brought with him from Kansas. A double-double guy almost every night now, especially with Zeke's statistics diminishing. Still not really talked about as one of the Eastern Conference's top PF's, so now's the time to make a bid for him.

6. Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers - Not close to being in the same class as the others listed, but he's shown glimpses of his potential (he scored a career-high 20 points the other night) and only having to battle Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown for playing time, well, he'll be on the court regardless if whether he struggles. For a guy averaging 11 points and seven boards, you should be able to get him for virtually nothing.

7. David West, NO/Oklahoma City - This guy is developing into one of the league's most consistent PF's. And playing in the small market of New Orleans and O.K. City, his talent still isn't known to everybody. Averaging 19 points and seven boards for the undefeated Hornets, and with Chris Paul dishing him the rock, he's sure to continue to post similar numbers.

8. Rafer Alston, Houston - Need assists from a little-known point guard, but also a few points... and a couple rebounds? Then Alston is your man. He's dishing out a modest six assists a game to T-Mac, Yao and others, and also scoring at a 12-ppg clip. Only concern here is that the Rockets aren't scoring a lot (95.4 ppg), but I expect that to go up if you know who (two of them) stay healthy. Alston is also averaging 1.6 steals a game.

9. Charlie Villanueva, Toronto - I can't help but say it: With Michael Redd and Mr. Villanueva, the Bucks - the Bucks! - are playoff contenders. Even with Mo Williams running the point. Villanueva, in just his second year, is developing into that second scorer the Bucks have so coveted. He's averaging over 16 points. Not only that, he's grabbing nearly 10 rebounds a game. And these numbers will only increase.

10. ROOKIE PICK: Brandon Roy, Portland - No-brainer here. And, unfortunately, any fantasy player with a brain should know that Roy's gonna put up big numbers for a rookie. Already averaging 14 points and four dishes for the 'Blazers, and, since he's playing for the Blazers, his minutes will only go up (and likely his numbers).

**BONUS: guy most people have never heard of
- Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta - In my Eastern Conference preview I made fun of this guy. I now regret that. He is one of the reasons why the Hawks actually have a winning record (for now). From the country of Georgia, Pachulia - I just call him Zaza - is pouring in 18 points a game and 6.8 boards. Wouldn't that be the story of the year if Zaza, Joe Johnson and tiny Tyronn Lue led the Hawks to the playoffs?

Yeah, sure thing.