Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we pose a question to a rotating panel of ESPN fantasy basketball experts to gauge their thoughts on a hot topic. Todays contributors are ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Pelton and ESPN Fantasys Joe Kaiser and Kyle Soppe.Al Horford is just 11 games into his tenure with the Boston Celtics, but he currently ranks 11th on the Player Rater based on averages. While his scoring (15.5 PPG, 50.4 FG%, 12.6 FGA) is nearly identical to what he did his last two seasons with the Hawks, his 3-point shting (1.5 3-PPG, 39.0 3-FG%), assists (5.0 APG) and blocks (2.6 BPG) have skyrocketed. Is this just a small-sample-size anomaly or a sign of things to come?Kevin Pelton: Ive been doing some research lately into how to best predict performance the rest of the season, which yields opposing conclusions about these stats. Early-season block rates tend to not be as predictive as past performance, while assist rates tend to stabilize pretty quickly. Naturally, 3-point percentage is also fluky, though Horfords track record is strong enough at this point that I dont expect him to drop off that much.Ultimately, the projections that combine performance to date and preseason expectations peg Horford for 4.1 assists but just 1.4 blocks per game the rest of the season, which suggests his value is probably already at a high point.Joe Kaiser: The fact that Horford started taking 3-pointers for the first time in his career last season, shting 34.4 percent and making 1.1 of 3.1 attempts, is an encouraging sign that his 3-point success this season isnt a fluke. Playing under Brad Stevens in Boston, hes taking and making more threes (1.5 of 3.7 per game) while shting an improved 39 percent. I dont think this is a fluke, and at this point we have to consider the 3-pointer a key part of Horfords fantasy value. Just dont expect any style points with the form on his 3-point stroke.As far as his assists go, clearly Boston signed him with the intent of utilizing him as a facilitator, and were seeing that with the hike in assists this season. He has dished out at least five assists in six of his first 11 games with the Celtics, including nine in his last game, against the Rockets. Its safe to say hes going to break his previous single-season high of 3.5 APG, and Id expect him to finish somewhere between 4.5-5.5 by seasons end.The blocks are the one stat that I think we can chalk up to small sample size. Horford is 30 years old and in his 10th NBA season -- this isnt typically a stage in a players career when he would suddenly become a bigger shot-blocker. His previous single-season best is 1.5 BPG, set twice in the last three seasons, and Id expect that to be his ceiling in 2016-17.Kyle Soppe: Im buying all the Horford shares I can get. From a basketball standpoint, the rise in Horfords unique skill set is because ... well, its now unique. In Atlanta, he shared the front court with Paul Millsap, a player whose skill was so similar to his that I often confused the two.Horfords skills havent gotten any better this season, he has simply gotten smarter. The percentage of his shots taken from 16 feet or further is actually down a tick from last season (46.8 percent, down from 47.9 percent last season), but he has joined #TeamAnalytics and determined that he might as well step behind that 3-point line if he is going to settle from a jumper.I also believe that the assist spike is real, for many of the same reasons. Due to his unique set of skills, he often puts the opposing center in a difficult position on the perimeter, thus allowing him to showcase his playmaking abilities. Id take the under on five assists per game and 39-percent 3-point shting when all is said and done, but the Celtics are a top-10 team in offensive efficiency right now, and that is no mistake. Horford is a reliable player who can help fantasy owners across the board and should finish the season as a top-20 player. Joaquin Andujar Astros Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Jim Umbricht Astros Jersey . Reigning world champion Eve Muirhead of Scotland opened with a 12-2 rout of Winnipegs Jennifer Jones in a battle of teams bound for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. https://www.cheapastros.com/1873o-ivan-rodriguez-jersey-astros.html .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Joe Morgan Jersey . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rkie outfielder in the starting lineup. Rogelio Armenteros Astros Jersey . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Some of Dennis Byrds former New York Jets teammates believe he may have suffered from CTE, and at least two of them have suggested to his widow that she donate his brain to the Boston University clinic that studies the brain disease.Byrd, 50, was killed Saturday in a two-car collision about 30 miles outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. His ftball career ended in 1992, when he was temporarily paralyzed due to a broken neck.For years, Byrds former teammates had expressed concern about his behavior. He became detached from his closest friends on the team, not returning calls or messages. They also became aware of strife in his personal life.We were talking to (his wife) Angie, and we think it would be a gd idea to have his brain donated, former teammate Marvin Washington said Monday in a phone interview. To me, it seems like a classic case of CTE, with the md swings and behavioral issues.That wasnt the Dennis I know and loved; it was the disease he had. Im just trying to connect the dots. If you lk back at Dave Duerson and Junior Seau, those were gd guys, t, but they were human on and off the field.Another former teammate, Jeff Lageman, also suspected CTE.Its entered my mind because of how detached he became, Lageman said by phone. But I also know that was Dennis anyway. Even in the early years, he isolated a little. Later on, he definitely got to the farther end of it.Is (CTE) possible? Yeah, maybe its possible, he added. But I dont know.Byrds wife, Angela, couldnt be reached for comment.Drafted in 1989, Byrd played the defensive line for three-plus seasons in the NFL. On Nov. 29, 1992, he collided with teammate Scott Mersereau while trying to sack Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Dave Krieg.Byrd suffered significant damage to his upper spine, but he regained the ability to walk -- albeit with a pronounced limp -- and he became an inspirational story. After a few years in the limelight -- he was a motivational speaker and a color analyst for CBS -- he retreated to a quiet life in his native Oklahoma.Aside from an emotional speech to the Jets on the eve of a playoff win in January 2011, and an appearance at MetLife Stadium in 2012 to have his number retired, Byrd lost touch with the organization.ddddddddddddTeammates expressed frustration over the years because they couldnt reach him. The frustration turned to concern.I dont want to take away from who Dennis Byrd was -- he was a light, he was gd energy -- but players go through things, said Washington, who played 11 years and plans to donate his brain to research. Whatever struggles he was going through, Id like to connect the dots.On Saturday, Byrd was pronounced dead at the scene due to massive injuries. A 17-year-old from Claremore, Oklahoma, was driving a 2000 Ford Explorer northbound on Oklahoma 88 and veered into the oncoming lane, striking the Hummer H2 driven by Byrd, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.Byrd was accompanied by his 12-year-old, Zach, who underwent surgery to repair a broken leg, according to family friends. Despite their detachment from Byrd, his former teammates were overcome with shock and sadness upon hearing the news.The best way to describe Dennis is, if he could come back and talk to one person, hed want to talk to that 17-year-old, Lageman said. Hed tell (the other drive) that hes not angry and that, Hey, its OK. Thats the greatest statement anyone could say about Dennis.His first concern would be his son, his second would be his family, making sure theyre OK. His next concern would be for that young person. That tells you what type of person he was.Washington added, If it comes out that he had CTE, why? Why? He was such a gd person. ... To die this way, after what happened in 1992, he didnt deserve this. He deserved a full life. Its not for me to question it, but Im questioning it. Dennis was one of the gd guys. To be taken like that, it actually pisses me off. Its sad and its frustrating and Im angry.The Jets are formulating plans to honor Byrds memory during the home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. ' ' '