Latest injury updates, Lineup Fixer Sixer and more

	With forward Richard Jefferson out after ankle surgery, the Nets will now have to compensate for his 16 points per game. AP

By Matt Satten, Special to SI.com, ProFantasySports.com

The big news this week is the return on Monday of Carmelo Anthony from his 15-game suspension. The owners of "Yellow Melo" are hoping he returns to form as quickly as he backtracked down the court after throwing the infamous sucker punch. Anyway, let's get right to the action.

Here are the latest injury updates:

SF Richard Jefferson, NJ Nets -- Ankle surgery, out indefinitely

F/C Pau Gasol, Memphis -- Wrist injury, day-to-day

PG/SG Dwyane Wade, Miami -- Mild sprained ankle, day-to-day

PG Stephon Marbury, NY Knicks -- Knee tendonitis, expects to play Monday

C Shaquille O'Neal, Miami -- Knee injury, expected back at some time this week

PG Speedy Claxton, Atlanta -- Knee injury, out indefinitely

SF Grant Hill, Orlando -- Pinky injury, sore knees and foot; probable to play, could miss second game of back-to-back

PG Shaun Livingston, LA Clippers -- Sprained ankle; game-day decision on Tuesday, heading back to a reserve role

G/F Wally Szczerbiak, Boston -- Sprained ankle and flu, day-to-day

G/F Michael Redd, Milwaukee -- Strained patellar tendon, out 3-5 weeks

SF/PF Charlie Villanueva, Milwaukee -- Shoulder injury, two cortisone shots; doubtful to play this week, re-evaluated on Monday and surgery could be an option

SF Trevor Ariza, Orlando -- Grade 2 sprained right MCL, out 6-8 weeks

PG Chris Paul, New Orleans -- Severely sprained ankle; out indefinitely, but could return in late January

PF Sean May, Charlotte -- Knee pain, day-to-day

PG Raymond Felton, Charlotte -- Sprained ankle, day-to-day

SG Jason Richardson, Golden State -- Broken hand, out 6-8 weeks

SG/SF/PF Gerald Wallace, Charlotte -- Shoulder injury, playing in pain and limited motion

C Yao Ming -- Broken leg, out 6-8 weeks

SG Rashard Lewis, Seattle -- Finger surgery, out indefinitely

G/F Paul Pierce, Boston -- Stress reaction in foot, possibly out until the All-Star break

C Marcus Camby, Denver -- Broken finger/wrist sprain, day-to-day

F/C Kwame Brown, LA Lakers -- Sprained ankle, probable to play this week

PF Lamar Odom, LA Lakers -- Knee sprain, expected back at some point this week

G/F Peja Stojakovic, New Orleans -- Back surgery, out indefinitely

PG Brevin Knight, Charlotte -- Sports hernia surgery, out 1-2 months

Of the players mentioned above, we would consider starting Marbury, Gasol, Wade, Shaq, Wally, Kwame, Camby and Wallace. Everyone else on the list needs to be reserved. Shaq's return has been pushed back a couple of times now and he'll likely need to play himself into shape, but he's worth starting if your options are thin at center.

Here is the game count for Week 13:

Four games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, CLE, DEN, IND, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIL, MIN, NOK, NJN, NYK, PHI, PHO, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTA

Three games: DAL, DET, GSW, LAL, ORL, POR, SEA, WAS

Two games: HOU

More than two-thirds of the league plays four games this week, so it's extra important to pay attention to the schedule when deciding on your starters this week. If you can make daily changes, make sure you're checking the opponent. But if you can only make weekly changes, it's vital that you pay attention to the next couple paragraphs.

Of those juicy four-game schedules, Philly definitely has the hardest week. They are the only NBA team to face three top-10 defenses this week and they face a 12th-ranked Atlanta D at the end of the week. That means use caution before deciding on starting SG Willie Green or SF Kyle Korver.

Other four-game teams facing tough weeks include Chicago, Atlanta, Indiana and Toronto. They all must contend with two top-10 defenses and two mid-tier defenses. If you have equal options from other teams, start those guys instead.