Dwight Howard’s knee injuries will hold the former Defensive Player of the Year out for a much longer time than hoped. Howard received an injection in his right knee yesterday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. The procedure was a bone marrow aspirate injection and, according to Dr. Walt Lowe, “I would certainly expect him before the playoffs. I really expect him to recover and play again this season.”

Fantasy Impact

This is a huge problem for Howard owners, as he was a preseason top-three center and was already underperforming prior to his injury. He has averaged 16.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season. The points per game are his lowest since 2005-2006 and the rebounds per game are his least since his rookie season of 2004-2005. Howard’s injury history is extensive, mostly back injuries though, and at this point he is at a steep decline in his career. He has averaged 17.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and two blocks per game over the past three seasons, down from his 20.6 point, 13.9 rebound, and 2.5 block per game average in the preceding three seasons.

Joey Dorsey should fill Howard’s void in the lineup, and given the amount of time Howard is expected to miss, could be worth a glance for a value pickup. Dorsey does provide value with his rebounding ability, as he averages 12.7 rebounds per 36 minutes in his career, but he only averages 8 points per 36 minutes.