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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*


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RING in 2018 with code “NEWYEAR40” at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

It’s important to know the intricacies of the NBA schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head fantasy league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are some moves you might want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors

There are 16 teams with four games each this week, likely giving you a solid base to work off of in your league. If you do need help rounding out your lineup though, consider adding the players below who are still available in the majority of leagues.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Marcus Morris, Boston Celtics

The Celtics are not a good offensive team and place a heavy amount of the scoring burden on Kyrie Irving. Morris is one of their best secondary scorers and his 22.8% usage rate is actually second-highest on the team. He’s currently having his best month of the season, averaging 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per game in January. It doesn’t matter if he starts or comes off the bench as he plays about the same amount of minutes in both roles. If you need help at forward, go pick up Morris, who is still available in 61% of Yahoo! leagues.

Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies have been decimated by injuries this season, leaving Brooks to average 28 minutes per game in his rookie campaign. He’s taken advantage of the added playing time, averaging 13.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers and 1.1 steals in his last eight games. He’s been very efficient as well, shooting at least 50% from the field six of those seven contests. Although his scoring upside isn’t very high, he can provide significant value in three-pointers with four games this week. He’s still available in 88% of Yahoo! leagues.

Jarell Martin, Memphis Grizzlies

Martin has also seen increased playing time due to all of the Grizzlies injuries, logging at least 31 minutes in three of his last five games. He has played at least 30 minutes in a game five times this season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals in those contests. The Grizzlies don’t appear to be getting any reinforcements soon, so Martin could be in line for a big week. He’s still available in 95% of Yahoo! leagues and is someone to consider picking up, especially if you need help with rebounds and blocks.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers

With only two teams playing two games each this week, players on both the Bulls and Clippers will take a hit in value. As a result, consider benching the players below who you may normally start most weeks.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 16

Nikola Mirotic, Chicago Bulls

Mirotic got off to a hot start when he came back from injury for the Bulls, but has now scored 15 points or less in four of his last five games. He doesn’t provide much in the way of assists, steals, or blocks, so he’s far less valuable when he’s not scoring. Considering he only has two games this week, it might be a good time to put him on your bench. Taking a chance he turns things around offensively just isn’t worth the risk based on his other contributions.

Justin Holiday, Chicago Bulls

Holiday has provided significant value from behind the arc this season, averaging 2.4 three-pointers per game. To put that into perspective, that is higher than Garry Harris, Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony. He’s been atrocious from the field in general though, shooting just 37.5%. He’s averaging just 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season, leaving him with little value in a week with only two games. If you’ve relied on Holiday’s three-point shooting this season, see if you can pick up Brooks.

Danilo Gallinari, Los Angeles Clippers

Gallinari has been out for well over a month, so you haven’t been starting him anyways. However, with the news that he is planning to return to action Tuesday, fantasy owners who have been patiently waiting for him might think about putting him back into their lineup this week. That’s not a good idea though as he is likely going to be on a minutes limit when he returns. The good news is he’ll have extra rest with only two games this, so you can get him back on your radar the following week.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/26/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/26/18

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Dejounte Murray, SA vs. PHI
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,400

Murray has started the last three games at point guard for the Spurs since taking over the job from Tony Parker, averaging 12.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.3 steals per game. Murray is not going to provide big assist totals and is not a good three-point shooter, but he is going to provide added value with both rebounds and steals. The Sixers play at the second-fastest pace (102.8 possessions per game) in the league, leaving Murray with added opportunities to provide value Friday.

Milos Teodosic, LAC at MEM
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,700

Teodosic’s first season in the league has been a struggle due to injuries and inconsistent production when he has been able to take the floor. His shot has been off for large portions of the season as he is shooting just 38.3% from the field. However, he’s shown the ability to provide value, producing at least 12 points, five assists and three three-pointers in three of his last five games. At this cheap price, he could be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Wesley Matthews, DAL vs. POR
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,300

The Mavericks don’t have a lot of talent on their roster, which has left Matthews to average 34 minutes per game this season. That’s nothing unusual for Matthews though, who has averaged at least 33 minutes per game in each of the last eight seasons. He’s been productive of late, averaging 18.6 points, 3.4 points, 2.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 3.8 three-pointers over his last five games. One of those games came against these same Trail Blazers when he scored 23 points in 38 minutes. The price is right to take a chance on him again in their rematch.

Zach LaVine, CHI vs. LAL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,900

The Bulls have slowly increased LaVine’s minutes since he returned from a knee injury, topping out at 24 minutes in each of the last two games. He looked great in both contests, averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 three-pointers. He could play 26-28 minutes Friday, which is significant news considering the Lakers play at the fastest pace (103.2) in the league. He’s an elite offensive talent who can provide upside even in limited minutes.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Brandon Ingram, LAL at CHI
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,200

Ingram has missed some time recently due to an ankle injury but looks to be healthy now, playing 33 minutes Tuesday against the Celtics. He’s struggling to find his shot, shooting a combined 9-for-31 from the field in his last three games. However, Friday brings an excellent matchup against a Bulls team that is struggling defensively. Ingram played well against them in their first meeting earlier this season as well, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists, one steal and two blocks. Don’t be surprised if Ingram gets himself back on track in this game.

Dillon Brooks, MEM vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200

The injury bug has bitten the Grizzlies, who will be without JaMychal Green (ankle), Chandler Parsons (knee) and James Ennis III (calf) on Friday. To make matters worse, Jarrell Martin (knee, ankle) is also listed as questionable. The Grizzlies just need healthy bodies at this point, so Brooks should see plenty of playing time. Brooks has logged at least 27 minutes in each of his last six games, posting averages of 14.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per contest. He could provide significant upside at this dirt cheap price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Kyle Kuzma, LAL at CHI
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $6,300

Kuzma can explode offensively in any game, which is exactly what he did scoring 28 points in 27 minutes Tuesday against a strong defensive team in the Celtics. He hit five three-pointers in that game and has made 15 three-pointers over his last five contests. The Bulls like to play small and have a lot of bigs who play around the perimeter, which is a perfect fit for Kuzma’s style of play. If Kuzma catches fire again in this game, he could significantly outproduce his price point.

Dirk Nowitzki, DAL vs. POR
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,500

Nowitzki is only averaging 25 minutes per game this year and is a shell of his former self offensively, scoring less than 10 points in four of his last five games. The Mavericks have been using him at center this season, but he’s only averaging 5.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per contest. There is hope for playing him Friday though as he played very well against these same Trail Blazers on Saturday, scoring 21 points on 8-of-12 from the field. He can score in a hurry like that still if his shot is falling and he won’t cost much, so he could be a sneaky tournament option to consider.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Enes Kanter, NY at PHO
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,900

Kanter went through a stretch where he was only seeing limited playing time, but he has logged at least 26 minutes in eight of his last nine games. He scored at least 15 points and grabbed at least seven rebounds in six of those eight games, continuing his recent success from earlier this season. The Suns have a lot of size and depth at center, so Kanter should see enough minutes again Friday to be worth considering for your entry.

Greg Monroe, PHO vs. NY
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $5,700

The Suns’ center rotation can be an extreme source of frustration, with really no consistency of who plays when. Monroe has managed to play both of the last two games, averaging 17.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per contest. Alex Len (ankle) did not play in the team’s last game Wednesday and is listed as questionable for Friday, so Monroe could get significant playing time again if he Len can’t play. Keep an eye on Len’s status throughout the day and get Monroe in your lineup if he does get ruled out.

 

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

The MLB offseason is often referred to as the “Hot Stove” due to all of the trades and signings that occur in the winter months. However, the market has developed extremely slowly this year, leaving several impact players still left unsigned. As we continue our fantasy baseball season preview series, we’ll take a look at some big names who are available and the potential impact they could have this season.

J.D. Martinez, OF

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

Martinez had his breakout campaign with the Tigers when he batted .282 with 38 home runs, 102 RBI and 93 runs scored in 2015. The Tigers decided to start the rebuilding process last year, shipping Martinez to the Diamondbacks. He went on to have a scorching hot finish, hitting .302 with 29 home runs, 65 RBI and 47 runs scored in only 62 games with his new team.

Martinez is still on the market and should command a hefty contract. He’s not a great defender, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up in the American League where he can also spend some time at DH, especially towards the end of his contract. He’s only played more than 123 games once in his career, so it might be tough for him to hold up as an everyday outfielder as he gets older.

No matter where Martinez signs, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to perform at the rate he did with the Diamondbacks. He hit a home run ever 8.0 at-bats with Arizona, which is far more frequent than his career average of once every 18.6 at-bats. Even during his stellar 2015 season, he only hit a home run once every 15.7 at-bats. He does hit for a high average, so he doesn’t need to hit over 40 home runs to still be an extremely valuable fantasy asset. Expect him to finish this season around the top-10 fantasy outfielders.

Yu Darvish, SP

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

Darvish is the big fish still left in the sea when it comes to starting pitchers with rumored interested suitors being the Yankees, Twins, Brewers, Cubs, Rangers, and Dodgers. Although he struggled mightily in the World Series, his strong finish with the Dodgers was a big part of why they made it that far.

The good news from a fantasy perspective is that Darvish pitched 186.2 innings during the regular season. He missed the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery and pitched only 100.1 innings in 2016. He’s an elite strikeout pitcher when healthy, posting an 11.0 K/9 for his career. No matter where he signs, Darvish should still provide strong value in most categories. However, if you play in a league that counts wins, you’d like to see him sign with a team that has a potent offense and a strong bullpen. If he ultimately ends up with the Cubs, Dodgers or Yankees, he could surpass his previous career-high of 16 wins that he set back in 2012.

Eric Hosmer, 1B

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

The first base market has been slow to develop with many of baseball’s better teams already set at the position. Hosmer has had limited suitors as a result, with the two primary teams reportedly interested being the Royals and the Padres.

Hosmer is not your traditional masher at first base. He’s never hit more than 25 home runs in a season and has reached at least 100 RBI only one time during his career. The good news is he set career-highs last year in batting average (.318) and OBP (.385). He only had a strikeout percentage of 15.5% as well, marking the fourth time in his career he has finished under 16%.

The bad news with Hosmer is that he’s been wildly inconsistent. For example, his batting averages the last four seasons have been .270, .297, .266 and .318, respectively. Those are some big swings when you consider you aren’t drafting him for his ability to hit home runs. With so many other elite options at first base, expect Hosmer to rank someone between 10 and 15 at the position when the season is all said and done.

Mike Moustakas, 3B

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

Moustakas if a former first-round pick who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Royals. He had largely not lived up to the hype heading into the 2017 season, making only one All-Star team during his career. The one time he received that honor was in 2015 when he finished the season batting .284 with 22 home runs, 82 RBI, and 73 runs scored. Those are solid numbers, but nothing to write home about.

He finally had his breakout season in 2017, hitting a franchise-record 38 home runs. The problem was the Royals were one of the worst offensive teams in the league, resulting in 27 of his home runs being solo shots. He finished with just 85 RBI and 75 runs scored.

Considering he hit so many home runs, it’s impressive that he only had a 15.7% strikeout percentage. It’s not out of the ordinary for Moustakas though as he has a 15.5% strikeout percentage for his career. He did appear to take a more aggressive approach at the plate though, seeing only 3.78 pitchers per plate appearance, the second fewest of his career. Also, he struck out swinging on 96.8% of his strikeouts last year, by far the highest percentage of his career.

There hasn’t been a lot of buzz surrounding Moustakas this winter, but he could actually see an increase in value if he leaves the Royals. Of his 38 home runs last year, 24 of them came on the road. If he moves to a team with a more hitter-friendly ballpark, he could approach 30 home runs again this season. Landing on a potent offensive team like the Yankees would be ideal. Even if he finds the perfect fit, his ceiling isn’t much higher than that of a top 12-to-15 third baseman in fantasy baseball.

Lorenzo Cain, OF

Fantasy Baseball Season Preview: Remaining MLB Free Agents

Cain certainly wasn’t the cause of the Royals anemic offense last year, batting .300 with a career-high .363 OBP. It marked the third time in the last four seasons that he finished with a batting average of at least .300. Not only did he have a career-low 15.5% strikeout percentage, but he also recorded a career-high 8.4% walk percentage.

Cain can provide value with his speed, stealing at least 26 bases in three of the last four years. While he did have 26 steals last year, it’s important to note that those came in a career-high 155 games played. In 2014 and 2015 when he finished with 28 steals each season, he played in 133 and 140 games, respectively. Cain also doesn’t provide much in the way of home runs, hitting no more than 16 home runs in any season of his career.

Like many of the big name free agents, the market for Cain has been slow to develop. Regardless of where he signs, he really doesn’t have a high upside in any category outside of batting average. As a result, his ceiling is likely finishing just inside the top-20 outfielders in fantasy, with his floor being in the 25-30 range as long as he stays healthy.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/25/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/25/18

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Stephen Curry, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $9,900
DraftKings = $10,400

Curry has been a model of consistency for the Warriors, largely due to his 30.9% usage rate that ranks 10th-highest in the league. Add in the fact that the Warriors play at the third-fastest pace (102.5 possessions per game) in the league and he’s going to provide a high floor in DFS most nights. Over his last nine games, he’s averaging 29.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 5.3 three-pointers per game. The Timberwolves don’t defend opposing point guards particularly well, making Curry an excellent option to consider Thursday.

De’Aaron Fox/George Hill, SAC at MIA
FanDuel: $5,400/$4,500
DraftKings: $5,200/$4,500

The Kings continue to give their young players more minutes and sat Hill for rest purposes Tuesday against the Magic. Fox looked primed for a big performance but had to leave the game early due to an abdominal injury. He underwent an MRI and while the results were negative, his status is questionable for Thursday’s game. If he does play, he could provide significant value at this price. However, if he is unable to go, expect Hill to return and see added minutes. Keep an eye out for updates throughout the day and adjust with Fox and Hill accordingly.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Andrew Wiggins, MIN at GS
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $7,000

The Timberwolves have been without Jimmy Butler (knee) for the last three games, leading to a major increase in production for Wiggins. In those three games, Wiggins averaged 31.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 three-pointers per game. He’s only averaging 15.9 shot attempts per game this season but averaged 22 shot attempts over those three contests. If Butler can’t go again Thursday, Wiggins is someone to strongly consider for your entry. Even if Butler does return, Wiggins can still be productive as the Timberwolves try to keep up with the Warriors high-powered offense.

Will Barton, DEN vs. NY
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,800

Barton has been in and out of the Nuggets starting lineup lately, starting four of the last six games. He’s been very productive as a member of the starting five this season, averaging 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.2 three-pointers in 12 games. His usage rate off the bench is actually 3% higher than it is when he starts, but he has averaged nine more minutes per game as a starter. He’s priced low enough to warrant consideration even if he comes off the bench Thursday, but he could have considerable upside if he does start.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Kevin Durant, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $10,500
DraftKings = $9,900

It’s not hard to make a case to start Durant any given night. Not only does his 30.1% usage rate rank inside the top-15 in the league, but he’s also averaging career-highs in assists (5.6) and blocks (2.1) per game. Even with a lot of offensive talent around him, Durant is averaging 25.9 points per game, which would mark the tenth straight season that he has averaged at least 25 points. The Timberwolves are struggling defensively right now, allowing an average of 109.6 points in their last seven games. Don’t expect them to be able to slow down Durant on Thursday.

Nemanja Bjelica, MIN at GS
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,500

Bjelica has started the last three games with Butler out, averaging 11.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per contest. Based on how much coach Tom Thibodeau plays his starters, it’s not surprising that Bjelica played at least 35 minutes in two of those games. If Butler is out again Thursday, there should be plenty of opportunities for Bjelica to provide value at this price. However, if Butler is cleared to play, Bjelica likely won’t see enough playing time to warrant using in your lineup. Make sure to monitor Butler’s status throughout the day.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Draymond Green, GS vs. MIN
FanDuel = $8,100
DraftKings – $7,500

Green takes a backseat offensively to the Warriors’ star scoring trio of Curry, Durant and Klay Thompson, but he still provides tremendous value due to his all-around contributions. Although he’s averaging just 11.3 points per game, he also has averages of 7.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks. He’s currently in the midst of one of his best stretches this season, averaging 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in his last 10 games. With his high floor, he makes for a viable option for your entry again Thursday.

Skal Labissiere, SAC at MIA
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,000

Labissiere is finally seeing consistent playing time with the Kings shifting focus to their young players, averaging 11.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block in his last five games. In three of those five contests, he played at least 28 minutes. His price is rising on both sites, but he’s still priced low enough to provide value in this game.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Steven Adams, OKC vs. WAS
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,600

Adams is usually one of the safer center options because the Thunder have virtually no depth behind him. He gets plenty of playing time as a result and is averaging career-highs in points (13.7), rebounds (8.9) and steals (1.2) per game. With dominant offensive players around him in Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, Adams still finds a way to score in large part because he averages 5.1 offensive rebounds per game. He won’t kill your budget Thursday and has a relatively high floor based on his role on the team.

Enes Kanter, NY at DEN
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $6,000

The Knicks are slumping right now and have fallen four games out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They might become sellers at the NBA trade deadline as a result, which could become interesting because of their depth at center. Kanter has been one of their bright spots at the position and has kept it rolling during their struggles, averaging 15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his last four games. He should see plenty of playing time against a big Nuggets frontcourt Thursday, making him worth consideration for your entry.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/24/18

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/24/18

SALE: 40% off entire NBA Seasonal Package - Coupon Code "NEWYEAR40" (including playoffs)
Use Code “NEWYEAR40” at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package
 

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Dejounte Murray, SA at MEM
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,800

Murray has started the last two games for the Spurs and should start in place of Tony Parker going forward. The move has paid off well so far with Murray averaging 13.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 5.0 steals in those two contests. He’s not going to provide traditional point guard numbers in terms of assists and he’s not a good three-point shooter, but he makes up for it with his ability to rebound and rack up steals. His price is going to climb quickly if he keeps up this pace, but he’s still a great option at this cheap price Wednesday.

Yogi Ferrell, DAL vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600

Ferrell has seen increased playing time of late, logging at least 31 minutes in five of his last six games. He cashed in the added minutes by averaging 15.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 three-pointers in those five contests. He should see plenty of playing time again Wednesday against a Rockets team that likes to use a lot of small lineups. Considering the Rockets also play at the eighth-fastest pace (101.2 possessions per game) in the league, Ferrell is a strong candidate to provide value.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Jeremy Lamb, CHA vs. NO
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,900

Lamb did a great job filling in for Nicolas Batum when he was injured to start the season but moved back to the bench once he returned. While his usage rate as a starter and a reserve are almost identical, he’s averaging seven fewer minutes per game when he comes off the bench. That doesn’t mean he still can’t provide value at this price though, evident by the fact that he is averaging 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 three-pointers in his last nine games. Not only does Wednesday’s opponent in the Pelicans play at the sixth-fastest pace (101.5) in the league, but they also allow the second-most points per game (110.9). While his upside is limited based on his role off the bench, Lamb is still a viable option to consider for your entry.

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, PHI vs. CHI
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $3,900

Luwawu-Cabarrot has been moved into the starting lineup with J.J. Redick (leg) and Jerryd Bayless (wrist) both injured. Redick will be out again Wednesday while Bayless is listed as questionable. Not only that, but T.J. McConnell (personal) has already been ruled out as well. If Bayless ultimately does not play, Luwawu-Cabarrot is going to be in for all the minutes he can handle. He averaged 18.0 points. 2.0 assists and 4.5 three-pointers while starting the last two games, so keep an eye on Bayless’ status throughout the day. If he is also ruled out, Luwawu-Cabbarrot could provide significant value.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Kyle Anderson, SA at MEM
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $5,900

As the Spurs continue to deal with injuries to Kawhi Leonard (quad), Rudy Gay (heel) and Manu Ginobili (thigh), it has resulted in Anderson playing at least 30 minutes in three straight games. He is usually productive when given added playing time, averaging 9.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block in 14 games this season where he has played at least 30 minutes. He may not be flashy, but that’s valuable production at this reasonable price.

Nemanja Bjelica, MIN at POR
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $4,300

The key here is the status of Jimmy Butler (knee), who is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game. Bjelica has started the last two games with Butler out, averaging 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per contest. He played at least 26 minutes in both games, which is no surprise considering how much playing time coach Tom Thibodeau gives all of his starting players. If Butler is ruled out for this game, Bjelica is an excellent value play.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Dario Saric, PHI vs. CHI
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $6,400

Saric had some big games when Joel Embiid was out earlier this season, but he’s still valuable even with Embiid on the floor. Embiid hasn’t missed a game in January, but Saric has still managed to average 14.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 three-pointers per contest during that stretch. The Sixers play at the second-fastest pace (102.8) in the league, which helps Saric gain added value. Wednesday brings a favorable matchup against the Bulls who also like to play fast and use a lot of small lineups, making Saric someone to consider using for your entry.

Jarrell Martin, MEM vs. SA
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,600

The Grizzlies are going to be lacking depth up front Wednesday with JaMychal Green (ankle) and Chandler Parsons (knee) already ruled out. Martin is not certain to play either as he is listed as questionable with a knee injury. If he is able to play, he could get a lot of minutes. He’s played at least 31 minutes in three of the last four games, averaging 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 three-pointers per contest. Keep an eye on his status leading up to tipoff.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at ATL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,500

Valanciunas can sure take you on a rollercoaster ride in DFS. Take a look at his last four games in DraftKings for example. In those four games, he has scored 14.8, 43.5, 31.3 and 4.8 DraftKings points, respectively. It’s no coincidence that he played at least 27 minutes in both games that he performed well and 14 minutes or fewer in the two games that were flops. Consistent playing time has been an issue for him all season, so he’s usually only someone you want to take a chance on in tournament play. That being said, the Hawks do allow the fourth-most points on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing centers, so we might see the good side of Valanciunas on Wednesday.

Robin Lopez, CHI at PHI
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Talk about two tough games for Lopez. He had to battle DeMarcus Cousins on Monday and now he follows that up with a game against Joel Embiid. The good news is, that likely means plenty of playing time again Wednesday as the Bulls really don’t have anyone else who can match up with Embiid’s size. In 13 games that Lopez has played between 30 and 39 minutes this year, he is averaging 15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per contest. If you want to go really cheap at center in a tournament, Lopez might be worth considering.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

*Austyn Varney*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Tuesday’s 5-game slate leaves slim opportunities. You know who the studs are, but do you know who the cheaper daily fantasy basketball sleepers are that could make your lineup stand out amongst the rest in a GPP? Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter most and find the value players that are low-owned on Draftkings & Fanduel like Joffrey Lauvergne and Josh Hart.


Use the code "NEWYEAR40" at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package
Use the code “NEWYEAR40” at checkout for 40% off Seasonal Package

Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Isaiah Thomas
FD $6,500 DK $6,000

We’re starting with 2 guys that aren’t all that cheap, but are definitely considered “value”. Isaiah Thomas is a player that should be over $8k on both sites and will be very soon. He’s definitely not at that line of production yet and is still figuring his way into this offense, but we know who this guy is. He’s a 1.5-2 FP per minute player when on the floor and has been over 30 minutes already a few times. He sees a match-up against the Spurs that is not too shabby. Sure, the Spurs are always a solid team defense, but PG is a spot you can get them at. On the season, they rank 15th against the position. Thomas is way too cheap and is going to continue putting up 30+ fantasy points a night, until he figures it out and is at 40-50. This game is going to be close and he’ll be in there against guards who don’t play much offense.

De’Aaron Fox
FD $5,700 DK $5,200

Fox is going to come in a little bit cheaper than IT2 and I don’t see why. Aside from playing 30+ minutes in 4 of the last 5 games, he’s sitting over 30 fantasy points in most decent match-ups. He’s obviously the future for this team and they are now focused on him as the sole point guard. He’s going to be well over $7k very soon and we’ll be looking back at these days as missed opportunities. Fox and the Kings match-up with Orlando tonight, who’s an underwhelming defense by every measure. They rank 27th in the league against PG’s and seem to give up a big game almost every night. Fox is a near-lock for 25 FP (value) and has a phenomenal shot of getting to 35 and being a monster in tournaments. This is a value article, but these are still my 2 favorite PG’s on this slate, regardless of price.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Alex Caruso and Josh Hart
FD $4,200 – $3,700 DK $4,500

With Lonzo Ball already ruled out, we know minutes and shots are up for grabs. We then have Kentavious Caldwell-pope doubtful, who’s extremely important. If KCP plays, I don’t have any interest in Caruso or Hart. If KCP is out, I think both see over 24 minutes and hit value in a competitive game against the Celtics. Jordan Clarkson is obviously the guy who’s in for the biggest workload increase, but he’s expensive and going to cost you a stud elsewhere. Hart and Caruso are both 1+ FP per minute players that do get involved and will rarely disappoint when given the opportunity. The Celtics aren’t a bad defense, but Vegas think it stays close and high-scoring with a 209 O/U and 4.5 point spread. Caruso is the guy who seems to be safer, but Hart has been over 30 minutes in worse spots. Both are in play for tournaments and I’m ok with either in cash if KCP is ruled out.

Jonathan Simmons
FD $5,300 DK $5,300

If you’re on DraftKings, Simmons is a stellar value option at shooting guard. You’ll have to wait for small forward on FanDuel, but just be patient and deal with it. Simmons is still way too cheap on both sites and in a game with a weak Kings perimeter, he’ll struggle to miss value. He’s getting 30 minutes in every close game and has been the 2nd option since Vucevic went out with an injury. When I said a weak Kings perimeter, I mean. They only rank 20th on the season against SG’s, but dead last over the last 10 games. Hield and Bogdanovic are both pitiful defenders that can be taken advantage of from anywhere on the floor. WCS has also been a disappointment in terms of rim security. Simmons isn’t anything crazy tonight, but he’s just a little too cheap and in a better than usual spot. A cash game beast.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Jaylen Brown
FD $5,500 DK $6,200

Let’s be honest, most of the world will be focusing on the high-end at this position. We have Kevin Durant and LeBron James in interesting situations with a cheaper Paul George in an ideal match-up. Those 3 guys deserve most of the ownership at the position and will get it. We will instead focus on some cheaper guys who may not be as highly owned. Jaylen Brown is never the most exciting player to roster, but he’s extremely consistent and always a great cash game option. Just do yourself a favor and take a look at his box scores. He’s over 33 minutes in every close game and is never under 20 fantasy points. His price is extremely fair on both sites for a guy that will put up 30 FP in most cases against the Lakers. Ranking 2nd to last against the SF position, you have nothing to worry about here with a match-up. Brown will do what he wants and it just comes down to how many minutes he’s in the game for.

Allen Crabbe
FD $4,600 DK $4,400

If you really need to pay down at small forward, Allen Crabbe is perfectly fine. In a game that the Nets will need some scoring, you know Crabbe will raise his hand. He loves shooting the ball and will often get into 15-20 shots if given 30 minutes. He’s been over that 30-minute mark in 4 of the last 6 games, but is guaranteed for 26 no matter what. His price is a little bit too low for a guy that’s guaranteed 20 with a ceiling in the 40’s. He’s a legitimately good player and one that often gets hot in fast-paced match-ups like this. On paper, the Thunder rank 16th against the SF, except it doesn’t really matter. Paul George will be on Carroll, leaving Crabbe on either Grant or Roberson. Both are downgrades from George. I’d much rather pay up for Jaylen Brown in cash games, but see the merit in paying down at a spotion everyone else will be paying up for.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Marcus Morris
FD $4,700 DK $5,000

There is some pretty solid value here at power forward. Starting with Marcus Morris, the value is safe. Morris has slowly gotten himself back involved in the offense and is sitting around 25-28 minutes at this point. Because of that, he’s not going to ever demolish value, but shouldn’t get under 20 FP either. He’s been over 17 FP in each of the last 5 and got up to 35. The Lakers rank 25th against power forwards on the season with 3 guys who just can’t play defense. Vegas has this game staying close and competitive, so Morris can be counted on for his concrete 25+ minutes. His price is still under $5k on both sites and it allows you to play him in all formats. He’s a lock for 20 with the upside for 35. Safe as can be on a slate like this.

Davis Bertans
FD $3,600 DK $3,700

We’re about to touch on 2 guys that are directly benefiting from Pau Gasol being out. Gasol has been getting over 30 minutes on most nights, so we have a lot to look at. Davis Bertans was already getting 20-25 minutes a night, so this should push him over 30 without much trouble. He is one of the guys Pop is willing to play big minutes and we know he can produce when out there. He matches up well with the Cavs bigs and shouldn’t have much trouble getting open shots. At close to minimum price, he may be one of my highest owned players on the slate. I just don’t see him missing value, with him only needing 20-ish.

 

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 1/23/18

Joffrey Lauvergne
FD $3,500 DK $3,300

With Pau Gasol and his 30-33 minutes out of the lineup, you have to look at Lauvergne. We know the Spurs are comfortable playing him for 25+ minutes and we know he’s one of those guys who produce a ton when given the opportunity. He also is a very good match-up for this game against the Cavs, where speed is extremely important. He likes to shoot a ton and the Spurs don’t have anyone outside of LMA that dictates the ball at this point. Lauvergne is a safe bet for 20 minutes and a lock for value at lose to $3k. Don’t be afraid of the recent box scores.

Enes Kanter
FD $5,800 DK $6,200

This is most certainly risky, but the upside is there. We know bigs can sometimes see diminished minutes against the Warriors and end up with one of their worst games on the season. They can also find a way to fit into the PACE and have one of their best, as the Warriors can struggle against bigs that can run. Kanter can run and has a good chance of staying in the game for 25+ minutes. His price is perfectly fine on both sites and he needs to get you in the low 30’s in cash games. It’s a near lock if he can find a way to fit into the game as the Warriors don’t have a single guy who can handle his offensive skills. I’ll still be Lauvergne-heavy on most of my teams, but Kanter deserves some looks in tournaments.

 

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner – @rotomikebarner*

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

It might hard to believe it if you live in the NorthEast, but baseball season is just around the corner. With only about a month left before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, the time is now to start preparing for your fantasy baseball draft. In the first of our season preview series, we’ll take a look at some familiar players who have joined new teams and discuss the impact it will have on their fantasy value.

Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The Yankees rebuild certainly didn’t take long. After trading away several veterans in the middle of the 2016 season, the Yankees progressed faster than expected in 2017, losing in the American League Championship Series to the Houston Astros. One of the big reasons for their success was the strength of their offense, which finished second in runs scored and first in home runs in all of baseball.

So how did they improve their team for this year? By bringing in another power hitter of course. The Yankees took advantage of the Marlins need to slash payroll, trading for the reigning NL MVP in Stanton with Starlin Castro being the only player of significance to the major league roster that they gave up.

Entering the 2017 season, Stanton had played 123 games or less in four of the previous five seasons. He managed to stay healthy though, missing only three games all year. He cashed in the added at-bats, setting career-highs in home runs (59), RBI (132) and runs scored (123). Unlike many of the games elite home run hitters, he still managed to hit .281 and finished with a career-low 23.6% strikeout percentage.

Stanton will now team up with Aaron Judge to form one of the elite power-hitting combinations in the league. It will be hard for Stanton to play 159 games again this year, but the good news is that he will get some time at designated hitter, which should help keep him fresh. He’s going to be part of a potent overall lineup and should again finish with excellent counting stats. From a batting average perspective, he might not experience significant regression either as his .288 BABIP was actually the lowest of his career. Expect him to have another valuable campaign and be a borderline first-round pick in fantasy.

Dee Gordon, Seattle Mariners

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

Another member of the Marlins fire sale was Gordon, who was shipped to the Mariners and will now play center field. Gordon led the majors with 60 stolen bases last year, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he has stolen at least 58 bases. The only time he didn’t was when he was limited to 79 games in 2016 due to a suspension, finishing with 30 steals.

While most known for his ability to steal bases, Gordon’s fantasy value is much more than just that one category. He hit at least .308 in two of the last three seasons and scored 114 runs last year. He only has a 15.1% strikeout percentage for his career, which allows him to leg out some extra hits due to his speed.

Luckily for this season, he will still be eligible at second base and will eventually get you the added value of dual-position eligibility. He will be part of a powerful lineup that features Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, and Kyle Seager hitting behind him, so he should have plenty of opportunities to score runs again this year. Even without much power, he should still finish as one of the more valuable second base eligible players in fantasy, especially when you consider the scarcity of stolen bases.

Andrew McCutchen, San Francisco Giants

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The Giants desperately needed to find offense this winter, especially in their outfield. They decided to swing a deal with the Pirates for McCutchen, providing a significant boost to their lineup. While his stats don’t jump off the page, McCutchen has hit at least 21 home runs and recorded at least 79 RBI in each of the last seven seasons. He also does an excellent job of getting on base, posting an OBP of at least .363 in all but one season during his career.

While McCutchen can still provide value, it’s important to note that he doesn’t really excel in any one category. He used to provide value on the base paths, stealing at least 20 bases in each of the first five seasons of his career. However, he has stolen 11 bases or less in each of the last three seasons. He batted a respectable .279 last year, but that’s not going to be a difference maker in your league. He’s still someone to consider on draft day, but make sure you are drafting him based on his current production, not his high-profile name. If you are drafting based on the latter, you will likely overpay for him on draft day.

Evan Longoria, San Francisco Giants

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The Giants were serious about making major additions to their lineup, also acquiring Longoria from the Rays. Longoria had spent his entire 10-year career with the Rays, becoming the face of the franchise. He’s had some excellent run-producing seasons, hitting at least 30 home runs four times and driving in at least 100 runs five times in his career. He’s also been extremely reliable, playing at least 160 games in each of the last four years.

Longoria is still a fine player, but he’s not nearly as valuable in fantasy as he once was. Besides an outlier season where he hit 36 home runs in 2016, he has hit 22 home runs or less in three of the last four seasons. He doesn’t do a great job of getting on base either, posting an OBP of .328 or lower in each of the last four years. Third base is a deep position in fantasy, which could leave Longoria outside the top-15 at the position.

Wade Davis, Colorado Rockies

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The Rockies were the beneficiaries of one of the better surprises at closer last year, getting 41 saves from Greg Holland. The majority of Holland’s success came over the first half of the season when he recorded 28 of his saves and a sparkling 1.62 ERA. The second half was much more of a struggle, finishing with a 6.38 ERA in 24 innings. The Rockies decided not to bring him back for 2018, instead signing Davis to a hefty three-year contract.

Davis had 32 saves for the Cubs last year and a 2.30 ERA, which was actually the first time he finished with an ERA above 2.00 since 2013. He also posted a 12.1 K/9, which was the second highest of his career. When a pitcher moves to Coors Field, there is always a concern that their stats could regress pitching in such a hitter-friendly environment. Davis did give up six home runs last year, which were three more than the previous three seasons combined. However, his ground ball to flyball ratio was 0.70, which is very close to his career ratio of 0.67.

The big increase was in his home run to flyball percentage, which was 9.1%. That’s significantly up from his career mark of 6.5%. While I don’t think he’ll come close to replicating the excellent three-year stretch he had with the Royals prior to last season, he should still finish the season as a top-10 closer.

Carlos Santana, Philadelphia Phillies

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The rebuilding Phillies added a significant bat to their lineup, signing Santana to a three-year contract early on in free agency. He’ll take over as their everyday first baseman after spending the first eight years of his career with Cleveland.

Santana had spectacular power season in 2016, hitting 34 home runs and slugging .498. Other than that season, he’s never hit more than 27 home runs or slugged above .457 in any of his full seasons in the majors. He hasn’t been a significant run producer either, recording 87 RBI or less in each season of his career.

The positives for Santana is that he gets on base, posting an OBP of at least .363 in five of the last six years. He’s also done a nice job cutting down on his strikeouts, with his strikeout percentage decreasing in each of the last three seasons. However, based on his low batting average and limited ceiling, he’s a borderline top-20 first baseman.

Marcell Ozuna, St. Louis Cardinals

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

Ozuna established himself as one of the top outfielders in the league last year, finishing the season batting .312 with 37 home runs, 124 RBI, and 93 runs scored. He showed an improved eye at the plate, setting a career best with a 9.4% walk percentage, which was more than two percent higher than any of his previous four seasons.

Like Stanton and Gordon, he too was a part of the fire sale in Miami and will now roam the outfield for the Cardinals. His power will be a welcomed addition as the Cardinals finished in the bottom half of the league in home runs last season.

The Marlins were certainly a flawed team, but they had a potent lineup with Ozuna, Stanton, Gordon, Christian Yelich, J.T. Realmuto and Justin Bour. The Cardinals have some talented hitters, but their lineup doesn’t project to be as deep as the Marlins was last year. Ozuna will still likely be a top 15-to-20 outfielder, but he could experience some regression in counting stats.

Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros

MLB Fantasy Baseball Trade Analyzer and Off-Season Signings

The defending World Seris champs aren’t resting on their laurels this winter, making a big trade with the Pirates to add Cole to their starting rotation. The Astros already have one of the best lineups in baseball, but now boast a solid starting trio of Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, and Cole.

Cole’s best season with the Pirates came in 2015 when he finished 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 208 innings. However, his numbers have declined in the two years since, finishing last year 12-12 with a 4.26 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 203 innings. His main problem in 2017 was a massive increase in home runs allowed. He only allowed 29 home runs from 2014 through 2016 but gave up a whopping 31 in 2017 alone. When you add in the fact that he also issued a career-high 55 walks, you get the big jump in ERA.

There is a reason for optimism this year though as his ground ball to flyball ratio was 0.85 last year, which is almost right on pace with his career mark. His home run to flyball percentage jumped all the way up to 11.3%, almost double his previous career high. With some regression to the norm this season, Cole should get his ERA back down under 4.00. He’s a reliable source for strikeouts and should have plenty of chances to rack up wins on a great team, making him a top-25 starting pitcher with upside.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

by Cesar Becerra 0 Comments

*Cesar Becerra*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

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Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Tj McConnell
Draftkings: $5,000
Fanduel $6,700
Tj McConnell has been on fire over his last four games averaging over 32 DK points in 28 minutes since JJ Redick has been sidelined. Today Redick is expected to miss again, and Jerryd Bayless is questionable so McConnell could continue to pick up the slack for the Sixers guards. When both Bayless and Redick are off the court, McConnell holds a 27.4 assist usage percentage. His price is a little elevated given his recent 45 point performance a week ago, but he’s primed to get close to 30 minutes today.

Donovan Mitchell
Draftkings: $7,800
(SG) Fanduel $8,000
Rodney Hood has already been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. When Hood is off the court, Mitchell has a team-high usage rate of 29.4% and an assist rate of 20.4% second behind only Ricky Rubio. Mitchel is averaging over 33 minutes per game and is currently averaging 1.1 DK points per minute. He faces a Hawks defense that allows opposing point guards to score 4 points above-projected points total.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Malcolm Brogdon
Draftkings: $5,000
Fanduel: $6,300
Brogdon will return tonight after missing Saturday’s contest for personal reasons. He should be well rested and expected to resume his 30-34 minutes. For the year, Brogdon is averaging .78 fantasy points per minute and is going up against the Suns who play at one of the league’s fastest pace. The Bucks are projected to score just under 110 points so that should open the door for Brogdon to chuck up 3’s.

Wayne Ellington
Draftkings: $5,300
Fanduel: $4,800
Goran Dragic, Tyler Johnson, and Hassan Whiteside have all been ruled out for tonight’s contest against the Rockets. In situations when all three of those players are off the court, Ellington has been the primary beneficiary. In 185 minutes played, Ellington has seen the biggest boost in minutes (185) and usage (22.9%). Ellington is averaging .75 fantasy points per minutes and should be in line to start and could see upwards of 30 minutes.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Andrew Wiggins
Draftkings: $6,100
Fanduel: $6,200
Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford have been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Clippers. When both are off the court, Wiggins leads the Timberwolves with a 28.9% usage percentage and is second in offensive rating (112.5). This game has the second highest over-under so there should be plenty of opportunity for Wiggins.

Nemanja Bjelica
Draftkings: $3,000
Fanduel: $3,600
As I mentioned above Butler has already been ruled out, and Bjelica got the spot start for Butler when he didn’t play the last game. Bjelica played 26 minutes on Saturday and scored 8 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists. He’ll be one of the highest owned players on the slate given the matchup, price, and game flow against the Clippers.

Power Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Kelly Olynyk
Draftkings: $4,800
Fanduel: $4,500
I already talked about the Heat players who have been ruled out, that list included Hassan Whiteside. With Whiteside out, that opens up a spot in the frontcourt for Olynyk to get more minutes. He’s averaging just under 1 fantasy point per minute (.95) and is in an uptempo game against the Rockets.

Trey Lyles
Draftkings: $5,300
Fanduel: $5,400
Trey Lyles has seen upwards of 24 minutes in both of the past two games. Lyles is averaging just over 1 fantasy point per minute (1.01) and faces the Blazers who leave have allowed opposing power forwards to score +2.22 points above salary expectations. The Nuggets are 3 point favorites over the Blazers and Lyles should see 25 minutes tonight.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 1/22/18

Clint Capela
Draftkings: $6,600
Fanduel: $7,700
More of a play on Draftkings than Fanduel because of his extremely affordable price, Capela should benefit from Whiteside being off the court tonight. Capela continues to play right around 30 minutes a night and is averaging over 1 fantasy point per minute (1.31). With no Whiteside protecting the rim, Capela should be in store for a double-double tonight, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him pass 40 fantasy points.

Marcin Gortat
Draftkings: $5,100
Fanduel: $4,700
Since I gave you a DK play with Capela, I thought I’d give you a Fanduel play at center with Gortat. Gortat has struggled over his last three games failing to reach 20 Fanduel points in each, but tonight he has a good opportunity to bounce back. His salary has dipped below $5,000 on Fanduel, and he faces the Mavericks who allow opposing centers to score 2.19 points above salary expectations.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 15

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*


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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 15

It’s important to know the intricacies of the NBA schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head fantasy league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are some moves you might want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs

With 13 teams playing four games each this week, you could already be set at several positions on your team. However, if you need a player or two to help you get over the hump, consider adding the players below who are still available in the majority of leagues.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 15

Dewayne Dedmon, Atlanta Hawks

Dedmon began the season as the Hawks starting center and was off to a strong start before missing over a month with a knee injury. He’s healthy now and has played in six straight games, averaging 8.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks over that stretch. While his numbers don’t jump off the charts and he’s coming off the bench now, having someone who can at least approach a double-double every night of a four-game week can provide value. He faces the Jazz, Raptors, Hornets and Wizards this week, all four of which are teams with big centers. Dedmon could see some added playing time as a result. He’s still available in 58% of Yahoo! leagues and is someone to target if you need help in the middle.

T.J. McConnell, Philadelphia 76ers

Sixers guard J.J. Redick (leg) has missed the last two games due to injury, opening up added playing time for McConnell. He’s taken full advantage of the opportunity, averaging 13.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.0 three-pointer in those two contests. The initial diagnosis for Redick suggests that he could be out for part, or all, of Week 15, which would give McConnell a significant boost in value. McConnell has proven he can produce with added minutes, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.0 steals in seven games that he has played at least 30 minutes in this season. Still available in 70% of Yahoo! leagues, McConnell could be in store for a big week.

Wesley Johnson, Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have been one of the teams hit hardest by injuries this season, which has led to some unexpectedly productive players on their roster. Johnson is one of them, who is averaging 24 minutes per game this year. That’s double his playing time average with the Clippers last season. His overall numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s been playing much better of late, averaging 13.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks and 2.6 three-pointers in his last five games. He’s still available in 91% of Yahoo! leagues and is a worthy pickup, especially if you need help in three-pointers.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Orlando Magic

The Magic are the only team to play just two games this week, significantly reducing the value of the players on their roster. As a result, consider benching the players below who you may normally start most weeks.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 15

Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic

Fournier has been an excellent source of offense for the Magic, averaging 18.0 points and 2.2 three-pointers per game. The problem is, those are the only counting stats where he provides significant value as he is averaging just 3.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.9 steals per game. With only two games this week, he likely won’t have enough opportunities to accumulate points and three-pointers to warrant starting.

Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic

Biyombo has done an excellent job filling in for Nikola Vucevic (hand), averaging 9.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 12 games. He does get two juicy matchups against the Kings and Pacers, two of the worst teams in the league at defending the center position. However, with so many other teams playing four games each, it’s tough to roll out Biyombo based on his limited offensive upside. He will continue to be valuable for as long as Vucevic is out, but this might be the week to place him on your bench.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 1/20/18

by John Ferrucci 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 1/20/18


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POINT GUARDS:

Stephen Curry ($9,500 FD/$10,300 DK) –

Steph is a much more appealing play on FanDuel as he sits below the 10k range. He may be worth paying up for Saturday night as he takes on the Houston Rockets, who rank 22nd in defending point guards and the same team Curry scored 47 FanDuel points against a couple weeks ago. Curry has scored 40+ FanDuel points in 11 straight games, showing serious consistency value wise. The projected total of this game is a massive 234, implying a high scoring contest as well as fast paced with both teams ranking top 10 in the league in pace of play.

Eric Bledsoe ($7,000 FD/$7,600) – 

Bledsoe is one of the best point guard plays of the night, and will most likely be a very popular option. The Bucks will be without primary scorer Giannis as he has been ruled out. This lays a much heavier workload for Bledsoe against the Sixers who rank 21st in defending point guards. He’s very affordable and is projected 42.9 FanDuel points, giving him a healthy value of 6.13x.

SHOOTING GUARDS:

Khris Middleton ($7,400 FD/$7,900 DK) –

Alongside Bledsoe, Middleton will also be picking up much more offensive responsibility Saturday night with the Greak Freak sidelined. At a very affordable price it’s safe to say he will be high owned as well. He has a mediocre matchup with the Sixers. Luckily, they play at the fastest pace in the NBA so expect to tempo of the game to be pushed a little faster. This could benefit Middleton greatly.

Wayne Ellington ($4,400 FD/$4,900 DK) –

Ellington is dirt cheap and in a great matchup Saturday with the Charlotte Hornets, who defend shooting guards the worst in the league. He has been seeing great minutes, logging 30 or more in 9 of his last 10 games. He has also provided 20+ FanDuel points in three straight, showing a bit of consistency recently for such a low price tag. If Tyler Johnson remains out Ellington should see a slight increase in workload and opportunity. He seems worth the small risk.

SMALL FORWARDS:

Josh Richardson ($6,000 FD/ $6,000 DK) – 

Richardson has been a great offensive presence for the Heat lately, especially with Tyler Johnson out, who may be sitting out Saturday night as well. Richardson has averaged 33.6 FanDuel points in the two matchups Tyler Johnson recently missed. His price tag hasn’t changed much, which is a good thing. The Hornets may make things a bit more hectic as they run at the 10th rank pace in the league while the Heat rank a mere 28th.

PJ Tucker ($4,100 FD/$3,700 DK) – 

With Gerald Green and Trevor Ariza suspended last game, that left Tucker as a primary SF. Although he did not perform as expected, collecting 17.8 FDP, he was able to log 33 minutes. He should see this playing time once again Saturday night as Green and Ariza serve their final game of their suspensions. Tucker’s matchup with the Warriors is above average, so if he can get the appropriate minutes he will have plenty of opportunity to exceed value. He’s a bit risky, but also very cheap.

POWER FORWARDS:

Dario Saric ($5,500 FD/$6,200 DK) –

If you need a safe and cheap play, Saric is your guy. He has scored 20+ FanDuel points in eight straight contests, with three of those reaching the 40 point mark or more. He has been a great weapon for this developing Sixers offense. He matches up fair with the Milwaukee Bucks, who will be without Giannis. Saric is currently projected at 27 FanDuel points which would give him a value of nearly 5x. His consistency lately allows him to be a safer bet for your lineup as he also brings some upside.

Montrezl Harrell ($6,200 FD/$4,800 DK) – 

Harrell is another cheap option with upside in this slate. His price is much more appealing on DraftKings as his price on FanDuel may be a bit intimidating. Harrell has been very beneficial off the bench for this Clippers squad, especially with DeAndre Jordan sidelined. In the last three games without Jordan, Harrell has averaged 31.8 FanDuel PPG along with 27.6 minutes per game. Jordan has already been officially ruled out Saturday night, giving Harrell the chance to keep this type of play up.

CENTERS:

Joel Embiid ($10,500 FD/$10,400 DK) – 

The “process” might have to be trusted in this slate. Embiid is matched up great with the Bucks tonight as he has been on a tear lately. Embiid has three straight games with a double-double and is averaging nearly 2 blocks per game over his last five contests, helping his fantasy scores increase. He’s coming off a monstrous 26-16-6 performance against the Celtics, accumulating to 59.2 FanDuel points. He’s now rested for tonight’s game and appears to be a player to pay up for in this slate.

Hassan Whiteside ($8,700 FD/$7,600 DK) – 

Whiteside’s numbers his past two games are impossible to ignore, as the center posted back to back 20 point double-double games. He also combined both games for a total of 10 blocks, making him average 5 each game. In this span, he averaged 55.7 FanDuel points. He has a bit of a tough matchup against the Hornets but at his price and recent production, it’s a little difficult to fade him just for his matchup. Although he is due for major regression, that due date might just not be yet.