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NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/31/17

by John Ferrucci 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/31/17

Sunday night presents the last NBA DFS slate of 2017 so let’s end the year right.


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POINT GUARDS:

Russell Westbrook ($11,900 FD/$11,600 DK) –

With Sunday being a small five game main slate, Russell Westbrook almost seems to be a necessity with very little “superstars” available and Harden coming off a poor performance. Westbrook is currently riding a very impressive 7 game streak in which he has provided 55+ FanDuel points. He will be opposing the Mavs Sunday, who rank mediocre in defending the position. Needless to say, defensive rankings don’t really matter when dealing with the animal Westbrook has been. In his last meeting with the Mavs he nearly dropped a triple double, falling one assist short. That game was in Dallas and now will be in Oklahoma City, with the cheer of thousands backing his dominance.

Jordan Clarkson ($7,200 FD/$6,500 DK) – 

With Lonzo Ball sidelined with a shoulder injury for the last three games, Jordan Clarkson has been effectively filling the starting PG void that was left. In these three games Clarkson has averaged 37.5 FanDuel PPG. He has an interesting match-up Sunday against the Houston Rockets, who rank in the bottom third tier of the league in defending point guards. The Lakers and Rockets both rank top 10 in pace of play, making it seem a beneficial spot for Clarkson. One major concern is that the current line sits at Houston -15, raising concern for a blowout. With a small slate, Clarkson may be the play you need regardless of game score.

SHOOTING GUARDS:

Tyreke Evans ($8,600 FD/$7,900 DK) – 

Speaking of hot streaks, it’s hard to ignore what Tyreke Evans has been doing lately. He has scored 20 or more points in 7 of his last 8 games, accumulating to an average of 42.6 FanDuel PPG in those games. For this type of production, he seems to be too cheap, especially in this match-up with the struggling Sacramento Kings. Although this game is the second of a back-to-back venture for Evans, it shouldn’t be too big of an issue as he only went for 30 minutes in the first game.

Josh Hart ($3,900 FD/$4,900 DK) – 

Due to legal issues, Lakers SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope cannot leave the state of California for the meanwhile, which draws Josh Hart a start whenever the Lakers are on the road. He has also been benefiting off the injury to teammate Lonzo Ball. Luckily for Hart, Lakers take a road trip with Lonzo Ball ruled out. Hart is dirt cheap, especially on FanDuel and to afford a player like Westbrook or Harden in this small slate he may be your perfect cheap play and provide you great value.

 

SMALL FORWARDS:

Brandon Ingram ($7,000 FD/$6,400 DK) – 

The small forward options on this slate seem very thin, with no players who are active costing more than $7,600 on FanDuel. Ingram seems to be a great play to meet ends on the SF portion of your lineup. Ingram has played fairly well in his two previous meetings with the Rockets, with an average of 35.8 FanDuel points. The Rockets rank 25th in the league in defending small forwards as they allow 43.80 fantasy points per 48 minutes to SF’s. With the game having a pretty high total at  226.5 it appears Ingram will be a main source of the Lakers offense.

Trevor Ariza ($5,200 FD/$5,600 DK) – 

Ariza is a very cheap and consistent option in this slate. He has scored at least 20 or more FanDuel points in 11 of his last 12 games, averaging a healthy amount of minutes per game in that span. The last time Ariza met with the Lakers he managed to put up 48.7 FanDuel points in a double-double effort that included 4 steals. He most likely won’t produce that tonight, however, he is  great cheap option you can count on to get you a mediocre amount of points or even more. Trevor Ariza is currently projected to score 28.5 FanDuel points tonight.

POWER FORWARDS:

Kyle Kuzma ($6,500 FD/$7,100 DK) – 

Although not very impressive his last two games, Kyle Kuzma has great upside Sunday night. Kuzma is opposing the same team he slaughtered just about 2 weeks ago, posting 38 points and 7 rebounds. The Rockets rank poorly defending forwards this season. (Ranked 25th) For a relatively cheap price tag Kuzma seems worth the risk considering his peaks and potential he’s shown throughout this season. He’s averaging 37 minutes per game over his last 5, which most likely will uphold so expect Kuzma’s workload Sunday night to be a little heavy.

Blake Griffin ($8,500 FD/$7,600 DK) – 

Griffin recently played his first game back from injury and looked as if he didn’t miss any time, posting a stat line of 24-6-6 against the Lakers in 32 minutes. Griffin could be a risky play as he isn’t guaranteed to see 30+ minutes again tonight but he has a great match-up against the Hornets who rank 22nd in defending the position. Griffin’s teammate Austin Rivers is questionable for this game and if ruled out, Griffin could see his first small boost in usage since returning. I don’t project Griffin’s ownership tomorrow to be high at all considering he is coming off an injury, which could make him very valuable in this small five game main slate.

CENTERS:

Joel Embiid ($10,500 FD/$9,900 DK) – 

One of the only three players costing more than $10,000 on FanDuel is Joel Embiid in this small slate, and he seems beyond worth paying up for. The big man for the 76ers has an amazing match-up with the defensively struggling Phoenix Suns. He is also well rested as he sat last night’s game to preserve his health. For 9 straight games, Joel Embiid has scored 20 or more points when logging 30 minutes or more. With teammate Ben Simmons struggling, Joel may have an increased workload solely trying to pick up the slack, although his other teammates do a fine job at doing so also. Embiid may be the play to pay up for.

Dwight Howard ($8,400 FD/$7,400 DK) – 

The Center position is one of the most stacked tonight, sporting a few solid options to play. Dwight Howard seems very appealing with his current price tag. He has been electric of late, averaging 48.4 FanDuel PPG over his last three. He exploded for 29 points and 13 rebounds in his last game accumulating to 57.1 FPTS. If there is one thing we know about modern day Dwight Howard it’s that he is inconsistent and nothing good lasts forever with him, always making him somewhat of a risk. It seems tonight will not be the night he slows down.

 

 

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/29/17 – Value Plays

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/29/17 – Value Plays



Use Code “CYBER30” at checkout for 30% off Seasonal Package
 

Friday’s schedule in the NBA is packed with nine games, giving you plenty of options for your DFS entry. Let’s take a deep dive and look at only the cheaper value plays that could help make you a winner.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Tyler Johnson, MIA vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $6,000

The Heat have been one of the most injured teams in the league of late, leaving Johnson to average 36 minutes over his last five games. He hasn’t let that opportunity go to waste, averaging 16.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 three-pointer per game. While Goran Dragic is back healthy, now the Heat have lost Dion Waiters (ankle). The Nets play at the fourth-fastest pace (102.8) in the league, leaving Johnson with the potential to provide excellent value Friday.

J.J. Barea, DAL at NO
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,900

Although Barea is only averaging 23 minutes per game off the bench for the Mavericks this season, he is still averaging a career-high 12 points per game. The main reason for that has been his 25.8% usage rate, which is second highest on the team. Barea should have added chances to score Friday as not only do the Pelicans play at the seventh-fastest pace (101.9) in the league, but they also allow the second-most points per game (110.9). The price is right to take a chance on him in tournament play.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Wayne Ellington, MIA vs. BKN
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,700

Ellington is another player benefiting from the rash of injuries on the Heat, playing at least 32 minutes in five straight games. He’s been lethal from behind the arc, shooting 20-for-44 (45.5%) during that stretch. Scoring hasn’t been his only contribution to the Heat either, grabbing at least six rebounds in three of those five games. Considering the small lineups the Nets deploy and the fast pace at which they play, Ellington is a viable option for your entry.

Josh Hart, LAL vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,600

The Lakers have dealt with depth issues at guard lately, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being unable to play outside of the state of California because of legal issues and Lonzo Ball (shoulder) injured. Hart has seen an unexpected bump in playing time, as a result, logging at least 30 minutes in three straight games. While he hasn’t put up any monster performances, he’s provided value by averaging 10.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 three-pointers over that stretch. While Caldwell-Pope will be able to play Friday, Ball will still be out of action. Considering his cheap price, he is an option to consider at shooting guard.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Lance Stephenson, IND at CHI
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,600

Stephenson will likely start again Friday with Victor Oladipo (knee) ruled out for the second straight game. Stephenson was fantastic in his first start filling in for Oladipo on Wednesday, scoring 16 points to go along with 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two three-pointers. Even with limited minutes outside of Wednesday’s game, Stephenson has now scored at least 10 points in four of his last five games. Look for him to be productive again in this game versus the Bulls.

Allen Crabbe, BKN at MIA
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Like most starters on the Nets, Crabbe struggled in limited minutes Wednesday against the Pelicans. He had averaged 12.6 points in five games entering that contest, so chalk it up to just a bad performance by the team in general. He’s not just an offensive weapon for the Nets either, grabbing at least five rebounds in five straight games. This should be a game filled with small lineups Friday, so Crabbe might be worth the risk at this price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Markieff Morris, WAS vs. HOU
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Morris is finally starting to get consistent playing time, resulting in at least 27 minutes in five of his last six games. In those five games, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 three-pointers per contest. The Rockets play a lot of small lineups, to begin with, but will likely really go small with Clint Capela (face) out Friday. Considering they play at the eighth-fastest pace (101.4) in the league, Morris is worth consideration for your entry.

Ryan Anderson, HOU at WAS
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $5,100

Speaking of the Rockets going small with Capela out, Anderson played a whopping 40 minutes without Capela on Thursday against the Celtics. He didn’t have an explosive performance but managed to finish with nine points, eight rebounds, one steal, one block and two-three-pointers against a tough Celtics defense. His volume alone makes him a possible option for your lineup, but he could really be worth it if he gets hot from behind the arc.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Julius Randle, LAL vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,100

Randle played only 11 minutes while struggling against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, but had averaged 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in three games prior. His struggles Wednesday shouldn’t be surprising as the Grizzlies allow the fewest points per game to opposing centers on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Expect him to play more minutes and fair better Friday, especially if Kyle Kuzma (quad) does not play.

Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. ATL
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,300

Poeltl is establishing a significant role off the bench for the Raptors, averaging 22 minutes over his last seven games. He doesn’t put up gaudy numbers but did average 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over that stretch. The Hawks don’t have much size up front, resulting in allowing the seventh-most points per game on FanDuel and the sixth most points per game on DraftKings to opposing centers. His ceiling isn’t very high, but Poeltl is a viable option if you want to go really cheap at center.

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

by Chris Durell 0 Comments

*Chris Durell*

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

 

Welcome to the craziness that is Week 17 in the NFL. There are teams that are locked into their playoff spots or have nothing to play for at all and could very well sit their starters. Even if some players don’t sit all together, they could be limited to a couple quarters at most. Be sure to check out all the information available on Twitter or by a simple Google search before locking in your lineups as this article is written mid-week. Let’s jump in and take a look at each Tier for the seven-game early slate on Sunday.

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tier 1

Ezekiel Elliott returned last week and rushed for 94 yards and picked up an additional 21 yards through the air but unfortunately, the Cowboys lost and were eliminated from the playoffs. This muddies the waters for Week 17 as it is unclear how much usage he will get and then add the tough matchup vs. the Eagles defense that ranks 4th in DVOA vs. the rush and 3rd in DraftKings points per game allowed to running backs.

DeAndre Hopkins received his second-lowest target share of the season(6) but still managed to make a ridiculous catch in the endzone to pick up 16.5 fantasy points. This week he gets an elite matchup vs. the Colts who have allowed the third-most passing yards per game(254.8) this season and rank 23rd in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. I am also less concerned with his usage as both teams have been out of the playoffs for some time now and it hasn’t stopped him at all.

The Patriots are locked into the playoffs and have wrapped up the division but still have one game left to lock down home-field advantage through the playoffs with a win so I am expecting another big game from Gronk. He has scored 15 or more DK points in four straight games with three of those performances exceeding 25 points and now faces a horrendous Jets defense that ranks 23rd in DVOA vs. the pass and 24th in DK points per game allowed to tight ends. He could be the highest owned player in this tier but also may have the biggest upside.

The Vikings have also locked up their division but have a big game on Sunday as the Rams, Saints, and Panthers are all breathing down their neck for that #2 seed and a first-round bye. Adam Thielen has been quiet over the last two weeks with just five catches for 54 yards but is having a big season overall with 1,215 yards and could be low owned this week considering he is facing a Bears team that has been pretty good against wideouts ranking 14th in DK points per game. Don’t overlook he and Case Keenum’s ability to produce big-time fantasy points as Thielen moves all over the field and can exploit matchups.

Top Targets in this Tier – Rob Gronkowski, Adam Thielen

Tier 2

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Marvin Jones has not scored a touchdown or broke 100 yards since Thanksgiving vs. the Vikings and has seen some decline down the stretch as he has only been targeted 14 times over the last three games and tallied double-digit fantasy points just once. Despite neither team in this game having anything to play for, Jones does get a nice matchup vs. the Packers defense that has allowed the 11th most passing yards per game(232.3) and ranks 25th in DK points per game to wideouts.

It’s a similar situation for T.Y. Hilton as the Colts and Texans have been eliminated and on to next season. Hilton did breakout in a tough matchup last week vs. the Ravens catching six of his 12 targets for his first 100-yard game since week 9 against none other than these Houston Texans who rank 28th in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. Look for Hilton to finish the year off strong.

Speaking of the Texans, it was JuJu Smith Schuster getting to them late on Christmas day as he caught six of his seven targets for 75 yards and a touchdown. With Antonio Brown still sidelined with an injury both Martavis Bryant and Smith-Schuster should continue to see high usage in the Steelers defense. The other thing he has going is that the Steelers can still grab a first-round bye with a win and a New England loss. This week they get a winless Browns team that sits mid-pack in passing yards per game allowed (230.7) but rank 29th overall when looking at DVOA vs. the pass. Fire up JuJu with confidence this week.

Another safe play in this tier is Dion Lewis at the running back position. With James White and Rex Burkhead both out last week, Lewis saw the bulk of the action out of the backfield and crushed for fantasy rushing for 129 yards and a touchdown 35.3 fantasy points. Burkhead for sure won’t be back this week and White is still questionable early in the week meaning Lewis could once again be the feature back for the Pats who are huge 15.5 point favorites. The Jets have been pretty good against the run ranking 12th in DVOA and 15th in DK points per game allowed to running backs but the game script in fully in Lewis’s favor here and he should once again see 20+ carries which presents a high floor and ceiling.

Top Targets in this Tier – JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dion Lewis

Tier 3

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tom Brady has been a big disappointment for fantasy lately and a lot of it can be attributed to the run game that has averaged 121.5 yards per game over their last four games. In those four games, Brady has not topped 17 fantasy points once and may not again this week as the Patriots are currently huge 15.5 point home favorites vs. the Jets and will likely lean on Dion Lewis once again.

Kirk Cousins is coming off his best game in over a month throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns against the Broncos and has topped 15 fantasy points in three of his last four weeks. He has also thrown for multiple touchdowns in five of his last six games. The running game in Washington has been hit hard with injuries which should once again force Cousins to throw it up 30+ times and he gets an elite matchup to do it against the Giants who rank 31st overall in DK points per game to quarterbacks.

Even without Antonio Brown, Big Ben threw two touchdowns on Christmas day making it seven straight games with multiple touchdown passes. Like I mentioned earlier, the Steelers are still playing for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs but without Brown again this week and an elite running back in the backfield(Le’Veon Bell), we shouldn’t expect high volume from the passing game which will limit Big Ben’s upside.

Matthew Stafford hasn’t flashed much upside since having his throwing hand stepped on earlier in December against the Ravens. He has hit double-digit fantasy points in every single game this season but has only hit the 20-point threshold once in his last five games. There has been no word nor is it expected that the Lions will rest their starters against the Packers and that is good news as the matchup is favorable as the Packers rank 25thin DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. Back in Week 9, Stafford completed 26 of 33 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Packers.

The Eagles snuck out a win on Christmas vs. a weak Raiders defense but it was almost all credited to the defense as Foles came back to Earth after a four-touchdown performance the week before. He completed just 50% of his passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. With the win, the Eagles locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs so it is unclear how much run they will give Foles in a division game vs. the Cowboys. If word comes out that they will let him play the entire game to prepare for the playoffs, fire him up as the Cowboys rank 21st in DK points per game allowed to QB’s and Foles has a ton of weapons to help him hit value(Ertz, Jeffery, Agholor, Ajayi).

Top Targets in this Tier – Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17

Tier 4

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplab.com

The fourth tier is a very interesting one considering four of the five quarterbacks have nothing to play for as their teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. Only the Vikings and Case Keenum have something to play for as they look to lock up the #2 seed and a first-round bye. As of Wednesday, the four other quarterbacks are slated to start for their respective teams but Eli Manning seems to have the biggest question mark as to how much playing time he will see.

Dak Prescott gets a tough matchup on paper vs. the Eagles who rank 6th in DVOA vs. the pass and 12th in DK points per game allowed to the position. With the Eagles having already locked up the #1 seed there is a chance they could rest some starters in the second half which would open up Prescott’s upside if he was to play the entire game.

Brett Hundley will get the start and likely play the entire game but the knock on him this week is that two of his top receiving options are dealing with injuries. Devante Adams remains in the league’s concussion protocol while Jordy Nelson was injured in Saturday night’s game and has yet to practice this week. The matchup is also not high on the list as the Lions rank 16th in DVOA vs. the pass and 14th in DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. Proceed with caution.

Jacoby Brissett easily gets the best matchup in the tier facing a Texans defense that ranks 24th in DVOA vs. the pass and dead last in DK points per game allowed to quarterbacks. The issue with him is that the upside really hasn’t been there as he has just three touchdowns over his last four games while averaging 11.9 DK points per game. If you are planning on using Brissett in this tier, be sure to pair him with his top target, T.Y. Hilton, in Tier 2.

Top Target in this Tier – Case Keenum, Jacoby Brissett

Tier 5

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Tier 5, which consists of five wide receivers, start with Stefon Diggs who has not only scored in back to back games but has also been much better at home this season. He is averaging just over 85 yards per game(44 on the road) and has scored five touchdowns(2 on the road) while averaging 20.9 DK points per game(9.9 on the road). The matchup is not the greatest against the Bears who rank 14th in DVOA vs. the pass but the good news is that Diggs has also seen an uptick in targets over his last four games with 7.3 per game compared to his 5.9 season average.

As a mirror opposite, Brandin Cooks gets a great matchup this week against the Jets who rank 23rd in DVOA vs. the pass and 19th in DK points per game allowed to wideouts. The issue here is that he has trended down with his targets lately with an average of 5.5 over the last four games and the game script will most definitely not be in his favor as the Pats are huge 15.5 point favorites.

After scoring in back to back games, Alshon Jeffery recorded his worst game of the season catching zero balls on just two targets against the Raiders. He and Nick Foles have not shown the same chemistry as he and Carson Wentz did for most of the season. The Eagles have also locked up the #1 seed and although he will start the game, it is unclear how many snaps he and the rest of the starters will see against the Cowboys. Best to fade Jeffery here.

Jamison Crowder played with a hamstring injury last week and seen just 45% of the snaps but came through catching all four of his targets for 47 yards and a touchdown. He has been the most targeted player on the Redskins this season(6.8 per game) and with an extra week to get back to full health should be able to exploit an excellent matchup vs. the Giants who rank 24th in DVOA vs. the pass and 21st in DK points per game allowed to wideouts.

Martavis Bryant also gets an upside matchup in Week 17 against a Browns team that ranks 29th in DVOA vs. the pass. He should also see some added target share this week with Antonio Brown still sidelined with an injury while the Steelers are still fighting with the Patriots for the #1 seed in the AFC. This is one tier that I will be splitting a few a players in multi-lineup contests.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jamison Crowder, Stefon Diggs, Martavis Bryant

Tier 6

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Zach Ertz has been the most reliable option in this tier averaging 7.2 targets and 15.5 DK points per game but will be hard to trust this week as the Eagles have wrapped up the #1 seed and it’s unclear how much the starters will play this week. The same sentiment holds true for Ertz’ teammate Nelson Agholor who could also see limited snaps. Another big question mark in this tier is the status of Sterling Shepard as he was not present at practice on Thursday and with the Giants having nothing to play for, it is unlikely he sees the field and if he does it will likely be limited snaps.

I talked about the Lions matchup this week with Marvin Jones and the same holds true for Golden Tate who has seen steady targets all season(7.5 per game) and sits with 899 yards and four touchdowns. I do prefer Jones slightly as he gets the better matchup vs. Damarious Randall while Tate, in the slot, will see quite a bit of Morgan Burnett who is rated quite a bit higher than Randall over at PFF. Both are definitely in play if Stafford is going to be playing the entire game.

Like I have mentioned, the Eagles will likely sit most of their starters, at least in the second half which presents an excellent matchup for the Cowboys this week and Vegas agrees as they have Dallas sitting as road favorites. Dak Prescott even mentioned he will be damned to finish the season after last week’s performance so I fully expect the offense to play the entire game and try and end 2017 on a high note. Roll out Dez with confidence.

Josh Gordon has continued to trend down since his return and posted his worst game of the season(4 games) last week in Chicago with just two catches on eight targets for 19 yards. He is getting the targets(9 per game) but gets an even tougher matchup this week facing a Steelers team that ranks 7th in DVOA vs. the pass and DK points per game allowed to wideouts. More bad news as the Steelers also have the #1 seed to play for so you can expect a strong performance against their division rivals.

With Aaron Jones not practicing this week and doubtful to play in Sunday’s finale, it opens up the workload for Jamaal Williams once again making him a nice target this week. He has flashed big upside since taking over as the Packers top back mid-season and posted one 100+ yard game and scored in three straight games from Week 12-14. He will likely see 20+ touches this week in a terrific matchup vs. the Lions who rank 28th in DVOA vs. the rush and 31st in DK points per game allowed to running backs.

Top Targets in this Tier – Golden Tate, Dez Bryant, Jamaal Williams

Tier 7

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

Jordan Howard has been a boom or bust play all season.  He has flashed big upside as he has rushed for 100 or more yards five times and scored multiple touchdowns three times but also scored 10 or fewer DK points seven times. I have a strong feeling that the latter will be the case in Week 17 as he gets a terrible matchup against a Vikings defense that has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game(87.1) and fewest DK points per game to running backs. Probably best to fade him here. Robby Anderson is also on my fade list in this tier as he is not only questionable with an illness but has also done nothing since Josh McCown went down in Week 13. Lamar Miller has been a huge disappointment this season as he has not topped 75 yards once and comes in with three straight weeks without getting to 10 DK points and was out-touched and out-performed by Alfred Blue on Christmas day. Safe to say Miller is also a fade in Week 17.

After starting off the tier with three fades it doesn’t leave many options but there is some value with the Vikings players this week as they have the #2 seed in the NFC to play for and the starters will likely play the entire game unless it gets out of hand. The matchup for the running backs is a tough one as the Bears have allowed the ninth-fewest yards per game(105.5) and rank 9th in DK points per game allowed to the position. Because of this, I lean Jerick McKinnon who has been far and away the receiving back this season with 4.5 targets per game compared to Murray’s 1.1 per game. On the season, McKinnon has 51 receptions for 421 yards and a touchdown. As for Kyle Rudolph, he has been dealing with n ankle injury all December and was once again limited in practice this week. On top of that, he gets a tough matchup as the Bears rank 12th in DK points per game allowed to tight ends. For receiving options, I prefer Diggs and Thielen for the Vikings. SKOL!

I talked about Jacoby Brissett and T.Y. Hilton as a nice stack earlier and another option on the Colts this week is tight end, Jack Doyle. He is tied with Hilton for the team lead in targets(6.9) and gets a terrific matchup vs. the Texans who have allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game(246.3) and rank 26th in DK points per game to the tight end position.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jerick McKinnon, Jack Doyle

Tier 8

 Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

If Duke Johnson gets in a full practice this week after being limited Wednesday he makes an intriguing option as he has been a nice PPR back all season. He is fourth in receiving among running backs with 68 receptions for 618 yards and three touchdowns. Will Fuller cannot be trusted as he has fallen off a cliff since Deshaun Watson went down before Week 9. Bilal Powell is a nice option here in this tier as he is closing his season out on a high note with touchdowns in three of his last four games and coming off his second 100+ yard game last week vs. the Chargers.

The Colts may not have anything to play for in Week 17 but Frank Gore has a milestone to hit. Via Evan Silva on Twitter:

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 17 - Lineuplabs.com

I fully expect the Colts to feed him the ball this week. Another option who is fully in play here is Randall Cobb of the Packers. With Jordy Nelson and Devante Adams very doubtful to play it will open up a ton of targets and Cobb could very well be the beneficiary giving him a high floor and ceiling vs. the Lions.

Top Targets in this Tier – Bilal Powell, Frank Gore, Randall Cobb

 

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions leading up to Sunday morning lineup lock, be sure to hit me up on Twitter(@Jager_Bombs9). Good luck everyone!

 

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

The NFL regular season comes to a close this week with playoff positioning still to be determined. While several playoff teams are still battling for seeding, there are some that have nothing left to play for, so there is a chance they could rest their starters. Even with a few stars possibly resting this week, there are still plenty of great options for your daily fantasy football entry. Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $6,700
FanDuel = $7,700

Garoppolo had the most impressive performance of his brief 49ers career in Week 16, throwing for 242 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Jacksonville Jaguars defense. He also chipped in a rushing touchdown, marking his second career game with at least three touchdowns. Not only was it impressive that he played so well against a good defense, but also considering he has very limited offensive weapons around him. The Rams are resting several key players this week with a first-round bye out of each, leaving Garoppolo as someone to consider for your entry.

Kirk Cousins vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,200
FanDuel = $7,600

While this has been a disappointing season for the Redskins, Cousins is only three touchdown passes away from setting a new career-high and throwing at least 30 touchdowns for the first time in his career. Week 17 brings an excellent matchup against a Giants defense that is riddled with injuries and playing extremely poorly. The Giants enter Sunday allowing the second-most net passing yards per game (260) and have allowed the most passing touchdowns (32) in the league. Cardinals backup quarterback Drew Stanton managed to throw for 209 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants in Week 16, so the far more talented Cousins might be in for a big day.

Jacoby Brissett vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $6,600

Brissett doesn’t jump off the page as a viable option Sunday as he enters Week 17 having thrown for less than 200 yards in four of his last five games. While he can help out with some rushing yards, he hasn’t of late, posting 36 total rushing yards over his last three games. That being said, he gets a favorable matchup this week against a Texans defense that is tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (29) in the league. Brissett threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns against them earlier this season, so he is a viable option if you want to go with a cheaper quarterback.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

LeSean McCoy vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $8,000
FanDuel = $8,200

Despite all their struggles this season, the Bills are surprisingly still in the playoff hunt. With average at best quarterback play from Tyrod Taylor, they will likely lean heavily on McCoy to try and make the postseason Sunday. McCoy continues to rack up yards both on the ground and in the passing game, posting at least 96 total yards in four straight games. One of those games came against these same Dolphins when not only did he have 96 total yards, but he also had two total touchdowns. Expect him to get plenty of touches and provide value again in Week 17.

C.J. Anderson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $6,900

Anderson is finally getting consistent work for the Broncos as they turn to their rushing attack to cover up their hole at quarterback. Anderson was even heavily involved in the passing game in Week 16, hauling in seven of nine targets for 45 yards. Volume is the key for Anderson as he is averaging 98 rushing yards in the six games that he received at least 16 carries this season. The Chiefs struggle to stop the run and have allowed the fourth-most rushing touchdowns (15) in the league. This is a very reasonable price for Anderson considering his upside.

Derrick Henry vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $5,800

Titans starting running back DeMarco Murray has an MCL tear heading into Week 17 and while he hasn’t been officially ruled out yet, the chances of him playing aren’t great. If he does manage to find his way onto the field, he would likely only play a limited role at best. Henry is in line to see increased carries as a result, something that has been few and far between this season. He only received 11 or more carries in seven games this season but managed to average 75.8 rushing yards in those games. Volume alone makes him a viable option at this price in Week 17.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Field
DraftKings = $8,400
FanDuel = $9,100

It’s amazing to see what Hopkins has been able to accomplish despite all the Texans issues at quarterback this season. Despite catching passes from Tom Savage and T.J. Yates, Hopkins still has 34 receptions for 499 yards and four touchdowns in his last five games. To no surprise, he played well in his previous meeting against the Colts this season when he caught six of 16 targets for 86 yards and one touchdown. The Colts allow the third-most net passing yards per game (255) in the league, so expect another big game from Hopkins on Sunday.

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $7,300
FanDuel = $7,300

Smith-Schuster took over as the Steelers number one wide receiver with Antonio Brown (calf) out in Week 16, finishing with six receptions for 75 yards and one touchdown. Brown will be out again in Week 17, leaving Smith-Schuster to get plenty of opportunities to produce. While the Steelers have already clinched a first-round bye, they still have something to play for this week as they try to clinch the number one seed in the AFC. Considering he gets to face the winless Browns, Smith-Schuster could have an excellent performance Sunday.

Jamison Crowder vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $5,800
FanDuel = $7,000

Crowder only has three receiving touchdowns this season, but they have all come in his last five games. One of those games was against the Giants when he finished with seven receptions, 141 yards, and one touchdown. He’s approaching a bit of a milestone Sunday as he is only four targets away from receiving at least 100 in a season for the first time of his career. With the Giants deficiencies and injuries on defense already detailed, Crowder might be able to end his season with a bang in Week 17.

Keelan Cole vs. Tennesee Titans
Stadium – Nissan Stadium
DraftKings = $5,700
FanDuel = $5,900

To say Cole is finishing the season on a high note is an understatement. With 16 receptions, 393 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his last three games, Cole has been an excellent option at a cheap price in DFS. His price is still reasonable for Week 17, especially considering the Jaguars are still dealing with multiple injuries to wide receivers. With another big role likely on tap, Cole is definitely someone to consider for your entry.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

Antonio Gates vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $4,200
FanDuel = $5,700

With Hunter Henry (abdomen) on IR, Gates stepped back into a familiar starting role in Week 16. He had a throwback performance, hauling in six of eight targets for 81 yards and a touchdown. He’ll look to finish off the season strong against a Raiders defense that has allowed the most receiving yards (992) to tight ends this season. The price is right to take a chance that he reaches the end zone again Sunday.

Jack Doyle vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – Lucas Oil Field
DraftKings = $4,700
FanDuel = $5,400

Doyle has had an excellent season for the Colts, setting career-highs in targets (103), receptions (76) and receiving yards (652). While he only has three touchdowns, his role in the passing game has still provided him with value. He played well in his previous meeting this season against the Texans, recording eight receptions on nine targets for 63 yards. That should come as no surprise as the Texans have allowed 77 receptions for 884 yards to tight ends this season, both of which put them in the bottom-ten in the league. Expect another solid performance from Doyle in Week 17.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 17

Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $3,200
FanDuel = $4,600

The Redskins defense has been productive lately, recording 16 sacks, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in their last five games. One of those was against these same Giants, who scored only 10 points in the game. The Giants have even fewer healthy players now as they are dealing with injuries to Sterling Shepard (neck) and Evan Engram (ribs), both of whom are listed as questionable for Week 17. Don’t expect the Giants to be able to score much (if at all) in this game.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $2,100
FanDuel = $4,000

The Rams are resting up for the playoffs and have already ruled out Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, and some key offensive lineman for Week 17. Sean Mannion will start at quarterback, but only has 16 passing attempts in his NFL career. Malcolm Brown is expected to start at running back and he only has 192 rushing yards on 49 attempts this season. With so many backups taking the field, the 49ers defense might be worth the risk in tournament play at this dirt cheap price.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/28/17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/28/17



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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Ish Smith, DET at ORL
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900

The Pistons suffered a big loss with Reggie Jackson (ankle) being ruled out for 6-to-8 weeks. Luckily, they have a solid backup ready to fill in with Smith. Smith is only averaging 20 minutes per game this season but has put up respectable averages of 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He showed what he can do in 32 starts with the Pistons last year, averaging 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 30 minutes per game. The Magic allow the most points per game to opposing point guards on both FanDuel and DraftKings, so take advantage of Smith at this price.

Tyus Jones, MIN at MIL
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,400

Timberwolves starting point guard Jeff Teague went down with a knee injury Wednesday that did not look good. An exact timetable for his absence has yet to be determined, but Jones will now step into a starting role for the foreseeable future. He played very well in three starts earlier this season, averaging 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 4.0 steals and 1.7 three-pointers per game. Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau is used to dealing with his starting point guard being out from his days with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. Backups like Aaron Brooks, John Lucas III, D.J. Augustin, Mike James and Nate Robinson all thrived when given the chance to start, so Jones’ success isn’t that surprising. Make sure Jones is in your lineup at this cheap price Thursday.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Khris Middleton, MIL vs. MIN
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $7,500

Middleton has been getting all the playing time he can handle of late, logging at least 37 minutes in 10 of his last 11 games. The heavy minutes are great for his value as his 25.1% usage rate is inside the top-45 in the league. He’s averaging career-highs in points (20.7), rebounds (5.2), assists (4.5) and three-pointers (2.1) per game as a result. Expect him to play big minutes and put up valuable numbers again Thursday against the Timberwolves.

Terry Rozier, BOS vs. HOU
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Rozier has been getting consistent minutes lately, playing at least 26 minutes in four straight games. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity, averaging 10.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.8 three-pointers per game. Jaylen Brown (knee) missed Wednesday’s game and might not play Thursday either, which should leave Rozier with the chance for extra playing time again. The Rockets already like to use a lot of small lineups, but might really go small with Clint Capela (face) out for this game. Rozier is cheap enough to take a chance on at this price. Of note, he is shooting guard eligible only on DraftKings as he is point guard eligible on FanDuel.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Jimmy Butler, MIN at MIL
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $7,700

If you watched any of the Timberwolves overtime victory against the Nuggets on Wednesday, one thing for certain is that Butler is clutch. He scored 12 points in overtime and finished with 39 points overall, the third time in the last five games that he has scored at least 32 points. If you think he might see limited minutes on the second night of a back-to-back after playing 42 minutes Wednesday, you’ve got another thing coming. Butler always plays big minutes and coach Thibodeau is never one to rest his star players. Butler’s 24.0% usage rate is second highest on the team (behind Jamal Crawford of all people), so expect him to thrive again Thursday. Of note, he is only small forward eligible on FanDuel as he is listed at shooting guard on DraftKings.

Reggie Bullock, DET at ORL
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,000

Avery Bradley (groin) is expected to be out again Thursday, leaving Bullock with added minutes. Bradley has missed the last five games for the Pistons, during which Bullock has averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per game. The Magic play at the sixth-fastest pace (102) in the league, so Bullock should have added opportunities to score in this contest. He’s cheap enough to warrant consideration if you want to save money at small forward.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

LaMarcus Aldridge, SA vs. NY
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,800

Aldridge continues to be a rock for the Spurs, averaging 22.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game this season. Even though his production is likely to decline with the return of Kawhi Leonard, Leonard hasn’t played more than 26 minutes in any game so far. Even with Leonard playing 26 minutes Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets, Aldridge finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and one block. The Knicks have a lot of size up front, so expect Aldridge to keep things rolling Thursday.

Jayson Tatum, BOS vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,500

Tatum continues to get plenty of playing time in his rookie season, logging at least 33 minutes in four straight games. Marcus Morris (knee) sat out Wednesday’s game against the Hornets and will likely only see limited minutes if he does return Thursday. As already mentioned, this should be a game full of small lineups with Capela out. The Rockets also play at the eighth-fastest pace (101.4) in the league, so look for Tatum to get his chance to provide value at this price.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at MIL
FanDuel = $10,000
DraftKings = $8,900

The addition of Butler has certainly hurt Towns’ value as he’s averaging almost five points less per game this season. His usage rate of 22.9% is the lowest of his three-year career. That being said, he’s still averaging a gaudy 20.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game. The Bucks don’t have much size up front, which has resulted in them allowing the fifth-most points per game on FanDuel and the fourth-most points per game on DraftKings to opposing centers. If you saved money going with cheap guards, it might be wise to spend some of it on Towns.

Bismack Biyombo, ORL vs. DET
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,600

Biyombo played 30 minutes Tuesday is his first start filling in for Nikola Vucevic (hand). He only scored three points, but his offensive skills are not why you consider him for your entry. He came through with 12 rebounds and five blocks, which was no easy task with Hassan Whiteside back for the Miami Heat. He’ll be counted on for big minutes again Wednesday against Andre Drummond, making him a great value play option at center.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/27/17 – Value Plays

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/27/17 – Value Plays



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Wednesday’s slate in the NBA is loaded with 10 games, giving you plenty of options for your DFS entry. We took a look at some of the overall excellent plays in Wednesday’s article on Sports Illustrated, but let’s now dive deeper into only the cheaper value plays that can help make you a winner.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

J.J. Barea, DAL at IND
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,000

The Mavericks continue to struggle, but Barea has been one of their better players this season. He’s had an excellent month of December, averaging 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.8 three-pointers in 13 games. Although he comes off the bench, he has no shortage of opportunities to produce, posting the second-highest usage rate (25.6%) on the team. The Pacers allow the ninth-most points per game (106.9) in the league, so Barea will have an opportunity to provide value again in this game.

Andrew Harrison, MEM at LAL
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,100

Harrison has been counted on to play extra minutes with Mike Conley (Achilles) out, logging at least 30 minutes in five of his last seven games. He has played well in his new role, averaging 15.0 points, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 three-pointers in those five games. He gets to play a Lakers team that plays at the fastest pace (104.3) in the league Wednesday, leaving him with the potential to provide value at this cheap price.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Jordan Clarkson, LAL vs. MEM
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,600

Clarkson did an excellent job filling in for the injured Lonzo Ball (shoulder) on Monday, scoring 17 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists, and four steals in 35 minutes. His performance could have been even better if he didn’t shoot an ugly 8-for-24 from the field. He should be in line to start again Wednesday with Ball still out of action. Considering his 27.8% usage rate is the highest on the Lakers, Clarkson should be in for another big game with extended minutes likely on tap.

Marcus Smart, BOS at CHA
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,200

Smart is playing well right now, averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 three-pointers over his last six games. He could see extra playing time Wednesday as the Celtics will have a limited roster with Marcus Morris (knee) out and Jaylen Brown (knee) listed as doubtful. His ceiling isn’t very high based on his 33.7% field goal percentage, but he can still do enough across the board to provide value at this cheap price.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

DeMarre Carroll, BKN at NO
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,300

Carroll couldn’t have played much worse Tuesday against the Spurs, scoring only two points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field. Chalk that up to one bad game against a good defense as he was shooting 42.2% from the field in six games entering Tuesday. Look for him to be more productive Wednesday as both the Nets and the Pelicans are in the top-seven in the league in pace of play. Not only that, but the Pelicans allow the second-most points per game on FanDuel and the most points per game on DraftKings to opposing small forwards.

Wilson Chandler, DEN at MIN
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,700

Chandler has seen extensive playing time for the Nuggets, logging at least 33 minutes in five straight games. He’s played well over that stretch, averaging 13.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 three-pointers per game. He struggled to only score five points against these same Timberwolves last week but salvaged the game with 10 rebounds and six assists. He might not have a ton of upside based on his limited offensive game, but that doesn’t mean he’s not someone to consider at this price based on his ability to contribute in other areas.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Trey Lyles, DEN at MIN
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,400

Lyles has established a significant role off the bench for the Nuggets, averaging 27 minutes per game in December. His production this month has been excellent, averaging 14.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.9 three-pointers per game. There are no signs of his minutes dwindling anytime soon as Kenneth Faried hasn’t even played in the last five games. The price is right to take a chance on his recent run of production continuing Wednesday.

Markieff Morris, WAS at ATL
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,700

Morris’ minutes are way down this season at only 24 minutes per game, his fewest since the 2012-13 season. He’s played a little more than that lately though, logging at least 27 minutes in four of his last five games. Those four games came against the Cavaliers, Nets, Magic and Celtics, all teams that use a lot of small lineups. He’ll face a similar opponent Wednesday as the Hawks don’t have much size up front. Morris is averaging 13.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 block in the last seven games that he has played at least 27 minutes, making him a viable option based on his potential Wednesday.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Enes Kanter, NY at CHI
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,800

Kanter is having a stellar season for the Knicks, averaging a double-double (14.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game) for the first time in his career. He destroyed Joel Embiid and the Sixers on Monday, scoring 31 points to go along with 22 rebounds. That’s not good news for Robin Lopez and the Bulls. The Bulls don’t have much size outside of Lopez either, so this has the makings of another big game for Kanter, although you shouldn’t expect him to replicate Monday’s performance.

Jonas Valanciunas, TOR at OKC
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings – $4,700

Valanciunas continues to struggle to get playing time this season, averaging a career-low 21 minutes per game. He’s shown what he can do with extended minutes, averaging 18.3 points and 13.0 rebounds in the last four games that he played at least 25 minutes. Three of those games came against the Kings, Suns, and Clippers, each of which is either a team with depth up front or a dominant center who gets plenty of playing time. He faces a similar opponent Wednesday as center Steven Adams is averaging 33 minutes per game for the Thunder. The potential for added minutes is here, so Valanciunas has some upside.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17


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Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17

Kris Dunn
FD $7,400 DK $7,000

After a very entertaining 5-game Christmas slate, we have an unusual 8-gamer on a Tuesday. There are a lot of interesting spots and plenty of games to dissect. We’ll kick it off in Milwaukee with Kris Dunn and the Bulls. Point guard is actually a spot that’s much worse than usual. At least at the top. The 5 highest-priced options are all in average-subpar spots. Kris Dunn has the best match-up of the 5, facing off with Eric Bledsoe in what should be a very close game. With a 212 total and 6 point line, Dunn should be in there for his full complement of 34-38 minutes. Eric Bledsoe is a fine defender, but the Bucks have no help underneath the rim and Dunn will exploit that. Bledsoe is also a very turnover prone PG and Dunn is probably the most skilled in the league in forcing turnovers. He’s by no means a must at this price, but he’s in a better spot than the rest and is affordable. He’ll be a huge part of both my cash games and tournaments.

Milos Teodosic
FD $5,900 DK $4,600

If you’re looking to pay down at PG, we have a guy here that is going to hit value in most cases. Milos Teodosic is an extremely consistent player and it’s shown in his minutes. He runs a strict rotation and is looking at 32 minutes right now. Against a Kings squad that ranks 22nd against PG’s, sign me up. Teodosic is one of the main playmakers on this Clippers squad, though he is admittedly still trying to find himself. He’s not a typical rookie and shouldn’t be treated like one. His price is too low and I don’t think he gets under 25 FP here. The Clippers are missing both SF’s, so we’ll see Rivers move over to the 2 down the stretch with Teodosic at the 1. The game is expected to stay close and I don’t see much chance of missed value.

Shooting Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17

Wayne Ellington, vs. Magic (FD: $4600, DK: $3900)
Projected Points: FD: 22.02, DK: 23.16

Now for one of the easier plays on the slate. With Dion Waiters ruled out, you can pencil in Ellington for 34-40 minutes and 10+ shots. This isn’t at all a guy who’s going to stand in the corner and disappear. He is actively used on the offense and if you’ve rostered a separate Heat player, you know that all too well. He’s a streaky shooter who can get hot in any game. The Magic are an extremely average defense and they rank 17th against the 2. Ellington is just an extremely safe play in all formats that will likely be around 35-40% owned in cash games. I will be there.

Tyreke Evans
FD $8,500 DK $8,600

If you can pay up at SG, I think you go Tyreke Evans. With the Grizzlies typically being one of the slower teams in the league (Evans still destroys), it’s a big deal when they play up in pace to such an extreme. The Suns are the fastest team in the league at a 109 PAE, compared to the 98 the Grizzlies baseline at. Evans is going to see an extra 4-5 shots here and will have the ball in his hands a lot as he can handle the fast pace. The Suns may have Devin Booker back, but that will just hopefully help Evans. They’ve ranked 21st against SG’s on the season, but it’s almost meaningless for a guy like Evans who plays 1-3 throughout the game. He’s one of my favorite expensive plays on the slate and a guy I think gets over 45 fantasy points at an affordable tag.

Small Forward

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17

Harrison Barnes
FD $6,300 DK $6,200

Small forward is the ugliest position on this slate. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is a full go, I’ll be doing my best to get there. He’s the only guy who can hit 60 fantasy points and could blow the entire position out of the water. If not, I’m looking for consistency in Harrison Barnes. He is a guy I often lean on in cash games and you know what you’re going to get on 95% of the nights. The other 5% will consist of some stinkers and explosions, but it’s not why he’s in your lineup. He gets a match-up with the Raptors tonight that will give him OG Anunboy and Norman Powell. Neither of them is anything at all to be scared of and Barnes is going to do his normal thing. If you need 28-40 out of SF and have $6,500, here you go. The game isn’t all that exciting and we might not target it again, but Barnes is not dependent on a fast pace or bad team defense.

Chandler Parsons
FD $4,200 DK $4,000

Chandler Parsons has seen 25 and 26 minutes in each of the last two games. I will play him in 100% of my lineups at this price. He’s a very good player that is just catching his legs before he can finally get healthy. if that ever happens. As for tonight, he gets an ideal match-up against the Suns where the FP will be easy to come by. T.J Warren isn’t a bad defender at all, but he doesn’t have much help behind him with such a pitiful interior that can’t keep up. Vegas has this game staying close and is high-scoring for the Grizzlies. Parsons is extremely cheap and will only need you 15-20 in cash games. he could easily get hot from behind the line and get to 30. This is a guy making more money than 99% of the league.

Power Forward

Zach Randolph
FD $6,000 DK $6,000

Small forward is the worst position, but power forward isn’t all that great either. You have LaMarcus Aldridge at the top, but you don’t know how many minutes he will play against a lowly Nets squad. You then have a questionable Aaron Gordon against a slow Heat team. That leads us down to Zach Randolph, who’s consistent and priced fairly. He’s not even getting huge minutes, but touching the ball on almost every possession he’s in there. He’s always been a productive offensive player and his shot is still there. The Clippers are extremely weak at the 4 with Griffin out and he’ll take advantage. Expect another 25-35 fantasy points with the upside for 45 if it stays close and he plays 30+ minutes. He’s somehow a top option on this offense and while he may go back to scoring 10 FP a night like he has for the better part of the 2 season, he has his legs right now and it’s not at all a fluke. At an extremely weak position, I’ll take it 100/100 times.

John Henson
FD $5,300 DK $4,700

John Henson is still getting the start and he’s getting some solid minutes. He’s been over 38 in 3 of his last 4, which may be the first time in his career. He’s always been a guy that produces when on the court, but hasn’t been able to be trusted to get the minutes. NOw, you can pencil in at least 22-23 if foul trouble doesn’t hit. He’s been stretched over 30 multiple times, so the upside is there if he’s wreaking havoc on this weak Bulls interior. Mirotic and Portis are both average defenders, but neither have the height or length to stay with Henson under the rim. It’ll likely be Robin Lopez to start, but I don’t see that lasting very long either. Getting minutes at both the 4 and 5, Henson is a guy you can guarantee production from. At this price, he won’t be a guy that kills you. His floor is around 20 with a ceiling well over 40.

Center

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17

Bismack Biyombo
FD $4,400 DK $3,800

With Nikola Vucevic out for the foreseeable future, look for Biyombo to do exactly what he did last year and get up to $6k very soon. Unless the Magic change their entire approach, he’ll get close to 30 minutes and be a big part of the offense. He doesn’t get plays run for him, but is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and finds tons of ways to get involved. If you’ve been playing NBS DFS for some time now, you know exactly what I mean. The Heat are short-handed without Whiteside and Adebayo is nothing to be all that worried about. He’s cheap across the board and will help you pay up for some guys at other positions that are very scary to fade.

Nikola Jokic
FD $8,900 DK $7,900

Make sure you don’t look at this match-up with the Jazz in the same light as usual. With Rudy Gobert out of the lineup, they are very weak down low against skilled players. Jokic is one of the best big men in this league and will be back to putting up 6-70 a night when he gets rolling. He’s played 36+ minutes in each of the last 3 games, so he’s definitely 100% healthy and ready to go. Instead of Gobert, it’ll be Derrick Favors and Epke Udoh on Jokic. Ya, not the same. The game is expected to stay close (-4) and Jokic is the only place the ball goes down the stretch. The Nuggets last played 3 days ago, so throw out playing time eas a concern. Jokic is expensive, but he won’t be popular and has 45+ FP upside.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/25/17

by John Ferrucci 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks 12/25/17

Monday night presents Christmas Day; one of the most entertaining days for the NBA season. With a small but stacked five game slate, you will need to include some low priced plays to be able to afford the large selection of superstars.



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POINT GUARDS:

Russell Westbrook ($11,500 FD/$10,900 DK) – 

With so many superstar options in this slate Russell Westbrook may be your guy to pay up for as he is cheaper than LeBron and Harden on both platforms and cheaper than Kevin Durant on FanDuel. Lately, Westbrook has been an absolute menace to the stat sheet. He has scored 20+ points in six straight games, averaging a whopping 60.8 FanDuel PPG over those contests. He meets with former teammate James Harden on Christmas night, and is in great position to put on a show. The Rockets rank first in the league in offensive rating along with 8th in pace which could push the Thunder to increase the tempo and work quicker leading to more possessions and opportunity for Westbrook.

Jordan Clarkson ($4,000 FD/$4,700 DK) – 

Although listed as a SG on FanDuel (PG eligible on DraftKings), Clarkson seems to be a great play Monday night. The backup point guard should be getting the start for injured Lonzo Ball, who has already been listed as out for this contest. Clarkson hasn’t been so hot off the bench lately, but we’ve all seen what he’s capable of doing. At one point in the season he was outperforming Ball immensely enough where he would play the entire 4th quarter of games while Ball would sit. His recent decline in productivity has been adjusted into his salary which makes it even better for this slate. He will be playing the Timberwolves, who rank 22nd in defending opposing point guards this season. With a dirt cheap price Clarkson won’t need to do much to exceed value, making him a great asset to withhold a steady salary.

SHOOTING GUARDS:

Klay Thompson ($7,000 FD/$6,400 DK) –

With James Harden being very expensive in this slate ($12,000 FD/$11,100 DK), it may be smart to save some salary on the shooting guard position. Klay meets with the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third straight Christmas match-up. Once again Curry is sidelined, giving Klay and KD a heavy offensive workload against the poor defense Cleveland brings to the court. Klay has not had many breakout DFS games with Curry out, but has been very consistent. He has averaged 31.3 FanDuel PPG in the eight game absence from Steph.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($6,100 FD/$5,100 DK) – 

Caldwell-Pope has been dealing with some legal issues, as he is unable to leave the state of California. Luckily for him, Monday night’s game is indeed in Los Angeles. Listed at a fairly cheap price, KCP has been very productive in the games he has played recently. Over his last four games he has averaged 34.4 FanDuel PPG. He has also added at least two steals in seven straight games, which weighs heavy on the DFS scoring system especially on FanDuel. In those same seven games, KCP has accompanied his defensive skill set with double digit scoring as well. Caldwell-Pope may be your guy for this slate to fill the void in the SG spot.

SMALL FORWARDS:

Kevin Durant ($12,100 FD/$10,500 DK) – 

Kevin Durant can destroy just about any defense which makes his date with the Cavaliers a lot more appealing considering their weak defense discussed in Klay’s feature. The Cavs are allowing an average of 42.5 FPPG to the small forward position. KD has scored 50 or more FanDuel points in 6 of the 8 games played without sharing the court with Curry; with 3 of those 6 accumulating to 65+ points. The intensity of this game seems promising with both teams ranking in the top half of the league in pace. These teams are also “rivals” as they have met in three straight NBA finals. With a high price tag and a ton of superstar options, Kevin Durant seems worth paying up for if you can find the salary to fit him.

Trevor Ariza ($5,600 FD/$5,000 DK) – 

In this slate, you’re going to need a few fairly priced plays that will provide you just enough to stack on top of your superstars performance. With that being the case, Trevor Ariza has a reliable resume to hold you over. He has a little bit of a tough game opposing a top defense in the Oklahoma City Thunder, but has proved to be very consistent for his price. Ariza has supplied 20+ FanDuel points along with double digit points in nine straight games. His teammate, Chris Paul, is listed as questionable with a leg injury which could open up a small boost in usage for Ariza if he is in fact incapable of playing. Ariza is definitely worth the risk in this slate as his sub-$6,000 salary will also open room for some bigger plays and will hopefully keep the 20+ streak alive Christmas night.

POWER FORWARDS:

Ben Simmons ($9,400 FD/$9,300 DK) – 

Simmons is a versatile play Monday night as he is listed as a PF on FanDuel yet eligible for PG and SF on DraftKings. Regardless of placement, Simmons is in for a great match-up with the New York Knicks. Teammate Joel Embiid is once again listed as questionable as he has missed five of the 76’ers last eight games with back issues. Simmons has averaged 42.5 FanDuel PPG in those five games without Embiid on the court with him. If Embiid is sidelined expect Simmons’ usage to incline a decent amount as he faces off with a sub-par defense. Seeing what Simmons will do in his first game at Madison Square Garden should be interesting, and definitely a match-up to keep on your radar when trying to generate the perfect lineup. You should also keep your eye on Richaun Holmes and Dario Saric as they will also have a heavy workload if Embiid sits.

Jordan Bell ($4,900 FD/$4,900 DK) –

With the same price tag on both main DFS platforms, Jordan Bell brings a lot of upside to your lineup. The rookie has been filling in for Draymond Green as he has been dealing with an injury as of late and has proved himself to be the go-to guy to fill his void. Even with Draymond back in action the last two games, Bell was granted minutes in the low 20’s in which included a breakout double-double game accumulating to 41.5 FanDuel points. Bell is averaging 25 minutes per game over his last five, and will be playing a Cavs defense ranking dead last in the league at defending the big man positions. To add icing on the cake, Draymond is questionable for this game which could annex even higher upside on this very cheap play. Luckily, FanDuel has gifted us all a Christmas present of their own with a late swap enabled slate.

CENTERS:

Kevin Love ($8,000 FD/$7,500 DK) – 

It’s hard to stay away from a game with so much more to it than a +1 in the win column which is why Kevin Love makes a great play. Love is averaging a double-double this season and has supplied 20 or more points in four of his last five games with an average of 38.9 FanDuel PPG in that span. Ironically, Love is only averaging just under 30 minutes per game this season despite his immense production. It is safe to assume that Love will see a good amount of minutes in this rivalry match-up with the Warriors, increasing his ceiling for DFS value. At a salary of $7,500-$8,000 Love can be a perfect play to plug in with a higher priced superstar and could even come very close to replicating that player’s statistics.

Julius Randle ($5,900 FD/$5,000 DK) – 

If you are looking to spend small on a position, I personally would advise the Center position to do so in. With a recent injury to Laker’s center Brook Lopez, Randle has seen an increase in minutes at the position. He goes into Monday night’s game against the Timberwolves who allow an average of 54.50 FPPG per 48 minutes to centers this season. Randle has been effective offensively of late, scoring double digit points in 8 of his last 9 games with that one game being one where he only logged 8 minutes of action. When logging at least 20 minutes Randle has scored double digit points in 13 straight games. With a small price tag, Randle seems worth the risk in this small five game slate.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*



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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Just because you’ve got time off for the holidays doesn’t mean you should take time off from preparing your fantasy basketball squad for Week 11. It’s important to know the intricacies of the schedule to gain an advantage over your opponent in a head-to-head league as starting your best players might not always give you the best chance to win. Here are the moves you want to consider for your team based on the week ahead.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards

There are 15 teams playing four games each this week, so you likely might not have to scramble too much to build what will hopefully be a winning starting lineup. That being said, if you don’t have many players on these teams or have been bitten by the injury bug, here are some players you should consider adding.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

Bobby Portis, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls were the laughing stock of the league earlier this season and a big reason for that was the absence of Portis and Nikola Mirotic. Now with depth up front, the Bulls not only look like a competitive team but actually had a seven-game winning streak. Portis is having the best season of his young career, averaging 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.1 three-pointers per game. He’s been heavily involved in the offense, posting a 25.7% usage rate that is second on the team to only Mirotic. Portis is still available in 62% of Yahoo! leagues, so go pick him up if you need a forward.

Jordan Bell, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have dealt with injuries to Draymond Green (shoulder) and Zaza Pachulia (shoulder) of late, leaving extra minutes for Bell. He’s played at least 22 minutes in each of his last six games, averaging 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per contest. Green is healthy now, but Pachulia’s status this week is still uncertain. Considering the Warriors will be playing four games, you have to figure they might rest players for a game or two as well even if they are healthy. Bell is still available in 68% of Yahoo! leagues and could provide value this week, especially if you need blocks and steals.

Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers

Stephenson’s numbers don’t jump off the page this season, averaging 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He played limited minutes at the start of the season, which has hurt his averages so far. With an increase in playing time of late, Stephenson has averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists over his last seven games. Other than a matchup against the Timberwolves, the Pacers get to play three teams that like to use small lineups this week in the Pistons, Bulls, and Mavericks. That fits well with Stephenson’s style of play, so he is someone to consider adding if you need help. He’s still available in 86% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Portland Trail Blazers

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 11

With the Trail Blazers being the only team with two games this week, it’s bad news if you own anyone on their team. While you’ll want to stay away from using all of their bench players, here are two starters who you should also consider benching.

C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers

If you drafted McCollum, it’s mostly because you were counting on him to score. He hasn’t disappointed, averaging 20.7 points and 2.3 three-pointers per game. He’s been in a bit of a scoring slump of late though, shooting only 30% from the field over his last three games. It hurts if he’s not scoring as he doesn’t provide much in other categories. Without the volume this week, it might be best to put McCollum on your bench.

Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers

Nurkic was dominant on the glass after being acquired by Portland at the deadline last season, averaging 10.4 rebounds per game. He’s seen a significant drop off this season, averaging only  7.4 rebounds per contest. He’s also shooting only 45.8% from the field, which is damaging from your center. He’ll have one great matchup against a depleted Hawks frontcourt this week, but Portland’s other game comes against Joel Embiid and the Sixers. It would be wise to put Nurkic on your bench for now.