The NBA is finally back! With the All-Star break firmly in our rearview mirror, we have six games to choose from for Thursday’s DFS slate. Let’s dive right in and discuss a couple of cheaper value plays at each position that could provide significant returns.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/5/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Tuesday’s eight-game schedule in the NBA brings plenty of cheaper value play options, especially with teams like the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Clippers and Celtics all battling injuries. Let’s highlight a couple of players at each position who stand out as having favorable matchups. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Jerryd Bayless, MIN at MEM
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,400
Well, Derrick Rose’s (ankle) return from injury was certainly brief. He played 20 minutes against the Nuggets on Saturday but has already been ruled out for this game against the Grizzlies. Tyus Jones (ankle) is out, as well, and Jeff Teague (foot) is listed as doubtful, so expect Bayless to once again receive all of the playing time that he can handle. He’s cashed in his added minutes lately, averaging 15.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, eight assists and one steal across his last six games.
Patrick Beverley, LAC at CHA
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,200
The Clippers will once again be without the services of Danilo Gallinari (back), although it appears his return is on the horizon. Beverley has played well filling in for him in the starting five, averaging 11 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals across his last nine games. With the Clippers playing at the ninth-fastest pace (102.1 possessions per game) in the league, the added playing time should once again leave Beverley with value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, OKC vs. ORL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,800
The Thunder still don’t have a very deep roster, but the addition of Schroder over the summer has been huge for them. A fixture of the Hawks starting five the last two seasons, Schroder is averaging 15.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game despite coming off of the bench for the majority of this year. The key is that he’s still averaging 29 minutes a game to go along with the third-highest usage rate (25.1 percent) on the team. Schroder had plenty of success when these two teams squared off last week, scoring 21 points to go along with three rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes.
Jaylen Brown, BOS at CLE
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $4,900
The first name that likely comes to mind whenever Kyrie Irving (hip) is out is Terry Rozier. He’s certainly a great option since Irving won’t play in this game, but he’s not overly cheap. Brown, on the other hand, has a juicy price tag on both sites. Across the last five games that Irving has missed, Brown has averaged 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and one steal. That included a matchup with these same Cavaliers when he scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes. He stands out as one of the best value plays of the night.
SMALL FORWARDS
Jonathan Isaac, ORL at OKC
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,300
Isaac is finally starting to show signs of why the Magic think so highly of him. He’s seen a slight increase in playing time lately, which has helped him average 10.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.9 blocks across his last seven games. The Magic don’t play at a fast pace, but they’ll need to speed things up Tuesday to keep up with the Thunder, who play at the third-fastest pace (103.9). The last time these two teams met, Isaac had a nice all-around line with 11 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block.
Nicolas Batum, CHA vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $5,100
Batum has been more involved offensively, of late, which helped him average 12.5 points across his last eight games. The increase in scoring leaves him with upside considering he also averaged 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals and one block during that stretch. His value could be impacted significantly if the Hornets make any moves leading up to the trade deadline, but for Tuesday, he’s at least someone to consider in DFS.
POWER FORWARDS
Larry Nance Jr., CLE vs. BOS
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,800
The Cavaliers won’t have much depth up front for this game with Kevin Love (toe), Tristan Thompson (foot) and Cedi Osman (ankle) all out. They also suffered a blow to their offense when Rodney Hood was traded to the Blazers over the weekend. With so little talent around him, Nance, who is coming off of consecutive double-doubles, has a chance to shine despite this being a tough matchup against the Celtics.
Marvin Williams, CHA vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900
Williams hasn’t been shy about shooting from behind the arc, which has resulted in him averaging a career-high 5.2 three-point attempts per game. He’s made an average of two of them per contest, which has provided a significant boost to his offensive upside. He’s no slouch in the rebounding department, either, with 5.5 boards a night. The first time these two teams met, Williams scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him provide similar production in their rematch.
CENTERS
Ivica Zubac, LAL at IND
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,600
Zubac (finger) is listed as probable for this game with the only caveat being his name has been mentioned in trade rumors. With how aggressive the Lakers plan to be on that front, it will be important to monitor for news throughout the day. If no deal is made and Zubac does play Tuesday, he does make for an intriguing option. His price has actually come down a bit lately, but he was still just one rebound shy of a double-double in his last game Saturday against the Warriors.
Boban Marjanovic, LAC at CHA
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,500
After spending a lot of time riding the pine, Marjanovic has reappeared for the Clippers. He’s taken the floor in each of their last three games and averaged 10.3 points, eight rebounds and one steal across 16 minutes per contest. We’ve seen this before, so there’s a chance he might not even play Tuesday. However, with how quickly he can fill up the stat sheet, he might be worth taking a chance on in tournament play.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/29/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
We’ve only got three games in the NBA on Thursday, leaving us with very few value options to choose from. That being said, there are still some players to highlight who have favorable matchups that are still worth considering. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Darren Collison, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,700
It looks like the Pacers will be without Victor Olaipo (knee) once again. Collison hasn’t seen a significant increase in playing time, but he is averaging 7.6 assists across five games with Oladipo out compared to 4.8 assists for the season, overall. His 16.6 percent usage rate isn’t all that appealing, but Collison might be able to contribute enough across the board Thursday in this matchup against a Lakers team that plays at the fifth-fastest pace (103.9 possessions per game).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,900
An injury to Avery Bradley opened up a starting spot for Gilgeous-Alexander that he has yet to relinquish. Don’t expect him to lose the job anytime soon, either, since he is averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, three assists and one steal across 11 games. His usage rate is also 19.7 percent as a starter, up from 15.6 percent when he was coming off of the bench. Both the Clippers and the Kings are in the top-eight in the league in pace of play, which could leave Gilgeous-Alexander with a few more opportunities to provide value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Buddy Hield, SAC vs. LAC
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,700
Hield was limited to 25 minutes a game last year, but the Kings are giving him a chance to shine this season with 31 minutes a night. He hasn’t let them down, averaging 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest. His usage rate of 24.4 percent has remained largely unchanged from last year, but it’s the second-highest on the team behind Harry Giles (26.7 percent). This game could be a shootout with Hield right in the center of it all.
Aaron Holiday, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,700
Holiday was awful against the Suns on Tuesday, going 1-for-6 from the field for two points and two assists across 15 minutes. Prior to that, he had averaged 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and two assists across four games with Oladipo out. There is certainly risk involved with putting Holiday into your entry, but it might be one worth taking based on his price. Of note, he is only eligible at shooting guard on FanDuel as he is listed at point guard on DraftKings.
SMALL FORWARDS
Bojan Bogdanovic, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $5,300
If you’re looking for an efficient scorer, look no further than Bogdanovic. His 19.2 percent usage rate is nothing to write home about, but he’s shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 53.5 percent from behind the arc. Strangely enough, he is shooting a career-low 79 percent from the charity stripe, but he’s still averaging 15.6 points per game. He’s taken on more offensive responsibilities with Oladipo out, making him another Pacer to target Thursday.
Doug McDermott, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $3,500
McDermott has not been able to live up to the hype of being the 11th-overall pick in the 2014 Draft and is now on his fifth team. He’s mostly a three-point specialist, shooting 40.5 percent from behind the arc for his career. Normally he doesn’t get many shot attempts, but he’s been more involved due to the absence of Oladipo. Across his last five games, McDermott is actually averaging 13.8 points. At near the minimum price on both sites, McDermott could provide some value in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Serge Ibaka, TOR vs. GS
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,500
With the Warriors lack of size up front, this would appear to be a game in which Ibaka will receive significantly more playing time than Jonas Valanciunas. Across five games in which Ibaka has logged at least 30 minutes, he is averaging 17.6 points, six rebounds, and 1.4 blocks. He’s not overly cheap, but this could still be a matchup to exploit.
Thaddeus Young, IND at LAL
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,500
Young had a minuscule 15.7 percent usage rate through his first eight games but has been more involved with an 18.1 percent usage rate across his last 13 contests. He’s another one of the players on the Pacers to see a bump in productivity with Oladipo out, averaging 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals across the last five games. His upside isn’t nearly as high as Ibaka’s, but he also provides a little more savings for your budget, leaving him in the discussion at power forward.
CENTERS
Willie Cauley-Stein, SAC vs. LAC
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,900
Cauley-Stein has hit a rough patch, averaging 9.4 points and 6.8 rebounds over his last five games. However, it should be noted that two of those contests were blowouts in which he logged 18 and 23 minutes, respectively. The Clippers have allowed the fifth-most DraftKings points per game and the eighth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers, so this might be just what the doctor ordered to get Cauley-Stein back on track.
Boban Marjanovic, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $3,500
Marcin Gortat (back) was a late scratch for Wednesday’s game against the Suns, opening up a spot start for Marjanovic. He recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds and is now averaging nine points and nine rebounds across four starts this season. He’s clearly not going to log as many minutes as Montrezl Harrell even if he starts Thursday, but Gortat being out again would make Marjanvic a great option in tournament play.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/8/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Thursday brings a light schedule in the NBA with only four games. There aren’t a ton of viable cheap value plays, as a result, so let’s look a little further across the price scale for some options that could help you win some money. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Eric Bledsoe, MIL at GS
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,700
Bledsoe is off to a horrendous offensive start, averaging just 12.8 points per game. That would be his lowest mark since he was a bench player for the Clippers during the 2012-13 season. A big reason for his decline in scoring has been his 21 percent usage rate, which is down from 26 percent during his time with the Bucks last season. Luckily he’s still averaging four rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. With both of these teams in the top-10 in the league in pace of play, this could be a chance for Bledsoe to have one of his better performances of the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LAC at POR
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,600
Avery Bradley (ankle) didn’t play Monday against the Timberwolves, which opened up a starting spot for Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s clearly not going to be one of the main scoring options for the Clippers, even in a starting role, but he did finish with six points, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in that contest. Bradley will sit Thursday, as well, making Gilgeous-Alexander someone to at least consider in tournament play.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Dennis Schroder, OKC vs. HOU
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $7,000
Another player benefiting from an injury on his team right now is Schroder. Russell Westbrook suffered what looked to be a bad ankle injury Monday against the Pelicans, but it doesn’t appear to be as serious as initially feared. He sat out Wednesday against the Cavaliers, leaving Schroder to enter the starting five. Schroder didn’t let his teammates down, scoring 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, one steal, and one block across 34 minutes. It seems unlikely that Westbrook will play Thursday, making Schroder a great option once again.
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL at GS
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,500
Playing alongside Bledsoe, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, it’s no surprise that Brogdon only has a 16.7 percent usage rate. However, he is shooting 46.6 percent from the field, which has helped him average 12.1 points per contest. His contributions come from more than just in the scoring department, as well, with 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. This should be an uptempo game with a lot of small lineups. making Brogdon an intriguing cost-effective option.
SMALL FORWARDS
Evan Turner, POR vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $5,000
Turner hasn’t been able to live up to the hype of being the second overall pick in the 2010 Draft, but he’s become a very valuable member of the second unit for the Blazers. Despite only playing 25 minutes a game, he’s averaging 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. The Blazers don’t exactly play at a blistering pace, but they might be forced to Thursday with the Clippers playing at the ninth-fastest pace (103.7 possessions per game) in the league. With Turner’s ability to contribute across the board, he could provide value.
Alfonzo McKinnie, GS vs. MIL
FanDuel = $3,800
DraftKings = $3,800
The Warriors are going to be thin up front with Draymond Green (toe) out. It will require a group effort to make up for his absence, with one of those players possibly being McKinnie. He’s been excellent on the boards in limited playing time, averaging 4.1 rebounds across just 15 minutes per game. The Warriors have already been playing him more, as well, with McKinnie logging at least 20 minutes in three of their last four games. During those contests, he averaged 13.7 points and 6.7 rebounds. At this dirt cheap price, he might not be a crazy choice in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Montrezl Harrell, LAC at POR
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,600
The Marcin Gortat era with the Clippers seems to be over. Since removing him from the rotation, the Clippers have gone 2-0. Harrell played well in both of those games, averaging 11.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks. It’s also important to note that even though he didn’t start either of those contests, he logged at least 25 minutes both times. Even in a bench role, Harrell can thrive.
Jerami Grant, OKC vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,900
Grant might not be a flashy name, but he’s extremely important for the Thunder. After coming off the bench for 80 of the 81 games he played in last year, he’s started seven of nine contests this season. He’s done nothing to suggest he will be removed from that role, averaging 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. The Rockets use a lot of small lineups and the Thunder play at the sixth-fastest pace (104.9), leaving this as a favorable matchup for Grant.
CENTERS
Steven Adams, OKC vs. HOU
FanDuel = $7,800
DraftKings = $5,800
Adams doesn’t come at much of a reduced price on FanDuel, but his price on DraftKings is appealing, especially with only four games on the schedule. He’s been a rock for the Thunder in the middle, averaging 13 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks across 34 minutes a game. Although he’s been horrible from the charity stripe, that’s more of a season-long fantasy issue than a concern for DFS. This should be a fun matchup between him and Clint Capela.
Boban Marjanovic, LAC at POR
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,400
Marjanovic has flashed immense potential, but he’s never been given consistent playing time. That’s changed with him taking over the starting center job from Gortat. He’s still not playing a normal allotment of starter’s minutes, but he’s averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds, and one block in that role. The Blazers have defended opposing centers well this season, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from Marjanovic when crafting your entry.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 11/5/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
With nine games in the NBA on Monday, we’ve got plenty of value play options to consider in DFS. Here are some players with favorable matchups who could help you bring home some cash. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Collin Sexton, CLE at ORL
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,600
Things are getting ugly in Cleveland in a hurry. Kevin Love (foot) will be out for at least six more weeks, they’ve already fired their head coach, and now there are reports that some veterans on the team think that Sexton doesn’t “know how to play.” Sexton certainly has a long way to go with his development, but he hasn’t been terrible from a fantasy perspective with 11.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists across just 24 minutes per game. His upside isn’t great, but he’s still worth considering Monday against a Magic team that doesn’t exactly have good point guards in D.J. Augustin and Jerian Grant.
Shelvin Mack, MEM at GS
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,200
Mack has bounced around the league in his career, but he’s found a key role as Mike Conley’s backup with the Grizzlies. He’s even been able to carve out 26 minutes a game, averaging 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.3 three-pointers per contest. With the Warriors playing at the 10th-fastest pace (103.9 possessions per game) and this having the potential to be a blowout, Mack could again get enough playing time to provide value.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Jordan Clarkson, CLE at ORL
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,500
Clarkson struggled after being dealt to the Cavaliers at the trade deadline last year, averaging 12.6 points across 23 minutes per contest. His playing time has remained the same this season, but he’s averaging 15.8 points per game in large part because his usage rate has jumped up to 28.7 percent. His contributions are mostly limited to points, but with Love out, Clarkson should get plenty of chances to score again Monday.
Garrett Temple, MEM at GS
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,700
After spending the last two seasons with the Kings, Temple has found himself with a starting job in Memphis. He’s not a token starter, either, averaging 32 minutes a game. His 16.7 percent usage rate doesn’t leave him with a ton of scoring upside, but he’s generally played well with 13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 three-pointers per contest. This game could get out of hand early for the Grizzlies, but Temple is still someone to consider for your entry.
SMALL FORWARDS
E’Twaun Moore, NO at OKC
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,800
The Pelicans have some great players on their team, but their depth is actually somewhat limited, aside from Julius Randle coming off the bench, of course. They’ll be without Elfrid Payton (ankle) again Monday, which should force Jrue Holiday to play more at the point. With opposing teams having to focus on stopping Anthony Davis, Holiday and Nikola Mirotic, Moore is sometimes a forgotten man. Don’t sleep on him, though, with his averages of 14.9 points and 1.8 three-pointers game. This could also be a high-scoring contest against two teams who are both in the top-six in the league in pace of play.
Chandler Hutchison, CHI at NY
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,500
The Bulls are shorthanded right now without Lauri Markkanen (elbow), Kris Dunn (knee) and Bobby Portis (knee). Hutchison, one of their two first-round picks in last year’s draft, has been forced to play more than expected early on. His overall numbers aren’t exciting, but he’s started to play more lately and is one of the Bulls’ better defenders. That helped him stay on the floor for 27 minutes Saturday against the Rockets, finishing with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. At this cheap price, he could be worth the risk in tournament play. Of note, Hutchison is only eligible at small forward on FanDuel since he is listed as a shooting guard on DraftKings.
POWER FORWARDS
Montrezl Harrell, LAC vs. MIN
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,500
Thankfully for everyone who plays fantasy basketball, it appears the Clippers are pulling the plug early on Marcin Gortat as their starting center. This is great news for Harrell and Boban Marjanovic. Although Marjanovic might get another start Monday, this isn’t necessarily a great matchup for him against Karl-Anthony Towns, who is attempting five three-pointers per game. Harrell’s athleticism might result in him playing more than Marjanovic. Across five games in which Harrell has logged at least 20 minutes, he’s averaging 15.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, two blocks, and 1.2 steals.
Jerami Grant, OKC vs. NO
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,400
Another starting experiment that has been cut short is Patrick Patterson at power forward for the Thunder. Grant has taken over that role, averaging 13.6 points, five rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 three-pointers across five games. His scoring will remain limited playing with Russell Westbrook and Paul George, but he has some upside Monday considering the fast pace at which this game will likely be played.
CENTERS
Boban Marjanovic, LAC vs. MIN
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,500
Many within the fantasy community have pined for Marjanovic to get adding playing time, including yours truly. This might finally be his opportunity. Despite only averaging 13 minutes a game this year, Marjanovic has posted nine points, 5.6 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per contest. In his start Friday against the Magic, he had 10 points and 11 rebounds over 23 minutes. Even though this is not a great matchup for him against Towns, his price won’t remain this cheap for long if he continues to start.
Mitchell Robinson, NY vs. CHI
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,400
Noah Vonleh is now starting at center for the Knicks, but he’s been plagued by foul trouble the last two games. As a result, he only logged a total of 20 minutes in those contests. That opened up some playing time for Robinson, who took advantage by averaging 11.5 points, eight rebounds, and one block. Robinson’s inconsistent playing time makes him a risky option, but there is some upside here.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/28/18
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/28/18
There are eight games in the NBA on Wednesday as injuries and resting players continues to be something to focus on in DFS. It’s key to find the right cheap daily fantasy basketball sleepers to hopefully help create a winning entry. Sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and find the value players that are low-owned on FanDuel and DraftKings like Shabazz Napier and Troy Daniels.
Use Code “LAB60” at checkout for 60% off Seasonal Package<
POINT GUARDS
Trey Burke, NY at PHI
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $5,800
The Knicks tried Emmanuel Mudiay as their starting point guard, but his struggles with Denver followed him to New York. It’s now Burke’s turn to see what he can do and the early returns have been promising. He scored 19 points in his first start Sunday, then dominated with 42 points, 12 assists, and three three-pointers Tuesday against the Hornets. The game went into overtime, but those are still lofty totals. He attempted 31 shots in that game and should continue to get plenty of scoring opportunities moving forward. The Sixers also play at the fifth-fastest pace (101.7 possessions per game) in the league, leaving Burke with value even with his climbing price tag.
Shabazz Napier, POR at MEM
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800
Damian Lillard will be out Wednesday due to the birth of his child, which should allow Napier to start at point guard. Napier excelled when filling in for Lillard previously, averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.9 three-pointers in eight games. The news that Lillard would be sidelined came after last night’s game against the Pelicans, which was already too late for Napier’s price to be increased in DFS. Make sure to take advantage and get him into your lineup.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Wayne Selden Jr., MEM vs. POR
FanDuel = $4,400
DratfKings = $4,100
The Grizzlies are one of the more prominent tanking teams, sitting several players due to injuries and for rest down the stretch. Wednesday will be no different with Tyreke Evans (personal) already ruled out. Selden has seen a significant increase in scoring as a result, averaging 16.3 points and 2.5 three-pointers in his last six games. He doesn’t provide much outside of offense, but he still has enough upside in that department to warrant considering for your entry Wednesday.
Troy Daniels, PHO vs. LAC
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,400
The Suns could be without their two best scorers Wednesday with T.J. Warren (knee) and Devin Booker (hand) still dealing with injuries. Daniels has helped shoulder the load with both players out, scoring at least 18 points in three of his last four games. He attempted a total of 36 three-pointers in his last three contests, so he has the potential to put up plenty of points. Both the Suns and the Clippers are in the top six in the league in pace of play, giving Daniels an excellent opportunity to provide value for your entry if Warren and Booker can’t play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Mario Hezonja, ORL vs. BKN
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,300
Speaking of teams who will be shorthanded Wednesday, the Magic will be without Evan Fournier (knee), Jonathon Simmons (wrist) and Jonathan Isaac (foot). All three players sat out the Magic’s last game against the Suns on Saturday as well, resulting in Hezonja scoring 14 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks in 39 minutes. He gets to play another team who struggles defensively in the Nets on Wednesday, giving him upside based on his likely expanded role.
Evan Turner, POR at MEM
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,600
Not only will the Trail Blazers be without Lillard on Wednesday, but Maurice Harkless (knee) will also be sidelined. Harkless did not play Tuesday against the Pelicans either, leaving Turner to play 36 minutes. In the 20 games that Turner has logged at least 30 minutes this season, he is averaging 11.8 points, four rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals. He doesn’t cost much, possibly making him worth the risk in tournament play.
POWER FORWARDS
Al-Farouq Aminu, POR at MEM
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $6,100
Aminu is coming on strong down the stretch for the Trail Blazers, averaging 12 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers in his last seven games. While he only has a 14.6% usage rate this season, he could get a few more shot attempts with Lillard out Wednesday. Even with his limited offensive upside, he provides enough on the boards and defensively to make him a viable option for your entry.
Larry Nance Jr., CLE at CHA
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,000
Kevin Love left Tuesday’s game against the Heat in the first half and did not return after being evaluated for a concussion. Nance only scored four points in that game but managed to grab 10 rebounds and block one shot in just 18 minutes. If Love is deemed to have a concussion, don’t expect him to be on the floor Wednesday. As a result, Nance could see a significant role against a Hornets team that plays at the eighth-fastest pace (100.6 possessions per game) in the league.
CENTERS
Nerlens Noel, DAL at LAL
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $4,700
Noel was rested Tuesday in the first game of the Mavericks back-to-back set, which is something the team has usually done since his return from injury. Expect him to return to the lineup Wednesday with Salah Mejri possibly getting the night off. Noel doesn’t score much, but he has averaged eight rebounds, 3.7 steals and two blocks in his last three games. Keep an eye on his status leading up to tipoff as he can provide value at this reasonable price.
Boban Marjanovic, LAC at PHO
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $3,200
If you are playing in a tournament, you have to take risks. Marjanovic certainly falls into that category. He hasn’t played much lately, logging 19 total minutes in his last three games. However, the Clippers will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back set Wednesday against a terrible Suns team that could be without their two best players. The Suns also allow the fifth-most points per game on both FanDuel and DraftKings to opposing centers. With per-36 minutes averages of 24.2 points, 13.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks this season, Marjanovic could pay off in a big way if he gets added minutes in a blowout.