NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

NBA Daily Fantasy

by Mike Barner on March 9, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

The NBA schedule is loaded with ten games Friday. There will be a lot of elite players in action, but 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 Ben McLemore and Mario Hezonja.

Use Code “LAB60” at checkout for 60% off Seasonal Package<

POINT GUARDS

Tomas Satoransky, WAS at NO
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,500

Satoransky continues to start with John Wall (knee) sidelined, logging at least 31 minutes in nine of his last 11 games. Although he is only averaging 7.4 shot attempts in 17 starts this season, he’s cashed in his opportunities by shooting 57.6% from the field during those contests. The Pelicans play at the fourth-fastest pace (102.5 possessions per game) and allow the second-most points per game (111.5) in the league, giving Satoransky excellent potential Friday.

Xavier Rathan-Mayes, MEM vs. UTA
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,200

The Grizzlies backcourt will be thin again Friday with Tyreke Evans (ribs), Andrew Harrison (wrist) and Mario Chalmers (hamstring) all out. The Grizzlies signed Rathan-Mayes to a 10-day contract to help restore some depth and he’s actually played a lot, logging at least 26 minutes in back-to-back games. While not spectacular, he did average a respectable 8.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, six assists, and 1.5 steals in those contests. His upside isn’t very high, but it doesn’t have to be to provide value at this cheap price.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

Ben McLemore, MEM vs. UTA
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,800

McLemore has played at least 30 minutes in each of his last three games due to all of the Grizzlies injuries, averaging 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.3 three-pointers. He attempted at least 11 shots in each contest, showing he should continue to have a significant role offensively until some of the injured players return. Two of those three games came against bad teams in the Bulls and Magic, but McLemore is still someone to consider even against a tougher opponent in the Jazz on Friday.

Kobi Simmons, MEM vs. UTA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,300

It’s hard to roll with three players in the same backcourt for your entry, but Simmons is yet another cheap Grizzlies player who can provide value. In his last three games, he is averaging 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, two assists and 1.7 steals. He played at least 26 minutes in both of the last two games and should again see extended action Friday. He has a limited upside like Rathan-Mayes, but he should still be on your radar.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

E’Twaun Moore, NO vs. WAS
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,400

Anthony Davis (ankle) is listed as doubtful Friday, dealing the Pelicans a significant blow if he is indeed unable to play. He’s been one of the best players in the league since DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) went down, so multiple players on the Pelicans are going to have to help fill the void. Moore could be one of those players as he is averaging a career-high 32 minutes per game this season. He has already scored at least 10 points in three of his last four games and has some upside in tournament play.

Mario Hezonja, ORL at SAC
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200

The Magic will be without two of their five starters Friday with Evan Fournier (knee) and Aaron Gordon (concussion) already ruled out. Hezonja has played well while filling in for injured players throughout the season and should be in line for an expanded role against the Kings. In the 11 games that he has played at least 30 minutes this season, he is averaging 18.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, two steals and 2.3 three-pointers. Don’t hesitate to add him to your entry.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

Markieff Morris, WAS at NO
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,800

Morris has provided steady production for the Wizards, averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.7 three-pointers in his last five games. He is averaging just 27 minutes per game this season but logged at least 31 minutes in four of those five contests. I already detailed the Pelicans struggles on defense, which could be even worse without Davis on Friday. Morris could end the night with a big performance.

Montrezl Harrell, LAC vs. CLE
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,400

Harrell is in the midst of one of his best stretches of the season, averaging 17.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in his last seven games. He was extremely efficient from the field, shooting 50-for-72 (69.4%) in those seven contests. The Clippers play at the sixth-fastest pace (101.3) in the league and the Cavaliers continue to struggle defensively, leaving Harrell with a good opportunity to extend his hot streak Friday.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/9/18

Enes Kanter, NY at MIL
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,900

Kanter is one of the best players left on the Knicks after Kristaps Porzingis (knee) was injured and is on pace to average a double-double (14.3 points and 10.8 rebounds) for the first time in his career. He could be in line for another big game Friday since he has averaged 18 points and 17 rebounds in his first two meetings against the Bucks this season. The Bucks allow the seventh-most points per game on FanDuel and the fourth-most points per game on DraftKings to opposing centers, so Kanter hasn’t been the only one that has given them trouble. His price isn’t all that cheap, but it’s still low enough to provide value for your entry.

Brook Lopez, LAL at DEN
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $5,200

Lopez had a big offensive performance Wednesday against the Magic, scoring 27 points in 35 minutes. He paired that with a shockingly bad performance on the boards, failing to grab a single rebound. The key is that he logged 35 minutes in the game and should continue to see added playing time with Kyle Kuzma taking on some of Brandon Ingram’s (groin) minutes. It will be tough for him to score 27 points again Friday, but it’s also safe to assume he will contribute more on the glass.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

NBA Daily Fantasy

by Mike Barner on March 7, 20180 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

Wednesday brings seven games in the NBA with several elite players taking the floor. We all know the studs, but 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 De’Aaron Fox and Ben McLemore.

Use Code “LAB60” at checkout for 60% off Seasonal Package<

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

De’Aaron Fox, SAC vs. NO
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,600

Fox hasn’t provided many assists lately, totaling just six in his last three games. The good news is that he is still heavily involved in the offense, attempting at least 12 shots in seven of his last nine contests. His usage rate has increased each of the last two months and is at a season-high 27.1% through three games in March. Wednesday’s opponent in the Pelicans plays at the second-fastest pace (102.6 possessions per game) and allows the second-most points per game (111.7) in the league, so Fox could be in line for a valuable performance at this price.

D.J. Augustin, ORL at LAL
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,000

His numbers don’t jump off the page, but Augustin is averaging a respectable 10.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.7 assists in 18 starts this season. With Elfrid Payton now in Phoenix, that should be a role that Augustin holds on to for the rest of the year. Wednesday could be a high scoring game with both the Magic and the Lakers in the top eight in the league in pace of play. Augustin might not have a huge upside, but he’s priced low enough to still warrant considering for your entry.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

Ben McLemore, MEM at CHI
FanDuel = $4,200
DraftKings = $4,500

The Grizzlies will have very little depth at guard Wednesday with Tyreke Evans (ribs), Andrew Harrison (wrist) and Mario Chalmers (hamstring) all ruled out. McLemore missed Monday’s game due to a personal matter, but he is expected to play against the Bulls. He had played at least 30 minutes in both of his previous two games, averaging 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and 2.5 steals. The Bulls allow the seventh-most points per game (109.4) in the league, leaving McLemore as an excellent inexpensive option with upside.

Kobi Simmons, MEM at CHI
FanDuel = $3,900
DraftKings = $4,100

Simmons is another player who should see added playing time in the Grizzlies’ backcourt Wednesday. He played at least 20 minutes in both of their last two games, averaging 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and one steal. Expect him to log fewer minutes and have a lower upside than McLemore, but he’s also priced very cheap. Going with the duo of McLemore and Simmons could open up a significant portion of your budget to spend at other positions and might be a strategy to deploy in tournament play.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

Dillon Brooks, MEM at CHI
FanDuel =$4,500
DraftKings = $4,200

Brooks is another player who has seen more playing time due to all of the Grizzlies injuries, logging at least 30 minutes in seven of his last eight games. He has played at least 30 minutes in a game 27 times this season, averaging 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 three-pointers in those contests. Most of his value is tied to his scoring, but that might not necessarily be a bad thing considering how bad the Bulls are on defense.

C.J. Miles, TOR at DET
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,800

Miles has seen a slight increase in his role with OG Anunoby (ankle) sidelined the last three games, averaging 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and four three-pointers in 22 minutes per contest. Like Brooks, Miles value is mostly dependent on his ability to score. However, he’s been excellent from behind the arc, averaging a career-high 2.5 three-pointers per game this season. At near the minimum price on both sites, Miles could be worth the risk Wednesday.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

Kyle Kuzma, LAL vs. ORL
FanDuel = $6,100
Draft Kings = $6,100

Brandon Ingram’s (groin) injury has opened up added playing time for Kuzma, who has started each of the last two games. He played well in both contests, averaging 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals, one block and two three-pointers. With this likely to be an up-tempo, high scoring game, it fits well with Kuzma’s style of play. Don’t be surprised if he has a big offensive performance Wednesday.

Skal Labissiere/Zach Randolph, SAC vs. NO
FanDuel = $6,100/$5,900
DraftKings = $5,500/$5,800

Willie Cauley-Stein (back) is out again Wednesday, opening up some minutes in the Kings frontcourt. Labissiere has been seeing added playing time and performing well lately, so he would be my choice to add to your lineup Wednesday. However, he’s listed as questionable with a knee injury. If he is also unable to play, that could open up big minutes for Randolph. Randolph has the highest usage rate (27.5%) on the Kings, so he’s likely to produce if given added playing time. Keep your eye out for updates as the day progresses. If Labissiere plays, I’d get him in your lineup. If he doesn’t, I’d roll with Randolph.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleepers Lineup Picks for 3/7/18

Brook Lopez, LAL vs. ORL
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,800

The Lakers already freed up their logjam up front by trading Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavaliers, but Lopez could see even more playing time now with Kuzma assuming some of Ingram’s minutes. In the last two games with Ingram injured, Lopez has averaged 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, 1.5 steals, one block and 1.5 three-pointers. The Magic are in the bottom ten in terms of points allowed to opposing centers on both FanDuel and DraftKings, leaving Lopez with an opportunity to provide value.

Jakob Poeltl, TOR at DET
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,800

Poeltl doesn’t score much, recording eight points or less in five of his last six games. A lot of his value is tied to his defensive prowess as he is averaging 1.4 steals and 2.4 blocks in his last five contests. The Raptors have been winning games in a deciding fashion lately, which has opened up some added playing time late in games for Poeltl. One of those instances came against these same Pistons a little over a week ago when the Raptors won by 29 points. In that game, Poeltl played 22 minutes and finished with eight points, four rebounds, three steals and one block. If you want to take a risk on a really cheap center in tournament play, Poeltl could be an option.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

NBA Daily Fantasy

by Mike Barner on December 11, 20170 Comments

*Mike Barner*

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NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

With the holidays rapidly approaching, the NBA is loaded this week with 50 games on the schedule. 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, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

With elite players such as LeBron James, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook all scheduled to have four games each this week, many of you will be starting off with an excellent foundation. If you do need help filling out the rest of your starting lineup, consider adding the below players who can all provide value based on their schedule.

Kelly Olynyk, Miami Heat

The Heat are without arguably their best player in Hassan Whiteside (knee) as he has missed the last five games. Olynyk has played well in his absence, averaging 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 0.8 blocks and 1.2 three-pointers in those five games. Not only did he play at least 25 minutes in each game, but he started the last two. There is a chance that Whiteside returns at some point this week, but with four games in six days, he’s likely going to see limited minutes when he does return. Olynyk is still available in 53% of Yahoo! leagues and he can provide you with solid all-around numbers.

Caris LeVert, Brooklyn Nets

The Nets have been decimated by injuries this year, leaving LeVert to average a career-high 26 minutes per game. He’s played more than that lately, logging at least 28 minutes in six of his last seven games. He has provided balanced production by averaging 13.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.0 steals 1.0 three-pointer in those seven contests. LeVert’s 20.9% usage rate is second-best on the team among players to appear in at least 17 games this season. Still available in 62% of Yahoo! leagues, he could be a valuable addition to your squad for Week 9.

Jakob Poeltl, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors clearly don’t like what they are getting out of starting center Jonas Valanciunas as he is averaging a career-low 20 minutes per game. With minutes up for grabs, Poeltl has been able to establish a significant role off the bench. He has played at least 17 minutes in six straight games, four of which he played at least 22 minutes. He has cashed in his opportunity by averaging 11.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game. He’s not going to provide you hardly any assists, but take a look at him if you need help at center. He’s still available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers

There are 13 teams playing at least four games this week, leaving players on the three teams that only play two each to see a significant decrease in value. Consider benching the below players who would normally be in your starting lineup otherwise.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 9

Robert Covington, Philadelphia 76ers

Covington (back) missed Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans and is listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Do you really want to risk putting him in your lineup with the potential that he plays only one game, or maybe none at all, this week? He’s a streaky shooter, so even if things do change quickly and he is able to play both games, it could be ugly if he’s not playing at 100%. Don’t take the risk, put him on your bench.

Lonzo Ball, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers continue to show no hesitation to pull Ball in games when he is struggling. He has played 27 minutes or less in three of his last six games, often sitting out big portions of the fourth quarter. He continues to struggle from the field and is attempting way too many three-pointers considering he’s only shooting 24.6% from behind the arc. His counting stats still give him value most weeks, but with only two games for the second straight week, keep Ball on your bench.

Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers

The move to LA has not been successful for Lopez as he is averaging a career-low 23 minutes per game. While never a great source of rebounds for a center, he is not helping fantasy owners by averaging a meager 4.5 rebounds per game this season. To put that into perspective, Trail Blazers backup center Ed Davis is averaging 7.1 rebounds in three fewer minutes per game. Lopez just doesn’t play enough anymore to be someone you want to start in a week with only two games.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

NBA Daily Fantasy

by Mike Barner on November 20, 20170 Comments

*Mike Barner*

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Point Guard

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Week 6 brings a bit of a different schedule in the NBA as there is only one game Tuesday and no teams will play Thursday. There are still advantages to be gained over your opponent though by diving deeper into which teams play the most and fewest games. Here are the moves you want to consider for your team based on the schedule this week.

Teams With The Most Games – 4 Games Each
Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers

There are 11 teams that all play four games each this week, giving their players added value. Fantasy suds like Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kristaps Porzingis will be even more valuable with this advantage. If you aren’t lucky enough to have several players from these teams on your fantasy squad, consider adding the players below.

NBA Fantasy Basketball Schedule Analysis for Week 6

Denzel Valentine, Chicago Bulls

Valentine has finally moved into the starting lineup for the Bulls after they had really struggled to find a viable starter at small forward. He played at least 32 minutes in both starts, averaging 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.5 three-pointers. Even though David Nwaba has a chance of returning from injury at some point this week, Valentine is still one of the better scoring options on the Bulls. He is still available in 71% of Yahoo! leagues and would be an especially good pickup if you need help with three-pointers.

Mario Chalmers, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies are down one of their best players as Mike Conley will be out for at least two weeks due to injury. His absence opens up an opportunity for Mario Chalmers to join the starting five. Chalmers has played well in three starts so far this season, averaging 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.7 steals per game. With two of his four games this week being matchups against bad teams in the Mavericks and Nets, Chalmers could be in for some big assists and steals totals. He is still available in 88% of Yahoo! leagues.

Jerami Grant, Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder have one of the best starting five in the league, but they also have one of the weakest second units. One of their best bench players is Grant, who is averaging 24 minutes per game as a result. While he hasn’t excelled in any particular area, he has been solid with averages of 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. Grant has great matchups this week with three of his four games coming against the Warriors, Pistons and Mavericks, all teams that tend to use small lineups. If you need to bench a forward who is only playing two games this week, look for Grant on waivers as he is still available in 92% of Yahoo! leagues.

Teams With The Fewest Games – 2 Games Each
Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers

With so many teams playing four games this week, the players on the three teams that only play two games take a major hit. Consider benching the below players who would normally be in your starting lineup.

Brook Lopez, Los Angeles Lakers

Lopez is having a down year overall as he is averaging 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.5 three-pointers per game. Part of the problem is that he is averaging a career-low 24 minutes per contest. He always struggled to provide sufficient rebounding numbers out of the center spot, but his value takes a real hit if he’s not playing enough to provide added value from behind the arc. With only two games on the schedule this week, it’s best to put Lopez on your bench.

Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons

Jackson has been a steady source of production for fantasy owners as he is averaging 15.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.4 three-pointers per game. One of the main reasons for his improvement is that he is shooting 45.1% from the field after struggling to shoot only 41.9% last year. While he does have two decent matchups this week against the Cavaliers and Thunder, he doesn’t excel in any one area enough to keep him in your lineup. Valentine and Chalmers are both shaping up to be better options than Jackson this week.

Eric Gordon, Houston Rockets

Gordon is having one of the best starts to his career as he is averaging 20.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.5 three-pointers per game. One of the main reasons for his hot start is because he was starting in place of the injured Chris Paul. Paul has returned, pushing Gordon back to a bench role. In his last two games off the bench, Gordon is averaging 12.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 three-pointers per game. In his new role and only two games this week, it would be wise to put him on your bench.

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