We will have plenty of action in the NBA on Tuesday with nine games on the schedule.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 7 2020
We don’t have the busiest of nights in the NBA on Tuesday with just six games on the schedule. There will be a lot of bad teams in action, as well, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a fun night in DFS.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for January 1 2020
As we ring in the New Year, we have a light four-game schedule in the NBA on Wednesday. Both sites are handling things a little differently with DraftKings including all four games in their main slate while FanDuel only has the three later games in theirs.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for December 9 2019
We’ll have plenty of action across the NBA with nine games on the schedule Monday. We do have some key injuries to monitor and a few players who could be rested on the second leg of a back-to-back set.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Recommendations for November 27 2019
The NBA prepares for a Thanksgiving break with 14 games on the schedule Wednesday.
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/26/17
Limited Time special – use Code “CYBER30” at checkout for 30% off Seasonal Package
Point Guard
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
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
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
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 for 12/12/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/12/17
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Point Guard
Jeff Teague
FD $6,500 DK $6,500
Strap in! If you’re looking for a slate of games that comes to us easily and builds a lineup by itself, this isn’t the one. We’re going to need to take some time with this one and dissect each position. Starting off at point guard, it isn’t pretty. It gets better once we get to small forward, but will have to take what we can get until then. While PG is usually a stacked position, Wall is the only expensive option and he’s coming off of a 2-week injury. Instead, we’ll start in the mid-range with Jeff Teague. Teague has disappointed many this year, but I think he’s somewhat easy to project. You don’t play him against a team that plays slow. Go with Towns in that case. Against a Philly squad that likes to run and ranks 22nd against PG’s, Teague has a 25 FP floor with a ceiling over 40. He’s right back to seeing 35+ minutes and won’t have to worry about seeing any Ben Simmons. Teague will be matched up with Jerryd Bayless and McConnell if he plays, giving him the best match-up on the entire team. Teague was pathetic against the Mavericks last game and you can be sure on an improvement from that game. He might draw some ownership by default at this position, but shouldn’t be any higher than 20 or 25%.
Yogi Ferrell
FD $4,500 DK $3,800
Ya, I told you it’s ugly. Dennis Smith Jr. has already been ruled out for this game and it will once again be J.J. Barea and Yogi Ferrell taking the minutes. Barea is fine, but he’s more expensive and no safer than Ferrell. Yogi is sitting under $4.5k on both sites and has seen 32 and 22 minutes with Smith out. He should get over that 25 minute-mark at the very least here against a Spurs squad that can be taken advantage of. While they are still one of the league’s most efficient defenses, PG is a spot to attack. They rank8th worst in basketball, allowing 47 FPPG. They’ve also allowed over 55 a game over the last 10 with the Spurs PG’s rotating with the injury bug. Ferrell is by no means safe, but he’s cheap enough to play in all formats and has immense upside. He’s an electric plug for this offense and I can’t see why they wouldn’t give him minutes in this style of game. With PG lacking any type of depth or opportunity cost, Ferrell is an excellent play in all formats that I’ll use to pay up later on.
Shooting Guard
Bradley Beal
FD $8,600 DK $8,600
John Wall is currently questionable to play, though it doesn’t seem like the Wizards beat writers are very optimistic. Make sure you just keep an eye out as the day moves along. Wall is obviously a huge deal for Beal as it gives him a ton more shots and minutes at PG. I actually expect the Wizards to allow Beal to take it easy with reduced minutes for a game or two once Wall is back. If Wall is out, this is a dream match-up with a Nets squad that doesn’t play defense. Beal has been great since pouring in 51 and this is the best match-up yet. The game will remain close if Wall sits and Beal will play 34+ minutes. He’s a phenomenal option in all formats.
Andrew Wiggins
FD $5,900 DK $6,000
My lord, look at this price. it seems like something is wrong, but it’s just Andrew Wiggins and his jump shot. Sitting around 20 fantasy point in a lot of his games recently is more than concerning. I don’t know if he’s hurt or just on a very cold streak, but this has nothing to do with the addition of Jimmy Butler. This is solely on Wiggins and something he’s going through. If there’s a spot to bounce back, this is it. Against shooting guards, the 76ers rank 2nd worst in the entire league with 51.5 FPPG allowed. Redick and TLC are 2 of the worst defenders on the entire team and give up a ton of open lanes. At this price, Wiggins is going to have a hard time hurting you. Even if he hits hit the bottom of the barrel 20 fantasy points, I don’t know if there’s anyone at a similar price at SG that can guarantee me more. His upside is over 50 and supersedes anyone under $7k. This game will remain close and we know Wiggins
Small Forward
LeBron James
FD $12,600 DK $11,800
Finally. This slate definitely picks up the pace after shooting guard. We’ll start out with LeBron James in a strong match-up with the Hawks. When looking for a good/bad LeBron match-up, you don’t look at how good the opposing team is against SF’s or how fast/slow they play. You look at how much LeBron cares about the game and whether or not it will stay close. This game checks both of those boxes. An eastern conference foe like the Hawks is a team LeBron will get up to play and in turn, has a 50 FP floor. He put up 94 fantasy points earlier in the year in a worse match-up, so I can’t sit here and predict his upside. With all the value on this slate, he’s close to a must in cash games.
T.J. Warren
FD $8,000 DK $8,000
With Devin Booker out for the last 2 games, Warren has reached cash game value in both. He didn’t go crazy in either, but that’s fine as they were bad match-ups. He now gets a decent match-up with a Kings squad that doesn’t play much defense. They’re also missing their rim protector in Willie Cauley-Stein. Warren is the easy number 1 option on this offense and he is going to have a few games over 40 FP with Booker out. This could very well be one and his price is fair. There’s plenty of value to pay up for both LeBron and Warren, so you shouldn’t be restricted on that front. Small forward is a spot you’ll need to get right.
Power Forward
Kristaps Porzingis
FD $9,700 DK $8,500
Kicking us off at power forward is one of my favorite plays of the night. Porzingis and the Knicks face off with the Lakers in MSG tonight. He’s still a bit underpriced on both sites and is back to seeing his normal allotment of minutes. He saw 37 against the Hawks last game and finished with 55 fantasy points. I was able to get him in every lineup at just 6% ownership and it was beyond glorious. He now gets an even better match-up with a Lakers squad that doesn’t play interior defense. Brook Lopez, Kyle Kuzma, and Larry Nance Jr. are all too small and not good defenders in the first place. Porzingis is going to be over $10k on both sites as soon as he can stay healthy for a few weeks and we’re able to take advantage now while he will still be somewhat under-owned.
Taj Gibson
FD $5,300 DK $6,000
We’re touching on our third Timberwolves player on this slate and it has a lot to do with Thibodeau. He’s consistently giving the starters 36+ minutes and it’s hard to miss value against the fast-paced 76ers in that amount of time. Taj Gibson isn’t a very good NBA player in 2017, but it doesn’t really matter when he’s living in a Minnesota bubble that gives him more minutes than Kevin Durant. Whatever Tom Thibedoeu, good thing you got another head coaching gig so we can have some more Luol Deng and Derrick Rose in 5 years. Yay. Excuse the tangent, but I just don’t understand how GM’s continue to allow this fool to ruin careers. We’ll continue using it to our advantage tonight. The 76ers sports Ben Simmons at PF, who will end up on Butler or Wiggins. Gibson will see Saric, Covington, and Holmes on the defensive side and neither are any good. Gibson is a pure volume play and a good one in all formats.
Center
Andre Drummond
FD $9,200 DK $9,400
The NBA is lucky the year is 2017 or we would have one of the league’s best players here in Andre Drummond. Unfortunately, his body is made for the 80s and 90s. He’s been much better running the floor this year and it’s helped him a ton against fast-paced teams. Even in the up-tempo era, this is a guy who is a serious threat for a 20/20 against any team. Tonight, he faces off with a Nuggets squad that has no center. With Nikola Jokic already ruled out, it’ll be Plumlee and Faried to draw Drummond. No chance. Drummond is a stone cold lock for 35 fantasy points with the upside for so many more. He’s my favorite center in all formats and a guy I’ll have close to 100% of.
Richaun Holmes
FD $4,500 DK $3,800
I have no interest in messing with a questionable Joel Embiid. None. I don’t care if he gets ruled in and is dancing around on the floor. It’s not necessary tonight and the risk is too high. I’m willing to make sure his knee holds up for another game and am willing to bet he will see limited minutes if he does play. If he sits, Richaun Holmes jumps to the forefront as a top value play on the slate. He saw 23 and 20 minutes the last 2 games and will be right there if Embiid is out again. The T-Wolves are a weak defensive interior that has allowed the 14th most FPPG to opposing centers. With Okafor gone, Holmes is the only other center on the roster and will be out there to match with Towns if needed. He’s always risky, but he’s super cheap and you’re going to need value on this slate. I’ll be doing my best to get 100% Drummond, but Holmes is a great pivot if Joel is out.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17
CYBER MONDAY special only use Code “CYBER30” at checkout for 30% off Seasonal Package
Point Guard
Rajon Rondo
FD $5700 DK $5000
We obviously have some huge injuries to deal with on the slate tonight and you’ll see a lot of them be the reason we suggest certain guys. Anthony Davis is the biggest of all. With AD out for the foreseeable future, we’ll see everyone in the lineup pick up some usage and shots. Rajon Rondo has finally made himself comfortable in this offense and he’s been over 35 fantasy points in each of the last 2 games. He shot the 3rd most of anyone on the team as well, which is very rare for him. Rondo hasn’t really gotten any worse since the Boston days. He was a worse shooter then. He’s just not as solidified into his role as the leader. He probably won’t be all year, but he will get some extra numbers for the near future and we’ll look to take advantage while cheap. Oh ya, the Warriors also love to run and offer some extreme upside.
Jarrett Jack
FD $4800 DK $3900
If you’re looking for value and want to go a little bit safer, Jarrett Jack is a phenomenal way to go. Like Rondo, the Knicks are dealing with some injuries that are putting Jack and others into the spotlight. With The two best offensive players in Porzingis and Hardaway out, there are countless shots to go around. Jarrett Jack will have the ball in his hands a lot more than usual here in a solid match-up with the Pacers. Collison isn’t a bad defender, but he has no protection behind him and the Pacers play fast. Jack is safe in all formats at his depressed price tag.
Shooting Guard
Victor Oladipo
FD $9200 DK $8700
Victor Oladipo is far from the player we witnessed in Orlando and Oklahoma City. He has turned a corner and is now one of the premier wing players in the league. While he’s not only a menace on offense, he’s one of the few guys who actually make a difference on defense and turns it into efficient FP. He’s been over 68 fantasy points in 2 of his last 5 games, so it’s tough to even call the price a stretch. He’s shooting as much as he wants and stuffing the stat sheet incredibly. Myles Turner is the number 2, but there’s really no 3rd option after that. It allows Oladipo to run the offense at will and you’ll see a lot of similarities between him and what he witnessed in Russell Westbrook last year. With plenty of value to choose from on this slate, Oladipo is one of many pricey options worth consideration.
Jrue Holiday
FD $6700 DK $6300
Aside from DeMarcus Cousins, Jrue Holiday will benefit most from AD out. We looked at Rondo already and he will as well, but Holiday is a bit more reliant on scoring. Davis’ absence gives him the opportunity to shoot a ton and we saw it last game with 18 attempts. In a match-up with a Warriors squad that loves to run and score, Holiday will be needed if they have any hope of keeping it close. His price is down and he’s a safe play in all formats. This is a $7k+ player with AD off the floor. No doubt about it. Even if the game does blowout by halftime and absolute worst case scenario hits, I can’t see Holiday getting less than 25 FP by default. At this price, that’s not even too bad. With an upside well over 45, it’s worth it.
Small Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $12400 DK $10600
Full disclosure, Giannis is a bit too expensive for me on FanDuel. Sitting almost a full $2k higher than Durant, I would rather go there. On DK, however, Giannis is just $10.6k and in play everywhere. The Celtics aren’t a team we love to target, but they play at an average PACE and we have seen Giannis go crazy against them twice already this season. He put up FP totals of 71 and 69 less than a week apart. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will try again, but I assume the exact same thing will happen. They will put up a good battle and then have 0 help on the inside. Al Horford is a pitiful defender and a big reason why the Celtics can occasionaly be attacked in the paint. Antetokounmpo is a threat for 80 FP every time he takes the floor and is a safe call for 55. There are a lot of different ways to pay up tonight, so he shouldn’t be more than 15-20% owned across the board.
Robert Covington
FD $7000 DK $6200
We haven’t touched on the 76ers just yet, but we’ll get to two of them real quick here. Starting with Robert Covington, he’s a guy you’re going to want in fast games. He’s prett inconsistent, generally striking dry in games that are slow and lack spacing. When the Sixers run and Covington is able to get open from 3, the sky is the limit. He has immense upside in tournaments and against a Suns squad that plays faster than anyone, in cash as well. This 6ers team should be close to fll health tonight, though Covington may have to fill in at the 4 if Simmons covers for McConnell. You also have to wonder who covers Covington if Warren moves over to Simmons. There’s a lot to like here from Covington and he’ll surely be one of my more popular options.
Power Forward
Ben Simmons
FD $10500 DK $9800
Ben Simmons is just an extremely good and versatile player. There are no 2 ways around it. He’s putting up numbers that are unprecedented from a rookie and he’s doing in night in and night out. He now sees his best match-up possible against a Suns squad that has nobody to cover him. I assume it’ll have to be T.J. Warren, but he will still struggle and it will give Covington a huge mismatch. They may be forced into Josh Jackson and Marquese Chriss, which is just ugly. The Suns are still holding onto a 108 PACE, which is higher than any team since pace has been recorded. Simmons is a menace on the open floor and should do damage while in the game here. With a 228 total and a -10 line, Vegas thinks this is high-scoring and somewhat competitive. You have a lot of options to make tonight and Ben Simmons is one of the biggest.
Michael Beasley
FD $5000 DK $3500
We looked at Jarrett Jack at PG for the Knicks, but he’s just the tip of the iceberg with Porzingis and Hardaway both ruled out. Michael Beasley saw 24 minutes last game and put up a nice 27 fantasy points. In my opinion, that’s his absolute floor with no Porzingis. Beasley is a great scorer that can give you a much-needed body without your top 2 offensive players. Oh ya, the Pacers also rank dead last against PF’s with over 50 FP allowed each night. Beasley will see between 24-30 minutes with a 25 FP floor and a ceiling we haven’t seen. He put up 60 fantasy points out of nowhere multiple times last year, so there’s no telling with this guy. He’s too cheap, in a great match-up, and going to see the ball more than ever. If you don’t play Beasley here at PF, you’re playing with fire. He probably won’t kill you, but you’ll need to find some strong value elsewhere.
Center
DeMarcus Cousins
FD $11000 DK $11000
We gave the Pelicans a break for a few positions and now get to the guy who most people on this slate are focused on. Boogieman Cousins. With Anthony Davis injured, he gets to kick it back to the Sacramento days and shoot as much as he wants. He put up a monstrous 28 attempts last game and now sees a much faster-paced match-up. There’s obviously a blowout risk, but Cousins has proven his ability to hurt the Warriors. He can run with Draymond if the game is close and with him getting the ball every possession, you’re sure to see a motivated Boogie. This is one of the more volatile possible match-ups a guy can have, but I can’t get away from Cousins. If it stays close, 90 FP wouldn’t surprise me. Call it crazy, but he’s the way it stays close and it would mean he gets 30+ shots. If it blows out, he sees 28-30 very productive minutes, ending up at 45 fantasy points. This is a guy I would have 100% exposure to if it wasn’t for the next guy we look at.
Enes Kanter
FD $6600 DK $6200
We just looked at Michael Beasley and he’s the more volatile big man to benefit. Enes Kanter is a stellar offensive player when given the opportunity and we’ve seen it over the last 2 games with 40+ FP in both. He now gets an incredible match-up with a Pacers squad that can’t cover the paint. Ranking 24th against centers, Kanter should have no problem coming through with a double-double as a floor and 50 fantasy points as a ceiling. It will certainly be tough to fade Cousins, but knowing you have a solid pivot makes it just a bit easier. Personally, I’ll be trying my best to get Cousins everywhere. It’s a limb I’m going to be hanging on. Good luck tonight!
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/28/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/28/17
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Point Guard
Tyus Jones
FD $5200 DK $4300
We’re going to be paying down at point guard tonight. Jeff Teague is currently on the downside of questionable, so we’ll assume he misses this game. If he does play, Tyus Jones can be ignored. With Teague on the sideline last game, Jones went nuts in 38 minutes with 51 fantasy points. He put up 34 the game before. This is a very good point guard who just happens to be a backup. When given the minutes, it’s quite clear that he’s worth $7k, at least. That match-up with Tim Frazier is great and the Wizards play at a solid PACE. If Teague misses this game, do yourself a favor and play Tyus Jones. You’re not chasing points.
Tim Frazier
FD $4900 DK $4100
We’ll stay in the same game with our other value PG. John Wall is going to miss about 2 weeks, so look for the Wizards to solidify Frazier as their temporary starting PG. He saw 28 minutes last game with Wall out, but I think it’s safe to assume 30-32. He is a good point guard and can stuff the stat sheet in a lot of different ways. Tyler Ulis is a far worse defender than Jeff Teague and the T-Wolves have already struggled against Pg’s (7th worst). Frazier is just a bit cheaper than Ulis and while he has nowhere near the upside, the floors are comparable. In cash games, these are 2 guys I’m all over. You’ll see why it’s necessary very soon.
Shooting Guard
Bradley Beal
FD $8300 DK $7900
The absence of John Wall is going to do a lot more than just give Tim Frazier some minutes. Beal is going to see his usage spike 5+% and will have the ball in his hands far more. This is usually how Beal ends up hurting his ankle, but he’ll likely get stretched for close to 38 minutes and end up shooting 22-27 times. It sounds incredulous, but Wall is the only guy that keeps Beal from shooting. With the keys to the offense, the upside here is limitless. The Timberwolves obviously have some very accredited defenders, but they stink against everyone, so I guess it doesn’t matter when you have Kat and Taj down low. Beal is an elite play in all formats.
Justin Holiday
FD $5500 DK $5500
Let’s venture outside of Minnesota. The Bulls will see a match-up with the Suns tonight that figures to be an extreme pace-up game. Devin Booker is also questionable, so we may be seeing some very weak defenders. Justin Holiday is nothing to write home about, but he’s a solid SG with scoring upside. He excels in faster-paced games and you can be sure this is one of them, considering the Suns play faster than anyone ever. You can count on 32-35 minutes of a streaky SG against a team that will do their best to leave him open. It just comes down to whether he can hit the shots. There’s a lot of different ways to go at SG, so nobody is a must, but Holiday is a solid mid-range option that won’t hurt you.
Small Forward
LeBron James
FD $12000 DK $11300
With Tyus Jones and Tim Frazier holding down the value fort at PG, we may be able to pull both of these guys off. Let’s start with LeBron. On a B2B, I usually wouldn’t like him, but I don’t think he is going to throw in the flag tonight. I know it’s been countless years, but this is his former team and it’s his first game against them with D-Wade. He only played 31 minutes against Philly last night, so he’s ready to play another 35-38 if it ends up staying close. I’m sure it’ll be James Johnson and Justise Winslow that try their hand at LBJ, but I think we know by now how much that matters. James is an elite play and can be locked in for 50 fantasy points. If it stays close throughout, there is no ceiling.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $11800 DK $11200
If you’re talking about a ceiling, this is the guy who probably has the highest of which. Maybe this sounds crazy, but I bet he hits 100 FP by the end of the season. I’m by no means insinuating that’s tonight, but I guess it could be. The Kings are a solid match-up for Giannis, who excels in the open floor. I assume it’ll be Justin Jackson who gets the cover, but he’s by no means capable. He’s a below average defender at this point and heavily relies on his length. Ya, good luck with that against this guy. Giannis, like LeBron, is as consstent as could be. He’s a lock for 50 fantasy points, though I do think he ends up higher owned than LeBron. He’s slightly cheaper and LBJ did play yesterday. I’m about even on both, but lean LeBron BARELY.
Power Forward
Derrick Favors
FD $6900 DK $6300
Power forward is by far the ugliest position on the slate. Derrick Favors is the most expensive option. He’s not a bad one, but you know that’s when it’s ugly. He’s been pretty great with Gobert out, putting up 34+ on most nights with a rather frequent 40 burger. His price has risen, but not enough. This match-up with the Nuggets is great whether he plays PF or C. Jokic is by no means a rim protector and we know Kenneth Faried just wants to dunk. They’ve ranked 26th against PF/C for a reason. Favors is an uber-safe option at a position that lacks safety. There are other ways to pay down, but you might as well play Favors if you can afford it.
Bobby Portis
FD $4800 DK $5200
You can go with Markkanen here too, but I like Portis a little bit more and didn’t want to look at the 2 most expensive guys for the 2nd position in a row. Bobby Portis is a great DFS performer and has found a way to be consistent from the bench. Over the last 4 games, he’s seen around 24 minutes and 25 fantasy points in each. If he ever sees the 32+ minutes he should, his floor is closer to 30. Against the Suns, he should get in the game. He runs better than Markkanen on RoLo and matches up well with Bender/Chriss. Portis is a guy I’ll have a lot of exposure to and i’m hoping he stays under the radar.
Center
Nikola Jokic
FD $9300 DK $8700
With Rudy Gobert out, I’m all but scared to target centers against the Jazz. Especially a guy like Nikola Jokic who is smarter and better than 99% of centers in the league. This is a guy who would be in the NBA if he was a 6’3 guard. He’s just a very smart basketball player and doesn’t really care about being flashy. He’s consistently over 35 fantasy points, but bounces around after that. This match-up against the Jazz should stay close (-4) and I don’t see how Jokic doesn’t take advantage of a weakened interior. His price is fine and with so much value floating around, you can probably fit him in there. If you have to go down to Hassan Whiteside, don’t freak out. He’s cool too.
Robin Lopez
FD $5000 DK $4900
I will be paying up at center tonight (thx PG), but RoLo is a great savings option. He is a safe 25 minutes in a game that will be MUCH faster than the Bulls are used to. His size will also be necessary for the likes of Tyson Chandler and Alex Len. His price is down and he has no problem having a big game when given the opportunity. He gets shots in this offense and Kris Dunn has involved him a little more since getting entered into the starting lineup. He’s not exciting, but a fine way to pay down in cash games. He won’t be the guy that makes you lose. Good luck tonight!
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/27/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/27/17
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Point Guard
Damian Lillard
FD $9000 DK $8800
Point guard is always an interesting position. It’s typically one of the higher scoring positions and one that you need to nail on the head. Tonight, by the time 7:00 hits, you’re going to have plenty of options. There are countless injuries on this slate and things are going to get weird. With that being said, there are some guys you can pay up for and Damian Lillard is my favorite. While he is known to be better at home, it’s not been the case this year. I think it has a lot to do with him stepping up as a superstar and entering his prime. He’s deadly everywhere. Tonight, he heads into Madison Square Garden to face off with the Knicks. We all know stars love playing in New York and the Knicks can’t cover point guards. Lillard is fairly priced on both sites and makes sense in both cash games and tournaments. With all the value on this slate, you should have no problem paying for Dame Dolla (Yes, his rap name and he has dropped an album).
T.J. McConnell
FD $5400 DK $4700
There’s going to be a whole lot you need to pay attention to on this slate. Ben Simmons is going to be one of them. If Simmons plays, he’s going to play a lot of minutes at point guard and a match-up with LeBron James. T.J. McConnell would be useless in that scenario. If Simmons is out, there are 30 minutes of PG and a bunch of ball-handling up for grabs. With Simmons out last game, McConnell saw 36 minutes and put up 54 fantasy points. We probably won’t see that for another season or so, but it proves his capability. If given the opportunity, he’s a guy you want exposure to in a game that should remain close. If Simmons is out, McConnell is an elite play in all formats.
Shooting Guard
James Harden
FD $11800 DK $11800
With all the value on this slate, you can easily pay up for James Harden. While he’s nowhere near a must and there are other guys you can pay for on the slate, we know the upside Harden has. The blowout is a risk tonight, but if it stays remotely close, you can guarantee 55+ fantasy points out of the beard. If it’s a blowout, it’s because Harden went off, so he won’t see less than 40. His upside is in the 90’s against a Nets team that plays faster than anyone in the past 10 years (109 PACE). They don’t have any perimeter defender to slow him down and certainly don’t have any rim protection. If you have the funds, don’t run away from James Harden against the lowly Nets.
Klay Thompson
FD $7000 DK $7000
As we sit, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala are all questionable. Let’s say all 4 of those guys find a way to play. Thompson would be a normal low-end cash game play in a great match-up against the Kings. If 1 or 2 of them sit, he’s an elite play in all formats that will see an increase in usage and minutes. Now if 3 or 4 of those guys sit, play Klay Thompson. It should allow this game to stay close and we know the kings stink against guards. Thompson will be able to shoot 25+ times without worrying about it and will see a guaranteed 35+ minutes (if stays close). You’re going to have to wait for all the news to break, but could easily end up as one of the top plays on the slate.P.S, Klay Thompson destroys the Kings almost every time and was the team he put up 30+ in one quarter against.
Small Forward
Omri Casspi
FD $4000 DK $3800
This is one of the value plays that could be a must. We just touched on this entire situation with Klay Thompson and there’s no reason to do it again. The Warriors have yet to stretch out Casspi for over 30 minutes, but they might not have a choice tonight if both Iggy and Durant are unavailable. In his recent games with 24-28 minutes, he’s been extremely productive with 1.2 FP per minute. He’ll also have a little personal edge around him facing the Kings team he’s been on for a few years. Near minimum-price, Casspi is a lock for value in both cash games and tournaments. Depending on the injury news, Casspi could very well be in 100% of my lineups.
Joe Harris
FD $4100 DK $3600
We do have 1 solidified piece of news. Allen Crabbe and D’Angelo Russell are both going to miss this game. They both missed yesterday and it results in Joe Harris picking up 36 minutes. It was a tough match-up with the Grizzlies, so who really cares how he produced. Tonight, he gets a far better match-up against a Rockets squad that loves to run. You can bank him in there for another 33+ fantasy points and count him in for 25+ fantasy points as well. He’ll be covered by James Harden and Trevor Ariza and neither will be paying much attention to his game. He can shoot 3’s well and will have plenty of them to shoot. He’s a phenomenal value option in all formats and will get the minutes whether the game blows out or not.
Power Forward
Aaron Gordon
FD $7400 DK $7400
Tonight is going to have a whole bunch of stars and scrubs, which only makes sense. There’s a bunch of value and it forces people into that type of lineup. I will certainly fall victim to the same thing, but will make sure I have Aaron Gordon as a mid-priced option at power forward. The Pacers are the league’s worst team against power forwards and are the only ones to give up over 50+ fantasy points per game. Gordon is an absolute monster this season and he’s been very consistent for his price. Gordon has an ideal match-up tonight and he is a phenomenal play in both cash games and tournaments.
Michael Beasley
FD $4600 DK $3700
Kristaps Porzingis is currently questionable, so add his name to the list of many. If he plays, you can ignore this Michael Beasley play. If Porzingis misses, Beasley is an elite play in all formats. With Porzingis out last game, Beasley ended up with 36 minutes and 40 fantasy points. We know how much Michael Beasley loves to shoot and when Porzingis isn’t out there, he’s allowed to. There’s no way he misses value if he sees 30+ minutes. He is just far too involved in the offense. The Blazers are nothing to be scared of and 25-30 fantasy points is my expectation is ‘Staps is out. The upside for more is there, believe it or not.
Center
Joel Embiid
FD $9700 DK $10000
Embiid is just a monster. On a per-minute basis, he may be the best DFS player we have. He’s just ow getting his full allotment of minutes and it’s been quite fun to watch. Tonight, the 76ers face off with the Cavs in what should be a very exciting game. Ben Simmons is questionable and Embiid may see more looks if he misses, but it doesn’t really matter. In a way, Simmons can help Embiid against an elite opponent that will keep it close. The Cavs don’t have any real centers, so it’ll be Kevin love doing his best. Good luck with that, Kevin. Embiid is going to dominate for as long as he’s in the game here and I could see a 60 FP performance without much trouble. 40 is the floor.
Jusuf Nurkic
FD $7,400 DK $6,800
I don’t think Nurkic will be very popular tonight, but that’s great for us. With Porzingis and Kanter both likely to miss, the Knicks don’t have much of any rim protection. Nurkic will have a huge advantage over the likes of Hernangomez, Beasley, and O’Quinn. Nurkic is a big part of the offense and he shouldn’t have any problem getting involved early. I guess Nurkic is just going to be an inconsistent player, because he has been since entering the league. For that reason, I’ll typically reserve him for tournaments. With all the value on this slate, I’ll be finding a way to pay up in cash games for Mr. Embiid. Either way you go is a solid option, but it might be a good idea to pay for the safety at this position. Good luck tonight!!!