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Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

by Chris Durell 0 Comments

*Chris Durell*

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Tier 1

While the Chiefs picked up their fourth loss in a row, both Travis Kelce (4 of 8, 94 yards, 2 TD) and Tyreke Hill (6 of 9, 185 yards, 2 TD) had monster fantasy days last week vs. the Jets. This week they get another plus matchup vs. a Raiders defense that has given up the 10th most passing yards per game (241.1) and rank dead last in DVOA vs. the pass in 2017. They share the targets from Alex Smith pretty equally but I favor Kelce slightly here as the Raiders rank 15th in DraftKings points per game to wide receivers but 26th vs. tight ends. Adam Thielen sits sixth overall in targets per game(9.3) this season and has been incredibly consistent with seven games with double-digit fantasy points and six with 15+ points but draws a tough matchup against the Panthers defense that ranks eighth in DVOA vs. the pass. The game also has one of the lowest totals(41) of the week. All things considered, Thielen could be the low owned play in this tier. Finally, we have LeSean McCoy who had another productive week as he posted 93 yards on 15 carries and his third straight double-digit fantasy week. At the time of writing this, there is no Vegas total yet but I would fully expect the Bills to be at least three-point home favorites vs. the Colts giving McCoy a shot at a high workload this week.

Top Targets in this Tier – Travis Kelce, LeSean McCoy

Tier 2

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Marvin Jones easily gets the best matchup in this tier facing the Bucs who have allowed the second-most passing yards per game (267.3) and rank dead last in DraftKings points per game to wideouts. The issue this week is the status of his quarterback Matthew Stafford who left last weeks game with a hand injury after being stepped on. If Stafford is back behind center I like Jones a lot but will probably fade if it’s backup Jake Rudock taking the snaps. I have strong feeling A.J. Green will be the chalk in this tier coming off a big game vs. the Steelers on Monday night where he caught seven of his 16 targets for 77 yards and two touchdowns (could have been three if not for a bad penalty). He has now caught at least one touchdown in three of his last four and seven of his last 10 games. Jameis Winston returned to action last week and I was expecting a big game from Evans who has been a target monster all season but it never came to fruition as Evans only caught two of his six targets for 33 yards. Evans will be in a tough spot this week as he will likely draw shadow coverage from Darius Slay who ranks as the #12 cornerback on PFF. If he was somehow able to avoid complete shadow coverage, I think he could be a sneaky play as the Lions have allowed the sixth-most passing yards per game(245.3) this season. Michael Crabtree returns from his one-game suspension this week and gets a plus matchup against the Chiefs who rank 24th overall in DVOA vs. the pass and 31st in DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts. The Raiders are also four-point underdogs so the game script could be perfect for Derek Carr to see 35+ pass attempts.

Top Targets in this Tier – A.J. Green, Michael Crabtree

Tier 3

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Kareem Hunt was once again unable to take advantage of a plus matchup and will easily be the lowest owned option in this tier as I am sure most people(including myself) are tired of waiting for the return of his early-season success. Devante Adams has been Brett Hundley’s top target but the passing game was not needed last week in a 26-20 win over the Bucs as the Packers rushed for 199 yards and picked up two defensive touchdowns. Look for Adams to get back on track this week against the Browns who rank 26th in DVOA vs. the pass. I talked about Marvin Jones in the last tier and the same sentiment goes for Golden Tate. He has a great matchup against the Bucs but at this time it is uncertain if Matthew Stafford will be back with an injured throwing hand. Stay tuned for more news. Josh Gordon made his return to the football field last week and was impressive considering he sat out nearly three years. He promptly made a ridiculous catch along the sideline and ended up catching four of his team-high 11 targets for 85 yards. This week he faces a Green Bay team that has allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game(242.9), rank 21st in DVOA vs. the pass, and rank 29th in DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts.

Top Targets in this Tier – Devante Adams, Josh Gordon

Tier 4

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

I mentioned Matthew Stafford in previous tiers when talking about Marvin Jones and Golden Tate and the update here is that he was limited Wednesday with his bruised hand. He is one of the toughest players in the league and a must-win for the team so I expect to see him on the field but will be avoiding the Lions offense for fantasy. Next up we have a huge matchup between the Vikings and Panthers and very similar value coming from both quarterbacks. Both Cam Newton and Case Keenum have put up 17+ DraftKings points in four straight games but Cam has displayed a little more upside with a 35 point ceiling. A lot of that has to do with his ability to run the ball, especially around the endzone. Both defenses are stout and rank Top 10 in fantasy points against the quarterback and with playoff and top seeds on the line, I fully expect a low-scoring defensive battle on Sunday so neither QB is that intriguing for fantasy. Without Amari Cooper or Michael Crabtree last week, Derek Carr was very serviceable(22 of 36 for 287 and 1 TD) leading the Raiders to a big win over the Giants. He now gets both his receivers back and will face a Chiefs team that has given up the fifth-most passing yards per game(252.8) and rank 26th overall when looking at DraftKings points per game to the position. Finally, we have Jimmy Garoppolo who gets the best matchup of all the options in this tier as the Texans rank dead last in DraftKings points per game allowed to the quarterback. The only issue here is that it’s his second career start and he lacks options in the receiving game.

Top Target in this Tier – Derek Carr

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Tier 5

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

Starting at the top Dak Prescott has been the best option on paper in this tier with five games of 20+ DraftKings points and has thrown for multiple touchdowns seven times. The issue has been the loss of Ezekiel Elliot as he has only done it once since losing his star running back. He does get a nice matchup this week vs. a Giants team that has given up the third-most passing yards per game(260.2) and rank 30th in DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks. I fully expect 250+ passing yards and multiple touchdown passes as the Cowboys still sit in a position to grab a wildcard spot. Next up is my other top option under center this week with Jameis Winston who returned after a three-week absence. He looked pretty darn good completing 21 of 32 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He did this without really getting much from Mike Evans(2 of 6 for 33 yards) and I think he will be going back to his top option this week with a ton of volume. Believe it or not, Andy Dalton has arguably been the most consistent option in this tier lately with multiple touchdowns in four straight and six of his last seven starts. The only issue is the upside is limited as he thrown for 300+ yards and topped 20 fantasy points just once this season. I don’t really have strong feelings for any of the bottom three options but if I had to choose one of them it would be Deshone Kizer who now has the services of Josh Gordon who made his return last week and was heavily targeted and delivered with 85 yards. Despite being inconsistent and inaccurate (52.5% completions), Kizer has shown some upside with his legs and topped 20 fantasy points twice in his last four starts. This week he faces a Green Bay team that has given up the seventh-most passing yards per game(242.9) and rank 19th in DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jameis Winston, Deshone Kizer

Tier 6

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

If you are looking for volume, it will be impossible to ignore what Evan Engram has been doing. Over the last seven games, he has tallied 59 targets and recorded 15 or more fantasy points five times with a season-high 22.9 points last week with Geno Smith under center. This week he gets Eli Manning back and with Sterling Shepard banged up, should once again see lots of volume. Christian McCaffrey should also see a ton of volume this week for two reasons. First of all, Jonathan Stewart is banged up(toe, ankle, foot) and didn’t practice Wednesday. Second, the Vikings defense should have a nice handle on the passing game downfield meaning we could see Cam dump it off to the running back quite a bit this week. Lamar Miller has been a bit of a disappointment from an upside standpoint this season but has displayed a consistent floor with 50+ rushing yards in all but one game and double-digit DraftKings points in all but two games this season. He gets a near elite matchup this week vs. the 49ers who have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game(123.9) and rank 30th in DraftKings points per game allowed to running backs. Jamaal Williams has taken over as the Packers #1 back lately with 20+ rushing attempts in three of his last four games and broke the 100-yard mark last week vs. the Bucs. He has also scored in back to back games. The matchup is a downgrade this week as the Browns have actually been really good against the rush as they are one of just nine teams to allow under 100 yards per game for the season. Alfred Morris has also done a fine job as a backup who has stepped in due to the suspension to Ezekiel Elliot. He is coming off his best game of the season last week when he received 27 rushing attempts and posted 127 yards and a touchdown. He will likely see the same kind of volume this week against a Giants defense that has allowed a league-high 130.7 yards per game on the ground.

Top Targets in this Tier – Evan Engram, Alfred Morris, Christian McCaffrey

Tier 7

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

A couple things stand out in this tier starting with the matchup for Devin Funchess. He will be shadowed for most of the game by Xavier Rhodes who is coming off a terrific game against the Falcons as he completely shut down Julio Jones. The other note here is the that Amari Cooper cleared the concussion protocol but still missed Wednesday’s practice due to an ankle injury and is still listed as questionable. If he were to suit up and get on the field, I like him for a low owned option. Carlos Hyde does not get the greatest matchup as the Texans have allowed the 10th fewest rushing yards per game and rank 4th in DraftKings points allowed to backs but he does have somewhat of a safe floor as he has been targeted a ton lately with 49 over his last six games. He has also put up double-digit fantasy points in nine of his 12 games this season and 20 or more four times. Marshawn Lynch is another running back on my radar this week as he is coming off his first 100-yard game of the season and he has scored in three of his last four games. He also gets a plus matchup vs. the Chiefs who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (129.4).

Top Targets in this Tier – Marshawn Lynch, Carlos Hyde

Tier 8

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 14

The hamstring injury for Sterling Shepard is something to monitor as Sunday approaches as he did not practice on Wednesday. If he suits up he gets a nice matchup vs. the Cowboys who rank 30th in DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts. Jordan Howard failed to bounce back last week as he tallied just 38 yards on the ground but gets another nice matchup to get back on the horse facing a Bengals defense that has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game(123.8) and ranks 22nd in DraftKings points per game to running backs. The only issue here might be getting a score as this game has the lowest Vegas total of the week(38). Duke Johnson let us down last week with just three DK points but has been a consistent floor play all season with eight double-digit DK point games thanks to his target share in the offense. The Vikings running backs have a tough matchup this week facing a Panthers team who has allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game(88.6) so I would lean McKinnon who leads the way in the passing game between him and Latavius Murray with an average of 4.5 per game on the season. Both tight ends get plus matchups this week as the Bills rank 24th and the Giants 31st in DraftKings points per game allowed to the position. I lean Jack Doyle here as he comes in ahead with 6.8 targets per game to Witten’s 5.7 and Doyle has also tallied double-digit DK points in four of his last six games.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jordan Howard, Jack Doyle, Duke Johnson

 

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

 

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

There are some great matchups for Week 14 of the NFL, including the Minnesota Vikings against the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles against the Los Angeles Rams. While those should be exciting, let’s try to add even more excitement to your weekend by coming away with some money in daily fantasy football. Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

Alex Smith vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $8,200

After a couple of rough games, Smith and the Chiefs offense came alive against the New York Jets Sunday after head coach Andy Reid relinquished play-calling duties to their offensive coordinator. Smith finished with one of his best games of the season as he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 70 rushing yards. While the rushing yards came on one long run, it was encouraging to see Smith regain his early season form with the passing game. Week 14 brings a great matchup against a Raiders defense that he torched for 342 yards and three touchdowns earlier this season. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise as the Raiders have allowed 20 passing touchdowns this year while hauling in only one interception. Look for Smith to keep his improved play going for at least one more week.

Derek Carr vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
FanDuel = $7,700

Considering Carr was without Amari Cooper (concussion/ankle) and Michael Crabtree (suspension) last week, the fact he was still managed to throw for 287 yards and a touchdown is noteworthy. Crabtree will return this week, giving Carr a big weapon back even if Cooper isn’t healthy enough to play. Carr had his best game of the season against the Chiefs in Week 7 when he threw for 417 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs have struggled to defend the pass all season, allowing the fifth-most net passing yard per game (253) in the league. This could be a high scoring affair that benefits both quarterbacks Sunday.

Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Houston Texans
Stadium = NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $5,500
FanDuel = $7,000

Although he didn’t throw a touchdown, Garappolo’s first start for the 49ers had to be considered a success as he threw for 293 yards against a Chicago Bears defense that is tough against the pass. Garoppolo has already been named the starter for Week 14 and probably will start for the rest of the season. Sunday brings a favorable matchup against a Texans defense that has allowed the third-most passing touchdowns (23) in the league. He may not have the best weapons around him, but his opponent Sunday gives him value at this price.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

Le’Veon Bell vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $9,100
FanDuel = $8,800

Bell has been a monster in the passing game of late, totaling 26 receptions on 31 targets for 251 yards in his last three games. While his numbers are down overall from last year, it’s pretty hard to argue against playing a guy averaging 129.9 total yards per game. The Ravens have shown to be an excellent defense against the pass, but they are middle of the pack in terms of defending the run. Bell torched them for 186 total yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, so roll with him again this week.

Rex Burkhead vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $5,900
FanDuel = $6,400

Burkhead has scored five touchdowns over the last four games, finally establishing a big role in the Patriots offense. While best known for his pass catching abilities, he has still received at least 10 carries in three of his last four games. The Patriots will be without all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski due to a suspension this week, leaving a huge hole in their passing attack. Expect Burkhead to fill some of that void, making him an even better option for your lineup this week.

Kenyan Drake vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $6,200

Drake was the featured back last week with Damian Williams (shoulder) out against the Denver Broncos. Drake cashed in his opportunity, rushing for 120 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. He also showed value in the passing game, hauling in three of five targets for 21 yards. Williams is questionable at best for Week 14, so Drake could be in for another heavy workload. While going up against the Patriots high-powered offense leads most opposing teams to have to throw a lot to catch up, Drake should still provide value based on his role.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

Tyreek Hill vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $7,100
FanDuel = $7,800

Hill was the main beneficiary of Smith’s improved play last week as he went off for 185 yards and two touchdowns. It marked Hill’s third game with at least 100 yards this season and fifth with at least six receptions. One of those came against the Raiders earlier this season when he had six catches on eight targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. With the Raiders struggles to defend the pass already detailed, don’t be surprised if Hill goes off again this week.

Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
DraftKings = $6,800
FanDuel = $7,000

Jones had a respectable performance Week 13 as he recorded four receptions on eight targets for 90 yards. While some may have considered it a let down based on his recent big games, you shouldn’t as he had to face the tough Ravens passing defense. There are no such worries this week against a Buccaneers team that allows second-most net passing yards per game (267) in the league. Jones had five touchdowns in four games heading into last week, so don’t be surprised to see him get back to his scoring ways in Week 14.

Kenny Stills vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,900
FanDuel = $5,700

While the Dolphins are in the bottom-seven in the NFL in points scored, Stills can still provide you with value. Not only does he have at least 67 receiving yards in three of his last four games, but he has also received at least six targets in six of his last seven games. With the Dolphins often down big, they turn to the pass to play catch up. Expect them to throw a lot this week in an effort to keep up with the Patriots. As a result of team’s playing from behind, the Patriots defense has actually allowed the fourth-most net passing yards per game (255) in the league. At this reasonable price, Stills is someone you should consider this week.

Marquise Goodwin vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
DraftKings = $5,100
FanDuel = $5,700

Goodwin played well in Garoppolo’s first start as he hauled in all eight of his targets for 99 yards. It actually marked his fourth-straight week with at least 68 receiving yards. With the 49ers lacking talent at wide receiver, Goodwin has already set career-highs in targets (70), receptions (35) and receiving yards (677) this season. With all of the poor quarterback play the 49ers have had, expect his 50% catch percentage to increase with Garoppolo now at the helm. Considering the favorable matchup the Texans present, Goodwin could be an excellent value play.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

Evan Engram vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $6,600

Engram has been the main beneficiary of all the injuries the Giants have suffered at wide receiver, putting together an excellent rookie campaign. He’s become a target monster as he’s had at least seven passes thrown his way in six of the last seven games. Playing in an offense that really struggles to score, Engram has an impressive six touchdowns this season. He’s developed a nice relationship with Eli Manning, so Manning regaining his starting spot Sunday should only help Engram’s cause. Manning may have some extra motivation after being benched last week, so Engram could be in for a big performance.

Jason Witten vs. New York Giants
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $4,700
FanDuel = $5,800

Witten has owned the Giants historically, hauling in 153 catches for 1,548 yards and 14 touchdowns in 29 career games against them. He was excellent against them Week 1 when he recorded seven receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. Although the Giants have been better at defending the tight end the last two weeks, they are still among the worst in the league on the season as a whole. With the success Witten has had against them, he could be a nice cost-effective option if you can’t afford Engram.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 14

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $3,600
FanDuel = $5,100

The Chargers defense has provided excellent value of late, posting nine sacks, 10 interceptions and two fumble recoveries over their last four games. That’s not good news for the Redskins, who have been decimated by injuries across their offense. The Redskins showed signs of all their injuries catching up with them last week as they could only score 14 points against the Cowboys. This should be another strong performance by the Chargers defense Sunday.

Tennessee Titans vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $3,200
FanDuel = $4,800

The Titans have put up a few ugly defensive performances this season, but they have righted the ship some the last two weeks against bad offenses in the Colts and Texans. Week 14 brings another struggling offense in the Cardinals who are missing several key players. If it wasn’t bad enough with Carson Palmer (arm) out, Adrian Peterson (neck) couldn’t play Week 13 and may not be able to play this week either. If he can’t go, the Cardinals are going to really struggle to score. The price is right to take a chance on the Titans if you want to save a little money on defense.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/6/17 – Value Plays

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/6/17 – Value Plays

Get 20% off for a limited time off of NBA Seasonal Packages
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 20% off Seasonal Package
 

Lineup Lab is very excited to have started a partnership this week with Sports Illustrated to provide fantasy NBA content. Click here to find a link to Wednesday’s article appearing on SI where we break down the big 10-game slate. In today’s article on Lineup Lab, we’ll dive into the slate even deeper and take a look at only the cheaper plays of the evening that can provide you with value.

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

De’Aaron Fox, SAC at CLE
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings – $4,600

The Kings continue to throw out head-scratching rotations as no player on the team is averaging more than 26 minutes per game. The silver lining is Fox is one of three players averaging 26 minutes, so at least he gets more run than most. While not outstanding, his numbers are respectable this season as he’s averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.9 steals per game. The Cavaliers have had their problems defending points guards this season, so Fox has the potential to be productive in this game.

Shaun Livingston, GS at CHA
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,400

The Warriors have lost star point guard Stephen Curry (ankle) for at least two weeks, leaving Patrick McCaw (nose) and Livingston to cover his minutes. McCaw has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game, leaving Livingston with a potentially big role against the Hornets. Livingston has only played at least 20 minutes in a game once this season, but he was productive with 16 points, two rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Take a chance on him Wednesday.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

E’Twaun Moore, NO vs. DEN
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,200

Moore is getting an excellent opportunity to thrive in New Orleans as he is averaging a career-high 31 minutes per game. He’s shown he can be an offensive weapon when given extended run as he is averaging 12.5 points and 1.7 three-pointers per game this season. He’s been even better of late though, scoring at least 16 points and hitting at least four three-pointers in four of his last five games. The Pelicans should be without Anthony Davis (groin) again Wednesday, leaving added shots on the table for Moore. The price is right to take a chance on him for your entry.

Malcolm Brogdon, MIL vs. DET
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Speaking of frustrating rotations, Bucks coach Jason Kidd also throws out some perplexing combinations. He had played guard Jason Terry (calf) at least 18 minutes in three straight games entering Monday and it looked like it could have been four in a row had Terry not been injured in the contest. With Terry out Wednesday, Brogdon should pick up some of his minutes. With defenses having to focus on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, and Khris Middleton, Brogdon might get a few more open looks in this game.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Bojan Bogdanovic, IND vs. CHI
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,800

Bogdanovic is quietly not only having the best season of his career, but he’s become a very valuable member of a Pacers team that has played better than many people expected. He’s getting an opportunity to produce as he is averaging career-highs in minutes (31) and shot attempts (10.9) per game. He’s been particularly lethal from behind the arc, shooting 44.5%. The Bulls really struggle defensively and are just a bad team in general at this point. Bogdanovic already scored 22 points and hit six three-pointers against them earlier this season, so another valuable performance may be in the works.

Dante Cunningham, NO vs. DEN
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,600

Cunningham has started the last two games with Anthony Davis (groin) on the shelf and has filled in admirably, averaging 9.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. He played 32 minutes in their last game Monday against the Warriors, marking only the fourth time this season that he has logged at least 30 minutes in a game. The Nuggets are also banged up with Paul Millsap (wrist) and Nikola Jokic (ankle) out, giving Cunningham a nice chance to provide value at a dirt cheap price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Ersan Ilyasova, ATL at ORL
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,800

Injuries have already created added opportunity in Atlanta as several key members of the Hawks frontcourt will be out again Wednesday. Ilyasova showed what he can do with extended minutes as he scored 22 points and hit four-three pointers when he played 30 minutes in a game last week against the Cavaliers. While his last two games haven’t been great, he did just miss a double-double Saturday against the Nets. This could be a high-scoring game against a Magic team that plays at the sixth-fastest pace (102.8) in the league, so take a look at Ilyasova for your entry.

Bobby Portis, CHI at IND
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,700

Portis may be in for a reduction in play time soon as Nikola Mirotic (face) is getting close to returning. He’ll still be out Wednesday though, which is good news for Portis’ value. Portis provides an offensive punch off the bench for the Bulls as he has scored at least 10 points in four of his last six games. He had one of his best games earlier this season against these same Pacers when he scored 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Kris Dunn is actually the only player who plays significant minutes on the Bulls that has a higher usage rate than Portis’ 24.9%. As far as cheap options with upside go, Portis definitely makes the list Wednesday.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks - Value Plays

Mason Plumlee, DEN at NO
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $4,700

With Jokic injured, Plumlee has started both of the last two games for the Nuggets. While he only scored three points in his last game against the Dallas Mavericks, he showed his potential the prior game when he scored 12 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists Saturday against the Lakers. The Nuggets are going to need Plumlee to step up Wednesday against DeMarcus Cousins, so he could be in for significant minutes if he can stay out of foul trouble. With his passing ability, extended playing time could give him a big bump in value.

Bam Adebayo, MIA at SA
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,000

Noticing a trend here? It’s important to know which players are injured as their backups are usually priced cheap, but can provide excellent value when given an opportunity to play. Adebayo is another injury fill in as he’s playing more minutes with Hassan Whiteside (knee) sidelined. The Heat like to go small when they can with Whiteside out, but they likely won’t have that luxury Wednesday against a big Spurs front line. His upside isn’t that high, but he did record a double-double in 31 minutes earlier this season against the Timberwolves. If you’re filling out a tournament entry Wednesday, you might want to take a chance on Adebayo.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17


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Point Guard

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

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

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/4/17

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 12/1/17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 12/1/17

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Russell Westbrook, OKC vs. MIN
FanDuel = $11,300
DraftKings = $11,400

Things are getting ugly in Oklahoma City as the Thunder are four games under .500. It’s still early, but they are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Considering they added two All-Stars to their team, it would be a huge disappointment in the unlikely event that they actually don’t make it. Their problem has been lack of depth, which has lead to Westbrook still being extremely productive even with more talented players in the starting five. Westbrook’s 32.7% usage rate is sixth-best in the league and he’s coming off a season-high 37-point performance Wednesday against the Orlando Magic. Expect him to try and carry his squad to a win Friday.

Tomas Satoransky, WAS vs. DET
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $3,800

While Tim Frazier was expected to take over the bulk of the work when John Wall went down with an injury, it’s been Satoransky who stepped up to be the most productive point guard on the team. Satoransky has played at least 21 minutes in both of the last two games, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Considering he won’t cost you much, take a chance that he continues to outproduce Frazier again Friday.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Jrue Holiday, NO at UTA
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $6,200

There was concern that the return of Rajon Rondo would deal a significant blow to Holiday’s value as he wouldn’t have the ball in his hands as much. While his assist totals have definitely taken a hit, his scoring has increased as he has scored at least 18 points in four of his last five games. The Pelicans play at the seventh-fastest pace (102.2) in the league, helping to create more scoring opportunities for Holiday. At this reasonable price, his offensive upside makes him someone to consider for your lineup.

Alec Burks, UTA vs. NO
FanDuel = $3,600
DraftKings = $3,600

Burks provided tremendous value Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers when he scored 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in 29 minutes. With Rodney Hood out with an ankle injury, Burks was needed to help carry their offense. With Hood’s status uncertain for Friday, Burks presents another opportunity to provide value. Even if Hood does manage to play, Burks should get enough minutes to be an option for your entry as he has logged at least 20 minutes in seven of his last eight games.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Otto Porter Jr., WAS vs. DET
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,500

The Wizards need Porter to provide offensive help with Wall out, but he put up a dud Wednesday against the Philadelphia 76ers when he scored only eight points. The good news is, he had 14 shot attempts in the game, so it was just a matter of being ice-cold from the field. He had scored at least 22 points in both of the previous two games, showing he is capable of providing the offense they need. This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season and Porter dominated in the first game, scoring 28 points to go along with nine rebounds, three assists, four steals and one block. Look for a rebound performance Friday.

Lance Stephenson, IND at TOR
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Stephenson is finally starting to get consistent playing time as he has logged at least 22 minutes in six straight games. He has the ability to provide valuable all-around numbers as he is averaging 15.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists over his last four games. The Pacers play at the ninth-fastest pace (101) in the league, which fits well with Stephenson’s skillset. Considering his low floor relative to his price, Stephenson is worth considering again in this game.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at MEM
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,500

Aldridge just faced the Grizzlies Wednesday and dominated the game with 41 points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block. He continues to lead with the way with Kawhi Leonard out as his 28.3% usage rate is by far the highest on the team. He hasn’t put up these types of numbers since he was the main man on the Portland Trail Blazers, but there is no reason to believe he can’t keep rolling with Leonard out again Friday.

Kelly Olynyk, MIA vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,400

The Heat will be without starting center Hassan Whiteside due to a knee injury for one-to-two weeks, dealing a major blow to their frontcourt. Olynyk is one of the players left to pick up the pieces, although his style of game is vastly different from that of Whiteside. Olynyk has only averaged 19 minutes a game this season, but he has still managed to average a respectable 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per contest. With the likelihood of added minutes Friday, Olynyk results in an excellent value play.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Dwight Howard, CHA at MIA
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,500

Howard is playing at his best right now as he is averaging 19.7 points, 13.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks over his last six games. The move to Charlotte has done wonders for his career as his 25.1% usage rate is his highest since the 2011-12 season. With Whiteside out Friday, the Heat are going to have a hard time slowing down Howard. You don’t have to worry about his atrocious free-throw shooting in DFS, so get him in your lineup and enjoy the hefty double-double.

Bam Adebayo, MIA vs. CHA
FanDuel = $4,700
DraftKings = $4,100

Along with Olynyk, Adebayo should see increased minutes with Whiteside injured. He is likely better suited to defend Howard, so he could be in for big minutes. He played 30 minutes in the Heat’s last game Wednesday against the New York Knicks and finished with nine points, five rebounds, and two steals.  There is potential here as he posted a double-double earlier this season in a game where he played 31 minutes against the Timberwolves. If you want to take a chance on a cheap center in tournament play, give Adebayo a shot.

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

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With no teams on a bye and only one game Thursday, this is the first time since Week 5 that there is a full list of options to choose from for your daily fantasy football entry. Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.

**QUARTERBACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Carson Wentz vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Century Link Field
DraftKings = $7,200
FanDuel = $8,000

Wentz continues to be a touchdown machine as he has thrown for at least two scores in seven straight games, five of which he threw at least three. Not only is his touchdown streak impressive, but he has not thrown an interception in three straight games either. Normally playing on the road in Seattle is no easy task against the Seahawks defense, but their secondary is a shell of its former self with Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor out for the season. Look for Wentz to continue to excel in this contest.

Case Keenum vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $6,000
FanDuel = $7,600

If you are still a Keenum skeptic, you shouldn’t be. He’s not just a game manager anymore as he has at least 30 pass attempts in five of his last six games. The last four weeks have been especially exceptional as he has thrown for 1,154 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s even chipped in at least 20 rushing yards in each of his last two games. The Falcons defense has not been great as they have allowed at least 20 points in four of their last five games. With their offense catching fire as well, Keenum should be looked at to throw the ball plenty again this week. Another valuable performance could be in the works.

Trevor Siemian vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $6,200

The Broncos quarterback carousel continues to turn as Paxton Lynch was their third starting quarterback this season in Week 12. Lynch, Siemian, and Brock Osweiler have all started under center for Denver this season, with Siemian really the only one showing any signs of promise. He performed well in relief of Lynch last week, throwing for 149 yards and two touchdowns. He started out the season throwing six touchdowns in the first two games, so he can be productive. Sunday brings a matchup against a Dolphins defense that is tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (22) in the NFL. They have only picked off four passes as well, so Siemian could be a nice cost effective option for your entry.

**RUNNING BACKS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Todd Gurley II vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $8,200
FanDuel = $8,800

Gurley has seen limited carries of late as he has 17 or fewer rushing attempts in each of his last four games. However, he still provides tremendous value based on his role in the passing attack. He enters Week 13 having already set career-highs in targets (59), receiving yards (479) and receiving touchdowns (three). The Rams offense has reached new heights this season, resulting in 11 total touchdowns for Gurley. Gurley posted 154 total yards and a touchdown when these same two teams met earlier this season, so expect big things again this week.

Latavius Murray vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
DraftKings = $5,200
FanDuel = $6,500

Keenum’s success at quarterback has been a major boost for Murray as teams are no longer able to stack the box to stop the run. While Murray is sharing the running back duties with Jerick McKinnon, he has received more carries than McKinnon in each of the last five games. Murray also gets the goalline work and has cashed in that opportunity to score five touchdowns over the last five games. This could be a high-scoring contest, leading to more scoring opportunities for Murray to reach the end zone. He presents an excellent mid-tier option for your entry.

Rex Burkhead vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $5,900

The Patriots running back situation has been a source of DFS frustration in the past, but it has seen some surprising clarity of late. Burkhead and Dion Lewis have taken over the lions share of the work, with James White only receiving limited opportunities. More than just a threat in the passing game, Burkhead has received at least 10 carries in two of the last three weeks. Burkhead has even found his way into the end zone, scoring three touchdowns over the last three weeks. With the Patriots offense firing on all cylinders, Burkhead should provide value again at this price.

**WIDE RECEIVERS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Keenan Allen vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – StubHub Center
DraftKings = $8,300
FanDuel = $8,100

To say Allen has played well lately is an understatement as he has 23 receptions on 27 targets for 331 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games. Finally healthy, he is having one of the best season’s of his career as he is in the top-seven in the NFL in targets (107), receptions (67) and receiving yards (927). The Browns defense is not as horrible as it has been in recent memory, but they are still tied for the second-most touchdown passes allowed (22) in the NFL. Don’t expect them to be able to slow Allen down this week.

Robby Anderson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – MetLife Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,200

Anderson is about as hot as you can get right now as he has scored a touchdown in each of the last five games. He’s piling up yardage totals as well as he has at least 85 yards in three of his last four games. With limited weapons around him, his 74 targets this year are only four away from matching his total from all of last season. Week 13 brings a matchup against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fifth-most net passing yards per game (246) in the league, so look for him to keep his hot streak alive.

Cooper Kupp vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – University of Phoenix Stadium
DraftKings = $6,400
Fan Duel = $6,300

Kupp had his best game of the season last week when he had eight receptions on 11 targets for 116 yards. While he failed to reach the end zone for the fourth straight game, that kind of volume gives him excellent value. Fellow Rams receiver Robert Woods should be out again this week with a shoulder injury, which was a big reason for Kupp’s added involvement last week. If he manages to find his way into the end zone, he could far exceed his price point.

Cordarrelle Patterson vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $3,400
FanDuel = $5,500

Patterson had a big game last week against the Denver Broncos when he hauled in three of four targets for 72 yards. With Amari Cooper leaving the game due to injury and Michael Crabtree getting ejected, Patterson took on a more prominent role in the offense. Much of the same could be in store for him this week as Crabtree has been suspended and Cooper might not be able to play. The Giants defense has been decimated by injuries and will now be without top cornerback Janoris Jenkins as well. If you want to take a chance on a cheap receiver, Patterson has significant upside, especially on DraftKings.

**TIGHT ENDS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Rob Gronkowski vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
DraftKings = $7,300
FanDuel = $8,100

When he’s healthy, you don’t need a whole lot of justification to start Gronk most weeks. Only Jimmy Graham has more than Gronk’s seven touchdowns amongst tight ends this season and only Travis Kelce has more receiving yards at the position. To make things even more enticing this week, Gronk has historically owned the Bills. In 11 career games against them, he has 52 receptions, 813 yards, and 11 touchdowns. Don’t overthink this one, get him in your lineup.

Jared Cook vs. New York Giants
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,400
FanDuel = $5,500

Much of the same argument for starting Patterson can be made for also using Cook this week. He will likely be more involved in the passing game with the team thin at wide receiver, which is significant considering he already has received at least five targets in all but one game this season. While the Giants will be down their best cornerback, they are even thinner at linebacker. The Giants have allowed an NFL-worst 10 touchdowns to tight ends this season, making Cook a strong option if you want to save money at the position.

**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**

Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 13

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – EverBank Field
DraftKings = $4,500
FanDuel = $5,600

The Jaguars feasted on the Colts earlier this season when they recorded a staggering 10 sacks. The Jaguars have actually done that twice in a game this season and have recorded at least five sacks in four games. They are a turnover machine as well, producing four interceptions and five fumble recoveries in their last three games. Need further convincing? They also have seven scores this season. There is a reason they are the most expensive defense/special team option this week, so don’t hesitate to get them in your entry.

Denver Broncos vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
DraftKings = $3,000
FanDuel = $4,600

If you can’t make the Jaguars fit into your budget, one of the better cheap options could be the Broncos. They take on a Dolphins team that struggles to score and are down to pretty much one NFL-caliber running back in Kenyan Drake. The Broncos defense is not as dominant this season, but they still allow the fourth-fewest net passing yards per game (202) in the league. The problem with the Broncos defense is they don’t create a lot of turnovers as they haven’t picked off a pass in their last four games. Miami is tied for the second-most interceptions thrown (15), so this might be the week the Broncos get back on track. Although losing Aqib Talib to suspension is a significant blow, the Broncos can still provide value this week.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/30/17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/30/17

Get 20% off for a limited time off of NBA Seasonal Packages
Use Code “LLNBA17” at checkout for 20% off Seasonal Package
 

POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Eric Bledsoe, MIL at POR
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,800

Bledsoe has played well since being traded to the Bucks as he’s averaging 15.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.1 three-pointers per game with his new squad. Now the second best offensive weapon on the team, he’s posting a 27.9% usage rate. His numbers are going to continue to get better as he gets accustomed to his new teammates and he’s already showing signs of that as he has averaged 23.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists over his last three games. On a night with only five games on the schedule, Bledsoe presents an excellent option for your entry.

Jamal Murray, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,000

Murray doesn’t provide much outside of scoring, but he has managed to average 13.9 points and 1.2 three-pointers in only 27 minutes per game. He still has a significant role in the offense as his 24.4% usage rate is the highest on the team. Thursday’s matchup against the Bulls is favorable for Murray as the Bulls struggle to defend point guards. They have been especially poor of late, allowing an average of 23.6 points per game to opposing starting point guards over their last three contests. At this price, Murray can provide value.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Lou Williams, LAC vs. UTA
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $7,300

The Clippers are absolutely decimated by injuries and will be without Blake Griffin, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic on Thursday. When you think about how much offense the Clippers were counting on from Griffin and Gallinari, that’s a lot of scoring to make up for. Enter Williams as he is never afraid to shoot the rock. He is currently averaging a career-high 13.7 shot attempts per game to go along with a 27.8% usage rate. Expect him to lead the Clippers offense Thursday, giving him value even at this expensive price.

Gary Harris, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $6,100
DraftKings = $5,600

One thing you get with Harris is consistent playing time as he has played at least 30 minutes in all but three games this season, one of which he played 29 minutes. He’s not going to give you much in the way of rebounds or assists, but he makes up for it by averaging 1.8 steals to go along with 14.3 points per game. He has actually had at least three steals in three of his last four games. With plenty of minutes and shots on tap for Thursday’s matchup against a bad Bulls defense, consider adding Harris into your lineup.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL at POR
FanDuel = $11,800
DraftKings = $11,100

Not much needs to be said to make a case to start Giannis on Thursday. His 33.5% usage rate is fifth-best in the NBA, which is even better when you take into consideration he leads the league with 37 minutes per game. He also crushed the Trail Blazers earlier this season when he scored 44 points to go along with eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block. He and LeBron James are the two best options at small forward for the evening, but I’d lean towards Giannis as this game should be more competitive than the Cavaliers taking on a bad Atlanta Hawks team.

Juan Hernangomez, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $3,700

While the Nuggets aren’t as injury-riddled as the Clippers, they are dealing with problems of their own with Paul Millsap out for three months and Wilson Chandler already ruled out for this game with a back injury. Chandler missed the Nuggets last game Tuesday, leading to a start for Hernangomez. He came through with seven points, 10 rebounds and one block in 28 minutes, marking his best game of the season. With the expectation that he will see increased minutes again Thursday, he could provide significant value at this cheap price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Derrick Favors, UTA at LAC
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $6,600

Favors is in the midst of his best stretch this season as he is averaging 19.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over his last five games. With so little depth behind him up front due to Rudy Gobert’s injury, he is going to continue to see extended playing time. This should be a fun matchup against DeAndre Jordan, one of the few quality big men still healthy on the Clippers. With Jordan likely to get heavy minutes, the Jazz will need Favors to come through again. Without a lot of great options at power forward for your entry, Favors provides one of the safer bets to produce.

Marcus Morris, BOS vs. PHI
FanDuel = $4,600
DraftKings = $4,700

Morris has taken a big step backward in terms of playing time as his 24 minutes per game is his lowest average since the 2013-14 season. With the talent Boston has up front, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The good news is that he has done more with less as his 23.9% usage rate is the highest of his career. With Joel Embiid resting for the Sixers Thursday, they could use some smaller-than-usual lineup combinations. The Sixers play at the fourth-fastest pace (104.8) in the NBA already, so this could be one of the more uptempo games you see the Celtics play. Take a chance on Morris to have a big game based on his opponent and his reasonable price.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Nikola Jokic, DEN vs. CHI
FanDuel = $9,500
DraftKings = $9,100

With Embiid resting Thursday, Jokic becomes the center with the highest upside. While his scoring is slightly down, his overall numbers are even better than last year as he’s averaging 15.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 three-pointers per game. One of the best passing centers in the league, his ability to contribute in multiple categories gives him the potential to provide massive production any given night. With a matchup against the Bulls on the slate, this could be one of those evenings when Jokic leads you to some money in DFS.

DeAndre Jordan, LAC vs. UTA
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $7,100

With Jordan approaching last-man-standing status in the Clippers frontcourt, he could put up some big numbers going forward. His scoring is down at 10.0 points per game, but he may get a few extra shot attempts with Griffin now on the sidelines. Always a valuable contributor on the glass, he should get all the minutes he can handle Thursday. If you can’t pay up for Jokic, Jordan can provide value at a more budget-friendly price.

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 13

by Chris Durell 0 Comments

*Chris Durell*

Daily Fantasy DraftKings Pickem Strategy Advice Week 13

 

 

Tier 1

As it does every week, the first tier presents some very tough decisions. DeAndre Hopkins leads the way with 21.3 DraftKings points per game this season while averaging a crazy 11.4 targets per game, trailing only Antonio Brown in that category. Despite losing his star quarterback, Hopkins is also just one of four wideouts with 1,000 or more yards this season and since Watson went down in week 8 has gained 75 or more yards in all four games with 100 or more twice. Hopkins also gets the best matchup of the three wideouts facing a Titans team that ranks 24th in DVOA vs. pass and 26th in DK points per game allowed to the position. Sticking with the wideouts, the other target monster in this tier has been Adam Thielen who is tied for fourth with 9.7 per game and is one of those four wideouts with 1,000 or more receiving yards this season. The only issue for the Thielen and the Vikings passing attack is the Falcons defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards per game(207.9) and DK points per game to allowed to wideouts. Brandin Cooks has only seen double-digit targets once this season but has been coming on strong recently with 74 or more yards in three straight games and has scored a touchdown in back to back games. Cooks also gets a tough matchup this week vs. the Bills defense that has held opponents under 200 yards passing in three of their last four games and rank 11thin DVOA vs. the pass overall but the good news is that Cooks has the GOAT, Tom Brady, throwing him passes. Next up, we have Leonard Fournette who has shown us signs of dominance with four 100+ yard games this season and signs of being shut down as he has been held under 50 yards three including twice in the last three weeks. This week he should most definitely be on your radar as the Jags are at home vs. a Colts team that has been decent vs. the run ranked 11th in DVOA but has allowed the seventh-most DK points per game to running backs thanks to 572 yards allowed through the air(4th worst).

Top Targets in this Tier – Leonard Fournette, Brandin Cooks

Tier 2

I am going to start with the tight ends here in the second tier. We have two elite options in Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce but they are in completely different situations. Gronk is coming off a big week where he caught five of his eight targets for 82 yards and scored two touchdowns while Kelce was a product of a struggling Chiefs offense as he caught three of four targets for just 39 yards last week. They both get decent matchups vs. teams allowing 11 or more DK points per game to the position but Kelce gets the slight edge as the Jets have been worse overall ranking 21st in DVOA vs. the pass while the Bills rank 11th. Ownership will definitely lean towards Gronk here because of last week’s numbers and while a player’s past performance vs. a team is somewhat irrelevant as players and systems change over the years, this stat is just amazing to look at (via @evansilva).

After the tight ends, we have running back LeSean Mccoy who has a nice matchup vs. the Patriots who have allowed 115.1 rush yards per game and rank 29th in DVOA vs. the rush. The game script isn’t exactly in his favor as the Bills are 7.5 point dogs but and even worse, McCoy’s targets have been going down lately with five or less in four straight games including two weeks where he saw just one target. Despite leading all players in this tier with 17.2 DK points per week, he will likely be the lowest owned and makes a contrarian option. Wideout Mike Evans has been a target monster all season, with or without Jameis Winston, and has received double-digits in four of his last five games. He has tallied 75 or more yards receiving in five of his 10 games this season but has failed to break the 100-yard mark to this point. The good news is that quarterback Jameis Winston has resumed throwing and could make the start this week vs. the Packers who have allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game, rank 22nd in DVOA vs. the pass, and have allowed the second-most DK points per game to wideouts.

Top Targets in this Tier – Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans

Tier 3

I was all over Kareem Hunt last week in a great bounce-back spot and he continued to disappoint fantasy owners with 11 carries for 17 yards. That makes six straight weeks without a 100-yard game and eight straight games without a touchdown. While the matchup seems decent facing the Jets who are allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game(120.4) it isn’t the greatest from a fantasy perspective as they rank 8th overall in DK points per game allowed to running backs as they have done well limiting the touchdowns. Tevin Coleman has been excellent lately with touchdowns in five straight games but will not only see his backfield partner, Devonta Freeman, back on the field this week but will also face a tough Vikings defense that has allowed the least DraftKings points per game to running backs. Jordan Howard might see some lower than normal ownership this week after a brutal game against the Eagles where he rushed for just six yards, albeit the Bears were trailing the entire game. He gets an elite matchup against the 49ers who have given up the third-most rushing yards per game(129.5) and rank dead last in DK points per game allowed to running backs.

If you are looking to go the wide receiver route in this tier, there are two excellent options in Davante Adams and Robbie Anderson. Anderson has been incredibly consistent with at least one touchdown in five straight games and double-digit DraftKings points in six straight games. He faces a Chiefs defense that has fallen off big time this season(Eric Berry effect) and has allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game(245.6) and have allowed the most DraftKings points per game to wideouts. Ever since Aaron Rodgers went down in Green Bay, Davante Adams has emerged as backup quarterback Brett Hundley’s favorite option as he leads the team in that time with 52 targets, three touchdowns, and three straight games with 80 or more yards. He gts an even better matchup than Anderson facing the Bucs who have allowed a league-high 284.6 passing yards per game and the most DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jordan Howard, Robby Anderson

Tier 4

First of all, let’s touch on Matt Stafford who had his ankle rolled up on during the Thanksgiving game vs. the Vikings. He returned to the game but looked in pain but said this week it is feeling better. He will most likely play this week but gets the worst matchup of this group facing a Ravens team that has allowed the second-fewest passing yards per game(189.9) and also the second-fewest DraftKings points per game. Best to fade Stafford and the Lions this week. The next toughest matchup in this group is Matt Ryan who is coming off his third 300+ yard game of the season but will face a Vikings defense that has allowed the 11th fewest passing yards per game(214.9) and sixth-fewest DraftKings points per game allowed to the quarterback position.On the other side of the ball, we have one of the biggest surprises of the season in Case Keenum who has gotten better each week and has thrown for 280+ yards in four straight games with nine touchdowns. He also gets a tougher matchup on the road this week facing the Falcons defense that has allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards per game(207.9). Despite leading this tier in DraftKings points per game, Alex Smith is likely to be a contrarian play this week after struggling big time lately after an MVP-type start to the season. Over his last four games, he has averaged just 223.5 passing yards per game and thrown for just four touchdowns. The matchup is average as he faces a Jets team ranked in the middle of the pack in passing yards per game and 19th in DraftKings points per game. The positive for Smith is that he has two elite options in Travis Kelce and Tyreke Hill so I could definitely see a bounce back game here. Next up is Josh McCown coming off his biggest game of the year where he threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns and makes a terrific stack with Robby Anderson in the previous tier. The quarterback with the best matchup in this group is Marcus Mariota who faces a Texans defense that allows 243 passing yards per game(24th) and ranks dead last in DraftKings points per game allowed to the position. The issue with Mariota is that he has only topped 300 yards twice this season and he has also only thrown for multiple touchdowns twice.

Top Targets in this Tier – Josh McCown, Alex Smith

Tier 5

Let’s address the Tampa Bay quarterback situation right off the top. It will be Jameis Winston making his return to action this week after sitting out three straight games with a shoulder injury. This is definitely an upgrade for Mike Evans in the first tier and a great matchup as the Packers defense has allowed the eighth-most passing yards per game(244.1) and don’t have one cornerback ranked inside the Top 80 on the PFF rankings. It won’t be a safe option stacking Winston and Evans but the upside is through the roof. If you are not playing Winston in this tier the options are pretty thin and even riskier. Blake Bortles get a great matchup vs. the Colts who have allowed the third-most passing yards per game(266.3) but the Jags are big favorites and most likely won’t need Bortles to do much. Then we got Tyrod Taylor who lacks overall upside averaging just 184 passing yards per game but he does give us added value with his legs as he ranks third in rushing among quarterbacks with 302 yards and three touchdowns. The thing I like the most here is that Bills are underdogs and will need Taylor to likely throw or run a little bit more this week to keep up with Tom Brady and the Pats. Brett Hundley is also in a pretty nice spot this week in a tight spread at home vs. the Bucs and is coming off his best game since taking over for the injured Aaron Rodgers. He put up 245 yards and three touchdowns vs. a tough Steelers defense and now gets a prime matchup vs. a Bucs defense that has allowed a league-high 284.6 passing yards per game and the sixth-most DraftKings points per game to the position. Finally, we have Jimmy Garoppolo making his first start of the season and it will be tough to tell what we are going to get. He made a final drive appearance last week and completed both of his passes with a touchdown in garbage time but now goes on the road to Chicago to face a defense ranked eighth overall in DraftKings points per game to quarterbacks.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jameis Winston, Brett Hundley

Tier 6

From a PPR perspective, I love what Carlos Hyde brings to the table this season as he trails only Christian McCaffrey and Le’Veon Bell in targets with 73 on the season(6.6 per game). This is great news for quarterback Jimmy G making his first start of the season. Hyde has also rushed the ball pretty well this season despite the lack of total yards(game script issues as 49ers are not a good team) as he is averaging 4.1 yards per attempt and while he also shown us his upside with two multi-touchdown games. Marvin Jones gets a tough matchup vs. a Ravens defense that ranks third in DraftKings points allowed to wideouts but he has been dealing with tough matchup pretty well this season and is coming off a huge Thanksgiving game vs. the Vikings Xavier Rhodes as he totaled 109 yards and two touchdowns. He has scored at least one touchdown in three of his last four games(five total). I prefer him over his teammate Golden Tate. Tyreke Hill has been a product of a struggling Chiefs offense and I thought last week he was going to breakout but he was unable to do much with his 11 targets as he caught seven of them for just 41 yards. I am going back to the well again this week with Hill as he gets another good matchup vs. the Jets who rank 21st in DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts. Stefon Diggs has been average this season as he has somewhat taken a backseat to Adam Thielen who has been getting the better matchups out of the slot and has become Case Keenum’s favorite target. Lamar Miller has somewhat disappointed this season, from a rushing standpoint, averaging 3.7 yards per carry with three touchdowns but has made up his value receiving with another three touchdowns and has tallied double-digit DraftKings points in all but two games. The issue this week is that he is dealing with a knee inury and was absent from Wednesday’s practice. Stay tuned for the Texans late-week injury status report.

Top Targets in this Tier – Carlos Hyde, Marvin Jones Jr, Tyreke Hill

Tier 7

There is a lot to like about Jarvis Landry in this tier as he not only sits third overall in targets per game(10.6) but has scored a touchdown in six of his last eight games. The matchup is a big downgrade this week vs. the Broncos who rank fourth in DraftKings points per game allowed to wideouts but looking at DVOA they rank outside the top half of the league in 19th. I think the matchup helps keep him a bit lower owned than he should be this week. Mohamed Sanu is coming off a pretty big game last week as he not only caught eight of his nine targets for 64 yards but he also completed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones. I don’t see the trickery happening this week but I do like the matchup as Julio Jones will be shadowed by Xavier Rhodes with help over the top leaving Sanu to go up against Terrance Newman for most of his snaps. Next up, we got Rex Burkhead who was out-carried 15-12 by Dion Lewis while Lewis also gained 112 yards to Burkhead’s 50 but it was Burkhead getting the scores, one on the ground and one through the air. The risk is there with both Pats running backs but they also have upside and should be low owned because of it. My suggestion would be to build multiple lineups with your favorite plays in other tiers and split the backs in this tier into a couple lineups.

Top Targets in this Tier – Jarvis Landry, Mohamed Sanu, Dion Lewis

Tier 8

Demaryius Thomas has been getting his share of targets this season(8.8 per game) and leads the team but will be hard to trust with the carousel of quarterbacks in Denver. The matchup is a tough one to read as the Dolphins corners rank poorly on PFF’s rankings and have allowed 11 touchdowns to wideouts this season(11th most) but they also have allowed the 11th fewest DK points per game as they have done a good job limiting the overall yardage. I think it has a lot to do with teams running the ball on them regularly. After last week’s stink by Thomas, I think he could go low-owned this week. All aboard! Jerick McKinnon sits second in average DK points per game this season in this tier but has been trending down lately with Latavius Murray averaging over four yards per attempt in three straight games while also adding four touchdowns. His teammate, tight end Kyle Rudolph, has been playing well lately catching 20 of his 25 targets over the past four games with three touchdowns and has recorded double-digit DK points in three of those four games. The issue this week is the tough matchup as he is likely to see a ton of coverage from Keanu Neal who ranks as one of the top safeties/linebackers who takes on tight ends in coverage. DeMarco Murray is a huge risk splitting time with Derrick Henry and has failed to break 20 yards rushing in three of his last four games despite getting the goal line carries and three scores. I will be avoiding this week. The other play I am looking at in this tier is Kenyan Drake despite the tough matchup as he is likely to get a heavy workload with Damian Williams likely out with a shoulder injury.

Top Targets in this Tier – Demaryius Thomas, Kenyan Drake

 

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

 

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/29/17

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner*

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/29/17

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POINT GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Russell Westbrook, OKC at ORL
FanDuel = $11,000
DraftKings = $11,200

The Thunder are still working through the growing pains of their massive roster overhaul, resulting in Westbrook’s usage rate dropping from 41.7% last year to 32.6% this year. That’s still good enough for sixth-best in the NBA, but his scoring has dropped 10 points per game as a result. He’s playing like his old self of late, averaging 27.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists over his last four games. Wednesday brings a great matchup against a Magic team that really struggles to defend opposing point guards. This is one of those games where you want to pay up to get Westbrook in your entry.

Tomas Satoransky, WAS at PHI
FanDuel =$3,500
DraftKings = $3,100

Tim Frazier has taken over the starting point guard job the last two games with John Wall injured but is averaging only 6.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in those games. Satoransky ended up playing 22 minutes Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to Frazier’s struggles and he came through with seven points, five rebounds, six assists and one steal. He may have earned himself more minutes again Wednesday. This should be an uptempo game as the Sixers play at the fourth-fastest pace (104.6) in the league, so take a chance on Satoransky in tournament play if you need a cheap point guard.

SHOOTING GUARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Bradley Beal, WAS at PHI
FanDuel = $8,300
DraftKings = $8,100

A popular DFS play Tuesday due to Wall’s injury, Beal was a flop as he scored only eight points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. He had scored at least 22 points in six straight games entering Tuesday, so don’t read too much into one bad shooting night. His 28.9% usage rate is tied for 16th best in the league, so he clearly will get plenty of opportunities to make up for it in this game. This could be a high-scoring contest, so get Beal back in your lineup.

Nicolas Batum, CHA at TOR
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $5,800

Batum hasn’t been able to find his groove since returning from injury as he’s only averaging 10.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He’s had a few extra days to rest as he hasn’t played since Saturday. Starting point guard Kemba Walker is listed as doubtful for this game with a should injury, which could mean Michael Carter-Williams would start in his place. He’s not a great passer, so expect Batum to be even more of a facilitator than normal. The price is right to take a chance that he has a breakout performance Wednesday.

SMALL FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Otto Porter Jr., WAS at PHI
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $6,700

Porter has been one of the main beneficiaries of Wall being out as he has scored at least 22 points in both games with Wall sidelined. He attempted at least 15 shots in both games, something he had done only three times previously this season. He’s also averaging career-highs in rebounds (7.3), steals (1.6) and three-pointers (2.0) per game this season, giving him excellent all-around value. The potential is here for Porter’s production to exceed his price point in this game.

Lance Stephenson, IND at HOU
FanDuel = $5,200
DraftKings = $4,300

Stephenson is only averaging 21 minutes per game this season, but he has played more than that in each of the last five games. He is playing at his best right now as he has at least 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in both of his last two games. While one of those was a start in place of the since-returned Victor Oladipo, it was encouraging to see him still produce coming off the bench in his last game. Both the Pacers and Rockets play at a fast pace and the Rockets like to use a lot of small lineups, so Stephenson should get plenty of playing time and have value at this price.

POWER FORWARDS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Tobias Harris, DET vs. PHO
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,500

Harris is currently having the best season of his career as he’s averaging 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and a whopping 2.9 three-pointers per game. He’s attempting a career-high 6.1 three-pointers per game and making them at a rate of 47.4%, which may be hard for him to sustain. Don’t worry about that Wednesday though against a Suns team that allows the fifth-highest three-point shooting percentage (37.7%) and the most points per game (115.1) in the league.

Larry Nance Jr., LAL vs. GS
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,400

The Lakers wasted no time in the first game for Nance in almost a month as he started and played 30 minutes Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. He just missed a double-double (nine points and eight rebounds) and recorded four steals. Although he has only played in nine games this season, he has recorded at least two steals five times already. This should be an uptempo game with a lot of small lineups, so Nance could really thrive. He’s a good play on both sites, but I really like him on FanDuel based on his price there.

CENTERS

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks

Clint Capela, HOU vs. IND
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $7,400

Capela hasn’t played more than 29 minutes in each of his last six games, but he still managed to average 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over those contests. With the Rockets playing so well, it’s encouraging that Capela can provide value even in games when he plays limited minutes due to the team having a big lead early. The Rockets have been successful playing small lineups and taking a lot of three’s in large part because of Capela’s ability to dominate the glass. He’s a great fit in this offense and should be in line for a big game against a Pacers team that struggles to defend the center position.

Steven Adams, OKC at ORL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,500

Adams recorded only six points and three rebounds in 27 minutes Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks, but it wasn’t a great matchup as the Mavericks like to play small. Wednesday brings a much friendlier opponent in Nikola Vucevic and the Magic. Adams is averaging 31 minutes per game this season, so expect him to get more playing time and return to his productive self in this game.

NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 11/28/17

by Austyn Varney 0 Comments

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!