It’s going to be a busy night in the NBA on Wednesday with 11 games on the schedule. That leaves us with a lot of great options at various price points, so let’s try to narrow the focus down and discuss a couple of the better players to target at each position
Read MoreNBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/6/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
The hot topic in the NBA is Thursday’s trade deadline. Some keys moves have already been made with potentially more in the works. While we wait to see things unfold, we have seven games to select cheap value plays from Wednesday. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Bryn Forbes, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $4,300
The Spurs are the poster child for cheap value plays Wednesday. Not only will they be missing three players from their depth chart, but they are three of their best ones in DeMar DeRozan (rest), LaMarcus Aldridge (rest) and Derrick White (heel). On the offensive end, those three average a combined 52.1 points per game. Forbes’ average of 12.1 points per game ranks fourth on the team behind DeRozan, Aldridge and Rudy Gay (14.2), so expect him to see more shot attempts in this game.
Patty Mills, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,200
Mills enters this contest having averaged 13.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and one steal across his last seven games. He can score in bunches, so he too should be tasked with helping to offset the absences of DeRozan and Aldridge. The Warriors play at the 10th-fastest pace (101.8 possessions per game) in the league, which should also help increase Mills’ upside.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Malik Beasley, DEN at BKN
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,700
The Nuggets have already ruled out Gary Harris (groin) on Wednesday, which should leave Beasley with another start. They could also be without Jamal Murray (ankle) and Paul Millsap (ankle), who are both listed as questionable. With Beasley averaging 20.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals across his last seven games, look for him to once again cash in on his added playing time.
Marco Belinelli, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,000
The veteran Belinelli is only averaging 22 minutes a game, which would be his lowest mark since the 2014-15 season. Ironically, that was the final season of his first stint with the Spurs. His overall numbers don’t stand out, but he has been more productive lately by averaging 14.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists across his last 13 games. Despite his lack of defensive contributions, he’s yet another Spur worth considering in tournament play.
SMALL FORWARDS
Darius Miller, NO at CHI
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,800
The Pelicans have the ability to change the landscape of the league by trading away Anthony Davis (finger). While they continue to field offers, they’ve kept Davis on the sidelines despite a recent report that he’s healthy enough to play. With Davis, Nikola Mirotic (calf), Julius Randle (ankle), Elfrid Payton (ankle) and E’Twaun Moore (quadriceps) all potentially out again, Miller should receive plenty of playing time. That’s key considering the Pelicans play at the sixth-fastest pace (103.1).
Davis Bertans, SA at GS
FanDuel = $4,300
DraftKings = $4,100
Yes, I’ve mentioned a lot of Spurs. But their situation Wednesday presents an opportunity to pounce on. Bertans already started their last game Monday against the Kings and scored 11 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists and a steal. In another start last week against the Suns, he recorded 18 points, five assists, four steals and a block. It’s hard to pass him up at this cheap price on both sites.
POWER FORWARDS
Marvin Williams, CHA at DAL
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $4,900
The Hornets looked to be closing in on a trade for Marc Gasol on Tuesday, but that deal has reportedly fallen apart. The two teams might still try to make a deal work, which could have a significant impact on the Hornets’ depth chart Wednesday. As long as Williams isn’t dealt, he’s someone to target against a Mavericks team that has very little size up front after their trade with the Knicks.
Kenrich Williams, NO at CHI
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,000
As long as the Pelicans remain shorthanded, Williams is a great option to consider. He’s logged at least 30 minutes in each of their last four games, which helped him to average 12.3 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block during that stretch. The Bulls are about as big of a dumpster fire as there is in the league right now, so expect Williams to at least approach a double-double again in this contest.
CENTERS
Mason Plumlee, DEN at BKN
FanDuel = $5,000
DraftKings = $4,400
Plumlee started in place of Millsap against the Pistons on Monday and came through with 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two steals across 33 minutes. That leaves him with averages of 10.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists over four games in which he has played at least 30 minutes. Even if Millsap does return, Plumlee could provide value in a bench role since the Nets allow the second-most DraftKings points per game and the third-most FanDuel points per game to opposing centers.
Jakob Poeltl, SA at GS
FanDuel = $3,500
DraftKings = $3,200
Ok, this is the final player on the Spurs that I’ll talk about. I promise. With Aldridge out, Pau Gasol and Poeltl will be left to carry the load at center. Gasol has logged at least 20 minutes in a game only two times over the last month, so don’t expect him to all of a sudden spend a ton of time on the floor. If this game were to be a blowout, that would also work in Poeltl’s favor since Gasol would likely be on the bench a lot in the second half. At such a cheap price, Poeltl could be a difference maker in tournament play.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 2/4/19
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
There’s not a lot of action in the NBA on Monday with just six games on the schedule. However, with several teams battling injuries, there are still a lot of great cheap value play options. Let’s highlight a couple at each position that could prove to be profitable. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our NBA Lineup Optimizer to help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Tim Frazier, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,400
DraftKings = $3,900
With the trade deadline coming up this week, the Pelicans aren’t going to push any of their best players to rush back from injury. Elfrid Payton (ankle) will sit out once again, leaving a significant void at point guard. Frank Jackson has started three straight games with Payton sidelined, but Frazier has also seen an expanded role off the bench. Frazier averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists and one steal across those three contests and is a great option despite this matchup against a tough Pacers’ defense.
Patty Mills, SA at SAC
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $4,100
Derrick White (heel) is going to sit out Monday, leaving the starting point guard spot up for grabs on the Spurs. Even if Mills doesn’t get the nod, he is going to see added playing time either way. The majority of Mills’ contributions come from the scoring column, which isn’t bad news for his prospects in this game considering the Kings play at the second-fastest pace (104.2 possessions per game) and are tied for the fourth-most points allowed per game (114.9) in the league.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Monte Morris, DEN at DET
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $6,000
Morris has started each of the last three games for the Nuggets with Jamal Murray (ankle) on the sidelines. To say he’s made the most of those starts would be an understatement considering he averaged 18.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.7 steals. If Murray is out again Monday, Morris makes for a great option despite his increasing price tag.
Malik Beasley, DEN at DET
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,500
Murray hasn’t been the only injured member of the Nuggets’ backcourt with Gary Harris (groin) also sidelined their last two games. However, unlike Murray, Harris has already been ruled out Monday. That should leave plenty of playing time for Beasley, who has averaged 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists across 35 games in which he has logged at least 20 minutes this season. His upside isn’t as high as Morris’ if Murray is out, but at his reduced price, Beasley is also an appealing option.
SMALL FORWARDS
Mikal Bridges, PHO vs. HOU
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,400
The Suns have a lot of wing players, but their positional log jam has been freed up a bit with T.J. Warren (ankle) and De’Anthony Melton (ankle) on the shelf. Elie Okobo has been starting in place of Melton at point guard, but Bridges has logged at least 35 minutes in all four games since Melton went down. Bridges has been extremely productive during that stretch, averaging 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 steals.
Darius Miller, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,800
Miller is another player who has benefited from the massive amount of injuries on the Pelicans. He’s been forced to start four of their last five games, leaving him to average 15.3 points, four rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals across those four contests. Considering the Pelicans play at the fifth-fastest pace (103.1) in the league, Miller should receive enough opportunities to provide value based on his expanded role.
POWER FORWARDS
Jeff Green, WAS vs. ATL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,900
This is an extremely appealing game from a DFS perspective. Both the Wizards and Hawks are in the top-nine in pace of play and both allow at least 115.6 points per game. Keeping those stats in mind, you want to try and target a couple of the cheaper options in this game for your lineup. Not only is Green averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists across his last 10 games, but he also averaged 17 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists in two previous meeting with the Hawks this year.
Kenrich Williams, NO vs. IND
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $4,300
Things are so bad on the injury front for the Pelicans that their undrafted rookie Williams has been forced to log extended minutes. It’s hard to argue with the results, though, since he has averaged 13.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and one block across their last three games. With so few healthy options to push him for playing time, taking a chance on him continuing his recent run of success is not a crazy idea in tournament play.
CENTERS
Brook Lopez, MIL at BKN
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,400
Targeting centers who face the Nets is usually a wise strategy since they allow the second-most DraftKings points per game and the third-most FanDuel points per game to the position. Lopez exploded for 24 points the first time these two teams met this season, which was a game played in Milwaukee. Look for him to shine once again in his return to his old stomping grounds in Brooklyn.
Dewayne Dedmon, ATL at WAS
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,600
Dedmon is playing well heading into this contest with averages of 13.3 points, seven rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks over his last seven games. This is another great matchup for him, especially with the Wizards’ lack of size up front. The only cause for concern with Dedmon is that the Hawks are likely shopping him with the trade deadline approaching Thursday. Just be sure to monitor the news leading up to this game to make sure he hasn’t been dealt yet.
Author Bio:
Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Sleeper Lineup Picks for 10/17/18
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Wednesday brings the first full day of NBA action with 11 games on the schedule. Let’s examine some cheaper value plays who could help lead you to a winning entry. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.
POINT GUARDS
Trey Burke, NY vs. ATL
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $5,600
Burke’s tenure with the Knicks last season was a pleasant surprise, posting 12.8 points, 4.7 assists and 1.1 three-pointers per game. He also shot a staggering 50.3% from the field, but expect that to drop this season based on his 40.4% shooting percentage for his career. The Knicks named him their starting point guard for opening night and they’ll be searching for scoring with Kristaps Porzingis still recovering from a torn ACL. Burke had a 25.1% usage rate last year and could start of the season on a high note.
Patty Mills, SA vs. MIN
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings = $4,600
The Spurs have been decimated at point guard. First, Dejounte Murray was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Then, Derrick White went down with a heel injury. Rookie Lonnie Walker IV is also injured and Tony Parker is now in Charlotte, leaving Mills with the potential for significant playing time. Last season, Mills averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 three-pointers across 19 games in which he logged at least 30 minutes. His upside isn’t off the charts, but he’s cheap enough to be worth considering for your entry.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Caris LeVert, BKN at DET
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $5,800
The Nets are dealing with their own injury concerns with Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll and Shabazz Napier all ruled out for Wednesday. To make matters worse, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is questionable with a hip injury. Even if Hollis-Jefferson does play, the door is open for LeVert to get extended run. Over nine games in which LeVert logged at least 30 minutes last year, he averaged 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and six assists.
Jeremy Lamb, CHA vs. MIL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $5,700
The Hornets dealt away Dwight Howard over the summer, which left a significant hole in their offense since he had the third-highest usage rate (24.2%) on the team last year. Although he doesn’t play Howard’s position, Lamb will be one of the players tasked with filling the scoring void created by his departure. Lamb will also move into the starting lineup this year, which is great news considering he averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.6 three-pointers across 18 starts last year.
SMALL FORWARDS
Tauren Prince, ATL at NY
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $6,100
This matchup between the Hawks and the Knicks might be one of the least exciting ones on the slate. These are both two bad teams working their way through a rebuilding process. Neither team has a lot of potent scorers, but don’t overlook Prince’s potential. He came on strong after the All-Star break last year, averaging 19 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.2 three-pointers across 23 games.
Jonathan Isaac, ORL vs. MIA
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,000
The sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Isaac was limited to 27 games last year due to injury. Although he only averaged 20 minutes per contest, he showed his incredible defensive upside by averaging 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks. He still has a ways to go offensively, evident by the fact that he shot 37.9% from the field last year. With that being said, he could do enough defensively and on the boards in this game to warrant consideration.
POWER FORWARDS
Kelly Olynyk, MIA at ORL
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $6,100
The Heat are dealing with plenty of injuries Wednesday with Justise Winslow, James Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Dion Waiters all listed as either doubtful or out. The Magic have a talented frontcourt made up of Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Mohamed Bamba, and Isaac, so the Heat are likely going to rely heavily on Olynyk in this game. In 12 games in which Olynyk logged at least 30 minutes last year, he averaged 16.8 points, eight rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals.
P.J. Tucker, HOU vs. NO
FanDuel = $4,100
DraftKings = $3,900
The Rockets roster has a lot of big names, including James Harden, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony. One player who doesn’t always get the credit that he deserves is Tucker, whose ability to defend multiple positions and shoot three’s goes a long way towards helping them be successful. He’s expected to open the season as a member of the starting five with Anthony and Eric Gordon set to come off the bench. The Rockets will also be somewhat shorthanded up front with Marquese Chriss out with an ankle injury. Tucker might not score a ton of points, but he could provide enough in other areas to be an option at near the minimum price.
CENTERS
Jarrett Allen, BKN at DET
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,700
The Nets need Allen to make significant improvements this season. They were one of the worst teams in the league at defending opposing centers last year despite Allen averaging 1.2 blocks in only 20 minutes per game. With Ed Davis and Kenneth Faried as his backups, expect Allen to see more playing time if he can stay out of foul trouble. Facing Andre Drummond is no easy task, but the potential for increased playing time certainly works in Allen’s favor.
Alex Len, ATL at NY
FanDuel = $5,100
DraftKings = $5,600
The Hawks are the walking wounded up front. Not only will they be without one of the keys to their future in John Collins, but Dewayne Dedmon will also sit out Wednesday. The door is open for Len to log plenty of minutes after seeing inconsistent playing time with the Suns last year. Len shined when given an opportunity, averaging 17.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks over three games in which he played at least 30 minutes.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/11/18
*Mike Barner*
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 1/11/18
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POINT GUARDS
Delon Wright, TOR vs. CLE
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $5,100
Kyle Lowry (back) is considered unlikely to play Thursday, leaving Wright with another opportunity to start. He started for Lowry on Tuesday against the Heat, scoring 13 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in 29 minutes. Wright has played at least 29 minutes in four of his last six games, averaging 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in those four contests. With an expanded role in the cards again Thursday, Wright could provide excellent value.
Patty Mills, SA at LAL
FanDuel = $4,000
DraftKings = $4,500
The Spurs are going to be short-handed Thursday with Kawhi Leonard (shoulder) and Rudy Gay (heel) out, Tony Parker (ankle) doubtful and Danny Green (groin) questionable. If all four players are indeed out, that’s a lot of minutes left on the table. Mills has played at least 30 minutes in a game three times this season, averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 three-pointers in those contests. The Lakers play at the fastest pace (103.9 possessions per game) and allow the second-most points per game (111.1) in the league, leaving Mills as a viable option for your entry.
SHOOTING GUARDS
Lou Williams, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,300
Williams is putting the Clippers on his back right now, averaging 31.8 points over his last 10 games. He scored a whopping 50 points Wednesday against the Warriors, but still managed to chip in seven assists in the game. The Clippers continue to be hit hard by injuries, which has led Williams to post a career-high 30% usage rate. The Clippers backcourt will be thin again Thursday, so look for more elite production from Williams against the Kings.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SAC vs. LAC
FanDuel = $5,500
DraftKings = $5,000
The Kings inconsistent rotations make it hard to rely on their players in DFS but Bogdanovic has been one of the few you can count on lately. He’s played at least 30 minutes in five of his last seven games, which is a significant threshold for his value. He’s played at least 30 minutes in a game nine times this season, averaging 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals. At this reasonable price, he might be one of the more safer cheaper guard options Thursday.
SMALL FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE at TOR
FanDuel = $11,500
DraftKings = $11,300
James is coming off one of his worst games of the season on Monday, but he only played 27 minutes in a blowout loss to the Timberwolves. Games like that are few and far between based on his 30.8% usage rate, which is ninth-highest in the league. He is the only player priced over $10,000 on both FanDuel and DraftKings on Thursday, but his upside is so high, it’s going to be hard to keep him out of your lineup.
Kyle Anderson, SA at LAL
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $5,400
With the Spurs dealing with injuries to several key players, look for Anderson to make another start Thursday. He’s started each of the last four games, averaging 7.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. While the offensive numbers aren’t anything to write home about, his defensive contributions help him to provide value. Considering how fast the Lakers play and how poorly they are on the defensive end, Anderson could have one of his better offensive games of the season. On a night with limited options, he is definitely someone to consider.
POWER FORWARDS
LaMarcus Aldridge, SA at LAL
FanDuel = $9,900
DraftKings = $8,500
Aldridge is off to a great start in January, averaging 28.5 points and 11.5 rebounds through four games. With Leonard back on the shelf, he should continue to be the main contributor on offense for the Spurs. The Lakers struggle to defend opposing power forwards, allowing the fifth-most FanDuel points per game and third-most DraftKings points per game to the position. Aldridge is one of the best options available at any position Thursday, so don’t hesitate to add him to your lineup.
Davis Bertans, SA at LAL
FanDuel = $4,500
DraftKings =4,500
Bertans is another player that has seen increased action due to all of the Spurs injuries, logging at least 27 minutes in four straight games. He’s shown he can provide an offensive jolt, averaging 15.3 points and 3.3 three-pointers in those contests. He’s provided more than just scoring though, also averaging 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 block in those same games. With added playing time likely on tap again Thursday, he could be worth the risk in tournament play at this cheap price.
CENTERS
DeAndre Jordan, LAC at SAC
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,400
The Clippers have dealt with a ton of injuries, but Jordan has been one of the mainstays on their roster. He’s always been a dominant rebounder, but he’s averaging a career-high 15.1 rebounds per game this season. He’s also been forced to take on a bigger role in the offense, averaging 17.6 points in his last five games. If Griffin can’t go again Thursday, it will leave Jordan to be a one-man gang on the glass against a deep Kings frontcourt. Even if Griffin does play, Jordan still has considerable value.
Julius Randle, LAL vs. SA
FanDuel = $6,700
DraftKings = $6,500
The Lakers have finally unleashed Randle. He’s started each of the last seven games, even with the return of Brook Lopez. He’s taken full advantage of the opportunity, averaging 17.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in those starts. While the Spurs are dealing with a lot of injuries, they still have Aldridge and Pau Gasol up front, which should lead to a big role for Randle again in this game. If you can’t afford to squeeze Jordan into your lineup, Randle is someone to strongly consider.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/20/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/20/17
Point Guard
Eric Bledsoe
FD $7,500 DK $7,400
Bledsoe saw just 29 minutes in the opening contest, in what was a blowout at halftime against the Blazers. He has always been a guy that plays big minutes and I think it’s fair to expect around 35 on a daily basis. This style of game fits into Bledsoe’s hands perfectly, as the Lakers love to run and push the ball up the court. We didn’t see it much last night, but some of that can be attributed to PatBev giving them a nightmare. This game currently sits at a 220 total with the Suns favored by just 3, so it’ll be high scoring and close. Exactly what you’re looking for out of a game stack. The price is fair and he’s pretty safe, considering he fills up the box in every which way. He thrives in the open floor and should have no problem getting there often against a Lakers team that ranked 3rd worst in 2016 against transition baskets. Bledsoe isn’t a lock, but he’s as close as you’ll get at the position.
D’Angelo Russell
FD $8,000 DK $7,300
Jeremy Lin has already been ruled out for the year. Thoughts go out to him, but at least we got it over quickly. It’s surely a lot less stressful than him being questionable EVERY DAY for the entire season. like we dealt with for much with for much of 2016. With Lin gone at PG, D’Angelo Russell will slide over and let Caris LeVert and Sean Kilpatrick handle the 2. Russell gave us a taste of what to expect from him in game 1, shooting 22 times and putting up 42 fantasy points against some quality defenders in Indy. I know both of these guys are a bit expensive, but they are both in spots where the ceiling and floor is just too high for the respective price. Russell could very well be a $9K player very soon. It sounds crazy, but it’ll happen if he’s over 20 shots on a nightly basis. He did it just 6 times in 2016. The Magic play fast and don’t care too much about defense. Russell is a prime option for all formats.
Shooting Guard
Jaylen Brown
FD $6,200 DK $5,500
Until the price goes way up or the Celtics are facing a defensive juggernaut, Jaylen Brown will remain a safe cash game play. He’s the number 2 option behind Kyrie and has shot 34 times over the first 2 contests. The Celtics now see the 76ers, who will be one of the teams we target a lot this year. With the addition of Fultz and Simmons, they should want to run as much as possible. Brown derives a lot of his value from being able to get into the open court and make things happen. That shouldn’t be an issue here, as neither TLC or J.J. Redick have the speed or athleticism to stick with Jaylen. It may be tough to the pay the $6K tag for a guy who was just at $4k, but he’s worth close to 7 or 8. Expect him to once again see 30+ minutes against a lackluster defense that is fine running.
Andrew Wiggins
FD $6,800 DK $6,300
We still don’t really know how Jimmy Butler will cut into Wiggins and Towns, but I think it’s safe to assume that it won’t be much. Butler is a superstar, but he doesn’t need the ball in his hands a ton. He posted a 25% usage last season in Chicago and will likely end up with a similar one here. You also add in the fact that all these starters will see close to 40 minutes on most nights, and the safety is there. People generally see the “Utah” under the opponent and completely ignore. While they are a good team defense, they have Rodney Hood and Donovan Mitchell at the 2. Both of which are inexperienced and not known, at all, for their defense. Ignles will be on Butler, which could funnel some more production towards Wiggins on the perimeter. He’s not as safe as Jaylen is Point per $, but he’s close. He will also be just 5 or 10% owned, at most.
Small Forward
Harrison Barnes
FD $6,300 DK $5,700
We’ve been looking at a few of the more expensive options at PG and SG, so let’s look for a way to save here at SF. Harrison Barnes is the leader of the Mavs on offense and he’s going to be one of the more consistent SF’s we can lean on at such a solid price. He can handle 35+ minutes every night and had no problem shooting close to 20 times a game in 2016. The Kings have a gaping hole at SF with Rudy Gay out, so they’ll look to Justin Jackson and Buddy Hield to deal with Barnes on defense. Barnes doesn’t have the upside to put up 50 fantasy points, but you can lock him in there for 25 with the upside for 45. At this price, you can’t ask for more.
Evan Fournier
FD $5,600 DK $5,400
Evan Fournier left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouth after last season, including mine. It seemed like countless times that I rostered him and he just goofed around for 300 minutes and ended with nothing worthy of note. That didn’t look to be the guy I was watching the other night. While it can be tough to base decisions on things like the eye test, it’s really not with a guy like Fournier. He looked like he wanted to be there and was initiating a lot of the effective offense. He now heads up with the fast-paced Nets, who haven’t played defense in 2 years. This game is sitting at a 223 over/under with the Magic favored by 2. Get some exposure on both sides of the ball. Fournier is cheap enough where you really don’t have to consider him a “pay-up”, but has the upside to give you 50 in a tournament.
Power Forward
Anthony Davis
FD $10,900 DK $10,600
With Draymond Green doubtful as I type this, I’m going to assume he is out. Even if he is in, you can take all of what I’m about to say and just minimize it a little bit. Davis is unstoppable. Cousins is unstoppable. When you try to stop them with whatever combo of Zaza, Javale, David West and Jordan Bell, things may get ugly. With that being said, the same can be said for the Pelicans in regard to Kevin Durant/Klay Thompson. I think this one just turns into an absolutely shootout and stacking the entire game is a terrific idea. If it blows out, none of them make value. If it stays close, I think it does because of the back-and-forth nature. We aren’t going to see either of these teams grind out defense here. Davis saw 40 minutes last game, which is a terrific sign for a guy that is often on a minutes limit. If he’s seeing those types of minutes this early, it’s fair to assume we’re playing with a fully healthy Anthony Davis. A fully healthy Anthony Davis is something you won’t come across often, and when you do, you take advantage. Personally, you will catch me with 100% Anthony Davis if Draymond is out. I’d prefer to watch him abuse the backups and for me to benefit instead of grimace every time he slams it over anyone’s head in hopes I won’t be passed by the crowd. AD might end up being popular, which is when I’ll pivot over to Cousins. All in all, this game is a gold mine and you should get exposure from both sides.
Jae Crowder
FD $5,300 DK $4,700
This is just a simple case of a guy being a bit mispriced to start the season. It’s not too bad, but Crowder will put up numbers in this offense if he’s going to play 30+ minutes. He’s a lot better of an offensive player than many of the guys who have played the same role with LeBron in the near past. He will get as many open 3’s in the corner as he could ever want and could have some huge games if he gets hot. He’s also good at penetrating and scooping up peripherals on defense, which can’t be said for the usual LeBron corner guy. It’s also comforting to know Crowder will be out there when it matters. He is a good defender and helps make up for the atrocious Rose and Love (If you want to laugh, watch these 2 try to defend a PNR). I feel like they should have a coach out there grabbing their hips and throwing them into the proper defensive position. It’s just brutal. Getting back on topic, Crowder is going to be an integral part of this offense from the get and isn’t priced like it just yet. The Bucks play small and he’ll have no problem getting an excess of minutes at the 4 and maybe a few at the 5 when Thon Maker is out there. He isn’t going to go crazy but penciling in 25 at this price is a blessing in cash games.
Center
Nikola Vucevic
FD $8,400 DK $7,600
There are a lot of different ways you can go at center if you’re paying up, so take your choice. We’ll run with Nikola Vucevic here, who sees and up-paced affair with the Brooklyn Nets. He got dismantled by Hassan Whiteside in the first game, but did answer back with a solid 19-13-2-2 line. TheNets lost Brook Lopez in the offseason and will turn to Timofey Mozgov at center. I don’t know how they plan on making that work, but they are the Nets, so maybe they just don’t care. Bucevic will embarrass Mozgov for however many minutes the Nets can lie to themselves for. Trevor Booker and Rondae Hollies-Jefferson man the 4 and are way too undersized to mess with Vuc. To me, it looks like a severe match-up problem. Unless the Nets have a focus on taking away Vucevic from the start (no shot), he should have a big game. His price is still fair and will likely see a small bump if he continues seeing heavy minutes. Aaron Gordon is also questionable now, so Vuc could be leaned on even more down low than already expected.
Marcin Gortat
FD $6,100 DK $5,600
Now for what may be the most cut and dry option of them all, let’s take a look at Marcin Gortat facing off with the monster that is Andre Drummond. Gortat will need to be out there to match the size of Drummond, which Ian Mahinmi just can’t offer. Gortat is locked into a double-double and you can safely project him for 34+ minutes. For years now, Gortat has been getting a ton of minutes to start the year until eventually getting a nagging injury that keeps them down. Drummond is a huge center, but his defense is nothing to be worried about. The Pistons were 3rd worst against centers in 2016 and I can’t see a guy with Gortat’s skill set just flopping. Wall leans on Gortat to space the floor and he does it perfectly, knowing exactly how Wall likes to play. Gortat is the safest option at center for the price and I’ll have a ton of exposure in cash games.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/19/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/19/17
Point Guard
Russell Westbrook
FD $11,800 – DK $11,000
Look, if you’re playing on this slate, it’s going to take some real guts to fade Russell Westbrook. No matter how you slice it, he’s the top raw option at any position in any format. While he may seem expensive, if you played NBA DFS last year, you know this is nothing. He did lose Victor Oladipo and Enes Kanter, but gained 2 great players in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. They may warrant a few more shots than the guys did last year, but this team belongs to Westbrook and the ball will be in his hands as much as he wants. This match-up with the Knicks couldn’t be better. Ramon Sessions will cover him. Yes, let that sink in. Of course, the Knicks will try to remedy that with Justin Holiday and double-teams, but we all know by now that it doesn’t work. Westbrook is a guy I’ll have 100% exposure to, bar none.
Jerian Grant
FD $6,600 – DK $5,300
Point guard is typically a position where you have to pick between 5 or 6 elite options. That’s just not the case tonight. Kyle Lowry is the 2nd safest guy, but I’m trying to include some cheaper options and I’m a bigger fan of DeRozan, who we’ll get to. The Bulls are an ultimate cluster$%%@ right now and they will need more than a few guys to step up and fill the hole that Mirotic and Portis will leave. Grant won’t see any impact minutes-wise, but he’ll be looked at to lead this young offense. He showed plenty of times last year that he was able, going over 30 FD points 7 times in his last 25 games. Kyle Lowry is known as a good defender, but he’s really not. The Raptors ranked 23rd against point guards in 2016 and while Grant is far from a typical PG, his size should give Lowry some issues. I’m not expecting a huge game out of Grant, but he can fill the stat sheet in plenty of ways and will be in there for over 30 minutes against an average defensive team.
Shooting Guard
DeMar DeRozan
FD $8,800 – DK $8,300
With just 3 games on the slate, you probably want to have either Kyle Lowry or DeMar DeRozan. Chances are at least one of them will have a superb game against the inept opponent. Before going any further, go ahead and look at the Bulls projected lineup. It is like a spring training lineup in baseball or something. I’m not sure I can remember seeing anything as bad in recent past in any sport. Justin Holiday will cover DeRozan and he’s just too small, as well as not good enough. It’s no offense to Holiday, who’s young with a ton of potential, but DeMar DeRozan is a premier NBA scorer. He can put up 40 points on any given night and will probably put up 50 a time or two before the season concludes. There aren’t too many +EV ways to pay up tonight, so you probably want some exposure to the Toronto DD.
Jordan Clarkson
FD $4,700 – DK $4,300
You have a lot of different ways to go at SG, but you’ll have to pay down in a couple spots here and Jordan Clarkson might be my favorite way to do it. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope suspended, he will be in line to play at least 30 minutes, with some at the 1 and some at the 2. Julius Randle is also questionable, so he could end up seeing a huge uptick in usage as well. Clarkson is an extremely good guard who is underpriced on both sites. He gets the ball in his hands when on the court and if his floaters are hitting, value will come in the 1st half. The Clippers will toss Austin Rivers and Lou Williams at Jordan Clarkson, so he won’t have a hard time getting to the paint. Clarkson is nowhere near a must, but I don’t see the reasoning behind his price.
Small Forward
Paul George
FD $8,600 – DK $6,100
We have no real idea how Paul George will mesh with Russell Westbrook and the Thunder, but I’m willing to take a guess. If you’ve been watching Paul George since he came into the league, you should know that he won’t be causing any problems. There were plenty of times in Indy when a guy like Jeff Teague, Roy Hibbert, or Lance Stephenson would get hot and George would have no problem taking a backseat. He would then hop back into the driver’s seat the next night and put up 30 real-life points. In this Thunder system, I suspect he turns into quite Robin to Westbrook’s Batman. His price is way too low on DraftKings and he’s a near must in cash games. On FanDuel, I love him, but it’s not a must by any means.
Paul Zipser
FD $4,800 – DK $4,200
Hey, calm down. I know Paul Zipser isn’t a guy you wanted to roster until the end of the year when we’re scratching and clawing for value. But I don’t think this is like most years. We usually don’t have a teammate breaking another one’s face and sending him to the hospital with facial fractures. These unforeseen circumstances have led to Nikola Mirotic being out for 6 weeks and Portis suspended for 8 games. It leaves a bunch of minutes for not too many guys. Paul Zipser is locked into 36+ minutes and it’s the reason he’s in play. He will sit in the corner for most of the game, occasionally takin charge and driving to the hoop for a goofy layup. With minutes, come production, and that’s the hope here with Zipser at his depressed price tag.
Power Forward
Lauri Markkanen
FD $6,500 DK $5,600
We’ll stay here with the mess that is the entire Bulls organization. With Mirotic and Portis out, we have RoLo, Felicio, and Markkanen at the 4 and 5. Felicio physically can’t play more than 20-24 minutes, so that leaves about 75 for Lopez and Markkanen (maybe a few from Zipser). Markkanen is technically a rookie, but he’s been playing pro ball in Europe for 6 years and should be able to transition a bit better than guys coming from college. Markkanen is a very good basketball player and he can fill the stat sheet in many different ways. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him well over $8,000 on both sites come next month. This match-up with the Raptors isn’t great, but like I’ve said, minutes = production.
Blake Griffin
FD $9,500 DK $9,600
This year is going to be very telling for the outlook and legacy of Blake Griffin. The last time he was without Chris Paul for an extended period of time, he was consistently one of the top 5 NBA players on a nightly basis. His production was tempered with CP3 back, but that’s not the case anymore. This offense will run through Griffin and he will be given the opportunity to do as much damage as possible. Expect plenty of face-up and PnR opportunities for Griffin from the first possession on. He will also have some games where he distributes and sees close to 10 assists, which could very well come against the Lakers. All in all, I think Griffin has the opportunity to have a huge night and I’ll be doing my best to get him in all my contests. With the current value, I have been able to fit both Westbrook and Griffin without any worries.
Center
Brook Lopez
FD $7,400 DK $6,500
For me, it’s a toss-up between Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan for the top high-priced center. They both couldn’t care less about defense, but produce fantasy points in very different ways. Jordan will rely on rebounding and putbacks, while Lopez will get the ball with 15 seconds left on the shot clock and go to work, both post-up and face-up. I suspect Jordan may have some trouble covering Lopez and it could put him into some foul trouble. I doubt Lopez gets into foul trouble as he would much rather just back up. Whichever way you decide to go is fine, but Lopez is probably a bit riskier with a higher ceiling. If you don’t have Griffin and are looking for safety, play Jordan.
Steven Adams
FD $6,300 FD $5,700
If you don’t want to pay up for either Lopez or Jordan, Steven Adams is a quality pivot at $2k cheaper. The Thunder face off with the Knicks, who offer up Enes Kanter and Willy Hernangomez at the 5. If you pay attention to the NBA, you know they are both embarrassingly bad at defense. I expect we will be targeting centers against the Knicks all season long. Adams isn’t a scorer, but he can score with his back to the basket when guys like Westbrook and George are pulling all of the attention away from the paint. Adams has a double-double before the game starts and it just depends on whether the game stays close enough for him to play 35 minutes.
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/18/17
NBA Daily Fantasy Basketball Lineup Picks for 10/18/17
Point Guard
Damian Lillard
FD $8,800 – DK $10,400
Welcome to the first real NBA slate of the 2017-18 season! With 11 games on the docket, we have plenty of options at each position, contrary to last night. We also have a pretty soft NBA at this point, so there are a few questionable and outs already at each position. In this circumstance, C.J. McCollum has been suspended a game for leaving the bench early in the preseason. Seems like a silly suspension, but hey, let’s use it to our advantage. This game has a 220 over/under, sitting at the 2nd highest of the night. McCollum and Lillard are the only 2 real ballhandlers on this team with Crabbe gone, so we’ll see Lillard pick up the slack like he did last season when McCollum was out. In McCollum’s absence, Lillard held a 35% usage rate, jumping from 28%. That’s a huge difference in basketball. He averaged 30 real-life points as well and sees a high-pace match-up with the run and gun Suns. Lillard is a top option at any position on this slate.
Patty Mills & DeJounte Murray
FD $4,300, $3,800 – DK $4,700 $4,100
The Spurs are starting the season without Kawhi Leonard, so there’s an immediate space to be filled in many different capacities. Tony Parker is also out for 4-6 weeks, so Murray and Mills should split time at PG, as well as a few minutes each at SG. The Timberwolves played at the 11th fastest pace last year and ranked 17th against point guards. They’re a very solid defensive team. Mills and Murray are both extremely cheap around the industry and do produce when on the court. I prefer Mills, but just slightly.
Shooting Guard
D’Angelo Russell
FD $6,600 – DK $6,600
D’Angelo Russell is now a member of the Nets, and it looks like he’ll technically be playing shooting guard. With that being said, him and Link should bring the ball up about equally. Russell is simply a far better scorer and playmaker than Lin. We now look at a game between the Pacers and Nets with a 218 over/under and very close spread. Victor Oladipo is an average defender and the pace here should play right into Russell’s style of play. His price is fair and his ownership should be rather high.
Malik Monk
FD $3,800 – DK $3,700
Nicolas Batum is, once again, out for an extended length of time with an injury. Jeremy Lamb should be the main benefactor, but Malik Monk has seen over 30 minutes a few times in the preseason and has exploded given the opportunity. I don’t expect a ton of minutes out of Monk, but 26-30 seems about right. This game will be rather slow, but Monk will be covered by a combo of Reggie Jackson and Stanley Johnson. I would expect Bradley to man Kemba or Lamb when the opportunity arises. Monk is extremely cheap and this should be a prime example of minutes = production.
Small Forward
Jimmy Butler
FD $8,700 – DK $8,100
Jimmy Butler is back to his stomping grounds with Tom Thibodeau. This is the guy who gave Butler his “Jimmy Minutes” nickname in the first place. Thibs loves running his starters into the ground and it was why Towns and Wiggins ranked in the top 10 for minutes played and fantasy points scored. We’ll now get Jimmy Butler seeing upwards of 38-40 minutes a night and the production should flow like never before. He gets a friendly match-up with the Spurs tonight, as Kawhi is out and Kyle Anderson is in. Butler should score at will on him and this game will likely stay close throughout. Butler is one of the safer plays on the slate and that phrase will be repeated all season long.
Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum
FD $3,700, $3,500 – DK $3,900, $4,100
We saw Gordon Hayward suffer a brutal injury midway through the first quarter last night. There are a million words that should be said before we look at the fantasy implications, but let’s cut to the chase. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum should both see over 30 minutes per night and take plenty of shots(12 & 23 last night) to sustain cash game value until the sites bump their prices. Tatum and Brown are both near locks in my cash games tonight and it’s because of the guaranteed minutes and production. Even this early in the season, it seems like we’re being forced into some strong value. As of note, Brown is the better player and he will have the ball in his hands more often. That could also change quickly if Tatum progresses as expected.
Power Forward
Giannis Antetokounmpo
FD $10,200 – DK $10,300
You’re going to want to pay up for a guy or two with the value on this slate, and Giannis is as good as you’ll find. He’s the biggest match-up problem in basketball and there’s no question as to why. A 7 foot 2 frame, 7 foot 6 wingspan, and elite ballhandling skills are just some of the reasons. Go ahead and throw in a good shooting game and one of the brighter minds around and you see why teams should be so scared. This Boston team should win a lot of games this year, but they’ll have to score. With the absence of Gordon Hayward and the departure of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, they will struggle defensively. Kyrie, Horford, and Tatum are all subpar defenders and will rely on the likes of Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris. As for tonight, I’m guessing Jaylen Brown covers Giannis. He doesn’t match-up well because nobody does. Expect a big game out of Giannis.
Ben Simmons
FD $5,600 – DK $7,100
We just touched on a hybrid player in Giannis Antetokounmpo and now move to the guy who hopes to the best player in basketball in a few years. He is a hybrid in every sense on the word. That feels weird to say, but he was the number 1 pick just 2 years ago after being hyped as the next LeBron James since 8th grade. He enters this season with some tempered expectations because of the last season, which may help. He’s going to have the ball in his hands a ton and has proven in the preseason that he can be as diverse of a player as we thought. This match-up with the fast-pace Wizards is juicy, as I suspect Simmons will derive a lot of his value in the fastbreak game. Markieff Morris is out, so they’ll be forced to use some smaller guys on Simmons like Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter. He’s definitely a bit risky because of the team and injury past, but I feel safe with him in all formats. He’s a bit too cheap across the industry.
Center
Andre Drummond
FD $8,000 – DK $7,600
Maybe I’m just reaching or looking for something to grasp onto, but Drummond is a guy I look to have an insane 2017 season. In the offseason, he got a surgery done to open his nasal passage, and supposedly, it has turned him into a different player. It doesn’t look to be fake news, either. He played 36 minutes in his last preseason game and threw up a stat line that we don’t typically see out of him (17 points, 22 rebounds, 7 assists). We may be running into an Andre Drummond that’s ready to play 35 minutes per game, which will put him in the pricing range of Boogie and Towns very soon. He also has a match-up with Dwight Howard, so I don’t think either team will turn to the “hack-a” strategy. Dwight Howard is a very fun guy to watch, but he’s not too worried about stopping centers at this point. He steps up for blocks far too often and leaves the block unattended. Drummond is a lock for a double-double and has 20/20 upside every time he takes the court.
Willie Cauley-Stein
FD $4,700 – DK $5,900
In cash games, at this price, you’re better off with Marcin Gortat. He’s a safe bet for 32 minutes and 25 fantasy points. If you’re looking for some fun in tournaments, look towards Willie Cauley-Stein. He’s the backup PF and C, so he’s figuring to see around 24-28 minutes on a regular basis. If you played NBA DFS last year, you know how valuable he can be in that amount of time. He put up nearly 1 FP per minute last season and is still working into the player he is at just 23. This match-up with the Rockets will be up and down and I look for Cauley-Stein to run himself into 30 fantasy points. We may also see one of the starting interior big men get into foul trouble with Harden, which could push WCS minutes over the projected 26.