DFSGhost 
NBA DFS is known for its craziness and ability to change on a dime, and recent events have only solidified that. While there are already a ton of players ruled out for tonight, there are certainly more to come, and it’s going to get wild. Before that all occurs, let’s take a quick preview at our potential player pool, pending injuries and health issues. It’s Fajita Friday’s edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received over the past few years is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in this range and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like at $5,000 and less, since I often find myself with not only one – but multiple – in my NBA DFS lineups, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking yourself: “Should I use player X or player Y?”, make sure to check the model because that is how I make all of my own decisions and I truly ride or die by it on a daily basis.
Before running to the DraftKings, FanDuel, or Yahoo lobby to construct your NBA DFS lineup after reading this article, please make sure to utilize the abundance of tools we have at Win Daily:
Point Guards
Trae Young ($10,200 DK / $
There is no other way to describe Trae Young right now other than he is simply on a ridiculous run. Now scoring 25 or more points in a whopping 11 straight games, Young has a 37.7% usage rate during that span and has posted a 30.6/4.9/9.4 scoring line on 48.8% shooting, including 40.9% from behind the arc. With the Denver Nuggets ranking 21st in the NBA in defensive efficiency, including being 20th versus primary ball handlers.
Jrue Holiday ($7,900 DK / $
With both Giannis Antetekounmpo and Bobby Portis out for the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, all eyes will be on Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton. With both Giannis and Portis off the court, Holiday sees a whopping 12% increase in usage rate, from 23.4% to 35.4%, and sees his FPPM also increase from 1.06 to 1.53. Facing his former franchise in the New Orleans Pelicans, who rank 26th in defensive efficiency, Holiday is a lock in all formats on tonight’s NBA slate.
Honorable Mentions:
- Damian Lillard ($9,300 DK / $
- Kyle Lowry ($7,800 DK / $
Shooting Guards
Brandon Ingram ($8,700 DK / $
Having scored 24 or more points in seven of his last eight games, Brandon Ingram has been on our radar for quite some time now, including last game versus OKC, where he dropped 51.5 DK points. Sporting a 29.4% usage rate in that span, Ingram has posted a 27.9/6/5.8 scoring line on 51.3% shooting, while taking 20 FGA per night. With the Bucks missing a number of key players, Ingram is a great target for NBA tournaments tonight.
Tyrese Haliburton ($5,800 DK / $
With De’Aaron Fox landing in health and safety protocols, Tyrese Haliburton will be tasked with leading the Sacramento offense tonight versus the Grizzlies. With Fox off the court this season, Haliburton sees an increase in usage rate from 16.1% to 20.5%, including an increase in FPPM from 0.92 to 1.07. With the Grizzlies sharpening up on the defensive side of the ball since the return of Dillon Brooks, Haliburton will be in tough as the primary ball handler, but the volume is simply too hard to ignore on this NBA slate.
Honorable Mentions
- Desmond Bane ($6,400 DK / $
- Anfernee Simons ($5,200 DK / $
Small Forwards
Khris Middleton ($6,700 DK / $
Likely to be the highest rostered player on tonight’s NBA slate, Middleton is a lock in cash games and is even worth considering in tournaments because of how mispriced he is. With Giannis and Portis off the court, Middleton sees a notable increase in usage rate from 26.5% to 36.6%, while also seeing his FPPM increase from 1.10 to 1.29. His volume will be simply ridiculous in this one, and it’s too easy of a play to pass up.
Buddy Hield ($5,100 DK / $
I want at least two Kings tonight and at a thin SF position, Hield fits the bill. While he lives and dies by the 3-pointer, Hield has now made four 3-pointers in three consecutive games and faces a Memphis defense that ranks 28th in the NBA in opponents’ 3-point percentage and 23rd in opponents’ made 3-pointers per game.
Honorable Mentions:
- Dillon Brooks ($6,300 DK / $
- Josh Hart ($5,500 DK / $
Power Forwards
Frankly, the PF spot is really ugly for this NBA slate with Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the Milwaukee Bucks. You can always pay up for LeBron James, and Wendell Carter Jr. stands out in the mid range, but this will likely be a primary punt spot for me with one of the Portland power forwards or Jordan Nwora.
Centers
- Nikola Jokic ($12,000 DK / $
- Rudy Gobert ($8,300 DK / $
Honorable Mentions:
- Dewayne Dedmon ($5,000 DK / $
- Punt value spot
You can find us on Twitter @DFS_Ghost and @Bucn4life
