Christopher Day 
We’re switching it up today as I grab the cash game article for the weekend. With players settling into their new teams after the NBA trade deadline, some will have a greater impact than others, but the new rotations are something so keep an eye on moving forward. It’s a weekend edition of the Gems – let’s ride.
One thing I want to clarify based on the questions I have received is that I will never list a player under the $5,000 FD price tag simply because I use the projection model to identify all targets in these price ranges and below. While there are often plenty of options that I like in this range, you all have access to the very model I use to make my own selections, so when asking “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
Luka Doncic ($10,800 FD / $10,800 DK)
Luka gets the nod here over Russell Westbrook, but if Bradley Beal ends up getting ruled out, you can’t go wrong with either one if paying up at PG. Having sat out yesterday’s game versus Indiana, Doncic comes into this one with fresh legs and in a scenario where Kristaps Porzingis could end up sitting out. Sporting a 35.7% usage rate and a 28.6/8.3/9.1 scoring line on 48.2% shooting this season, there is no safer play at the position, especially versus a New Orleans team that ranks 29th in the NBA against primary ball handlers.
Ben Simmons ($8,200 FD / $8,800 DK)
We talk about getting different in a few spots for cash games, and Ben Simmons may just be the piece I flock to tonight. By now, you all know I love to play primary ball handlers versus the Clippers, and this is a serious mismatch for whomever matches up versus the Aussie; Simmons sees a 2.3% usage bump with Embiid off the floor and will be relied upon heavily on the glass and to get teammates involved early and often to secure a victory.
Tomas Satoransky ($4,500 FD / $4,800 DK)
We’ve yet to see what Chicago’s new rotation will look like with the acquisition of Nikola Vucevic, but one player that should stand firm in the starting 5 is Sato. Sporting a mere 15.3% usage rate in his last seven games, all of which he started, Sato has been contributing 10/2.7/6.1 on 52% shooting while averaging 26 DK points per contest.
Also Consider:
- Russell Westbrook ($11,100 FD / $11,000 DK)
- John Wall ($8,200 FD / $8,400 DK)
- Jaylen Nowell ($4,400 FD / $5,000 DK)
Shooting Guards
Donovan Mitchell ($8,500 FD / $9,000 DK)
The premier pay up at the SG position is not a necessity, but Donovan Mitchell is in a great spot versus Memphis tonight. Coming into tonight’s tilt with five straight games of 27 points or more, whereby four of which he scored 30 or more, Mitchell will be able to take advantage of a Grizzlies unit that sits 9th in the NBA in pace ranking. Sporting a 35% usage rate in these last five games, Mitchell has been on a tear, averaging 33/5.2/6.2 on 52.7% shooting.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,300 FD / $5,300 DK)
One of the highest owned plays on the NBA slate is a good one – NAW will likely see another spot start for the Pelicans as Lonzo Ball has already been ruled out, and he is a must in our cash lineups. In his past three starts with Zo out, NAW has a 21.7% usage rate and averages just over 17 PPG across 34.7 MPG. Eat the chalk and move on.
Ben McLemore ($4,000 FD / $3,200 DK)
Another heavy chalk play, Ben McLemore will be a must in our NBA cash lineups if he gets another start here tonight. With the Houston Rockets essentially running an 8-man rotation for the foreseeable future as Christian Wood, John Wall, and Eric Gordon take turns resting and sitting games out left and right, McLemore’s opportunity will only grow. If Wall sits, I’m fine with both McLemore and Porter Jr. in my cash lineups, but the former takes priority based on the salary saving he presents us with; he played 35 minutes yesterday and took 15 shots. Lock and load.
Also Consider:
- Paul George ($8,300 FD / $8,300 DK)
- Collin Sexton ($7,300 FD / $7,200 DK)
- Tyrese Haliburton ($5,600 FD / $6,200 DK)
Small Forwards
Jaylen Brown ($8,000 FD / $8,200 DK)
You can only play one of Brown and Tatum tonight, if getting exposure to Boston at all, and Brown gets the nod because of position scarcity. Having only two games below 20 points in his last eight, JB has been scoring at will, and gets a rebuilding OKC squad who will be without SGA tonight. Sporting a 30% usage rate in those last eight games, JB has averaged 25.3/6.1/3.3 on 49.4% shooting while taking 20 FGA per game; logging heavy minutes for one of the thinnest rotations in the NBA, JB is a solid mid-range play for our cash lineups.
Larry Nance Jr. ($6,500 FD / $6,800 DK)
Getting a Cleveland piece in our NBA cash lineups tonight can be the spot we allow ourselves to get different, beginning with Larry Nance Jr., who takes the starting PF role away from Kevin Love, who has been riddled with injuries for a ridiculous amount of time now. The Cavaliers get a favorable matchup versus the worst defense in the league in Sacramento, and with Nance dominating the glass in his last few, his floor is relatively safe for us to consider him at this price point.
Malik Beasley ($5,700 FD / $6,800 DK)
Re-entering the Minnesota lineup after missing quite some time, we don’t know what Malik Beasley’s role will look like in this one. However, what I can tell you is that this is a guy that carries the Timberwolves while KAT was sick with COVID and D’Angelo Russell was injured; Beasley was playing over 33 MPG and averaging over 20 PPG on 45% shooting; Edwards likely takes the hit, and should Beasley be a full-go, he is way too cheap and will be strongly considered for my NBA cash lineups. Look for an update in Discord, but if Wall is ruled out and Kevin Porter Jr. is ruled in, he’ll take Beasley’s spot here.
Also Consider:
- Brandon Ingram ($8,300 FD / $8,000 DK)
- Kevin Porter Jr. ($6,800 FD / $6,300 DK)
Power Forwards
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,100 FD / $10,800 DK)
I do prefer paying up for other studs, but there is no denying the fact that Giannis can be an NBA slate’s highest scorer any time he takes the court. Sporting a 32.3% usage rate on the season and 1.66 FPPM, his floor is as safe as it gets.
Jayson Tatum ($8,500 FD / $8,400 DK)
I mentioned how we can get exposure to Boston’s offense for our NBA cash lineups tonight considering their opponent is focusing on their future and their abundance of draft picks, and Jayson Tatum’s price has taken a huge hit. While he hasn’t been as consistent as Jaylen Brown in the past two weeks – hence why I prefer JB for cash – Tatum has shown the ability to knock down shots and run the offense, as seen by his last outing, where he dropped 34 on Milwaukee, needing only 18 shots to do so.
Jerami Grant ($7,300 FD / $7,600 DK)
Playing at the fastest pace in the NBA and ranking 27th in defense rating, Washington is an opponent we will continue to pick on throughout the season. Enter Jerami Grant, the rock of the Pistons’ forgettable season, who has been logging 35.6 MPG for Detroit while averaging over 23 PPG on a 27.9% usage rate.
Others to Consider:
- Zion Williamson ($8,400 FD / $8,700 DK)
- Aleksej Pokusevski ($4,800 FD / $5,200 DK)
Centers
- Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,900 FD / $9,700 DK)
- Nikola Vucevic ($9,700 FD / $9,500 DK)
Also Consider:
- Jarrett Allen ($6,900 FD / $7,700 DK)
- Robert Williams ($5,600 FD / $6,600 DK)
- Moses Brown ($5,400 FD / $5,900 DK)
Value Gems: Check the projection model.
I will continue to stress the importance of having both the projection model and cheat sheet open when building lineups for a further player pool and to ease a decision between two players, in addition to finding additional value plays.
You can find me on Twitter @DFS_Ghost
